Botany Commons^™

Identification Of Carrying Alien Dna Fragments In Solanum Melongena X Solanum Incanum Interspecific Progeny By Using Cosii Marker, Görkem Sülü, İlknur Polat, Hati̇ce Fi̇li̇z Boyaci, Ahmet Naci̇ Onus

Turkish Journal of Botany

Cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is produced in many countries with temperate and tropical climates and has great economic importance. In recent years, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress conditions in addition to increasing yield and quality has gained importance in plant breeding including eggplant breeding. Therefore, the wild relative S. incanum is an important parent in breeding studies as it provides resistance to some important biotic and abiotic stresses for eggplant. It is possible to obtain a fully fertile hybrid between the two species, as well as to establish F2 lines. However, it is a mystery whether there is …

A New Fossil Wood Species Of Ziziphus From The Middle Miocene Of Türkiye And Its Palaeoenvironmental Evaluation, Ünal Akkemi̇k, Özlem Toprak

Turkish Journal of Botany

The purpose of this study is to describe a new fossil wood from the Middle Miocene of South Anatolia (Mersin) and to identify it and evaluate its palaeoenvironmental implications. Thin sections of transverse, tangential, and radial surfaces were examined and described using the terminology of the International Association of Wood Anatomists. The wood was determined to have characteristics of Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae). It is the first fossil wood of Ziziphus and is described as Ziziphoxylon sayaz Akkemik sp. nov. It is from the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO), which is a relatively warm interval in the Miocene. Indistinct annual growth ring …

Dorycnium Vuralii (Fabaceae), A New Species From Türkiye, Bilal Şahi̇n, Seher Karaman, Mevlüde Alev Ateş, Zeki Aytaç

Turkish Journal of Botany

The present study describes a new species Dorycnium vuralii (Fabaceae) from Çankırı, Türkiye. The new species is compared morphologically to the taxa of sect. Bonjeanea and sect. Dorycnium along with pollen micromorphology, leaflet, and seed micromorphology. The geographical distribution of Dorycnium vuralii is mapped. The phylogenetic relationships between the new species and other closely related species in the genus are inferred based on DNA data from both cpDNA and nrDNA (rbcL1&ITS). Although phylogenetic implications are different in the two DNA barcoding regions, D. vuralii is shown to be a new species in both molecular data. The new species is assessed …

Isolation And Assessment Of Halophilic Rhizobacteria Plant Growth-Promoting Traits For Alleviating Salt Stress In Wheat, Alev Sezen, Ömer Faruk Algur, Ferruh Aşçi, Arzu Ünal

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this study, 22 halophilic bacteria were isolated from plants collected together with rhizosphere soil from habitats with high salt content in and around Erzurum. Various plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties of these isolates (nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing, ACC deaminase, and IAA and siderephore production) were determined. Bacteria positive for PGP properties and various combinations with these bacteria were subjected to pot experiments in saline medium (greenhouse conditions) and their effects on growth parameters (root and stem length, fresh and dry weight, protein, and chlorophyll and carotenoid content) of wheat plants were determined. As a result of the research, the isolates …

A New Permineralized Corypha-Type Coryphoid Palm Stem From K-Pg Of India: Anatomy, Systematics, Saprophytic Fungi, And Paleoecology, Ashif Ali, Kaustav Roy, Biswajit Mukherjee, Subir Bera, Mahasin Khan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Palms are known to be an important and diverse angiosperm component in the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Central India. However, the report of fossilized palm stems inhibiting saprophytic fungal remains is empty in the field of paleobotany. Here, we document for the first time the occurrence of fungal remains in a petrified palm stem collected from the latest Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous)-earliest Danian (early Paleocene) sediments of the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. The anatomical features of the fossil stem are characterized by the presence of Corypha-type general stem pattern (progressive decrease of fibrous parts of fibrovascular bundles, …

Leveraging Digital Agriculture For On-Farm Testing Of Technologies, Laila A. Puntel, Laura J. Thompson, Taro Mieno

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The Precision Nitrogen Project (PNP) worked with more than 80 corn and winter wheat producers to inexpensively design and implement randomized, replicated field strip trials on whole commercial farm fields, and to provide site-specific testing of current nitrogen (N) technologies. This article proposes a conceptual framework and detailed procedure to select the N technology to be tested; design and implement field trials; generate, process, and manage field trial data; and automatically analyze, report, and share benefits from precision N technology. The selection of the N technology was farmer-driven to ensure a good fit and to increase the likelihood of future …

Modelling The "Bottom-Up" Development Pattern Of Tar Spot Disease In Corn, Brenden Lane, Joaquín Guillermo Ramírez-Gil, Carlos Góngora-Canul, Mariela Sofia Fernandez Campos, Andres Cruz-Sancan, Fidel E. Jiménez-Beitia, Alex G. Acosta-Guatemal, Wily Sic, C. D. Cruz

Graduate Industrial Research Symposium

In 2015, the corn-infecting pathogen Phyllachora maydis (causal agent of tar spot disease) was reported for the first time in the United States. The disease has since spread across the US, causing major yield losses. In 2021 alone, 5.88 million metric tons (231.3 million bushels) of US corn yield were lost to this disease, costing an estimated US$1.25 billion. Though fungicides can protect against these agroeconomic losses, application timing can be difficult to optimize because our understanding of tar spot dynamics is still evolving. The current view is that tar spot typically develops bottom-up through a repeating infection cycle. Because …

Automated Tree Mortality Detection Using Ubiquitously Available Public Data, Michael T. Huggins

Master's Theses

Understanding the dynamic interplay between fire severity, topography, and tree mortality, is crucial for predicting future forest dynamics and enhancing resilience against climate change-induced wildfire regimes. This thesis develops a multi-sensor approach for automated estimation of tree mortality, then applies it to examine trends in tree mortality over a six-year period across a fire affected study site in the Trinity River basin in Northern California. The Random Forest model uses publicly available USGS 3D Elevation Program Lidar (3DEP) and NAIP imagery as inputs and is likely to be easily adaptable to other landscapes. The model had a Receiver Operating Characteristic …

Variation In Leaf Chlorophyll Concentration In Response To Nitrogen Application Across Maize Hybrids In Contrasting Environments, Kyle M. Linders, Dipak K. Santra, James C. Schnable, Brandi Sigmon

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Leaf chlorophyll concentration was measured for 84 publicly available maize hybrids grown under three nitrogen fertilizer treatments in two contrasting environments in Nebraska. The effect of nitrogen treatment on chlorophyll response was found to be significant (p < 0.05) for both locations. In Scottsbluff, chlorophyll concentrations increased significantly with increasing nitrogen rate, while no significant difference was found between medium and high nitrogen in Lincoln. Within equivalent nitrogen treatments, chlorophyll was more abundant in Lincoln than Scottsbluff for nearly every hybrid. Hybrid response was not consistent between environments, with approximately 11% of variance explained by genotype by environment interaction.

Arkansas Cotton Variety Tests 2023, F. Bourland, J. Gann, B. Milano, B. Guest, L. Martin, J. Mcalee

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Tests is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant. These annual evaluations will then facilitate the inclusion of new, improved genetic material in Arkansas cotton production. Adaptation of varieties is determined by evaluating the lines at five University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture research sites (Manila, Keiser, Judd Hill, Marianna, and Rohwer). The 2023 tests at Keiser were adversely affected …

Prioritizing Indigenous Participation And Compensation In Research, Amanda Sabin

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Throughout history, the dynamic between colonial entities and indigenous groups has been characterized by exploitation and power imbalance. Indigenous knowledge has the potential to positively impact the world, through medicinal breakthroughs, radical approaches to sustainability, cultural heritage, systems of learning and adaptation, and more. Particularly in the context of research, fields like anthropology, botany and pharmacology serve to benefit from indigenous knowledge, but these interactions cannot continue to be based on extraction at the cost of indigenous communities. This work will discuss the future of relationships between researchers and indigenous communities; how this power dynamic must be transformed into an …

Calibration Of Hybrid-Maize Model For Simulation Of Soil Moisture And Yield In Production Corn Fields, Anthony A. Amori, Olufemi P. Abimbola, Trenton E. Franz, Daran Rudnick, Javed Iqbal, Haishun Yang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Model calibration is essential for acceptable model performance and applications. The Hybrid-Maize model, developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is a process-based crop simulation model that simulates maize growth as a function of crop and field management and environmental conditions. In this study, we calibrated and validated the Hybrid-Maize model using soil moisture and yield data from eight commercial production fields in two years. We used a new method for the calibration and multi-parameter optimization (MPO) based on kriging with modified criteria for selecting the parameter combinations. The soil moisture-related parameter combination (SM-PC3) improved simulations of soil water dynamics, but …

Toward A Coordinated Understanding Of Hydro-Biogeochemical Root Functions In Tropical Forests For Application In Vegetation Models, Daniela F. Cusack, Bradley Christoffersen, Chris M. Smith-Martin, Kelly M. Andersen, Amanda L. Cordeiro, Katrin Fleischer, S. Joseph Wright, Nathaly R. Guerrero-Ramírez, Laynara F. Lugli, Lindsay A. Mcculloch, Mareli Sanchez-Julia, Sarah A. Batterman, Caroline Dallstream, Claire Fortunel, Laura Toro, Lucia Fuchslueger, Michelle Y. Wong, Daniela Yaffar, Joshua B. Fisher, Marie Arnaud, Lee H. Dietterich, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes, Monique Weemstra, Jing Cheng Ng, Richard J. Norby

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Tropical forest root characteristics and resource acquisition strategies are underrepresented in vegetation and global models, hampering the prediction of forest–climate feedbacks for these carbon-rich ecosystems. Lowland tropical forests often have globally unique combinations of high taxonomic and functional biodiversity, rainfall seasonality, and strongly weathered infertile soils, giving rise to distinct patterns in root traits and functions compared with higher latitude ecosystems. We provide a roadmap for integrating recent advances in our understanding of tropical forest belowground function into vegetation models, focusing on water and nutrient acquisition. We offer comparisons of recent advances in empirical and model understanding of root characteristics …

Applicability Of Using Bio-Receptive Concrete For Building Facades In Egypt, Gina Roupheil

Theses and Dissertations

The significant increase in carbon dioxide emissions caused by the construction industry is detrimental to our planet. This is rapidly increasing with the urbanization of cities that is gradually taking its toll on the available green spaces, which help in balancing such emissions. Recently, researchers have been trying to make use of bio-receptivity to create biomaterial systems that could be spread on building envelopes and support the growth of small plant species and microorganisms to establish on. Out of those materials, comes the concrete as a promising material for bio-colonization.

Within this context, this study aims at investigating the applicability …

U.S. Cereal Rye Winter Cover Crop Growth Database, Alexandra M. Huddell, Resham Thapa, Guillermo S. Marcillo, Lori J. Abendroth, Victoria J. Ackroyd, Shalamar D. Armstrong, Gautam Asmita, Muthukumar V. Bagavathiannan, Kipling S. Balkcom, Andrea Basche, Shawn Beam, Kevin Bradley, Lucas Pecci Canisares, Heather Darby, Adam S. Davis, Pratap Devkota, Warren A. Dick, Jeffery A. Evans, Wesley J. Everman, Tauana Ferreira De A Lmeida, Michael L. Flessner, Lisa M. Fultz, Stefan Gailans, Masoud Hashemi, Joseph Haymaker, Matthew J. Helmers, Nicholas Jordan, Thomas C. Kaspar, Quirine M. Ketterings, Eileen Kladivko, Alexandra Kravchenko, Eugene P. Law, Lauren Lazaro, Ramon G. Leon, Jeffrey Liebert, John Lindquist, Kristen Loria, Jodie M. Mcvane, Jarrod O. Miller, Michael J. Mulvaney, Nsalambi V. Nkongolo, Jason K. Norsworthy, Binaya Parajuli, Christopher Pelzer, Cara Peterson, Hanna Poffenbarger, Pratima Poudel, Mark S. Reiter, Matt Ruark, Matthew R. Ryan, Spencer Samuelson, John E. Sawyer, Sarah Seehaver, Lovreet S. Shergill, Yogendra Raj Upadhyaya, Mark Vangessel, Ashley L. Waggoner, John M. Wallace, Samantha Wells, Charles White, Bethany Wolters, Alex Woodley, Rongzhong Ye, Eric Youngerman, Brian A. Needelman, Steven B. Mirsky

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Winter cover crop performance metrics (i.e., vegetative biomass quantity and quality) affect ecosystem services provisions, but they vary widely due to differences in agronomic practices, soil properties, and climate. Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is the most common winter cover crop in the United States due to its winter hardiness, low seed cost, and high biomass production. We compiled data on cereal rye winter cover crop performance metrics, agronomic practices, and soil properties across the eastern half of the United States. The dataset includes a total of 5,695 cereal rye biomass observations across 208 site-years between 2001–2022 and encompasses …

Effects Of Hemiparasites In Grassland Restorations Are Not Universal, Anna Marie Scheidel, Victoria Borowicz

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Root hemiparasites infiltrate the vascular tissue of host roots to acquire water and nutrients, which often reduces host growth. Hemiparasites are postulated to be keystone species in grassland communities if they suppress dominant species and increase plant community biodiversity, and ecosystem engineers if they increase nutrient accessibility for surrounding species. We examined keystone effects by evaluating species richness and evenness in 1 m2 plots in a recent prairie restoration where Castilleja sessiliflora was naturally present or absent, and in a longer-established prairie restoration with or without Pedicularis canadensis. We examined ecosystem engineer effects by determining nitrate and phosphate concentrations …

Using Leaf Spectra To Elucidate The Taxonomy And Ecology Of Living And Dried Plants, Natalia L. Quinteros Casaverde

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Identifying plants and understanding of changes in plant communities are crucial to the conservation and management of nature. The shortwave spectral reflectance of leaves is a promising tool for rapidly identifying species at different taxonomic ranks and predicting important plant functional traits. However, the spectral reflectance of leaves changes in response to biotic and abiotic conditions.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the potential of shortwave spectral reflectance to investigate (Chapter 1) how its variation affects the accuracy of methods used to predict plant taxonomies and what environmental factors most influence biophysically predicted traits, (Chapter 2) what are …

Intensifying Rice Production To Reduce Imports And Land Conversion In Africa, Shen Yuan, Kazuki Saito, Pepijn A.J. Van Oort, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Shaobing Peng, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Africa produces around 60% of the rice the continent consumes, relying heavily on rice imports to fulfill the rest of the domestic demand.Over the past 10 years, the rice-agricultural area increased nearly 40%, while average yield remained stagnant. Here we used a process-based crop simulation modelling approach combined with local weather, soil, and management datasets to evaluate the potential to increase rice production on existing cropland area in Africa and assess cropland expansion and rice imports by year 2050 for different scenarios of yield intensification. We find that Africa can avoid further increases in rice imports, and even reduce them, …

Filling The Agronomic Data Gap Through A Minimum Data Collection Approach, Fatima A. Tenorio, Juan I. Rattalino Edreira, Juan Pablo Monzon, Fernando Aramburu-Merlos, Achim Dobermann, Armelle Gruere, Juan Martin Brihet, Sofia Gayo, Shawn Conley, Spyridon Mourtzinis, Nester Mashingaidze, Alex Sananka, Stephen Aston, Jonathan J. Ojeda, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Context: Agronomic data such as applied inputs, management practices, and crop yields are needed for assessing productivity, nutrient balances, resource use efficiency, as well as other aspects of environmental and economic performance of cropping systems. In many instances, however, these data are only available at a coarse level of aggregation or simply do not exist.

Objectives: Here we developed an approach that identifies sites for agronomic data collection for a given crop and country, seeking a balance between minimizing data collection efforts and proper representation of the main crop producing areas.

Methods: The developed approach followed a …

High Target Homology Does Not Guarantee Inhibition: Aminothiazoles Emerge As Inhibitors Of Plasmodium Falciparum, Sandra Johannsen, Robin M. Gierse, Arne KrüGer, Rachel L. Edwards, Vittoria Nanna, Anna Fontana, Di Zhu, Tiziana Masini, Lais Pessanha De Carvalho, Mael Poizat, Bart Kieftenbelt, Dana M. Hodge, Sophie University Of Nebraska-Lincoln,, Daan Bunt, Antoine Lacour, Atanaz Shams, Kamila Anna Meissner, Edmarcia Elisa De Souza, Melloney Dröge, Bernard Van Vliet, Jack Den Hartog, Michael C. Hutter, Jana Held, Audrey R. Odom John, Carsten Wrenger, Anna K.H. Hirsch

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In this study, we identified three novel compound classes with potent activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous human malarial parasite. Resistance of this pathogen to known drugs is increasing, and compounds with different modes of action are urgently needed. One promising drug target is the enzyme 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5- phosphate synthase (DXPS) of the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for which we have previously identified three active compound classes against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The close structural similarities of the active sites of the DXPS enzymes of P. falciparum and M. tuberculosis prompted investigation of their antiparasitic action, all classes …

Technological Bottlenecks And Innovative Developments For Rubber Tree Breeding In China, Yongshuai Sun, Weimin Tian, Deli Zhai, Yongping Yang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Superior varieties of rubber trees are crucial elements in achieving stable production and supply of natural rubber. In China, rubber tree planting areas are situated at the northern edga of the world’s tropical zone and thus belong to non-traditional rubber tree planting areas with climatic conditions inferior to the traditional ones in Southeast Asia. The planted rubber trees are frequently damaged by low temperatures and diseases. Therefore, an urgent need in natural rubber production is to develop varieties with highyield potential and strong stress-tolerance. The scarcity of such varieties is mainly ascribed to the highly heterozygous genome, a long juvenile …

A New Species From Türkiye, Centaurea Turhanii (Cardueae, Asteraceae), Tuna Uysal, Meryem Bozkurt, Ergi̇n Hamzaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this article, a new cornflower, Centaurea turhanii Uysal & Hamzaoğlu (Asteraceae) from Türkiye was described and reported. Morphological, karyological, and molecular analyses were used to reveal the taxonomic status of the new species with the species thought to be related to taxa. A modified determination key was submitted and its ecology and phenology were given.

A Comprehensive Study On The Molecular Characterization Of Tomato Spotted Wilt Orthotospovirus Isolates And Resistance Genes In Pepper And Tomato, Qurat Ul Ain Sajid, Emi̇nur Elçi̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV, Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae) resistance genes (Tsw, Sw5) have been identified in pepper and tomato plants. The development of resistant cultivars is one of the popular management strategies for overcoming viral infections. However, the breakdown of resistance genes has been documented from many places where resistant cultivars have been developed. This has mainly been due to the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) lines because of the consecutive use of these cultivars. The development of these isolates may cause great losses in both tomato and pepper plants in Türkiye. To investigate the incidence of TSWV, 150 symptomatic samples were …

A Phylogenetic Analysis And Delimitation Of Turanecio (Asteraceae: Senecioneae), Meryem Bozkurt, Tuna Uysal, Ergi̇n Hamzaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

Recently, Turanecio Hamzaoğlu was described as a new genus for the scientific world. Turanecio has been distributed as far as Asia, Iran, Caucasus, and Iraq. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA and cpDNA gene regions was performed to determine the position of the genus within the subtribe Adenostylinae. Results from Bayesian and parsimony analyses of the nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions of the subtribe Senecioninae concordantly indicated that it is monophyletic and belongs to the Quadridentate group, with 4-lobed disc flowers. Nuclear DNA data revealed that some of the researched taxa should be transferred to Turanecio and some taxonomical classifications …

Genetic Variation In White Poplar (Populus Alba L.) Populations As Characterized By Ssr Markers, Burcu Uzan Eken, Emrah Kirdök, Ercan Veli̇oğlu, Yelda Özden Çi̇ftçi̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

The white poplar (Populus alba L.), which is tolerant to abiotic and biotic stresses, is a tree species that is resilient against changing climatic and environmental conditions, which makes it a suitable candidate for afforestation efforts. However, due to prolonged human intervention associated with the increasing population, the genetic resources of this species are at risk of loss. Additionally, while this species generally reproduces sexually, reproduction clonally via its root suckers has become widespread in some areas. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of white poplar, which is increasingly experiencing genetic diversity loss. Herein, …

On The Border Of Extinction And Speciation, Polygala Seyfegoluensis (Polygalaceae), A New Species From Marshy Habitat, Central Türkiye: Under The Threat Of Climate Change, Water Retreat, And Subsequent Degradation, Ali̇ Aslan Dönmez, Zübeyde Uğurlu Aydin, İbrahi̇m Sirri Yüzbaşioğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

Polygala seyfegoluensis Dönmez, Uğurlu & Yüzb. (Polygalaceae) is herein described and illustrated as a new species from Kırşehir Province around Seyfe Lake in Central Türkiye. This new species is similar to P. pruinosa and P. supina is distinctly characterized by its prostrate habit, nearly glabrous and smaller flower parts, and an unwinged capsule. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to show the placement of the new species within selected Polygala taxa using the trnL-F and rbcL markers. Based on the field observation, an evolutionary scenario is proposed for the new species under the driving forces of climate change, the shrinking of …

Soil Carbon And Nitrogen After Eight Years Of Rotational Grazing In The Nebraska Sandhills Meadows, Gandura O. Abagandura, Martha Mamo, W. H. Schacht, Aaron Shropshire, Jerry Volesky

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Grassland provides many ecosystem services; therefore, sustainable management practices of grassland are crucial for maintaining and enhancing its ecosystem health and resilience. Rotational grazing at a high stocking density (a.k.a., ultrahigh stocking density) is purported to sequester greater amounts of carbon (C) in grassland soils than rotational grazing at low stocking densities. This study was conducted in the Nebraska Sandhills meadows for eight years to evaluate how rotational grazing with different stocking densities can affect soil C and total nitrogen (TN) in bulk soils, soil organic matter fractions, and sequestration rate. The grazing management included a high stocking density with …

Genome-Wide Association And Genomic Prediction For Iron And Zinc Concentration And Iron Bioavailability In A Collection Of Yellow Dry Beans, Paulo Izquierdo, Rie Sadohara, Jason Wiesinger, Raymond Glahn, Carlos Urrea, Karen Cichy

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Dry bean is a nutrient-dense food targeted in biofortification programs to increase seed iron and zinc levels. The underlying assumption of breeding for higher mineral content is that enhanced iron and zinc levels will deliver health benefits to the consumers of these biofortified foods. This study characterized a diversity panel of 275 genotypes comprising the Yellow Bean Collection (YBC) for seed Fe and Zn concentration, Fe bioavailability (FeBio), and seed yield across 2 years in two field locations. The genetic architecture of each trait was elucidated via genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the efficacy of genomic prediction (GP) was assessed. …

The Long-Term Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Floral Abundance And Bumble Bee Abundance In Mixed-Oak Forests Of Southeastern Ohio, Moses Shafer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Pollinators are declining due to climate change and habitat loss driven by agriculture and urbanization. In fire-adapted ecosystems, fire promotes the biodiversity of plants by creating space, reducing competition, and increasing light and nutrient availability. However, little is known regarding the effects of fire on floral abundance of plants used by Bombus. The overall goal of this project was to assess the long-term effects of fire on floral abundance and Bombus abundance. Our specific questions were: (1) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance?, (2) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance of species specifically utilized by bumble bees?, …

Nutritional Convergence In Plants Growing On Gypsum Soils In Two Distinct Climatic Regions, Clare T. Muller, Andreu Cera, Sara Palacio, Michael J. Moore, Pablo Tejero, Juan F. Mota, Rebecca E. Drenovsky

2024 Faculty Bibliography

Background and Aims

Soil endemics have long fascinated botanists owing to the insights they can provide about plant ecology and evolution. Often, these species have unique foliar nutrient composition patterns that reflect potential physiological adaptations to these harsh soil types. However, understanding global nutritional patterns to unique soil types can be complicated by the influence of recent and ancient evolutionary events. Our goal was to understand whether plant specialization to unique soils is a stronger determinant of nutrient composition of plants than climate or evolutionary constraints. Methods

We worked on gypsum soils. We analysed whole-plant nutrient composition (leaves, stems, coarse …