2021
Díaz-Álvarez, E. A.; de la Barrera, E.
Influence of land-use on the C and N status of a C4 invasive grass in a semi-arid region: implications for biomonitoring Journal Article
In: Plants, vol. 10, pp. 942, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: atmospheric pollution, biomonitoring, buffel grass, carbon, global ecology, invasive species, nitrogen, pollution, Sonora, stable isotopes
@article{Díaz-Álvarez2021bb,
title = {Influence of land-use on the C and N status of a C4 invasive grass in a semi-arid region: implications for biomonitoring},
author = {E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and E. de la Barrera },
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/942},
doi = {10.3390/plants10050942},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-05-09},
journal = {Plants},
volume = {10},
pages = {942},
abstract = {Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution is an increasingly accepted practice. However, most existing biomonitors are usually epiphytic species from mesic environments. This work assessed the suitability of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), an invasive C4 grass in northwestern Mexico, as a biomonitor, by means of the spatial distribution of the carbon and nitrogen content and isotopic signatures for grass samples collected from urban, agricultural, and natural areas throughout the state of Sonora. We found the highest tissue carbon content of 45.6% (on a dry weight basis) and highest nitrogen content of 3.31% for buffelgrass from the Yaqui Valley. We also found the lowest δ13C of −15.9‰, and the highest δ15N of 16.7‰ in the same region. In contrast, the lowest carbon and nitrogen content of 39.4 and 1.49% were found for Bahía de Kino and Río Sonora mountains, respectively. The lowest δ15N of 2.18‰ and the highest δ13C of −13.7‰ were measured for two remote locations. These results show the influence that pollutant emissions, including agriculture and transportation, have on elemental and isotopic composition of vegetation. Buffelgrass is most adequate for tracking carbon and nitrogen emissions in arid environments and for determining alterations on nitrogen soil reactions, as a first approximation for saturation.},
keywords = {atmospheric pollution, biomonitoring, buffel grass, carbon, global ecology, invasive species, nitrogen, pollution, Sonora, stable isotopes},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution is an increasingly accepted practice. However, most existing biomonitors are usually epiphytic species from mesic environments. This work assessed the suitability of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), an invasive C4 grass in northwestern Mexico, as a biomonitor, by means of the spatial distribution of the carbon and nitrogen content and isotopic signatures for grass samples collected from urban, agricultural, and natural areas throughout the state of Sonora. We found the highest tissue carbon content of 45.6% (on a dry weight basis) and highest nitrogen content of 3.31% for buffelgrass from the Yaqui Valley. We also found the lowest δ13C of −15.9‰, and the highest δ15N of 16.7‰ in the same region. In contrast, the lowest carbon and nitrogen content of 39.4 and 1.49% were found for Bahía de Kino and Río Sonora mountains, respectively. The lowest δ15N of 2.18‰ and the highest δ13C of −13.7‰ were measured for two remote locations. These results show the influence that pollutant emissions, including agriculture and transportation, have on elemental and isotopic composition of vegetation. Buffelgrass is most adequate for tracking carbon and nitrogen emissions in arid environments and for determining alterations on nitrogen soil reactions, as a first approximation for saturation.
2016
Villa-Reyes, F.; de la Barrera, E.
Environmental cues for germination of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link Journal Article
In: Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, vol. 38, pp. 156, 2016.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, ecophysiology, germination, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum ciliare, zacate buffel
@article{Villa-Reyes2016,
title = {Environmental cues for germination of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link},
author = {F. Villa-Reyes and E. de la Barrera},
url = {http://rdcu.be/noeu
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11738-016-2175-x},
doi = {10.1007/s11738-016-2175-x},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-05-28},
journal = {Acta Physiologiae Plantarum},
volume = {38},
pages = {156},
abstract = {Responses of seed germination to air temperature, water potential, light, and smoke were studied in the laboratory for seeds of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link (syn. Cenchrus ciliare L.; buffel grass). First introduced to North America during the mid-20th Century for establishing pastures, this African bunch grass has become an invasive species of concern. Across all the experiments conducted, a low germination was observed for P. ciliare fascicles that never exceeded 30% at 21 days after sowing. Optimal day/night air temperatures for germination, controlled with an environmental chamber, were 25/15 and 30/20 ºC, while extreme temperatures of 15/5 and 45/35 ºC inhibited germination. By sowing seeds of P. ciliare under different water potentials, created with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol, an optimum of -0.03 MPa led to the highest germination, while no germination was observed at -1.0 MPa. Monochromatic optical filters were utilized to germinate seeds under various wavelengths, of which red (650 nm) and far red (730 nm) led to the highest germination. In addition, seeds that were incubated in the dark had higher germination than those incubated under white light. Incubation in smoke water, which can stimulate germination of phyrophytic species, resulted in a marginal inhibition of germination compared with imbibition with distilled water.},
keywords = {buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, ecophysiology, germination, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum ciliare, zacate buffel},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Responses of seed germination to air temperature, water potential, light, and smoke were studied in the laboratory for seeds of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link (syn. Cenchrus ciliare L.; buffel grass). First introduced to North America during the mid-20th Century for establishing pastures, this African bunch grass has become an invasive species of concern. Across all the experiments conducted, a low germination was observed for P. ciliare fascicles that never exceeded 30% at 21 days after sowing. Optimal day/night air temperatures for germination, controlled with an environmental chamber, were 25/15 and 30/20 ºC, while extreme temperatures of 15/5 and 45/35 ºC inhibited germination. By sowing seeds of P. ciliare under different water potentials, created with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol, an optimum of -0.03 MPa led to the highest germination, while no germination was observed at -1.0 MPa. Monochromatic optical filters were utilized to germinate seeds under various wavelengths, of which red (650 nm) and far red (730 nm) led to the highest germination. In addition, seeds that were incubated in the dark had higher germination than those incubated under white light. Incubation in smoke water, which can stimulate germination of phyrophytic species, resulted in a marginal inhibition of germination compared with imbibition with distilled water.
2008
de la Barrera, E.
Recent invasion of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) of a natural protected area from the southern Sonoran Desert Journal Article
In: Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, vol. 79, pp. 385-392, 2008.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: buffel grass, Cenchrus, cultivation, ENSO, forage, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum, Sonoran Desert, urban sprawl
@article{delaBarrera2008,
title = {Recent invasion of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) of a natural protected area from the southern Sonoran Desert},
author = {E. de la Barrera},
url = {http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S1870-34532008000200012&script=sci_arttext},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-01-01},
journal = {Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad},
volume = {79},
pages = {385-392},
keywords = {buffel grass, Cenchrus, cultivation, ENSO, forage, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum, Sonoran Desert, urban sprawl},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2007
de la Barrera, E.; Castellanos, A. E.
High temperature effects on gas exchange for the invasive buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare [L.] Link) Journal Article
In: Weed Biology and Management, vol. 7, pp. 128-131, 2007.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: acclimation, buffel grass, Cenchrus, CO2, cultivation, forage, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum, photosynthesis, shade, Sonoran Desert, temperature, transpiration, water
@article{delaBarrera2007,
title = {High temperature effects on gas exchange for the invasive buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare [L.] Link)},
author = {E. de la Barrera and A. E. Castellanos},
url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/014-De-la-Barrera-Castellanos-2007-WBM.pdf},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-01-01},
journal = {Weed Biology and Management},
volume = {7},
pages = {128-131},
keywords = {acclimation, buffel grass, Cenchrus, CO2, cultivation, forage, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum, photosynthesis, shade, Sonoran Desert, temperature, transpiration, water},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}