DOCSLIB.ORG

Variable Patterns of Seed Maturation and Abortion in Alliaria Petiolata (Brassicaceae)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Variable Patterns of Seed Maturation and Abortion in Alliaria Petiolata (Brassicaceae) 1677 Variable patterns of seed maturation and abortion in Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae) David J. Susko and Lesley Lovett-Doust Abstract: We investigated variation in ovule development within and among fruits in garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande. Individuals were sampled at 14 sites in North America. On average, 94% of ovules showed evidence of fertilization and development. The majority of ovules (mean 68%; range 53.2–82.5%) reached seed maturity. Patterns of seed maturation and abortion varied nonrandomly within and among fruits. In sites in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ontario, resource limitation seemed to be an important determinant of seed production, as fruits initiated nearest the base of an infructescence were significantly more likely to produce mature seeds than distally located fruits. Also the probability of seed maturation within individual fruits decreased significantly from the pedicellar to the stylar ends. In contrast, for individuals from Ohio sites, the probability of maturing seeds was greatest for centrally located fruits within an infructescence as well as for centrally located ovules within fruits, indicating a greater influence of pollen limitation in addition to resource limitation. We conclude that it could be misleading to infer traits of a species as a whole based on observed patterns of seed maturation in a single site or region. Rather such patterns may reflect prevailing conditions and selection pressures at a local, or regional, scale. Key words: Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae, garlic mustard, ovule abortion, seed maturation, patterns. Résumé : Les auteurs ont examiné la variation du développement de l’ovule à l’intérieur et entre les fruits de l’Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (ail-moutarde). Ils ont échantillonné des individus provenant de 14 sites en Amérique du Nord. Globalement, 94% des ovules montraient des signes de fécondation et de développement. La majorité des ovules ont atteint (en moyenne 68%; écart 53,2 à 82,5%) la maturité. Les patrons de maturation des graines et d’avortement varient de façon non-aléatoire à l’intérieur et entre les fruits. Sur les sites du Tennessee, du Kentucky et de l’Ontario, la limitation en ressources semble être un important facteur déterminant pour la production des graines, puisque les fruits se formant tout près de la base de l’infructescence sont significativement plus enclins à produire des graines mûres que les fruits se formant en position distale. De plus, la probabilité de maturation des graines à l’intérieur du fruit individuel diminue significativement de l’extrémité pédicellaire en allant vers celle du style. Au contraire, chez les individus provenant des sites de l’Ohio, la probabilité que les graines mûrissent est plus élevée pour les fruits localisés au milieu, à l’intérieur de l’infructescence, aussi bien que pour les ovules localisées centralement à l’intérieur du fruit, ce qui indique une plus grande influence d’une pollinisation limitée en plus de la limitation en ressources. Les auteurs concluent qu’il pourrait être trompeur de déduire les caractères d’une espèce dans son ensemble en ne se basant sur les patrons de maturation des graines, à partir d’une seule station ou région. De tels patrons peuvent au contraire refléter les conditions et les pressions sélective prévalant à l’échelle locale ou régionale. Mots clés : Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae, ail-moutarde, avortement ovulaire, maturation des graines, patrons. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Susko and Lovett-Doust 1686 tions is the period from ovule fertilization to seed matura- tion. Ovules may or may not be fertilized, and not all fertil- Plant population studies typically trace individual fates ized ovules reach maturity as viable, fully developed seeds. over time from seed germination and the emergence of seed- The period of seed ontogeny between fertilization and seed lings to reproductive maturity and the eventual death of the maturity is likely to be important in determining the even- individual. Mating systems and methods of seed dispersal, tual reproductive output of a plant and the vigour of its off- as agents driving ecological dynamics, have been studied in- spring. tensively (Howe and Smallwood 1982; Marshall and Folsom 1991; Venable and Brown 1993). However, a significant Several studies have shown that early initiated fruits life-history stage often neglected in demographic investiga- and seeds have a greater probability of reaching maturity than later initiated ones (Lovett-Doust and Eaton 1982; Nakamura 1986; Guitian 1994; Emms 1996). Early fertiliza- Received December 19, 1997. Accepted June 12, 1998. tion may provide a temporal advantage in subsequent inter- and intra-ovary competition for maternal resources. In addi- D.J. Susko and L. Lovett-Doust.1 Department of Biological tion to the timing of fertilization, the spatial arrangement of Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, ovaries and ovules within a plant may also affect the proba- Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada. bility of fruit and seed maturation. Seed mass, fruit mass, 1Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed. and the probability of maturing fruits and seeds have been e-mail: [email protected] shown to be greater in fruits located nearest the main rachis Can. J. Bot. 76: 1677–1686 (1998) © 1998 NRC Canada 1678 Can. J. Bot. Vol. 76, 1998 compared to those situated at more distal positions within a (siliques) are fully mature by early to middle July, at which time plant for a number of species (Lee and Bazzaz 1986; dehiscence begins. Cavers et al. (1979) determined that this species Matthies 1990; Guitian 1994). It is well established that was self-compatible and self-pollinated. plant fecundity is dependent on the ability to acquire poten- tially limiting resources. Thus, fruits and seeds that develop Stages of ovule development closer to maternal resources should have a spatial advantage Like most mustards, garlic mustard has two-loculed, bicar- in inter- and (or) intra-ovary competition (Solomon 1988; pellate, linear fruits. Individual siliques contain 8–24 ovules, gen- Siemens 1994; Navarro 1996). Two physiological models erally arranged alternately on the two sides of the sinus. A useful have been proposed to explain the success of early initiated feature of these fruits for the purpose of this study is that the and proximally located fruits and seeds (see Lee 1988 for re- ovules retain a persistent connection to the wall of the ovary. Thus, view). The source–sink model suggests that early or proxi- if fruits are collected with appropriate care prior to dehiscence, the mal fruits act as stronger sinks for attracting resources. An relative position of every ovule or developing seed within a fruit alternative model suggests that developing early or proximal can be recorded. Four major stages of ovule development could be identified readily. Some ovules showed no apparent signs of devel- fruits actively inhibit later or distal fruits through the pro- opment whatsoever; these ovules were small, shrivelled, and pre- duction of phytohormones. sumably unfertilized (though they could have been fertilized and Variation in ovule fates associated with ovule positions then aborted at such an early stage that they showed no visible within and between infructescences have been observed in a morphological signs of fertilization). Three subsequent stages were number of species (Wyatt 1981; Bawa and Webb 1984; recognized. Some ovules were expanded in size and had begun Rocha and Stephenson 1990). Although the existence of po- some development of the embryo but had not formed a seed coat. sitional effects on ovule development has been recognized These were termed early aborted ovules. Ovules that had pro- for a long time, few studies have addressed whether these ceeded through further expansion and embryo development but patterns of seed maturation vary among individuals, sites, or had not matured were called late-aborted ovules. These did have a seed coat but were characterized by malformations and were still geographical regions (but see Hossaert and Valero 1988). much smaller than a fully mature seed. Mature seeds were recog- Rather, it is implied that an observed pattern for a given site nized as the fourth and final stage of ovule development. These is representative of the species as a whole, regardless of ge- seeds were brown-black in colour and plump, with a completely netic differentiation or differing abiotic site conditions formed seed coat. Mean mass (± SE) of a mature seed was 1.723 ± among sites. The objective of this study was to examine spa- 0.005 mg and ranged from 0.466 to 3.652 mg (D.J. Susko, unpub- tial patterns in ovule development within and among fruits lished data). of garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Brassicaceae), which possesses relatively linear Sampling procedure and ovule standardization multiseeded fruits. To test for variation in the probability of Fourteen sites containing garlic mustard were sampled over a 3- seed maturation and abortion, we compared positional pat- week period from July 8 to July 29, 1994 (Table 1). Sites were se- terns both among plants and among sites across a large por- lected from four sampling regions across a >700 km latitudinal tion of this introduced species’ range in North America. transect of the species’ distribution in North America (Table 1). Factors that may contribute to the observed pattern of seed Annual precipitation, temperature, and the number of frost-free maturation and abortion are then discussed. days varied clinally among the regions (Table 1). Each site was lo- cated in a closed woodland or forest. Nearly all were associated with a river or creek, suggesting that garlic mustard seed dispersal via waterways may contribute to gene flow and the invasion of previously uncolonized communities. Garlic mustard was a domi- Study species nant understorey herb at all sites. Garlic mustard is a biennial herb native to northern Europe.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • BSBI SCOTTISH KEWSIETTER Lumber 2 Summer 1980
    B.S.B. I. SCOTTISH NEWSLETTER BSBI SCOTTISH KEWSIETTER lumber 2 Summer 1980 COOTEOTS Editorial 2 Woodsia ilvensis in the Itoffat area 2 Ulex gallii in the far north of Scotland - E.R.Bullard 5 Cirsium wankelii in Argyll, v.c.98 - A.G*Kenneth 6 Discovery of Schoenus ferrugineous as a native British plant - R.A.H. Smith 7 Rosa arvensis in Scotland - O.M. Stewart 7 The year of the Dandelion - G.H. Ballantyne 8 •The Flora of Kintyre1. Review - P. Macpherson 9 Liaison between the BSBI and Nature Conservancy Council 10 HCC Assistant Regional Officers 10 Calamagrostis - 0«M. Stewart 13 Spiraea salicifolia group - A.J, Silverside 13 % Chairman's Letter 14 Flora of Uig (Lewis) 15 Cover Illustration - Woodsia ilvensis by Olga M. Stewart 1 EDITORIAL staff, who is the author of a recent report on the subjecto * We hope that this, the second number of the newsletter, meets with the approval of our readers, but its success The report is divided into four parts - Geographical can only be judged by our receiving your comments and distribution? Ecological aspects? Past and Present Status constructive criticism, so please let us know what you in the Moffat Hills? and Conservation in Britain. The think of our efforts® world, European and British distribution is discussed in Our cover illustration, for which we are once again general terms, with appropriate maps. These show W. indebted to Mrs Olga Stewart, has been chosen as an ilvensis to be a fern of the i'orth Temperate zone, con­ fined to the Arctic and mountainous regions, extending as accompaniment to the item on Woodsia ilvensis.
    [Show full text]
  • Oberholzeria (Fabaceae Subfam. Faboideae), a New Monotypic Legume Genus from Namibia
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Oberholzeria (Fabaceae subfam. Faboideae), a New Monotypic Legume Genus from Namibia Wessel Swanepoel1,2*, M. Marianne le Roux3¤, Martin F. Wojciechowski4, Abraham E. van Wyk2 1 Independent Researcher, Windhoek, Namibia, 2 H. G. W. J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 3 Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 School of Life Sciences, Arizona a11111 State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America ¤ Current address: South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa * [email protected] Abstract OPEN ACCESS Oberholzeria etendekaensis, a succulent biennial or short-lived perennial shrublet is de- Citation: Swanepoel W, le Roux MM, Wojciechowski scribed as a new species, and a new monotypic genus. Discovered in 2012, it is a rare spe- MF, van Wyk AE (2015) Oberholzeria (Fabaceae subfam. Faboideae), a New Monotypic Legume cies known only from a single locality in the Kaokoveld Centre of Plant Endemism, north- Genus from Namibia. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0122080. western Namibia. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular sequence data from the plastid matK doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122080 gene resolves Oberholzeria as the sister group to the Genisteae clade while data from the Academic Editor: Maharaj K Pandit, University of nuclear rDNA ITS region showed that it is sister to a clade comprising both the Crotalarieae Delhi, INDIA and Genisteae clades. Morphological characters diagnostic of the new genus include: 1) Received: October 3, 2014 succulent stems with woody remains; 2) pinnately trifoliolate, fleshy leaves; 3) monadel- Accepted: February 2, 2015 phous stamens in a sheath that is fused above; 4) dimorphic anthers with five long, basifixed anthers alternating with five short, dorsifixed anthers, and 5) pendent, membranous, one- Published: March 27, 2015 seeded, laterally flattened, slightly inflated but indehiscent fruits.
    [Show full text]
  • Sheep and Goat Grazing Effects on Three Atlantic Heathland Types Berta M
    Rangeland Ecol Manage 62:119–126 | March 2009 Sheep and Goat Grazing Effects on Three Atlantic Heathland Types Berta M. Ja´uregui,1 Urcesino Garcı´a,2 Koldo Osoro,3 and Rafael Celaya1 Authors are 1Research Associates, 2Experimental Farm Manager, and 3Research Head, Animal Production Systems Department, Servicio Regional de Investigacio´n y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Apdo. 13, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain Abstract Heathlands in the northwest of Spain have been traditionally used by domestic herbivores as a food resource. However, their abandonment in the past decades has promoted a high incidence of wildfires, threatening biodiversity. Sheep and goats exhibit different grazing behavior, affecting rangelands dynamics in a different way, but the botanical and structural composition may also affect such dynamics. The aim of this article was to compare the grazing effects of sheep and goats on three different heathland types: previously burned grass- or gorse (Ulex gallii Planchon)-dominated and unburned heather (Erica spp.)- dominated shrublands. Two grazing treatments (sheep or goats) were applied in each vegetation type in a factorial design with two replicates (12 experimental plots). A small fenced area was excluded from grazing in each plot (control treatment). The experiment was carried out from 2003 to 2006, and the grazing season extended from May to October–November. Plant cover, canopy height, and phytomass amount and composition were assessed in each plot. Results showed that goats controlled shrub encroachment, phytomass accumulation, and canopy height more than sheep in either burned grass– and gorse– and unburned heather–dominated shrublands. It was accompanied by a higher increase of herbaceous species under goat grazing.
    [Show full text]
  • Ulex-Europaeus EN Icon.Pdf
    Appendix A Harmonia+PL – procedure for negative impact risk assessment for invasive alien species and potentially invasive alien species in Poland QUESTIONNAIRE A0 | Context Questions from this module identify the assessor and the biological, geographical & social context of the assessment. a01. Name(s) of the assessor(s): first name and family name 1. Agnieszka Popiela 2. Zbigniew Sobisz 3. Teresa Nowak acomm01. Comments: degree affiliation assessment date (1) prof. dr hab. Department of Botany and Nature Conservation, 14-01-2018 Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin (2) dr hab. Department of Botany and Nature Protection, Institute 21-01-2018 of Biology and Environmental Protection, Pomeranian University, Słupsk, Poland (3) dr Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 27-01-2018 University of Silesia in Katowice a02. Name(s) of the species under assessment: Polish name: Kolcolist zachodni Latin name: Ulex europaeus L. English name: Common gorse acomm02. Comments: Latin names are reported on the basis of The Plant List database (2013 – B). The Polish name is quoted according to a local report concerning the nomenclature of Polish flora (Mirek et al. 2002 – P), and the English common names – according to the Invasive Species Compendium database (CABI 2017 – B). There are many more synonyms for the Latin names than reported below (The Plant List 2013 – B): Ulex floridus Salisb., Ulex hibernicus G.Don, Ulex major Thore, Ulex opistholepis Webb, Ulex strictus J.Mackay, Ulex vernalis Thore. 13 species of the Ulex genus, native for southern Europe and northern Africa are known, however the taxonomy of the genus has not been sufficiently known yet (CABI 2017 – B).
    [Show full text]
  • Plant List for VC54, North Lincolnshire
    Plant List for Vice-county 54, North Lincolnshire 3 Vc61 SE TA 2 Vc63 1 SE TA SK NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE TF 9 8 Vc54 Vc56 7 6 5 Vc53 4 3 SK TF 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 Paul Kirby, 31/01/2017 Plant list for Vice-county 54, North Lincolnshire CONTENTS Introduction Page 1 - 50 Main Table 51 - 64 Summary Tables Red Listed taxa recorded between 2000 & 2017 51 Table 2 Threatened: Critically Endangered & Endangered 52 Table 3 Threatened: Vulnerable 53 Table 4 Near Threatened Nationally Rare & Scarce taxa recorded between 2000 & 2017 54 Table 5 Rare 55 - 56 Table 6 Scarce Vc54 Rare & Scarce taxa recorded between 2000 & 2017 57 - 59 Table 7 Rare 60 - 61 Table 8 Scarce Natives & Archaeophytes extinct & thought to be extinct in Vc54 62 - 64 Table 9 Extinct Plant list for Vice-county 54, North Lincolnshire The main table details all the Vascular Plant & Stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for Vc54 at the end of January 2017. The table comprises: Column 1 Taxon and Authority 2 Common Name 3 Total number of records for the taxon on the database at 31/01/2017 4 Year of first record 5 Year of latest record 6 Number of hectads with records before 1/01/2000 7 Number of hectads with records between 1/01/2000 & 31/01/2017 8 Number of tetrads with records between 1/01/2000 & 31/01/2017 9 Comment & Conservation status of the taxon in Vc54 10 Conservation status of the taxon in the UK A hectad is a 10km.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF (Volume 1)
    Durham E-Theses Phytosociology and community boundaries of the British heath foundation Bridgewater, P. How to cite: Bridgewater, P. (1970) Phytosociology and community boundaries of the British heath foundation, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9690/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk Phytosociology and Community Boundaries of the British Heath Formation. A thesis submitted by P. Bridgewater, B,Sc. (Dunelm), to the University of Durham, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Department of Botany, University Science Laboratories, South Road, DUKiAL'l. June. 1970. This thesis, which is entirely the result of my own work, has not been accepted for any degree, and is not being submitted concurrently in candidature for any other degree. CONTENTS Abstract Acknowle dgeme nt s Species nomenclature SECTION I. Introduction The project outlined, some notes of the Zurich-Montpellier system of phytosociology, Ideas to date on Heathland Vegetation in Britain and Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Housed in Silwood Park Library
    THE PHYTOPHAGOUS FAUNA OF GORSE (ULEX EUROPAEUS L.) AND HOST PLANT QUALITY RICHARD LAWRENCE HILL, M.Sc. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of London and for the Diploma of Imperial College HOUSED IN SILWOOD PARK LIBRARY Department of Pure & Applied Biology Imperial College Silwood Park Ascot Berkshire August 1982 2. ABSTRACT This study of the interactions between the fauna attacking gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) and their host-plant, was undertaken as part of a project aimed at the biological control of Ulex in New Zealand. In particular, the effects of seasonal changes in host-plant primary and secondary chemistry, plant structure and foliage morphology on the seasonal perform- ance of the phytophagous insect fauna were examined. Seasonal patterns of flowering and fruiting were described. Seasonal changes in foliage water content and toughness were summarised, and patterns of growth were described. These were discussed in relation to Lawton's (1978) living space concept and other current literature. Seasonal variation in the concentrations of 6 types of secondary compounds in the foliage were described. High concentrations of alkaloids may protect vegetative buds from herbivore attack in early spring, but otherwise foliage appeared to be unprotected. Energy content and soluble carbohydrate content of gorse foliage remained relatively high throughout the growing season. Foliage nitrogen content was high at bud-burst but declined within 6 weeks to a constant low level. The insect fauna associated with Ulex europaeus in Britain was described, compared and contrasted with the equivalent continental fauna and the faunas of related host-plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Terrestrial Flora & Fauna
    Appendix Terrestrial Flora & Fauna Schull Harbour Development Environmental Impact Assessment Appendix C – Terrestrial Ecology Z¨2421/30/32/2421G01_Appendix C (Ecology) C1 Schull Harbour Development Environmental Impact Assessment Appendix C.1 - Scientific names of flora and fauna mentioned in the text. Vascular Plants: Note: Species names follow Stace (1997). Common Name Scientific Name Ivy Hedera helix hibernica Ash Fraxinus excelsior (Japanese) Knotweed Fallopia japonica Bird’s-foot Ornithopus perpusillus Marsh St. John’s wort Hypericum elodes Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Montbretia Crocosmia x crocsomiiflora Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Nettle Urtica dioica Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. New Zealand Flax Phormium tenax Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne Butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii Polypody fern Polypodium vulgare Cabbage Palm Cordyline australis Poplar Populus sp. Clematis (Traveller’s joy) Clematis vitalba Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra Rose Rosa sp. Corncockle Agrostemma githago Sharp-leaved Fluellen Kickxia elatine Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens Slender Cotton-grass Eriophorum gracile Daisy Bellis perennis Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Elder Sambucus nigra Thrift Armeria maritima Escallonia Escallonia macrantha Traveller’s Joy Clematis vitalba Fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica White Clover Trifolium repens Greater Plantain Plantago major White Water lily Nymphaea alba Hart’s Tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans Hawthorn
    [Show full text]
  • Euphrasia Vigursii.Pub
    Watsonia 26: 347–358 (2007) ECOLOGY OF EUPHRASIA VIGURSII 347 A fine scale study of selected environmental and floristic parameters in three populations of Euphrasia vigursii (Davey), a rare annual endemic to Devon and Cornwall L. GRANADOS1 and S. D. LANE2 School of Biological Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA ABSTRACT surveys have revealed only 25 active sites. This represents approximately 50% loss of localities Euphrasia vigursii is an endangered hemiparasitic in Cornwall mainly due to habitat destruction annual, endemic in Devon and Cornwall. This (French et al. 1999). In Devon there are only 2 investigation has evaluated fine scale patterns of sites, rediscovered in 1995 and 1998 and floristic composition and nutrient distribution in situated on the north-west perimeter of selected populations of E. vigursii in Devon and Cornwall to increase understanding of their ecology Dartmoor National Park. Ecologists at the for use in future management strategies in Devon. National Park aim to conserve and increase the Two particular questions were formulated: population of E. vigursii as part of the 1. Is E. vigursii immediately surrounded by other Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan, as it has particular plant species? been categorised in the priority list of the UK 2. If the soil was analysed in the direct location of steering group report on biodiversity as being the site of E. vigursii would the pH, Nitrogen, of ‘global conservation concern’ (HMSO Phosphorus and Potassium content be different from 1995). In order to establish a management the areas where E. vigursii is not present? strategy that would address the objectives of Phytosociological analysis indicated that E.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Potential Woodland Planting Site - Dechomet Co
    Survey of potential Woodland Planting Site - Dechomet Co. Down. Survey completed by Judy Meharg MSc. Fieldfare Ecology. Date of Survey Tuesday 29th December 2020 Introduction Fieldfare Ecology were commission by Scottish Woodland to carry out a survey of a potential woodland planting site to establish the presence of Lowland Acid Heath as requested by Forest Service. The survey involved the following: Field assessment using the RCA template, and record photos as evidence at each plot. Preparation of a map showing the locations of the plots Provision of an email summary of the site and how much of the site can be planted and how much should remain as lowland heath. This should also be backed up with an annotated map showing the division. Survey The site at Dechomet comprises 11 ha of hilly land in the Slieve Croob / Castlewellan area. It is bounded by poor quality agricultural fences and broken drystone walls to the east. It has been used for rough grazing by sheep and there is the likelihood of wild deer. It sits between 190m and 270m above sea level. The survey of the site at Dechomet was undertaken on the 29th December 2020 using the Rapid Condition Assessment by ecologist Judy Meharg and an assistant from Fieldfare Ecology Ltd. The aim of the survey was to determine if Lowland Acid Heathland habitat is present on the site. It should be noted that a full botanical survey was not possible due to annual plants being absent at this time of year. However as many of the typical of Lowland Acid Heathland indicator plants are herbaceous perennials, these are identifiable if present all year round.
    [Show full text]
  • Fire-Related Traits for Plant Species of the Mediterranean Basin
    Data Papers Ecology, 90(5), 2009, p. 1420 Ó 2009 by the Ecological Society of America Fire-related traits for plant species of the Mediterranean Basin Ecological Archives E090-094 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 S. PAULA, M. ARIANOUTSOU, D. KAZANIS, C¸.TAVSANOGLU, F. LLORET, C. BUHK, F. OJEDA, B. LUNA, 7 8 8 9 10 J. M. MORENO, A. RODRIGO, J. M. ESPELTA, S. PALACIO, B. FERNA´NDEZ-SANTOS, 11 1,12,13 P. M. FERNANDES, AND J. G. PAUSAS 1CEAM, Charles R. Darwin 14, Parc Tecnolo`gic, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain 2Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece 3Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, 06800 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey 4Departament de Biologia Animal, Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Auto`noma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain 5Geobotany, Campus 2, University of Trier, 54296 Trier, Germany 6Departamento de Biologı´a, CASEM, Universidad de Ca´diz, 11510 Puerto Real, Ca´diz, Spain 7Departamento de Ecologı´a, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 45340 Toledo, Spain 8CREAF and Departament de Biologia Animal, Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Auto`noma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain 9Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen AB15 8QH United Kingdom 10Departamento de Biologı´a Animal, Ecologı´a, Parasitologı´a, Edafologı´a, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain 11Centro de Investigac¸a˜o e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biolo´gicas, Universidade de Tra´s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 08193 Vila Real, Portugal Abstract. Plant trait information is essential for understanding plant evolution, vegetation dynamics, and vegetation responses to disturbance and management.
    [Show full text]
  • SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
    National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE National Plant Monitoring Scheme SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Contents White / Cream ................................ 2 Grasses ...................................... 130 Yellow ..........................................33 Rushes ....................................... 138 Red .............................................63 Sedges ....................................... 140 Pink ............................................66 Shrubs / Trees .............................. 148 Blue / Purple .................................83 Wood-rushes ................................ 154 Green / Brown ............................. 106 Indexes Aquatics ..................................... 118 Common name ............................. 155 Clubmosses ................................. 124 Scientific name ............................. 160 Ferns / Horsetails .......................... 125 Appendix .................................... 165 Key Traffic light system WF symbol R A G Species with the symbol G are For those recording at the generally easier to identify; Wildflower Level only. species with the symbol A may be harder to identify and additional information is provided, particularly on illustrations, to support you. Those with the symbol R may be confused with other species. In this instance distinguishing features are provided. Introduction This guide has been produced to help you identify the plants we would like you to record for the National Plant Monitoring Scheme. There is an index at
    [Show full text]