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The stemless carline thistle (Carlina acaulis subsp. caulescens) is a plant species commonly found at lower altitudes in the Central European mountains. Although it is still relatively frequent in the area, there has been a decrease in its numbers in the last decades. This research aims to determine the impact of the management of mountain mesic meadows and habitat factors on the morphometric variability of C. acaulis and species composition patterns of accompanying vegetation. The study was carried out in the central part of the Sudetes Mountains (SW Poland) on a network of 42 plots randomly established within mesic grasslands. Topographic factors and soil granulometry, physical properties, and nutrient concentrations were studied. The set of morphometric parameters was measured in situ. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to analyse the vegetation species composition. The analyses indicated that exchangeable magnesium concentrations and maximal soil water capacity had the strongest effect on the grassland plant species composition among the studied environmental variables. These levels were also significantly influenced by grazing management. After biometric analyses, the leaf rosette diameter was selected as the best morphometric measure of the C. acaulis individual's fitness. These plants showed the most vigorous growth on mowed meadows and abandoned ones significantly inhabited by grazing animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge. (SDL) is the original plant of the traditional Chinese medicine Yinchaihu (Stellaria Radix). It is mainly distributed in the arid desert areas of northwest China, which is the genuine medicinal material and characteristic cultivated crop in Ningxia. This study aims to analyze the effects of different origins on SDL metabolites and quality, as well as to screen the dominant habitat factors affecting SDL in different origins. In this study, metabolites of SDL from nine different production areas were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF MS) based metabolomics. And field investigations were conducted to record thirteen habitat-related indicators. Results showed that 1586 metabolites were identified in different origins, which were classified as thirteen categories including lipids, organic acids and organic heterocyclic compounds derivatives. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the metabonomic spectra of SDL from different origins had various characteristics. What’s more, co-expression network correlation analysis revealed that three metabolites modules (MEturquoise, MEbrown and MEblue) were more closely with the habitat factors and 104 hub metabolites were further screened out as the habitat-induced metabolite indicators. Besides, soil texture, soil pH value and soil total salt content were found as the dominant habitat factors which affect SDL metabolites. In conclusion, the study showed different habitat factors had various effects on SDL’s quality and established relationship between them, which provide reference for revealing SDL’s genuineness formation mechanism and guiding industrial crops practical production by habitat factors selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and occurrence of a species in its habitat are inevitably linked to its ecology. To successfully monitor and protect species, it is important to investigate which species-specific factors influence its interactions with the environment. In this study, we focus on patterns in habitat use of the Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis). Differences in seasonal as well as sex and size class-dependent habitat use have been reported from the edges of this species' range. To verify such trends in the core area of its distribution, we analyzed the habitat factors weather, microclimate, microhabitat structures, and time dependence, which may have an impact on the use of space of the Sand Lizard. Using generalized linear models, hypervolumes, density estimations, and Chi-squared tests, we found that the movement patterns of individuals can neither be described by time differences, climatic conditions, or habitat composition, nor do they show habitat- or weather-related differences of movement between sexes or size. Here we demonstrate that in the case of a population from the core of this species' distribution area in the Dellbrücker Heide (Germany), habitat use is solely influenced to a low degree by differences related to the ontogeny of Sand Lizards and does not depend on any of the other evaluated factors. These results are in enormous contrast to findings in populations from the periphery of their distribution, i.e., the United Kingdom, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Pyrenees. This implies that seasonal habitat shifts are more extreme at the edges of the range of L. agilis, serving to compensate deteriorating habitat conditions in the periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agricultural landscapes suffer heavily from biodiversity loss. To counter this loss, it is important to understand the key factors that affect biodiversity in these landscapes. We studied the relationships between breeding birds and the habitat characteristics of the small-scale hedgerow landscapes of East-Fryslân, The Netherlands, a typical agricultural landscape that is under pressure from upscaling and habitat degradation. We questioned whether our findings collaborate the results of hedgerow studies from other countries. We also analysed whether agri-environmental schemes were effective for breeding birds. In this study, breeding birds and fifteen habitat factors were surveyed along 170 transects in two different regions in East-Fryslân in 2018. 37 bird species were identified, of which 19 were woodland species, 18 shrub species and 7 hedgerow specialists. We found five habitat characteristics to be key factors for breeding bird numbers. Four of these factors were intrinsic factors of the hedges (i.e. shrub cover, cover of brambles and nettles, crown width, hedge width at the base) and one spatial factor (i.e. number of hedge corners within a 150-m radius, corresponding to hedge intersections). Four key factors were the same for the two regions, but effect sizes differed between factors and species groups. As proxies for habitat volume (amount of habitat), the intrinsic key factors for hedgerow breeding birds in East-Fryslân correspond to those found in Britain and Eastern Europe, despite considerable differences in botanical composition, structure and management of the hedges. In contrast to studies on British hedges, we found mainly quantitative key factors and only one qualitative factor (cover of brambles and nettles). We found one spatial key factor (hedge intersections) and no correlation of bird numbers with density of hedges in the vicinity. We discuss the ecology of the key factors with respect to food provisioning and breeding. We also conclude that agri-environmental schemes favour key habitat factors and through this shrub birds. Implications of our findings are that traditional management favours breeding birds, but also that management should partly be extensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nocturnal activities of predators and prey are influenced by several factors, including physiological adaptations, habitat quality and, we suspect, corresponds to changes in brightness of moonlight according to moon phase. In this study, we used a dataset from 102 camera traps to explore which factors are related to the activity pattern of North China leopards (Panthera pardus japonensis) in Shanxi Tieqiaoshan Provincial Nature Reserve (TPNR), China. We found that nocturnal activities of leopards were irregular during four different lunar phases, and while not strictly lunar philic or lunar phobic, their temporal activity was highest during the brighter moon phases (especially the last quarter) and lower during the new moon phase. On the contrary, roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) exhibited lunar philic activity, while wild boar (Sus scrofa) and tolai hare (Lepus tolai) were evidently lunar phobic, with high and low temporal activity during the full moon, respectively. In terms of temporal overlap, there was positive overlap between leopards and their prey species, including roe deer and tolai hare, while leopard activity did not dip to the same low level of wild boar during the full moon phase. Human activities also more influenced the temporal activity of leopards and wild boar than other species investigated. Generally, our results suggested that besides moonlight risk index (MRI), cloud cover and season have diverse effects on leopard and prey nocturnal activity. Finally, distinct daytime and nighttime habitats were identified, with leopards, wild boar, and tolai hare all using lower elevations at night and higher elevations during the day, while leopards and roe deer were closer to secondary roads during the day than at night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Southern Poland exhibits a diverse array of habitats for fungi; however, little is known about the richness and diversity of macrofungi occurring in xerothermic grasslands known as dry grasslands. Xerothermic grasslands with their unique flora and fauna are among the most valuable and, at the same time, most severely threatened habitats of Europe's natural environment. Studies on such habitats were conducted in southern Poland during the period of 2010 to 2013. Macrofungal communities were investigated in seven plant associations of xerothermic grasslands in the Nida Basin located in the Małopolska Upland of southern Poland. Designation of associations at selected study sites was based on phytosociological relevés using the Braun-Blanquet method. During the years 2010–2013, we studied the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in dry grasslands, where 164 species of basidio- and ascomycetes were recovered. We determined the properties of the studied fungal communities and habitat preferences of individual species found in the analyzed xerothermic plant associations using ecological indicators for macrofungi according to Ellenberg indicator values. Diversity patterns of fungal communities in xerothermic grasslands are strongly influenced by various environmental factors. In our study, we focused on recording the fruiting bodies of all macrofungi and the proportion of each species in the study communities, as well as possible identification of the most likely indicator species for particular habitats. We found significant differences for two of the seven associations analyzed, namely Thalictro-Salvietum pratensis and Inuletum ensifoliae. However, based on Ellenberg indicator values for fungi, it is not possible to clearly define fungi as indicator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The nocturnal activities of predators and prey are influenced by several factors, including physiological adaptations, habitat quality and, we suspect, corresponds to changes in brightness of moonlight according to moon phase. In this study, we used a dataset from 102 camera traps to explore which factors are related to the activity pattern of North China leopards (Panthera pardus japonensis) in Shanxi Tieqiaoshan Provincial Nature Reserve (TPNR), China. We found that nocturnal activities of leopards were irregular during four different lunar phases, and while not strictly lunar philic or lunar phobic, their temporal activity was highest during the brighter moon phases (especially the last quarter) and lower during the new moon phase. On the contrary, roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) exhibited lunar philic activity, while wild boar (Sus scrofa) and tolai hare (Lepus tolai) were evidently lunar phobic, with high and low temporal activity during the full moon, respectively. In terms of temporal overlap, there was positive overlap between leopards and their prey species, including roe deer and tolai hare, while leopard activity did not dip to the same low level of wild boar during the full moon phase. Human activities also more influenced the temporal activity of leopards and wild boar than other species investigated. Generally, our results suggested that besides moonlight risk index (MRI), cloud cover and season have diverse effects on leopard and prey nocturnal activity. Finally, distinct daytime and nighttime habitats were identified, with leopards, wild boar, and tolai hare all using lower elevations at night and higher elevations during the day, while leopards and roe deer were closer to secondary roads during the day than at night.

This study was conducted on the barn swallows that share habitats with humans, and the effect of changes in temperature and relative humidity, an important environmental factor for bird breeding, on swallow breeding was examined in Sejong City and Seocheon County. Barn swallows in both regions arrived from the end of April to the middle of June, and there was no big difference between the regions. In the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures at the time of arrival, there were no significant differences between the regions. The incubation period was confirmed twice. From 1 May to 20 May, the first incubation period the average temperature in the two regions was 17.3 to 18 ℃, and both the maximum and minimum temperatures were similar. The average temperature was 20.0 ℃ in Seocheon, 22.8 ℃ in Sejong, the maximum temperature was 26.9 ℃, and minimum temperature was 16.7 ℃. The brooding period in the two regions was 23.6~30.7 days on average, which was 7.1 days longer in Seocheon, and the average temperature, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature were similar.

Mugger crocodile is a keystone species of slow flowing fresh water ecosystem. Few studies regarding status and distribution of Vulnerable Mugger have been conducted in Nepal. However, studies on ecology and other aspects of the species are limited. The goal of this study was to determine the Mugger crocodile's population status, habitat occupancy, and conservation threats in the Ghodaghodi lake complex, located in the western lowlands of Nepal. A detailed survey was conducted on 18 lakes of the lake complex in February, 2021. The population status of the Mugger was surveyed by walking along the entire boundary line of each lake. For habitat survey, perimeter of all the lakes of the complex was divided into the number of stations spaced at 500 m intervals. Habitat factors associated with the presence and absence of the Mugger were analyzed using Generalized Linear Model under binary logistic regression and likelihood ratio test was performed to test predictors for statistical significance. During the survey, 26 muggers were recorded. The probability of sighting Mugger in the lake complex was significantly differ by distance to settlement, distance to river, and human disturbances, among the nine habitat variables examined. Similarly, habitat modification and illegal fishing were ranked as most severe threats to Mugger crocodile in the lake complex. The concerned authorities, responsible for managing the lake complex shall pay attention on controlling the major identified threats like habitat modification, illegal fishing, unmanaged infrastructure development, and pollution in the lake complex in order to support future conservation of Vulnerable Mugger population in the area. Furthermore, a detailed and extensive study is suggested to investigate the movement of Muggers between different lakes of the complex as well as from Ghodaghodi lake complex to the nearby rivers during breeding season in order to support effective planning and execution of habitat management activities of this Vulnerable species.

Habitat factors including topography and soil nutrients affect the formation of understory plant diversity patterns on a small spatial scale. Assessing the combination of suitable habitat factors in areas with abundant understory plant diversity is significant for the management and improvement of plant diversity in the plantations. This study used the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to simulate the geographical distribution of the area with abundant understory plant diversity and analyzed the contribution of ten habitat factors to the existence probability of the area with abundant understory plant diversity. The results showed that the regions with medium altitude (292–500 m), gentle slope (13–23 degrees), and high soil organic matter content (>2.3 g/kg) were more likely to breed abundant understory plant diversity. Topographic factors had a dominant effect on the spatial distribution of the understory plant diversity, with the importance of 64.9%. Although the effect of soil nutrient factors on understory plant diversity was less than that of topographic factors, it still made up a large proportion (35.1%). Promoting soil biochemical cycles could be an effective way to increase understory plant diversity. By changing soil organic matter content to 2.3 g/kg, soil available nitrogen to 300 mg/kg, and soil available potassium to 120 mg/kg, the average existence probability of the area with abundant understory plant diversity increased from 0.34 to 0.63. We conclude specific measures including introducing the native broad-leaved tree species such as Cotinus coggygria Scop. and Acer truncatum Bunge into the Platycladus orientalis plantation, logging residue management, and litter management are critical for promoting soil biochemical cycles and thereby increasing understory plant diversity.

During the period of work of the social and hygienic monitoring system, the main formation stages of the indicators showing the sanitary and epidemiological situation were completed, as well as information on the population health condition and the environment state was collected. At the moment, there is a need for an upgrade and development of social and hygienic monitoring, change of methodological approaches to the information collection and assessment of the environment and public health quality. When conducting social and hygienic monitoring in the AZRF, there are certain difficulties: the search for indicators that are adequate to the purposes and objectives of monitoring and showing the impact of environmental factors on public health. Methodological approaches to selection of control points and creation of programs for laboratory studies of environmental samples have not been sufficiently developed. There are limited opportunities to exchange information on natural and climatic factors as well as on environmental and health factors due to the difficulties of interdepartmental interaction. The article suggests possible ways to improve efficiency of the social and hygienic monitoring in the AZRF.

Dipteris chinensis Christ is endemic to China and is at risk of extinction due to anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. Our understanding of D. chinensis population structure and habitat is poor. Here, we investigated the habitat characteristics and population structure of a D. chinensis community at Chenjia in the Nanling National Nature Reserve, southern China. We conducted a principal component analysis followed by correlation analysis to identify the main habitat factors associated with the abundance of young D. chinensis plants. We found that the species grew in a warm and humid environment under evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests. Young D. chinensis abundance was positively correlated with the litter standing crop, soil organic matter content, and soil total nitrogen. However, the production of new D. chinensis plants appeared to be limited by a low reproduction rate (as evidenced by a population age structure skewed toward mature plants) and interspecific competition. These findings are useful for directing and prioritizing future conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article includes raw and analyzed data directly related to the research paper entitled “Non-forested vs forest environments: the effect of habitat conditions on host tree parameters and the occurrence of associated epiphytic lichens” [1]. These data concern the relationships between the composition of lichen communities and host-tree parameters in non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest in northern Poland. Lichen species confined to non-forested area, associated with forest habitat, and non-specific mutual species occurring in both habitat types are listed together with their host-tree preferences. Data on the phenotypic variability of five common and native to Central Europe tree species in relation to the habitat type are provided. Data that concerns tree parameters are analyzed by the mixed model ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis. Additionally, sample rarefactions and indices of potential lichen species richness for both habitat types are included. Presented data could be used in further studies to compare epiphytic community structure and may be support for campaigns aimed at lichen conservation and at shaping the environment with concern for biodiversity.

Macrofungal communities were investigated in seven plant associations of xerothermic grasslands in the Nida Basin located in the Małopolska Upland of southern Poland. Designation of associations at selected study sites was based on phytosociological relevés using the Braun-Blanquet method. During the years 2010–2013, we studied the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in dry grasslands, where 164 species of basidio- and ascomycetes were recovered. We determined the properties of the studied fungal communities and habitat preferences of individual species found in the analyzed xerothermic plant associations using ecological indicators for macrofungi according to Ellenberg indicator values. Diversity patterns of fungal communities in xerothermic grasslands are strongly influenced by various environmental factors. In our study, we focused on recording the fruiting bodies of all macrofungi and the proportion of each species in the study communities, as well as possible identification of the most likely indicator species for particular habitats. We found significant differences for two of the seven associations analyzed, namely Thalictro-Salvietum pratensis and Inuletum ensifoliae. However, based on Ellenberg indicator values for fungi, it is not possible to clearly define fungi as indicator species.

The main aim of this study was to not only establish the prevalence of the recently described Spirocerca vulpis parasite in the wild-life cycle of carnivores in western Spain but to also elaborate a model to explain the risk of infestation based on 16 topo-climatic and habitat variables. During the period from June 2016 to November 2017, 1644 carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and another 105 wild mammals, legally hunted or killed in car accidents, were analyzed. Parasitic nodules of Spirocerca were found in 6% of the foxes, and the molecular analyses established a homology of our samples with the species S. vulpis. There were no differences in the occurrence of the infestation between sexes, but there were differences in terms of age, such that infestation was proportionally more frequent among young individuals. In terms of temporality, a higher percentage of positive cases was observed during the late-autumn and winter months, especially between December and February. This study provides new data on the factors that predispose S. vulpis infection in the red fox. Model results indicate that a spatial pattern exists in the occurrence and prevalence of this species in the studied area (higher probabilities to the west), and that this pattern seems to mainly be associated with topo-climatic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modelling of habitat suitability and the prediction of the spatial distribution of species are important for the conservation of endangered species. In this paper, the evaluation of habitat suitability of the Chinese horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus sinicus) in the Wuling Mountains was studied. The global positioning system (GPS), remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) were used to obtain ground survey data and analyse the habitat factors driving the distribution of R. sinicus. The binary logistic regression model and the Maximum Entropy Model (MAXENT model) were used to analyse the habitat suitability of R. sinicus, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the models. The results showed that both models had high prediction accuracy, but the results of the MAXENT model were more stable than those of the binary logistic regression model when the sample size changed, indicating that the MAXENT model was the optimal method. Thena jack-knife test was used to determine the importance of the influencing factors. The results showed that the main factors influencing habitat selection were annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, the nearest distance from a settlement and vegetation fractional coverage (VFC). The suitable habitat was mainly distributed in the middle region of the study area. Marginally suitable habitat was located on the edge of suitable habitat, and unsuitable habitats were mainly distributed in the southern and northwestern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fragmented landscapes, the accessibility of resources not only influences the spatial distribution of the predators themselves, but may similarly affect the abundance of their prey. We studied the influence of habitat dynamics and predator density on the spatial abundance of Cape hare (Lepus capensis) in the Karakorum Range in a 5700 km2 area in Shigar valley during 2015-16 and 2017. We found that, seasonally the population density of Cape hare at deciduous forest plantation (site 3), was the highest and the lowest density of Cape hare was found in the closed to open herbaceous vegetation (site 1). Seasonally the detection probability and encounter rate were found the highest in the closed to open herbaceous vegetation (site 1), and detection probability was the lowest in the grassland and bare lands (site 2). In summer, we found a positive correlation between Cape hare and Red fox density in the deciduous forest plantation (site 3). In winter, a positive relationship between Cape hare and Red fox density were observed in the grassland and bare lands (site 2). Seasonally, the density of Cape hare were the highest recorded in the deciduous forest plantation (site 3) where the relative density of Red fox and encounter rate of active burrows were the lowest. In this economically poor study area, humans often retaliate against damages caused by local wildlife using guns. The conclusions are discussed in the perspective of predator--prey interaction and the implications for management and mitigation of human -- wildlife conflicts are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the relationships between woody plant species alpha diversity (a) and environmental factors in Dedegöl (Yenişarbademli) Mountain area. The research data obtained from 103 sampling plots after the land inventory study was used to calculate the diversity variables. The coverage area and habitat characteristics of woody plant species in each sampling plot were recorded during the field work. Clustering analysis (CLA) was used to group the sampling plots base on the vegetation data matrix. Correspondence Analysis (CA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) from the ordination techniques were applied in the study to the vegetation matrix in order to determine the distribution degree of the sampling plots on the ordination axis. As a result of the CA applied, surface stoniness was found to be the environmental factor that had the highest correlation. In conclusion, surface stoniness was found to have an important impact on the vegetation distribution. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied at the final stage of the study. In conclusion, Shannon-Wiener was the most effective index to calculate the alpha species diversity while surface stoniness and elevation were the most explanatory variables for alpha species diversity in the study site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific determination of ecological flow can rationalize and specify the needs of river health in light of the current orientation toward ecologically oriented water management. We established a response mechanism among fish lifecycles, habitat factors, and flow processes. The ecology-habitat-flow modular simulation model (EHF model) is proposed by considering fish ecological characteristics, environmental flow components, dynamic optimal habitat, suitable hydraulic and water quality conditions for the recommendation of river ecological flow combination. The EHF model was utilized on the main channel of the Huaihe River and compared to the outcomes of four hydrological methods. The ecological flow derived by EHF takes into account the basic and special requirements of river ecosystems and is more targeted and continuous. The results of the study provide a theoretical and methodological for the scientific determination of ecological flow in a spatial-temporal, which provides a scientific basis for the maintenance of Ecohydrological system. • A response mechanism among lifecycles, habitat factors and flow process is built. • An Ecology-habitat-flow modular simulation model is built. • Ecological flow combination and water quality objectives of river were considered. • Provides a scientific basis for river protection and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether ecological restoration of polluted urban rivers would provide suitable breeding habitats for some mosquitoes was not clear yet. It was therefore important to determine how altered river conditions influence mosquito ecology. Monthly data on water quality and larval density were obtained to determine the effects of river systems on the distribution and abundance of immature mosquitoes in two coastal cities in Eastern China. In total, 5 species within two genera of mosquitoes were collected and identified in habitat with vegetation from three positive rivers. Culex pipiens pallens was the most abundant and widely distributed species. A new species ( Culex fuscanus ) was reported in certain districts. Physico-chemical parameters of river water were important, but not the only, set of influences on immature mosquito breeding. Aquatic vegetation could increase the likelihood of mosquito breeding while artificial aeration might prevent the approach of mosquitoes. Slow-moving water might be a new potential marginal habitat type for some Culex and Aedes albopictus . Variation of river system with ecological restoration might influence the abundance and distribution of immature mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal habitats are crucial to pinnipeds for resting, molting, and reproduction. We examined terrestrial habitat preferences of four pinniped species (California sea lion, Guadalupe fur seal, harbor seal, and northern elephant seal) on the islands off the western coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Boat-based surveys were conducted while circumnavigating 10 islands or archipelagos during summer and winter in 2009 and 2010. Habitat selection was inferred based on generalized linear models using animal counts and four habitat descriptors (substrate type, tide pools, bathymetry, and surf protection). The interspecific overlapping was analyzed using the Morisita index. Sea lions, fur seals, and harbor seals used sheltered beaches and rocky platforms as breeding sites. Cobblestone and sandy beaches were the most important substrates for elephant seals. Cliffs were the least preferred habitat by all species. Although substrate preferences were similar among species, segregation was observed in most islands except at the San Benito Archipelago, where sea lions co-inhabit with elephant seals and fur seals. In the context of a recolonization process, these results could provide insights about the location of future colonies and information on habitat use, which can be used when designing conservation strategies for the islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larch defoliation by Harig (Pristiphora laricis) has caused great damage in China. In this study, an attempt is made to analyze the relationships between Harig infestation and various habitat factors via the analysis of representative needles and other environmental metrics that were collected from Saihanba Mechanical Forestry Farm of Hebei Province between 2007 and 2010. The population density per tree (PD), the percentage of insect-infected trees in one sample plot (PIIT), and the infected area (IA) are treated as dependent variables when analyzing the degree of infection. The study concludes: PD and PIIT differ significantly between areas with varying species composition; canopy density and stand density negatively correlate with PD; Harig appears not to infect young growth; and infections have the tendency to spread to high altitudes. In order to provide a basis for macro prevention and control of insect attack, the habitat factors most closely related to the occurrence of insect attack are inputted into an information load GIS model to estimate the potential damage from infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locust hazard is one of the major disasters for farming and animal husbandry in Xinjiang, China. Currently locust disaster monitoring mainly relies on the limited observatory field sites and is not efficient due to Xinjiang's remote geographic location, vast area and inadequate technological support. Fortunately, remote sensing technique offers a valuable tool for locust hazard monitoring and prediction in a large area such as Xinjiang. This study presents a progressive modeling approach for locust hazard risk prediction of the rangeland in Xinjiang. The underlying thought is that the model is to be built based on the key 3 growth stages of locust, namely oviposition, incubation and development, and these processes are heavily affected or even determined by the locust habitats which can be resolved into some key ecological and environmental factors, such as land surface/air temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, soil type, vegetation type and coverage, geographic altitude. The suitability of locust habitat is assessed for these 3 stages using satellite remote sensing data, adopting locust oviposition suitability indicator (OSI), incubation suitability indicator (ISI) and development suitability indicator (DSI). The 3 types of suitability indicators are created mainly based on the derivatives from Terra/MODIS remote sensing data, digital elevation model (DEM) data and ground measured ancillary data. The OSI is created by the weighted combination of 3 sub-indices: soil type factor, soil moisture factor and vegetation factor for oviposition. The ISI is formed from the multiplication of land surface temperature factor and soil moisture factor. And geographic altitude factor, vegetation coverage factor in development stage and vegetation type factor are used to generate the DSI by a weighted combination. Each factor is normalized to the score from 1 to 10, indicating the degree of suitability of this factor. The number 1 represents least suitability and 10 most suitability. Afterwards, the 3 indicators OSI, ISI and DSI are incorporated into locust risk index (LRI) in a multiplicative manner, which is used as a quantitative index to assess the locust hazard risk spatially. The historical data of locust hazard and in-situ measurement data of locust density in 2014 are used to calibrate the model, and consequently the resultant LRI can be further classified into 4 risk levels: low, low-moderate, moderate-high, and high when LRI is less than 100, >100-200, >200-300 and greater than 300, respectively, which can be empirically used to represent the potential severity of locust disaster in the next few months. Considering the variations and interannual fluctuation, a progressive strategy is proposed and incorporated into the modeling process. Two types of modification are applied to the primary model prediction, i.e. oviposition modification and third-instar modification. This strategy allows to making use of the dynamic data acquired by satellite remote sensors, and periodically updates the habitat factors input of the model through quantitative inversion of remotely sensed data. Therefore, the modeled LRI can better reflect the incoming locust hazard possibility and provide more accurate prediction than conventional single input-output model run. The model is subsequently utilized to assess and predict the risk of the locust hazard in the rangeland of Xinjiang in 2010 and 2014. The result indicates that the proposed progressive strategy for the locust hazard risk can reflect the variability of the key habitat factors that affect the locust population development. It also shows that the progressive approach can avoid inaccuracy of one-time prediction, and the modeled results are well correlated to the actual locust hazard severity degree which is classified based on the in-situ measurements of locust density. On the basis of the validation between the modeled risk levels and in-situ measured locust disaster severity classes, the results indicate that approximately 74.4% of the sample sites are completely fallen into the same level, and 94.9% of the samples are different within one level. Thus, the model is useful for early warning of locust hazard and the disaster prevention and relief in Xinjiang area. The model can also be localized and applied in other arid areas of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) is one the important maple species and native to the northern forests of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate some habitat characteristics and quality of A. cappadocicum in the forests of south Sari in Mazandaran province. To this aim, parts of forests with high a presence of this species were selected and 93 sample plots of 0.1 ha each were established with selective sampling method in different physiographic conditions (elevation, slope gradient and aspect). Geographical conditions of each plot as well as the quantitative and qualitative traits of maple trees were recorded. To survey soil properties, 20 soil samples were also randomly collected. The results showed that the number of maple trees varied between 1 to 29 in each sample plot. Moreover, the Physiographic factors significantly affected the distribution of maple trees, and the highest abundance was observed between 21% to 40% slopes, Eastern aspect and altitudes ranging between 1501 to 1700 meters above sea level. On the contrary, the lowest number of erect maple trees was observed on 1 to 20% slope, East aspect and between 1701 to 1900 meters altitude, whereas vertical maple trees were mostly observed in 81 to 150% slopes, western aspect as well as 1901 to 2100 m above sea level. The maple trees were mostly abundant in loamy soils, but the thickest and highest individuals occurred on clay soils.

Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata Bge. (SDL) is the original plant of the traditional Chinese medicine Yinchaihu ( Stellaria Radix ). It is mainly distributed in the arid desert areas of northwest China, which is the genuine medicinal material and characteristic cultivated crop in Ningxia. This study aims to analyze the effects of different origins on SDL metabolites and quality, as well as to screen the dominant habitat factors affecting SDL in different origins. In this study, metabolites of SDL from nine different production areas were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF MS) based metabolomics. And field investigations were conducted to record thirteen habitat-related indicators. Results showed that 1586 metabolites were identified in different origins, which were classified as thirteen categories including lipids, organic acids and organic heterocyclic compounds derivatives. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the metabonomic spectra of SDL from different origins had various characteristics. What's more, co-expression network correlation analysis revealed that three metabolites modules (MEturquoise, MEbrown and MEblue) were more closely with the habitat factors and 104 hub metabolites were further screened out as the habitat-induced metabolite indicators. Besides, soil texture, soil pH value and soil total salt content were found as the dominant habitat factors which affect SDL metabolites. In conclusion, the study showed different habitat factors had various effects on SDL's quality and established relationship between them, which provide reference for revealing SDL's genuineness formation mechanism and guiding industrial crops practical production by habitat factors selection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Li, Wang, Feng, Song, Lu, Li, Li, Tian, Yang, Li, Mei and Peng.)

• Gastropod assemblages discriminate between forests with and without introduced pine. • Pine lowers gastropod abundance and species richness in broadleaved forest. • Herbs and trees control the gastropod assemblage structure in the oak-hornbeam forest. • Intra-plot and inter-plot study needed to describe gastropods of a mosaic forest type. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the introduction of Pinus sylvestris on the mesofauna of the forest floor in the Central European oak-hornbeam forest, using gastropods as a model group. Data on terrestrial gastropods and environmental variables were collected in 2012–2014 from 25 study plots (14 without pine and 11 with pine) at 14 localities scattered across Wielkopolska province in mid-western Poland. Forty-two species (34 of snails and 8 of slugs) were recorded, with significantly lower numbers of individuals and species in plots with pine. The negative effect of the presence of pine trees was most evident at the level of gastropod abundance. The species composition of gastropod assemblage was also significantly different between plots with and without pine. The symptoms of the assemblage's reduction, impoverishment and trivialization thus suggested a long-term effect of the introduced pine on natural mesofauna. However, gastropod assemblage was shaped not by one dominating factor, but by a multifactorial combination of interacting variables, particularly related to herbaceous vegetation and to the tree- and shrub layer. Herb layer cover, moisture (reflected in the herbs), fertility (reflected in the herbs), and locally also the amount of calcium in the soil and insolation were found to be significant for the structure of gastropod assemblages. More environmental variables were significant at the sample level (i.e. within forest) than at the plot level (i.e. between forests), which is likely to be due to greater variation in the conditions within a rich forest as opposed to lower variation between forests. This highlighted the importance of using a two-scale approach to understand the conditions affecting gastropod assemblage structure in a habitat that is seemingly homogenous on the macro scale, but diversified and mosaic in the micro scale. The negative effects of pine introduction and the positive significance of the multifactorial combination of habitat factors at the macro- and micro level appear as important guidelines for favourable biodiversity management in the Central European oak-hornbeam forest and in other broadleaved forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Determining the optimal habitat conditions that give birth to abundant understory species diversity for Platycladus orientalis plantations. • Expanding the application scope of the Maxent model. • Realizing the simulation of the potential distribution of Platycladus orientalis plantations with abundant understory plant diversity. • Proposing strategies to improve the understory plant diversity of Platycladus orientalis plantations. Habitat factors including topography and soil nutrients affect the formation of understory plant diversity patterns on a small spatial scale. Assessing the combination of suitable habitat factors in areas with abundant understory plant diversity is significant for the management and improvement of plant diversity in the plantations. This study used the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to simulate the geographical distribution of the area with abundant understory plant diversity and analyzed the contribution of ten habitat factors to the existence probability of the area with abundant understory plant diversity. The results showed that the regions with medium altitude (292–500 m), gentle slope (13–23 degrees), and high soil organic matter content (>2.3 g/kg) were more likely to breed abundant understory plant diversity. Topographic factors had a dominant effect on the spatial distribution of the understory plant diversity, with the importance of 64.9%. Although the effect of soil nutrient factors on understory plant diversity was less than that of topographic factors, it still made up a large proportion (35.1%). Promoting soil biochemical cycles could be an effective way to increase understory plant diversity. By changing soil organic matter content to 2.3 g/kg, soil available nitrogen to 300 mg/kg, and soil available potassium to 120 mg/kg, the average existence probability of the area with abundant understory plant diversity increased from 0.34 to 0.63. We conclude specific measures including introducing the native broad-leaved tree species such as Cotinus coggygria Scop. and Acer truncatum Bunge into the Platycladus orientalis plantation, logging residue management, and litter management are critical for promoting soil biochemical cycles and thereby increasing understory plant diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compares the epiphytic lichen communities of two different ecological systems of northern Poland, a non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest corresponding to the potential vegetation flora of a large part of Central Europe, in relation to the same tree species. The impact of habitat type and tree species on individual tree properties and the association between tree size, bark pH, conductivity, water-holding capacity, bark splitting, light intensity at tree trunks and the composition of lichens were analysed. Three sets of lichens were identified: confined to non-forested areas (40 species), confined to forests (61 species), and non-specific mutual species (53 species). The results indicate that most species demonstrate specificity to habitat type rather than to tree species. Factors related to tree species and bark properties gain in importance at the level of a specific habitat. Bark pH and water-holding capacity are decisive factors for lichen occurrence in both habitat types; additionally, in forests, tree diameter is important. The paper provides potentially useful ecological data for campaigns aimed at lichen conservation and at shaping the environment with concern for biodiversity. • Epiphytic lichens are more strongly habitat-specific than host tree-specific. • Factors related to tree bark gain in importance at the specific habitat level. • Water-holding capacity and pH of bark are decisive factors for epiphytic lichens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights: Intensive forest management practices generally have a negative effect on biodiversity. However, the creation of new, open habitats as a consequence of timber harvesting within large areas of woodland may be favorable to some bird species. Background and Objectives: Habitat selection of the European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus in a coniferous woodland area in northeastern Poland was studied in order to specify management recommendations. Materials and Methods: To define the influence of various environmental parameters on territory occupation, 11 micro- and 3 macrohabitat factors were analyzed. Results: Denser vegetation in the ground layer deterred birds from nesting in clearings with such characteristics. Moreover, Nightjars preferentially inhabited sites adjacent to young stands of trees. Birds preferred plots with a higher number of clearings in the neighborhood, as this enabled them to enlarge their foraging area. Other microhabitat factors (e.g., the type, age and area of clearings), as well as macroscale factors like distances to the forest edge, nearest roads and human settlements, were of no importance. Conclusions: Knowledge of the Nightjar preferences may be useful in working out a compromise between an appropriate level of clear-felling and conservation of other bird species requiring preservation of old tree stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article includes raw and analyzed data directly related to the research paper entitled "Non-forested vs forest environments: the effect of habitat conditions on host tree parameters and the occurrence of associated epiphytic lichens" [1]. These data concern the relationships between the composition of lichen communities and host-tree parameters in non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest in northern Poland. Lichen species confined to non-forested area, associated with forest habitat, and non-specific mutual species occurring in both habitat types are listed together with their host-tree preferences. Data on the phenotypic variability of five common and native to Central Europe tree species in relation to the habitat type are provided. Data that concerns tree parameters are analyzed by the mixed model ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis. Additionally, sample rarefactions and indices of potential lichen species richness for both habitat types are included. Presented data could be used in further studies to compare epiphytic community structure and may be support for campaigns aimed at lichen conservation and at shaping the environment with concern for biodiversity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relation-ships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2020 The Author(s).)