Applications of biotope mapping for spatial environmental planning and policy: case studies in urban ecosystems in Korea

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current status and method of biotope mapping for practical use for landscape planning and environmental policy in urban ecosystem in Korea. We examine current ecological mapping of Seoul, Seongnam, Daegu, and Yongin. Ecological mapping is examined closely in terms of investigation methodology, investigation subject, classification of urban landscape, and the present condition of application. Biotope mapping in Seoul and Seongnam were carried out by the city governments concerned with the pre-set budgets earmarked for mapping. In order to promote the utilization of biotope maps for city planning in Korea, the following actions should be considered. First, the survey method should be standardized by introducing a uniform standard with respect to the scope of survey, the quality of primary data used, the survey method, and the level of the survey. Second, it is necessary to identify a basic category of biotope for each area by consolidating the outcome of the previous surveys. Third, it is highly desirable to minimize the differences between the evaluation criteria and the assessment factors. Fourth, it is ideal to apply the results of the biotope evaluation to city planning in an indirect manner through reflecting the results first in the landscape plans. In order to facilitate this alternative utilization, it is necessary to strengthen the control provisions contained in the ordinances of the city concerned or to enact a set of new provisions in the ordinances so that biotope mapping could be used more widely as a criterion for the spatial environmental impact assessment.     

Facilitation in an unproductive boreal forest understorey community

Questions: We tested the hypothesis that if competition had a significant influence in structuring this boreal plant community, removal of neighbours, addition of fertilizer and addition of water would all benefit the transplanted seedlings. Alternatively, if facilitation had a greater influence, then removal of neighbours would be detrimental to the transplants but fertilization and watering would still be beneficial. Location: Understorey of the boreal forest in southwestern Yukon Territory, Canada (138°22′W; 61°02′N). Methods: Ten of the most common species were transplanted as seedlings into transects from which all neighbours had been removed, and also into transects with intact vegetation. We used a factorial design with two levels of watering and two levels of fertilization; this allowed us to test effects at both species and community level. Results: The summed survival and total biomass of all transplants was significantly higher in the presence of neighbours than without neighbours, indicating a facilitative effect of neighbouring plants, but there were significant increases in only six of the ten species. The combined survival and biomass of all species increased with watering, survival decreased and biomass increased with fertilization, but only two species had significant responses to fertilization: Anenome parviflora decreased and Mertensia paniculata increased in biomass. Watering increased the biomass of Achillea millefolium, Festuca altaica and Solidago multiradiata; there were also some interaction effects. Conclusions: (1) The presence of neighbours was generally facilitative. (2) Fertilization had negligible effects, and watering had minor beneficial effects. (3) This study demonstrates the importance of facilitation in structuring this boreal understorey community.     

Seed Rot,a New Disease of Beech Tree Caused by Neonectria ramulariae (anamorph: Cylindrocarpon obtusiusculum)

During a survey of seed diseases of Fagus crenata, a new fungal disease of the seeds was found with high frequency in Akita, northern Japan. Main symptoms are often expressed as browning of the cracked parts from exposed cotyledons and complete loss of viability of infected seeds. Reddish perithecia and whitish yellow sporodochia were occasionally observed symptoms and determined that they were anamorph–telemorph relationship on the basis of both cultural observations. Inoculation studies confirmed that this fungus was the cause of seed rot. The fungus is morphologically identical with Neonectria ramulariae (anamorph: Cylindrocarpon obtusiusculum) that is well known as the soil‐born fungi around the world. Sequences between the authentic isolate of Neo. ramulariae (CBS 151.29) and the pathogenic fungus based on ITS, LSU and tub showed high similarity. Thus, ‘seed rot’, the new disease of beech seeds caused by Neo. ramulariae (anamorph: Cyl. obtusiusculum) was proposed in this study.     

Long COVID and its Management

The pandemic of COVID-19 is the biggest public health crisis in 21^st Century. Besides the acute symptoms after infection, patients and society are also being challenged by the long-term health complications associated with COVID-19, commonly known as long COVID. While health professionals work hard to find proper treatments, large amount of knowledge has been accumulated in recent years. In order to deal with long COVID efficiently, it is important for people to keep up with current progresses and take proactive actions on long COVID. For this purpose, this review will first introduce the general background of long COVID, and then discuss its risk factors, diagnostic indicators and management strategies. This review will serve as a useful resource for people to understand and prepare for long COVID that will be with us in the foreseeable future.     

Diversity of saproxylic bryophytes in old‐growth and managed beech forests in the central Balkans

Abstract

The diversity of saproxylic bryophyte species in beech forest stands from the wide region of the central Balkans (i.e. Serbia and Montenegro) was studied, and this study is the first of such a type in SE Europe. Comparison of preserved old‐growth and managed forests were made. Bryophyte species diversity is higher in primeval forest stands where the spectra of dead wood in various decaying stages of its dynamics are present. The ecological group of epixylic specialists is predominant among the bryophytes recorded. Threatened bryophyte species occur in old‐growth beech stands. The dead wood as habitat together with some other factors are extremely important for the surviving of epixylic bryophyte; so these species can be used as bioindicator bryophyte species of old‐growth or managed and structured forest ecosystems.     

Strategic Management of an Invasive Ant‐scale Mutualism Enables Recovery of a Threatened Tropical Tree Species

Mutualisms between invasive ants and honeydew‐producing insects can have widespread negative effects on natural ecosystems. This is becoming an increasingly serious problem worldwide, causing certain ecosystems to change radically. Management of these abundant and influential mutualistic species is essential if the host ecosystem is to recover to its former non‐invaded status. This negative effect is particularly prevalent on some tropical islands, including Cousine Island, Seychelles. On this island, the invasive ant Pheidole megacephala has caused serious indirect damage to the threatened native Pisonia grandis trees via a mutualism with an invasive scale insect, Pulvinaria urbicola. We aimed to suppress the ant, thereby decoupling the mutualism and enabling recovery of the Pisonia trees. We treated all areas where ant pressure was high with a selective formicidal bait, which was deployed in custom‐made bait stations designed to avoid risk of treatment to endemic fauna. In the treated area, ant foraging activity was reduced by 93 percent and was followed by a 100 percent reduction in scale insect density. Abundance of endemic herbivorous insects and herbivorous activity increased significantly, however, after the decline in mutualistic species densities. Despite the native herbivore increase, there was considerable overall improvement in Pisonia shoot condition and an observed increase in foliage density. Our results demonstrate the benefit of strategic management of highly mutualistic alien species to the native Pisonia trees. It also supports the idea that area‐wide suppression is a feasible alternative to eradication for achieving positive conservation management at the level of the forest ecosystem.     

Silvopastoralism in the Alps: Native plant species selection under different grazing pressure

To evaluate the suitability of wood pastures as a managing tool in subalpine regions it is essential to know more about the influence of grazing on the ground vegetation. This study assessed native plant species selection by cattle at different stocking rates, feeding habits and site preferences of cattle. Based on the results, conclusions concerning the value of silvopastoral systems in the Alps were drawn. A field study on six different wood pasture areas, grazed by cattle at different stocking rates, was accompanied by an experiment on three adjoining areas of 0.51 ha each, stocked with either three, six, or nine heifers. Plant species were recorded in plots of 20 cm × 20 cm before and after grazing, and the intensity of grazing on each species was assessed. At low stocking rates, grasses and tall species were most intensely grazed, while at higher stocking rates the intake of forbs and small species increased. Since no relationship was found between nutritional value and species preference, other factors such as accessibility of a plant seem to be important for the feeding preferences of cattle. The preference for grasses at low and medium stocking rates suggests that an increased growth of forbs might lead to an increase in plant species diversity.