ARS along with our University research partners have successfully developed a near chromosome-level genome for the Mojave poppy bee, a specialist pollinator of conservation concern. This development will help us better understand and protect this important pollinator species. https://lnkd.in/eU6y-Bgt
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)’s Post
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NASELLA INVASION IN RSA, & ITS IMPACT On 16/04/24 Topveld BK & Sekela Impilo Services attended a very informative webinar that dealt with Nassella invasion in RSA. The presentation was largely based on the research led by Dr. Anthony Mapaura of the Afromontane Research Unit & Department of Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State. The purpose of the webinar was largely to raise awareness about the negative impact these grass species have in RSA, as well as to transfer knowledge about these grasses & to form ideas on how to control them. Nassella encompasses a diverse array of at least 116 species globally, predominantly native to South America. 6 species also extend their range to the USA & Canada. Notably, 11 Nassella species have been observed growing beyond their natural habitats. Among these, N. neesiana, N. tenuissima, & N. trichotoma have successfully naturalized and emerged as ais in regions including RSA, Aus, NZ, Europe, & the USA. Currently, only N. trichotoma & N. tenuissima are officially categorized as invasive species in the RSA, listed under category 1B of NEM:BA Act No. 10 of 2004). Due to the high fiber content & low nutritional value, these grass species are almost never grazed by livestock. Contributing factors that make grazing difficult are the fact that the leaf production is low, and that the leaves & awns of the seeds are serrated that make chewing difficult &, if chewed, it forms a bolus of plant material in the throat that makes swallowing the plant material difficult. The sharp awns also damage the inside of the livestock's mouths & sometimes stick into the eyes of animals. The abundance of Nassella plants can increase rapidly, resulting in their dominance over entire pastures, effectively displacing both cultivated & indigenous grass species. These grasses exhibit prolific seed production, with N. trichotoma, for instance, documented to yield as many as 100,000 seeds/plant/yr, equating to an estimated production of 900-3,400 million seeds/ha in heavily infested areas. Currently, these 3 species are confined to specific regions of the EC & WC (refer to the attached distribution map). Projections suggest that by 2050, these species’ distribution range will extend to cover half of RSA, even extending northward. Thus, it's imperative to recognize the grave threat these grass species pose to food security. Additionally, effective, economical, & practical control measures for managing these species remain elusive. Consequently, it's of paramount importance for landowners, reserves, landholding companies, & ordinary citizens to be cognizant of these grass species & their potential impact. Should you find any of these three species outside their current distribution area in RSA, you are requested to report it to nassella.information@gmail.com where the location must be indicated & iNaturalist.org Please contact Topveld BK or Gustav Le Roux for more information regarding Nasella & its control.
iNaturalist
inaturalist.org
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Bolseiro de Investigação | Mestre em Gestão dos Recursos Florestais | Licenciado em Biologia e Biotecnologia
Plant diversity often contributes to the shape of arthropod communities, which in turn supply important ecosystem services. However, the current biodiversity loss scenario, particularly worrying for arthropods, constitutes a threat for sustainability. From a trait-based ecology approach, our goal was to evaluate the bottom-up relationships to obtain a better understanding of the conservation of the arthropod function within the ecosystem. #NewArticle
Plant Functional Dispersion, Vulnerability and Originality Increase Arthropod Functions from a Protected Mountain Mediterranean Area in Spring
mdpi.com
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🌳Atlantic Forest tree species at risk of extinction A new study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo and published in Science found that 82 percent of the 2,500 endemic tree species of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest are at risk of extinction, including the emblematic brazilwood tree that gave the country its name. According to the study, 13 species found only in the Atlantic Forest — and nowhere else in the world — are already extinct. On the other hand, five species thought to have disappeared were rediscovered. The survey mapped more than 5,000 species from more than 3 million plant records, forest inventories, and biological databases. 🔗Read more in the full article by Gustavo Ribeiro here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dYwvfhwc #AtlanticForest #Biodiversity #ExtinctionRisk #EnvironmentalConservation #Brazil #NatureProtection
Atlantic Forest tree species at risk of extinction
https://brazilian.report
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🐾 Wildlife Enthusiast | Senior Fauna Specialist | Dedicated to Endangered Species Conservation| Experienced in Field Research, Data Analysis and Management| Committed to Sustainable Ecosystems and Social Values
Carnivores: Key Players in Nature Conservation People vary in their perspectives on ecosystems. Some view the ecosystem in terms of the food pyramid's hierarchy or the flow of energy from bottom to top (plants, herbivores, and carnivores). Others adopt a reverse approach, examining the ecosystem from top to bottom. Examining the ecosystem from the bottom up diminishes the significance of the pyramid's apex (carnivores). This perspective, grounded in the ecosystem's efficiency and energy transfer capabilities, logically leads to the absence of the top layer when the lower layers are weakened. This phenomenon is evident in numerous ecosystems where carnivores disappear without intervention. Contrastingly, a top-down perspective recognizes carnivores as keystones for many species across various classes. This prompts the question that demands an answer: How do carnivores positively impact the ecosystem? Carnivores manage prey numbers through direct and indirect means. Direct predation across various classes reduces prey populations, offering two-fold benefits: enhancing natural selection by eliminating the weakest individuals and reducing competition among different species for environmental resources. The presence of carnivores significantly diminishes competition, explaining the diversity in sites containing a healthy community of predators. An indirect method involves altering prey behavior, influencing activity times, distribution, feeding periods, feeding types, reproductive behavior, and reducing pressure on food and water resources. The absence of carnivores frequently results in the disappearance or decline of many organisms, potentially undermining the foundations of the ecosystem. #gaza
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Horticulturalists and gardeners often base decisions on the living things they can see above the group - crops, insects, wildlife etc, however, it is crucial they look underground too.🌳 The beauty of above ground biodiversity wouldn't be possible without the hidden heroes of below ground biodiversity. From fungi to bacteria, the soil is teeming with life that keeps our planet healthy and thriving! Robert Wilkins, Ruskins Co-Owner gives these reasons why you should apply soil biology: - Helps stressed trees - Boosts biodiversity - Increases carbon storage in the soil - Improves drainage - Improves planting success by accelerating established time and creating resilient and stronger trees, hedges and shrubs - Reduces aftercare requirements by improving the symbolic relationship with soil biology as nature intended Discover more > https://bit.ly/46Mfqhz #soilbiology #soilhealth #carbonstorage #biodiversity #BNG
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So good to hear support for soil ecology in HortWeek by Jack Haslam from Fargro Limited. Rather than being something to extinguish in inert growing media, soil organisms and a rich soil biodiversity should be encouraged to increase plant disease resistance, improve nutrient availability, and plant resilience to stresses. Harnessing the power of beneficial microbes for resilient crop growth | HortWeek More of this please. #horticulture #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #soilhealth #biodiversity
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Lately, we've been focusing a lot on studying ecology and how agriculture has altered the landscape—the way nature adapts to the damages we inflict, the increasingly intense and profound wounds, and how the system must adjust to reach a balance. The damages we've caused over time in our forests and permeable areas have created a scourge, requiring significant impact for the system to achieve equilibrium. We've observed the impact of heavy rains and the soil's inability to drain water, contamination of groundwater, and the loss of species contributing to our ecosystem, even if we didn't notice. Can you recall the last time you saw fireflies? Over time, we've lost well-adapted species that were integral and symbiotic parts of plant systems, opening the door to super-resilient species (plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses) that we are almost imposing, potentially leading us to extinction. As Darwin described, we are steering the system towards the evolution of species—only the strongest endure. It remains to be seen if we will be an integral part of that natural selection. The question is what we can do to minimize our impact on this disturbance we've created. It involves a whole cycle of agricultural and dietary change. We need to alter the cycle, respecting the soil, natural processes, and allowing disturbances to reach equilibrium more gently. We must gain time to regenerate our role in this world and rediscover our position as contributors in the system that is our planet.
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Researcher| Food Security Analyst| Sustainable Agriculture | Environmental and Natural Resource Manager | Agroforester| Biodiversity Conservation | Climate Change|| Food Systems|
Forests are the lungs through which the earth gets cleaned and the circle of life is reafirmed. the stability of forest ecosystems is the reaffirmation of a continued provision of life and the objective of reaching net zero. The Challenge of many conservation efforts of natural forests has been over time the availability of information on fauna and flora of different species of forest trees, their benefits and dangers posed to ecosystems. in our new publication we endeavour to begin the step of making available information on a forest species Yushinia alpine Bamboo whose stand cover in the Mau Forest of Kenya has drastically reduced. in this paper we determine the genetic diversity of the bamboo borer larvae in order to provide information that would guide conservation of Bamboo trees in the Mau Forest. Bamboo is a species that has recently gained enough traction for research because of its numerous environmental benefits. its conservation especially in antural forests has been prioritised by many organisations. You can read more about our work using the link below. https://lnkd.in/dpnm_zmN
Genetic Diversity of Bamboo (Yushinia alpina) Borer Larvae in the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya
journals.eanso.org
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State of the world's plants and fungi report: 3 in 4 undescribed plant species already threatened with extinction. New research is identifying 32 global ‘darkspots’ where plant species are yet to be scientifically named, described and mapped.
State of the World's Plants and Fungi
kew.org
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