1,721,099 research outputs found
Risks of massive tree planting in Europe should be considered by the EU Forestry Strategy 2030
No full textThe EU Forestry Strategy 2030 includes an ambitious reforestation/afforestation plan aimed at planting 3 billion trees that
should lead the European Union toward carbon neutrality by 2050. We argue that important ecological aspects were not sufficiently
considered in the Strategy. The consequences of large-scale afforestation plans on biodiversity-rich open areas were
poorly considered. “Where to plant” is a key aspect, as one of the targets for planting trees may be biodiversity-rich open areas,
that are already declining due to natural shrub and tree encroachment. We suggested that urban areas and areas near linear
infrastructures should be themain targets of afforestation. Concerning “What to plant” non-native species should be avoided in
all cases. Among native species, certain geno-ecotypes may not equally perform under the effects of climate change. We therefore
suggest a throughout revision of the EU Forestry Strategy 2030 with the inclusion of ecologically driven principles
Frankenstein's work or everyday conservation? How reintroductions are informing the de-extinction debate
No full text
Biological flora of Central Europe: Marsilea quadrifolia L
No full textMarsilea quadrifolia L. is a leptosporangiate aquatic fern which has a played key role in the evolutionary history of plants. It is characterized by heterospory, the ancestral progressive trait that led to the evolution of seeds. The species has creeping, fleshy, adventitious roots containing multiple rhizomes. From the rhizomes a four-leaf clover grows above the water level with a long petiole, at the base of which the sporocarps containing spores are located. Its life cycle is characterized by alternation of generations; reproduction occurs either sexually or by vegetative propagation. The species grows in wet habitats containing shallow water. In the natural environment this includes lakes and small rivers; in agricultural areas it can be found in ditches and rice fields. The species can tolerate nutrient rich waters and because of its phytoremediation properties is capable of partially counteracting the negative effects induced by a moderate organic enrichment of sediments. It has been harvested for centuries in Asian countries as both a food source and for ethnobotanical use in Ayurvedic medicine. Supposed medicinal properties include antibacterial, diuretic, depurative, cytotoxic and antioxidant effects, but these require further investigation and testing. M. quadrifolia has a widespread distribution, occurring throughout central-southern Europe and extending from Eurasia to tropical and temperate areas of eastern Asia and North America, where it is considered a non-native species. Despite its wide distribution, in its home range the species is threatened with extinction and has already been locally extirpated in several European countries. As a result, it is listed as “Vulnerable” in the European Union Red List due to its scattered distribution and declining population. Habitat loss and degradation, excessive water eutrophication, and agricultural practices such as the use of herbicides, mechanization and simplified rotation are the main threats to the species. As it is listed in Appendix I of the Bern Convention and in Annexes II and IV of Directive 92/43/EEC as a strictly protected species, in situ and ex situ conservation activities have been conducted in most European countries. Reintroduction, cultivation in botanical gardens and in vitro propagation are the most commonly applied conservation methods
Fertilisation increases plant biomass and seed production but does not influence seed heteromorphism in Aegilops
No full textAegilops species are important crop wild relatives (CWR) characterised by seed heteromorphism. Within each spikelet seeds differ in terms of size, colour, phenology, abiotic stress tolerance among others. although the seed heteromorphism in Aegilops has a genetic component, the level of plasticity of this character has been poorly investigated. To fill this gap, we measured the effect of fertilization on seed heteromorphism in nine Aegilops species, to understand if nutrient availability can affect the reproductive ecology in this important CWR genus. We measured the number of stems per plant, number spikelets per stem, total dry plant biomass, seed weight and germination percentage in fertilized and control (non-fertilized) plants. Fertilization did not affect heteromorphism but increased the biomass and the number of flowering stems (hence spikelets and seeds) in fertilized plants. However, seeds produced by fertilized plants showed significantly lower germination than control plants, in a sort of trade-off between seed quantity and seed quality
Two decades of climate change alters seed longevity in an alpine herb: implications for ex situ seed conservation
No full textClimate warming in mountain areas is increasing faster than the global average, threatening alpine plants. Climate affects many traits including seeds, the longevity of which is important for conservation, facilitating genebank storage. Seeds of alpine species are considered short-lived in storage, but their longevity increases when produced under a warmer parental environment. Consequently, with climate warming, seeds of alpine species may have increased fitness and be longer-lived in genebank storage. We assessed seed longevity under artificial ageing in 10 accessions of the arctic-alpine species Viscaria alpina stored under genebank conditions for different time periods over the last 20 years. The seed collection site was in the northern Apennines, where above average warming and variable precipitation has been recorded. The time taken for viability to fall to 50% (p(50)) was estimated using probit analysis; correlation and general linear regression were used to investigate the effects of length of time in storage, seed mass and climate under which seeds were produced on seed longevity. p(50) varied between 7.77 and 18.49 days. There was no relationship between length of time in storage or seed mass on seed longevity. p(50) was higher in years with increased temperature and lower precipitation during the growing season, with precipitation having more impact than temperature. The results suggest that seeds of alpine species are suitable for genebank storage, and inter-annual variation in precipitation induces a plastic response in seed longevity. Using genebank stored seeds provides insights into how alpine species may respond to future climate changes and could have implications for genebank storage
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