carbon is the most important greenhouse element which sequestrates by photosynthesis procedure and is the easiest and cheapest way of decreasing atmospheric gas level. the vegetation cover that has woody texture is more capable for carbon sequestration. the most plant species of arid rangelands are the shrub growth forms. the purpose of this research was to assess carbon sequestration potential...

Basic information on where nonnative plant species have successfully invaded is lacking. We assessed the vulnerability of 22 vegetation types (25 sets of four plots in nine study areas) to nonnative plant invasions in the north-central United States. In general, habitats with high native species richness were more heavily invaded than species-poor habitats, low-elevation areas were more invaded...

We surveyed vegetation 28 summers after the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington spawned a massive lahar. Our goals were to describe vegetation patterns early in primary succession; determine factors associated with these patterns; and seek evidence for assembly rules. We determined species composition, plot position and surface features in 151 plots. Multiple regression, redundancy an...

In biodiversity experiments based on seeded experimental communities, species richness and species composition exert a strong influence on canopy structure and can lead to an improved use of aboveground resources. In this study, we want to explore whether these findings are applicable to agriculturally managed permanent grassland. Vertical layered profiles of biomass, leaf area (LA) and light i...

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (MCL) woody vegetation was characterized to establish structural and compositional attributes. Stratified random sampling based on major soil types was used and nine plant variables were measured in 137(20x30) m2 sampling plots; these being genera, species and family names; basal circumference; plant height; depth and diameter of tree canopy; number of s...

The use of statistical tools to assess species richness in different biological groups has increased considerably in the recent years. In this context, during the wet and dry seasons of 2007 and 2008 (dry only), we evaluated the amphibian species richness (alpha and beta diversity) in four vegetation types: cloud forest (CF), pine-oak forest (POF), xeric scrub (XS), and tropical evergreen fores...

Dissertation title: EFFECTS OF ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL COMMUNITY DYNAMICS ON TIDAL FRESHWATER MARSH ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING Kristine Noel Hopfensperger, Doctor of Philosophy, 2007 Dissertation directed by: Dr. Katharina A.M. Engelhardt Dr. Sujay S. Kaushal Program of Marine, Estuarine, Environmental Science Tidal freshwater marshes are complex systems with many linkages between the physical, chemica...

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of burrowing activities by banner-tail kangaroo rats (Dipodornys spectabilis Merriam) on plant community structure and species dominance for two patch types at the ecotone between shortgrass steppe and desert grassland in New Mexico, USA. 10mounds produced by kangaroo rats were selected in patches dominated by Bo~ireloua gracilis (the dominant in shortg...

Agricultural landscapes can be characterized as a mosaic of habitat patches interspersed with hostile matrix, or as a gradient of patches ranging from suitable to unsuitable for different species. Arthropods moving through these landscapes encounter a range of edges, with different permeability. Patches of native vegetation in these landscapes may support natural enemies of crop pests by provid...