scholarly journals Testing the potential of pollen assemblages to capture composition, diversity and ecological gradients of surrounding vegetation in two biogeographical regions of southeastern Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Papadopoulou ◽  
Ioannis Tsiripidis ◽  
Sampson Panajiotidis ◽  
Georgios Fotiadis ◽  
Daniel Veres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Ecological Gradients ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
North Central ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Pollen Diagrams ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Species Specific

AbstractDue to the complex relationship between pollen and vegetation, it is not yet clear how pollen diagrams may be interpreted with respect to changes in floristic diversity and only a few studies have hitherto investigated this problem. We compare pollen assemblages from moss samples in two southeastern European forests with the surrounding vegetation to investigate (a) their compositional similarity, (b) the association between their diversity characteristics in both terms of richness and evenness, and (c) the correspondence of the main ecological gradients that can be revealed by them. Two biogeographical regions with different vegetation characteristics, the Pieria mountains (north central Greece) and the slopes of Ciomadul volcano (eastern Romania), were chosen as divergent examples of floristic regions, vegetation structure and landscape openness. Pollen assemblages are efficient in capturing the presence or absence, rather than the abundance in distribution of plants in the surrounding area and this bias increases along with landscape openness and vegetation diversity, which is higher in the Pieria mountains. Pollen assemblages and vegetation correlate better in terms of richness, that is, low order diversity indices. Relatively high correlation, in terms of evenness, could be potentially found in homogenous and species poor ecosystems as for Ciomadul. Composition and diversity of woody, rather than herb, vegetation is better reflected in pollen assemblages of both areas, especially for Pieria where a direct comparison of the two components was feasible, although this depends on the species-specific pollen production and dispersal, the openness of landscape and the overall diversity of vegetation. Gradients revealed by pollen assemblages are highly and significantly correlated with those existing in vegetation. Pollen assemblages may represent the vegetation well in terms of composition, diversity (mainly richness) and ecological gradients, but this potential depends on land use, vegetation structure, biogeographical factors and plant life forms.

scholarly journals Origin of the Hawaiian rainforest ecosystem and its evolution in long-term primary succession

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 2415-2453
Author(s):  
D. Mueller-Dombois ◽  
H. J. Boehmer
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Metrosideros Polymorpha ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
North Central ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
The North ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Tree Ferns ◽  
Fern Species

Abstract. Born among volcanoes in the north central Pacific about 4 million years ago, the Hawaiian rainforest became assembled from spores of algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, ferns and from seeds of about 275 flowering plants that over the millenia evolved into ca. 1000 endemic species. Outstanding among the forest builders were the tree ferns (Cibotium spp.) and the 'Ōhi'a lehua trees (Metrosideros spp.), which still dominate the Hawaiian rainforest ecosystem today. The structure of this forest is simple. The canopy in closed mature rainforests is dominated by cohorts of Metrosideros polymorpha and the undergrowth by tree fern species of Cibotium. When a new lava flow cuts through this forest, kipuka are formed, i.e. islands of remnant vegetation. On the new volcanic substrate, the assemblage of plant life-forms is similar as during the evolution of this system. In open juvenile forests, a mat-forming fern, the uluhe fern (Dicranopteris lineraris) becomes established. It inhibits further regeneration of the dominant 'Ōhi'a tree, thereby reinforcing the cohort structure of the canopy guild. In the later part of its life cycle, the canopy guild breaks down often in synchrony. The trigger is hypothesized to be a climatic perturbation. After that disturbance the forest becomes reestablished in about 30–40 yr. As the volcanic surfaces age, they go from a mesotrophic to a eutrophic phase, reaching a biophilic nutrient climax by about 1–25 K yr. Thereafter, a regressive oligotrophic phase follows; the soils become exhausted of nutrients. The shield volcanoes break down. Marginally, forest habitats change into bogs and stream ecosystems. The broader 'Ōhi'a rainforest redeveloping in the more dissected landscapes of the older islands looses stature, often forming large gaps that are invaded by the aluminum tolerant uluhe fern. The 'Ōhi'a trees still thrive on soils rejuvenated from landslides and from Asian dust on the oldest (5 million year old) island Kaua'i but their stature and living biomass is greatly diminished.

Distribution of plant life forms along an altitudinal gradient in the semi-arid valley of Zapotitlán, Mexico

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Numa P. Pavón ◽  
Humberto Hernández-Trejo ◽  
Víctor Rico-Gray
Keyword(s):  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life ◽  
Semi Arid

Marshland vegetation of the class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea in northwest Croatia (Krapina river valley)

Biologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zvjezdana Stančić
Keyword(s):  
Plant Cover ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Alien Plant ◽  
Plant Life Forms

AbstractMarshland vegetation of the class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea in the Krapina river valley was investigated during 2006 and 2007, and some sporadic investigations were made earlier. Phytosociological studies were carried out in accordance with the standard Braun-Blanquet methodology. As a result of the field work, and a small amount of data from the literature, 120 relevés were collected and 18 communities were established. For the purposes of comparison, the relevés were also classified using numerical methods. The clusters obtained mostly correspond to specific associations, but do not confirm the division into traditional vegetation alliances and orders. In the analysis of the ecological factors it is established that separation of the relevés is influenced by nutrient content, soil reaction, soil moisture, depth of water, and type of management. Analysis of the plant life forms shows, in all marshland communities, a prevalence of hemicryptophytes, geophytes and hydrophytes. The most widespread marshland communities of the investigated area are: Phalaridetum arundinaceae, Phragmitetum australis and Galio palustris-Caricetum ripariae. Furthermore, Carex randalpina community is recorded for the first time in Croatia. The most threatened marshland communities could be considered to be: Carex randalpina community, Caricetum vesicariae, Leersietum oryzoidis and Oenantho-Rorippetum. They are selected because of their very small surfaces in the investigated area and the small number of known localities within the territory of Croatia. The most invasive alien plant species in the Krapina river valley is Solidago gigantea. It spreads in potential habitats of marshland vegetation, and it is recorded in the species composition of many marshland communities. For the preservation of marshland vegetation, and especially threatened types, it is necessary to maintain the water regime of the habitats, to not remove natural plant cover due to spreading of neophytes, and to provide occasional mowing and burning.

Large herbivores suppress liana infestation in an African savanna

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (41) ◽  
pp. e2101676118
Author(s):  
Tyler C. Coverdale ◽  
Ryan D. O’Connell ◽  
Matthew C. Hutchinson ◽  
Amanda Savagian ◽  
Tyler R. Kartzinel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable State ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Alternative Stable State ◽  
African Savanna ◽  
Large Herbivore ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Woody Vines ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Canopy Area

African savannas are the last stronghold of diverse large-mammal communities, and a major focus of savanna ecology is to understand how these animals affect the relative abundance of trees and grasses. However, savannas support diverse plant life-forms, and human-induced changes in large-herbivore assemblages—declining wildlife populations and their displacement by livestock—may cause unexpected shifts in plant community composition. We investigated how herbivory affects the prevalence of lianas (woody vines) and their impact on trees in an East African savanna. Although scarce (<2% of tree canopy area) and defended by toxic latex, the dominant liana, Cynanchum viminale (Apocynaceae), was eaten by 15 wild large-herbivore species and was consumed in bulk by native browsers during experimental cafeteria trials. In contrast, domesticated ungulates rarely ate lianas. When we experimentally excluded all large herbivores for periods of 8 to 17 y (simulating extirpation), liana abundance increased dramatically, with up to 75% of trees infested. Piecewise exclusion of different-sized herbivores revealed functional complementarity among size classes in suppressing lianas. Liana infestation reduced tree growth and reproduction, but herbivores quickly cleared lianas from trees after the removal of 18-y-old exclosure fences (simulating rewilding). A simple model of liana contagion showed that, without herbivores, the long-term equilibrium could be either endemic (liana–tree coexistence) or an all-liana alternative stable state. We conclude that ongoing declines of wild large-herbivore populations will disrupt the structure and functioning of many African savannas in ways that have received little attention and that may not be mitigated by replacing wildlife with livestock.

BIOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DENDROFLORA OF NNP «NYZHNIODNIPROVSKYI»

2021 ◽  
pp. 84-96
Author(s):  
Pavlova N.R. ◽  
Dzerkal V.M. ◽  
Ponomareva А.А.
Keyword(s):  
Life Form ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Morphological Classification ◽  
Salix Alba ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Architectural Models

In order to preserve, reproduce and effectively use the natural complexes and objects of the DniproDelta as one of the most valuable natural floodplain-littoral complexes in Europe, which have special environmental, recreational, historical and cultural, scientific, educational and aesthetic value, and ensurethe conservationof «DniproDelta»wetland of theinternational importance,the National Natural Park «Lower Dnipro»was created(Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 24, 2015 No 657/2015).The flora of the higher vascular plants of the Park contains 820 species, 40 species of which (4.9% of the total number) are woody plants. Rosaceae Juss. (14 species), Salicaceae Mirb. (7 species), Aceraceae Juss. (3 types) are leading families of the dendroflora of the Park.Biomorphological characteristics of tree plant species in the flora of the Lower Dnipro National Nature Park were carried out according to the following classifications: 1) K. Raunkiersystem of plant life forms; 2) ecological and morphological classification of life forms of I. G. Serebryakov; 3) architectural models of F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson; 4) classification of the life forms of plants of the temperate zone, which takes into account the vegetative propagation by O. V. Smirnova, L. B. Zaugolnova.AnalysisoftypesofbiomorphsaccordingtotheclassificationofK. Raunkiershowedthatthevastmajorityofdendrofloraspeciesbelongtophanerophytes, amongthem, dependingontheheightoftheplant, therearedifferentgroups-megaphanerophytes(e.g., Populustremula), mesophanerophytes(Salixalba), microphaneorphytes, nanophanerophytes(Amygdalusnana) andhamephytes(Ephedradistachia).According to the ecological and morphological classification of I. G. Serebryakov life forms, the flora of the Park is dominated by forest-steppe trees and forest-type trees.The trees which belong to one life form often differ in the principles of growth and formation of the crown, branching, and general habitus, which is generally considered as an architectural model of a particular species. According to the classification of architectural models by F. Alle, R. Oldeman and P. Tomlinson, in the flora of the Park, there are five models among which the species formed by the model of Tomlinson have a significant representation, and the species formed by the models of Manzheno and Champagne have a smaller representation.Key words:flora, tree, classification, life form, bush. З метою збереження, відтворення і ефективного використання природних комплексів та об’єктів дельти річки Дніпро як одного з найцінніших природних заплавно-літоральних комплексів у Європі, які мають особливу природоохоронну, оздоровчу, історико-культурну, наукову, освітню та естетичну цінність, забезпечення збереження водно-болотного угіддя міжнародного значення «Дельта р. Дніпро» створено Національний природний парк «Нижньодніпровський» (Указ президента України від 24 листопада 2015 року No 657/2015).Флора вищих судинних рослин Парку попередньо складає 820 видів, з них 40 видів (4,9% від загальної кількості) –деревні рослини.Провідні родини дендрофлори Парку –Rosaceae Juss. (14 видів), SalicaceaeMirb. (7 видів), AceraceaeJuss. (3 види). Біоморфологічну характеристику видів деревних рослин у флорі національного природнього парку «Нижньодніпровський» проведено за класифікаціями: 1) система життєвих форм рослин К. Раункієра; 2) еколого-морфологічна класифікація життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова; 3) архітектурні моделі Ф. Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона; 4)класифікація життєвих форм рослин помірної зони, яка враховує вегетативне розмноження О. В. Смирнової, Л. Б. Заугольнової.Аналіз типів біоморф за класифікацією К. Раункієра показав, що переважна більшість видів дендрофлори належить до фанерофітів, серед них, в залежності від висоти рослини, виділяють різні групи –мегафанерофіти (наприклад, Populus tremula), мезофанерофіти (Salix alba), мікрофанерофіти (Amorpha fruticosa), нанофанерофіти (Amygdalus nana) та хамефіти (Ephedra distachia).За еколого-морфологічною класифікацією життєвих форм І. Г. Сєрєбрякова у флорі Парку домінують дерева лісостепового типу та дерева лісового типу.Дерева, які відносяться до однієї життєвої форми, часто відрізняютьсяпринципами наростання та формування крони, галуженням, загальним габітусом, що загалом розглядається як архітектурна модель конкретного виду. За класифікацією архітектурних моделей Ф.Аллє, Р. Ольдемана і П. Томлінсона у флорі Парку виділено п’ять моделей, серед яких, значне представництво мають види, що формуються за моделлю Томлінсона, менше представництво мають види, що формуються за моделями Манжено та Шампанії.Ключові слова: флора, дерево, класифікація, життєва форма, кущ.

scholarly journals The role of terrestrial bromeliads in determining the spatial organization of plant life forms in a tropical coastal forest

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
Celio M. Lopes ◽  
Flora Misaki ◽  
Karina Santos ◽  
Carlos A. P. Evangelista ◽  
Tatiana T. Carrijo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Coastal Forest ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life

scholarly journals Ecología de las poblaciones de plantas en una selva húmeda de México

2017 ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Miguel Martínez-Ramos ◽  
Elena Álvarez-Buylla
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Tropical Rain Forests ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Demographic Patterns ◽  
Plant Population Ecology ◽  
Conservation And Management

This paper reviewing plant population ecology studies that have done in Mexican tropical rain forests, particularly at the Los Tuxtlas Tropical Field Station (UNAM). The review considers next topics: (i) population structure and demographic patterns, (ii) population dynamics, (iii) life-history evolution, and (iv) the importance of demography and genetics for conservation and management of tropical rain forest plant products. The studies show an important advance in the description of patterns, in the analysis of population dynamics, and in the detection of some key demographic elements that can be important for forest conservation and management. However, the understanding of causes that originate such patterns and dynamics is yet poor. The studies have focused mainly on abundant arboreal plant species; other plant life-forms and rare species have received virtually null attention. After pointing out conclusions gained from our review, we propose some perspectives for future research.

scholarly journals Abundance, diversity and distribution of macrophyte communities in neighboring lakes of different trophic states and morphology in north-central Greece

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrisoula Pirini ◽  
Vasiliki Karagiannakidou ◽  
Savvas Charitonidis
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
North Central ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Central Greece ◽  
Clear Differentiation ◽  
Evenness Indices

The role of aquatic vegetation in wetland ecosystems is closely related with their abundance, diversity and distribution, which in turn represents synergy of various environmental factors. The floristic composition of the aquatic vegetation in two neighboring lakes (Vegoritida and Petron) in north-central Greece was investigated by means of 160 relev?s, which were recorded using the Braun-Blanquet method. The analysis of relev?s based on TWINSPAN clustering showed the existence of 10 plant communities from the Lemnetea, Potametea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea and Juncetea maritimi classes. The most important environmental factors for the vegetation differentiation in the study area, according to the ordination diagram, are light intensity and water depth of the habitats. The plant species diversity was quantified with species richness, Shannon Diversity and evenness indices at a scale of each relev?, with a sampling size of 20 m2. There was a clear differentiation between the relev?s at the more eutrophic Petron Lake and those at Vegoritida Lake. The mean plot diversity was also calculated for each plant community, to enable comparison of the diversity indices among the communities at the plot level.

scholarly journals A COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STEMS OF CLIMBING PLANTS IN ARALAM WILD LIFE SANCTUARY, KANNUR

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Prasanth K.P ◽  
Sekaran S
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Tinospora Cordifolia ◽  
Piper Nigrum ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
Anatomical Structures ◽  
Climbing Plants ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Storage Parenchyma

Climbing plants differ from self-supporting plants, such as shrubs and trees, in a range of characteristics. The most notable is the mechanical properties of the stem Comparison of the differentiated anatomical structures recorded in ten species of the climbing plants. The plants selected for the present study are Ampelocissus latifolia, (Vitaceae), Lygodium flexuosum (Lygodiaceae), Centrosema virginianum (Fabaceae), Tinospora cordifolia, (Menispermaceae), Wattakakka volubilis (Asclepiadaceae) Cyclea peltata (Menispermaceae), Calycopteris floribunda (Combretaceae) Pothos scandens (Araceae) Ipomoea separia (Convolvulaceae) and Piper nigrum (Piperaceae). The stems of climbing plants are characterized by the scarcity of supporting cells (fibers) and an increase in the diameter of the xylem vessels. The study con firms that they show a greater diversity of organization than other plant life forms. This anatomical radiation couldprobably not exist without the achievement of a wide range of secondary growth processes. Many dicotyledons, notably those with a climbing habit, show interesting secondary structure which differs from the more usual type described, therefore, sometimes termed anomalous. The variant secondary growth isparticularly widespread in tropical climbers. It is speculated that variant growth can increase stem flexibility, protect the phloem, increase storage parenchyma, aid in clinging to supports, limit physical disruption of vascular tissues during twisting and bending, and promote wound healing after girdling.

scholarly journals New data on the ecological peculiarities and the distribution in Bulgaria of the vulnerable habitat F3.1d Balkan-Anatolian submontane genistoid scrub from the European Red List of Habitats

Hacquetia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-287
Author(s):  
Georgi Kunev ◽  
Rossen Tzonev
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Life Forms ◽  
Area Of Occupancy ◽  
Floristic Elements ◽  
First Time ◽  
Floristic Structure ◽  
East Mediterranean Region

Abstract The study presents new data on the habitat dominated by the species complex of Genista lydia/G. rumelica in Bulgaria. It is based on 129 phytocoenological relevés and provides information on the chorology, ecology and floristic structure of these communities. This habitat type occupies substrates composed by different volcanic rocks. The floristic structure is very rich in species. The phytogeographical relationships with the East Mediterranean region are considerable, which is proved by the high occurrence of floristic elements with Mediterranean or sub-Mediterranean origin. The plant life-forms analysis demonstrates that the therophytes, geophytes and chamephytes prevail in their floristic structure, which is also typical for the shrub communities in this region. During the field study this vegetation type has been mapped and its total area of occupancy has been calculated. For a first time it is proposed this habitat to be divided into three habitat sub-types due to the established differences in the environmental factors. Some recommendations have been proposed on the conservation management and also complements on the habitat‘s descriptions in EUNIS habitat classification.

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