Edaphic factors in the development of dwarf-plant communities of mud

Isostatic rebound and the periodic development of ice-push beach ridges have created topography suitable for development of biologically rich polar oases along the northeast coast of Devon Island, Canada. Distinct patterning of both plant communities and edaphic factors from coastal shoreline areas inland indicate primary succession with a directional species replacement At Rocky Point (emergent < 2000 BP) biological development along the shore is initiated by marine algae that are invaded by cyanobacteria. These organic mats are colonized by Puccinellia on the shoreline of these brackish lagoons. Where the topography grades upslope, via concave areas, the toposequence from Puccinellia proceeds through Dupontia → Carex → Salix hummocks → cushion plant–lichen communities. In drier, convex areas Puccinellia proceeds through rosette-herb hummocks → cushion plant–lichen communities as a toposequence. Reduced levels of salinity and of nitrogen fixation upslope (from the shore) along with increased depth of organic soils and ability of soils to hold more soil water appear important in the conversion of Puccinellia- to Dupontia- to Carex-dominated meadows. This is the major chronosequence at Rocky Point and it is these Carex meadows that occupy most of the wetlands of Truelove Lowland. The Salix hummocks and cushion plant–lichen communities of all drier habitats resemble communities of similar species composition on the beach ridges of the lowland. Key words: arctic Canada, succession, plant communities, soil factors, polar oasis.

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Features of ecological differentiation of halophytic, steppe and petrophytic vegetation in the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik (Odesa Oblast)

Biosystems Diversity ◽

10.15421/011928 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 205-213

Author(s):

D. V. Dubyna ◽

T. P. Dziuba ◽

L. P. Vakarenko ◽

A. A. Ennan ◽

H. M. Shykhaleeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Carbonate Content ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Key Factors ◽

Ecological Differentiation ◽

Steppe Vegetation ◽

Steppe Communities

Assessment of key environmental factors that influence vegetation distribution and formation of plant communities is one of the most important challenges in modern phytocenology. Nowadays, several bioindication systems are applied to determine ecological specificity of plant communities and to establish the leading factors for their environmental differentiation. The system most widely used in Europe, that of H. Ellenberg, contains a numerical score on 6 ecological factors. On the example of vegetation of the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik, Y. Didukh developed the synphytoindication method based on evaluation of phytocenoses with respect to 12 ecological factors: 7 edaphic factors and 5 climatic factors; the method determines a more accurate and complete presentation of the analysis. In the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik (Odesa Oblast) the largest area is covered with halophytic and steppe vegetation. Halophytic vegetation (Therosalicornietea, Festuco-Puccinellietea classes, Juncetea maritimi, Bolboschoenetea maritimi) predominated in the shoreline areas of the valley, whereas steppe (Festuco-Brometea) and petrophytic (Sedo-Scleranthetea) vegetation dominated on the slope sites. With the application of DCA-ordination and synphytoindication methods it was established that distribution of plant communities in the hyper-space of the environmental conditions was most strongly correlated with edaphic factors, whereas microclimatic (light intensity) and climatic (thermo-regime) conditions had somewhat less influence on their differentiation. Water regime and level of soil salinity served as key factors for syntaxa of halophytic vegetation; moisture variability and salt regime, as well as soil moisture and carbonate content were key factors for the steppe vegetation, and thermo-regime was the main factor for petrophytic-steppe and petrophytic vegetation. The "eco-spaces" of these groups largely overlap. Halophytic cenoses are characterized by quite wide ecological ranges by most ecological factors. Steppe communities show much less ecological diversity. In the valley of the liman, all the steppe communities were characterized by stenotopicity in relation to most ecological factors; these factors complexly determine the specificity and diversity of biotopes within the valley, which are unique and require protection and the taking of appropriate measures, depending on the changes in activity of one or another limiting factor. Nowadays, the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik is in a state of environmental disaster. The established relationships in ecological differentiation of plant communities will be applied to further monitoring of biodiversity state, preservation and possible restoration of vegetation types that were native for this unique territory.

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Diversity of plant assemblages dampens the variability of the growing season phenology of wetland ecosystems

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15478/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guillaume Rheault ◽

Esther Lévesque ◽

Raphaël Proulx

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Growing Season ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Wetland Ecosystems ◽

Growing Season Length ◽

Plant Assemblage ◽

Plant Assemblages

Abstract Background: The functioning of ecosystems is highly variable through space and time. Climatic and edaphic factors are forcing ecological communities to converge, whereas the diversity of plant assemblages dampens these effects by allowing communities’ dynamics to diverge. This study evaluated whether the growing season phenology of plant communities within wetland ecosystems is determined by the climatic/edaphic factors of contrasted regions, by the species richness of plant communities, or by the diversity of plant assemblages. From 2013 to 2016, we monitored the phenology and floristic composition of 118 plant communities across five wetland ecosystems distributed along a gradient of edaphic and climatic conditions in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Results: Growing season phenology of wetlands was driven by differences among plant assemblage within ecosystems, and not by the species richness of each individual community (<1% of the explained variation). Variation in the growing season length of wetlands reflected a balance between the effects of climatic and edaphic factors on green-up dates and the dampening effects of plant assemblage diversity on green-down dates. Conclusions: The latter dampening effect may be particularly important in the context of increasing anthropogenic activities, which are predicted to impair the ability of wetlands to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that stakeholders should not necessarily consider local monospecific plant communities of lower conservation value to the global functioning of wetland ecosystems.

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Diversity of plant assemblages dampens the variability of the growing season phenology in wetland landscapes

10.21203/rs.3.rs-15478/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guillaume Rheault ◽

Esther Lévesque ◽

Raphaël Proulx

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Growing Season ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Wetland Plant ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Growing Season Length ◽

Wetland Plant Communities ◽

Plant Assemblage ◽

Plant Assemblages

Abstract Background: The functioning of ecosystems is highly variable through space and time. Climatic and edaphic factors are forcing ecological communities to converge, whereas the diversity of plant assemblages dampens these effects by allowing communities’ dynamics to diverge. This study evaluated whether the growing season phenology of wetland plant communities within landscapes is determined by the climatic/edaphic factors of contrasted regions, by the species richness of plant communities, or by the diversity of plant assemblages. From 2013 to 2016, we monitored the phenology and floristic composition of 118 wetland plant communities across five landscapes distributed along a gradient of edaphic and climatic conditions in the Province of Québec, Canada. Results: The growing season phenology of wetlands was driven by differences among plant assemblage within landscapes, and not by the species richness of each individual community (<1% of the explained variation). Variation in the growing season length of wetlands reflected the destabilizing effect of climatic and edaphic factors on green-up dates, which is opposed to the dampening effect of plant assemblage diversity on green-down dates. Conclusions: The latter dampening effect may be particularly important in the context of increasing anthropogenic activities, which are predicted to impair the ability of wetlands to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that stakeholders should not necessarily consider local monospecific plant communities of lower conservation value to the global functioning of wetland ecosystems.

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Vegetation communities and edaphic relationships along a typical coastal saltmarsh to woodland gradient in eastern Tasmania

Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania ◽

10.26749/rstpp.153.61 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 61-74

Author(s):

JG Aalders ◽

P McQuillan ◽

VN Prahalad

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Clay Content ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Particle Size Analysis ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Size Analysis ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Marsh Area ◽

Winter Sample

Saltmarsh soils impose harsh selection pressures on vegetation resulting in characteristic plant communities. For our study of the effect of edaphic factors on vegetation we chose Long Point in Moulting Lagoon, Tasmania’s largest saltmarsh, which is dominated by a diverse assemblage of halophytic succulents and graminoids. Three transects were established to sample variations in vegetation along the gradient from saltmarsh to woodland. Soil samples were analysed for summer and winter moisture, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC); a mixed summer and winter sample from each point was analysed for soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon. Additionally, a particle size analysis was carried out on all summer samples. Aspects of soil characteristics were aligned to classified vegetation groups and elevation. Moisture, pH, EC, SOM and carbon were all negatively correlated with elevation; the saltmarsh zone displaying higher levels of all variables than those in the adjacent woodland zone. Clay content decreased and sand content increased from the marine margin of the saltmarsh zone to the woodland zone. Within the saltmarsh zone, soil moisture, EC and carbon had highest values in the low marsh area, with values decreasing towards the upper marsh area. This study deepens our understanding of the roles various edaphic factors play in the floristic composition of coastal saltmarshes.

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Diversity of plant assemblages dampens the variability of the growing season phenology in wetland landscapes

BMC Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1186/s12862-021-01817-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guillaume Rheault ◽

Esther Lévesque ◽

Raphaël Proulx

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Growing Season ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Wetland Plant ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Growing Season Length ◽

Wetland Plant Communities ◽

Plant Assemblage ◽

Plant Assemblages

Abstract Background The functioning of ecosystems is highly variable through space and time. Climatic and edaphic factors are forcing ecological communities to converge, whereas the diversity of plant assemblages dampens these effects by allowing communities’ dynamics to diverge. This study evaluated whether the growing season phenology of wetland plant communities within landscapes is determined by the climatic/edaphic factors of contrasted regions, by the species richness of plant communities, or by the diversity of plant assemblages. From 2013 to 2016, we monitored the phenology and floristic composition of 118 wetland plant communities across five landscapes distributed along a gradient of edaphic and climatic conditions in the Province of Québec, Canada. Results The growing season phenology of wetlands was driven by differences among plant assemblage within landscapes, and not by the species richness of each individual community (< 1% of the explained variation). Variation in the growing season length of wetlands reflected the destabilizing effect of climatic and edaphic factors on green-up dates, which is opposed to the dampening effect of plant assemblage diversity on green-down dates. Conclusions The latter dampening effect may be particularly important in the context of increasing anthropogenic activities, which are predicted to impair the ability of wetlands to adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions. Our findings suggest that stakeholders should not necessarily consider local species-poor plant communities of lower conservation value to the global functioning of wetland ecosystems.

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On the diagnostic potential of epiphytic bryophytes in forest vegetation classification

Herald of Tver State University. Series: Biology and Ecology ◽

10.26456/vtbio189 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102-123

Author(s):

Илья Борисович Кучеров ◽

Галина Александровна Гришуткина ◽

Виктория Владимировна Телеганова ◽

Алексей Дмитриевич Потемкин

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Vegetation Classification ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Habitat Conditions ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Indirect Influence ◽

Forest Classification ◽

Diagnostic Potential ◽

Temperature Ranges

Эпифитные и эпиксильные виды мохообразных и лишайников могут выступать в качестве диагностических не только при дифференциации своих синузий, но и на уровне лесного сообщества в целом, формируя единые детерминантные группы вместе с сосудистыми растениями и эпигейными мхами. Это подтверждают результаты доминантно-детерминантной классификации широколиственных лесов, описанных в заповедниках «Калужские засеки» и «Мордовский». В обоих случаях выделенные синтаксоны поддаются флористической дифференциации с помощью не только сосудистых растений, но и эпифитных мохообразных. При необходимости их можно было бы разграничить исключительно по видам эпифитной бриосинузии. Формирование единых детерминантных групп обусловлено влиянием факторов, единообразно воздействующих на все виды, входящие в эти группы. Первостепенную роль предположительно играют микроклиматические факторы, особенно влажность и амплитуды температур приземного слоя воздуха. Эдафические факторы не оказывают прямого влияния на сопряженность видов сосудистых растений и эпифитных мохообразных, но их косвенное влияние также может быть существенным. Piphytic and epixylic species of bryophytes and lichens may serve as determinants in differentiation of not only their synusiae but also at the level of forest plant communities where they grow, forming integrated differential groups together with vascular plant and epigeic bryophyte species. This is proved by the results of the broadleaved forest classification, performed following the complex dominant-determinant approach in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki (see Table 1) and Mordovian (see Table 2) nature reserves, Russia. All the recognized broadleaved-forest syntaxa are subject to distinct floristic differentiation with the help of both vascular and epiphytic bryophyte species under ecologically contrasting habitat conditions. Moreover, if necessary, these syntaxa can be distinguished using the epiphytic species only. The ecological and phytocoenotical association of vascular and epiphytic bryophyte species presumably originates due to microclimatic factors such as air humidity and temperature ranges near the ground. Edaphic factors do not influence the association of vasculars and epiphytic bryophytes within the integrated determinant groups directly, but their indirect influence may be also essential.

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Multivariate analysis of vegetation of the salted lower-cheliff plain, Algeria

Botanical Sciences ◽

10.17129/botsci.2303 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Adda Ababou ◽

Mohammed Chouieb ◽

Mohammed Khader ◽

Khalladi Mederbal ◽

Djamel Saidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Soil Structure ◽

Redundancy Analysis ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽

Vegetation Distribution ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Soil Factors ◽

Soil Variables ◽

Close Relationship

The main objectives of this study were to identify the edaphic factors that could be related to vegetation distribution in the lower-Cheliff plain (35.750° - 36.125°N, 0.5° - 1°E) one the largest salted plains of northwestern Algeria and to establish the relationships between these soil factors and the main plant communities. Soil and vegetation data were obtained from 133 relevés. Species in Chenopodiaceae and Asteraceae were dominant in the salted plain. Soil variables measured included electrical conductivity, elevation, soil texture, soil structure, organic matter, CaCO3, pH, Ca++, Na+, Cl-, CaMg and color of soil. Multivariate analyses including detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were performed to analyze the collected data. The results showed that the vegetation distribution pattern was mainly related to conductivity and elevation. Separation of relevés into groups according to the first two axes of RDA provided four vegetation units, each one composed of several diagnostic species with highly significant fidelity value according to Fisher’s test. The theoretical maps produced by kriging revealed a close relationship between these vegetation units and conductivity.

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Edaphic characterization of coastal Western Mediterranean Limonium (Plumbaginaceae)

Plant Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.5091/plecevo.2018.1370 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 151 (2) ◽

pp. 175-184

Author(s):

Leonardo Llorens ◽

Lorenzo Gil ◽

Herminio Boira

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Habitat Conservation ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Fourth Group ◽

Low Salinity ◽

The Third

Introduction – Edaphic factors influence the structure and composition of plant communities. The main objective is to identify soil properties associated with the presence of different Limonium species. Methods – We conducted a systematic phytocoenological and edaphic survey over 37 locations across the Balearic archipelago. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied to the physicochemical characteristics of soils in which 29 species of Limonium grow. Results – The distribution of Limonium species has a high correlation to specific edaphic factors. The species can be clustered into four major groups. The first group represents species with a high edaphic selectivity – soils characterized by having a high proportion of sand, SO42- and Ca2+. The second group is composed of species with high levels of SAR, OM and SO42- /Cl- ratio. The third group includes species present in soils with a loamy texture, low Ca2+ /Mg2+ ratio and high levels of CO32- and Mg2+. The fourth group includes plants which colonize soils that have a sandy texture, low salinity and high proportion of CO32-. Conclusions – A strong correlation between the distribution of Limonium species and soil characteristics exist. The study contributes to the establishment of foundations for habitat conservation, cultivation and recovery projects for endangered species of Limonium.

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