Vineyards are amongst the most intensive forms of agriculture often resulting in simplified landscapes where semi-natural vegetation is restricted to small scattered patches. However, a tendency toward a more sustainable management is stimulating research on biodiversity in these poorly investigated agro-ecosystems. The main aim of this study was to test the effect on plant diversity of managem...

BACKGROUND Feral populations of cultivated crops can pose challenges to novel trait confinement within agricultural landscapes. Simulation models can be helpful in investigating the underlying dynamics of feral populations and determining suitable management options. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We developed a stage-structured matrix population model for roadside feral alfalfa populations o...

Haylands are the mildest option for agricultural use of drained peatlands in terms CO2 emissions. However, fluxes and their balance may depend on various conditions including frequency mowing amount phytomass removed. Based field measurements using chamber method monitoring environmental factors conducted 2018–2020 hayland fallow peatland central European Russia, a mathematical model was built....

Analysis tools that combine large spatial and temporal scales are necessary for efficient management of wildlife species, such as the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). We assessed the ability of Ripley's K-function analysis integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) to determine changes in burrowing owl nest clustering over two years at NASA Ames Research Center. Specifically, we u...

Carbohydrate storage enables plants to tolerate both seasonally unfavourable conditions and recover from disturbance. Although short-term changes in storage levels due to disturbance are fairly well known, less is known about long-term changes in storage levels, especially in response to cessation of repeated disturbance. Additionally, whereas it is presumably the total amount (pool) of storage...

Analysis tools that combine large spatial and temporal scales are necessary for efficient management of wildlife species, such as the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). We assessed the ability of Ripley’s K-function analysis integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) to determine changes in burrowing owl nest clustering over two years at NASA Ames Research Center. Specifically, we u...

A fertilization experiment was carried out in 3 mesotrophic fens to investigate whether plant growth in these systems is controlled by the availability of N, P or K. The fens are located in an area with high N inputs from precipitation. They are annually mown in the summer to prevent succession to woodland. Above-ground plant biomass increased significantly upon N fertilization in the two 'mid'...

1) Spot heights at summits have an accuracy of about ±3.3m at all map scales, in agreement with the published figure. 2) Levelled heights from old 6-inch maps can be a few metres below the summit but are unlikely to be more than a few tenths of a metre higher. 3) The accuracy of old and new 1:50k maps is similar, but where heights have changed the old height has a tendency to be too low. 4) Spo...

Anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum cereale) is a destructive fungal disease of weakened turf that occurs throughout the U.S., Canada and Western Europe (15) and is particularly severe on annual bluegrass (Poa annua). The frequency and severity of anthracnose epiphytotics on golf course greens has increased over the past decade (13,14) and is thought to be associated with some of the manageme...