Growing lignocellulosic crops on marginal lands is a promising solution for sustainable biofuel production. We evaluated the productivity of bioenergy cropping systems [switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L., var. Cave-In-Rock), miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus, “Illinois clone”), hybrid poplar (Populus nigra P. maximowiczii A. Henry ‘NM6’), native grasses (five species), early successional vegetat...

Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Arid Ecosystems 1.2. Desertification 2. Degradation of natural resources 3. Frame conditions: The importance of scale 4. Defining compartments for feasible approaches 5. Assessment and monitoring of the problem 6. Approaches to combating degradation in arid systems 6.1. Practical steps within the biophysical system 6.1.1 Water resources 6.1.2. Conservation of soils...

Despite the important role of fungi for ecosystems, relatively little is known about factors underlying dynamics their diversity. Moreover, studies do not typically consider dark diversity: species absent from an otherwise suitable site. Here, we examined potential drivers local fungal diversity in temperate woodland and open habitats using LiDAR in-situ field measurements, combined with a syst...

one of the influential tools concerning the rangeland and vegetation sciences isthe technology of remote sensing and satellite data. satellite data have played essentialroles in preparing the needed information for studying the vegetation. vegetation has beenwidely recognized as one of the best indicators for determining the land conditions. usingvegetation indices is one of the techniques of r...

After cultural treatments such as site preparation, release and fertilization, changes in the supply of mineral nutrients relative to each other and shifts in the composition of vegetation may have a delayed effect on the nutrition, carbon partitioning and growth of forest trees. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of early management options that control vegetation and fertility...

The vegetation of Campbell Island and its offshore islets was sampled quantitatively at 140 sites. Data from the 134 sites with more than one vascular plant species were subjected to multivariate analysis. Out of a total of 140 indigenous and widespread adventive species known from the island group, 124 vascular species were recorded; 85 non-vascular cryptogams or species aggregates play a majo...

A chemical factory, using a production technology of acetaldehyde with mercury catalysis, was located southeast of Qingzhen City in Guizhou Province, China. Previous research showed heavy mercury pollution through an extensive downstream area. A current investigation of the mercury distribution in ambient air, soils, and plants suggests that mobile mercury species in soils created elevated merc...

The vegetation of Tasmania is complex and much of it is in a state of disclimax. At the time of European settlement, the proportion of non-forest open vegetation was 370/0, about 5% ofthis at high altitudes. In the present interglacial climate, in regions ofhigh rainfall, where rainforest dominance might be expected, approximately 45% carries sedgeland, grassland, shrub communities and wet scle...

effects of mating sex ratios on production performance in indian peafowl were investigated at punjabwildlife research institute, gatwala faisalabad. research was conducted from may through august 2007 toexplore the most productive mating sex ratio. the sex ratios have a significant effect on egg production.maximum mean eggs (1.63) were produced by the sex ratio 1:2 while maximum egg fertility (...