In herbivorous insects, host plant switching is commonly observed and plays an important role in their annual life cycle. However, much remains to be learned about seasonal host switching of various pestiferous arthropods under natural conditions. From 2006 until 2012, we assessed Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) host plant use in successive spring, summer and winter seasons at one single location ...

Ornamental horticulture has been recognized as the main pathway for plant invasions worldwide. We examined the link between propagule pressure created by the presence of ornamental plants in the market and their ability to escape from cultivation and establish in the wild. A random sample of 534 non-native ornamental species on sale in nineteenth century Britain showed that 27% of these species...

Euphorbia rosescens is a recently described plant that is narrowly endemic to the Lake Wales Ridge. Little is known of the ecology or life history of this diminutive, deeply rooted polygamodioecious perennial. We studied 13 subpopulations of this species from 2004-2012 from five habitats, sampling monthly during its growing season. Subpopulations were stable year-to-year with annual survivals >...

Question: This study analyzed the effect of severe soil erosion on species composition of plant communities by favouring species showing certain growth forms, root-sprouting and clonal growth abilities. Location: The study area was located between the middle Ebro Valley and the PrePyrenees (northeastern Spain). Methods: Root-sprouting and shoot-rooting abilities, clonal reproduction and growth ...

[1] Radiocarbon levels in annual plants provide a means to map out regional and continental-scale fossil fuel plumes in surface air. We collected corn (Zea mays) across North America during the summer of 2004. Plants from mountain regions of western North America showed the smallest influence of fossil fuel-derived CO2 with a mean D C of 66.3% ±1.7%. Plants from eastern North America and from t...

Perennials and annuals apply different strategies to adapt to the adverse environment, based on 'tolerance' and 'avoidance', respectively. To understand lifespan evolution and its impact on plant adaptability, we carried out a comparative study of perennials and annuals in the genus Veronica from a phylogenetic perspective. The results showed that ancestors of the genus Veronicawere likely to b...

tribulus terrestris is a herbal remedy which is used for various purposes in folk medicine. it has been used as tonic, aphrodisiac, astringent, analgesic, stomachic, anti-hypertensive, diuretic and urinary anti-septic. it is about 30 to 70cm high; it grows as a summer annual, has pinnately compound leaves, yellow flowers and stellate shaped carpel fruits. since the past decades, some plants hav...

Tribulus terrestris is a herbal remedy which is used for various purposes in folk medicine. It has been used as tonic, aphrodisiac, astringent, analgesic, stomachic, anti-hypertensive, diuretic and urinary anti-septic. It is about 30 to 70cm high; it grows as a summer annual, has pinnately compound leaves, yellow flowers and stellate shaped carpel fruits. Since the past decades, some plants hav...

Terrestrial invasive plants are a global problem and are becoming ubiquitous components of most ecosystems. They are implicated in altering disturbance regimes, reducing biodiversity, and changing ecosystem function, sometimes in profound and irreversible ways. However, the ecological impacts of most invasive plants have not been studied experimentally, and most research to date focuses on few ...

Changes in the species composition of biotic communities may alter patterns of natural selection occurring within them. Native perennial grass species in the Intermountain West are experiencing a shift in the composition of interspecific competitors from primarily perennial species to an exotic, annual grass. Thus traits that confer an advantage to perennial grasses in the presence of novel ann...