scholarly journals Dynamics of the ground layer communities of tropical eucalypt woodlands of northern Queensland

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
V. J. Neldner ◽  
D. W. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Directional Change

This paper presents insights from long-term monitoring into the dynamics of savanna plant species composition, specifically on the ground layer. Key questions are (1) how much variation is there from year to year in plant species abundance and composition? And (2) is there evidence of directional change in community composition? Five sites were located near Mareeba, north-eastern Australia, and sampled 18 times with fixed 500-m2 plots at the annual peak of plant species richness over 23 years. The sites were located in eucalypt communities across an altitudinal range of 460 m. Sampling involved systematic searching of all plant species visible above ground. The results show variation from year to year among satellite herbaceous species, with more than 50% of grasses and forbs observed at a given site only being detected at half or fewer of the 18 samplings. Herbaceous composition did not show clear signs of directional change relative to inter-annual variability. Over the 23 years, there were three very dry periods and 4 very wet years. Rainfall variation affected total cover more than plant species composition or richness. Several fires and episodes of grazing affected ground cover but did not have a lasting impact on cover or diversity. The cover and composition of the ground layer is consistently dominated by the core perennial grasses Themeda triandra Forssk. and Heteropogon triticeus (R.Br.) Stapf, with many species collectively contributing minimally to the overall cover but significantly to richness. Many herb species are persistent long-lived perennials which do not appear above ground every year. The number of naturalised plants in the ground layer was consistently low. Overall, the ground layer communities appear to be very stable in these woodlands that have been burnt 3–5 times in 23 years. High inter-annual variability of subdominant species is consistent with other studies, and emphasises the need for replication in time in ecological sampling.

scholarly journals Non-Native Eragrostis curvula Impacts Diversity of Pastures in South-Eastern Australia Even When Native Themeda triandra Remains Co-Dominant

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 596
Author(s):  
Corinne Schlierenzauer ◽  
Anita C. Risch ◽  
Martin Schütz ◽  
Jennifer Firn
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Themeda Triandra ◽  
Eragrostis Curvula ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Native Plant Diversity

Lowland grassy woodlands in Australia’s south-east face reductions in native plant diversity because of invasion by non-native plants. We compared the relative abundance and diversity of plant species among sites dominated by the native Kangaroo grass (KG) Themeda triandra with sites co-dominated by the non-native African lovegrass (ALG) Eragrostis curvula and KG. We found significant differences in plant species composition depending on the dominant species. Furthermore, our results revealed differences in several diversity parameters such as a lower species richness and forb diversity on sites co-dominated by ALG and KG. This was the case despite the functional similarity of both ALG and KG—both C4 perennial tussock grasses of a similar height. Therefore, our results highlight the critical function of the native KG in maintaining and enhancing the target plant species composition and diversity within these grassy woodlands. Herbivore grazing potentially impacts on the abundance of the dominant grass and forb species in various ways, but its impact likely differs depending on their evolutionary origin. Therefore, disentangling the role of individual herbivore groups (native-, non-native mammals, and invertebrates) on the plant community composition of the lowland grassy woodlands is essential to find appropriate grazing regimes for ALG management in these ecosystems.

scholarly journals Longleaf Pine Patch Dynamics Influence Ground-Layer Vegetation in Old-Growth Pine Savanna

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mugnani ◽  
Robertson ◽  
Miller ◽  
Platt
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Pine Savanna

Old-growth longleaf pine savannas are characterized by diverse ground-layer plant communities comprised of graminoids, forbs, and woody plants. These communities co-exist with variable-aged patches containing similar-aged trees of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). We tested the conceptual model that physical conditions related to the cycle of longleaf pine regeneration (stand structure, soil attributes, fire effects, and light) influence plant species’ composition and spatial heterogeneity of ground-layer vegetation. We used a chrono-sequence approach in which local patches represented six stages of the regeneration cycle, from open areas without trees (gaps) to trees several centuries old, based on a 40-year population study and increment cores of trees. We measured soil characteristics, patch stand structure, fuel loads and consumption during fires, plant productivity, and ground-layer plant species composition. Patch characteristics (e.g., tree density, basal diameter, soil carbon, and fire heat release) indicated a cyclical pattern that corresponded to the establishment, growth, and mortality of trees over a period of approximately three centuries. We found that plants in the families Fabaceae and Asteraceae and certain genera were significantly associated with a particular patch stage or ranges of patch stages, presumably responding to changes in physical conditions of patches over time. However, whole-community-level analyses did not indicate associations between the patch stage and distinct plant communities. Our study indicates that changes in composition and the structure of pine patches contribute to patterns in spatial and temporal heterogeneity in physical characteristics, fire regimes, and species composition of the ground-layer vegetation in old-growth pine savanna.

Drivers of plant species composition of ecotonal vegetation in two fishpond management types

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Francová ◽  
Kateřina Šumberová ◽  
Andrea Kučerová ◽  
Michal Šorf ◽  
Stanislav Grill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Fishpond Management

Plant species composition and diversity in wetlands under forest, agriculture and urban land uses

2017 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Moges ◽  
A. Beyene ◽  
A. Ambelu ◽  
S.T. Mereta ◽  
L. Triest ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Land Uses

scholarly journals Effects of High Impact Grazing on Species Diversity and Plant Functional Groups in Grasslands of Northern Argentina

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3153
Author(s):  
Ditmar Kurtz ◽  
Marcus Giese ◽  
Folkard Asch ◽  
Saskia Windisch ◽  
María Goldfarb
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
The Impact

High impact grazing (HIG) was proposed as a management option to reduce standing dead biomass in Northern Argentinean (Chaco) rangelands. However, the effects of HIG on grassland diversity and shifts in plant functional groups are largely unknown but essential to assess the sustainability of the impact. During a two-year grazing experiment, HIG was applied every month to analyze the seasonal effects on plant species composition and plant functional groups. The results indicate that irrespective of the season in which HIG was applied, the diversity parameters were not negatively affected. Species richness, the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the Shannon’s equitability index did not differ from the control site within a 12-month period after HIG. While plant functional groups of dicotyledonous and annual species could not benefit from the HIG disturbance, C3-, C4-monocotyledonous and perennials increased their absolute and relative green cover. Our results suggest that HIG, if not applied in shorter frequencies than a year, neither alters diversity nor shifts the plant species composition of the grassland plant community, but instead it promotes previously established rather competitive species. HIG could therefore contribute as an alternative management practice to the sustainable land use intensification of the “Gran Chaco” grassland ecosystem and even counteract the encroachment of “low value” species.

The effect of drainage height on plant-species composition on a semi-arid green roof system

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 149-155
Author(s):  
Har'el Agra ◽  
Hadar Shalom ◽  
Omar Bawab ◽  
Gyongyver J. Kadas ◽  
Leon Blaustein
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Roof System ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Green roofs are expected to contribute to higher biodiversity in urban surroundings. Typically, green roofs have been designed with low plant diversity. However, plant diversity can be enhanced by controlling resource availability and creating distinct niches. Here we hypothesize that by using different drainage heights during the short plant-growing season in a semi-arid green roof system we can create distinct niches and plant communities. Our experiment took place at the University of Haifa, north Israel. We tested three different heights of drainage outlet: 10 cm under the surface of the substrate (Low), 1 cm under the surface of the substrate (Medium) and 3 cm above the surface of the substrate (High) on plant species-composition in green-roof gardens. Grasses cover was higher in High and Medium drainages while forbs cover was higher in Low drainage. Species richness was the highest in Low drainage while diversity indices showed the opposite trend. We conclude that by changing the height of the drainage we can create different niches and change species composition in a short time period of one growing season. This way we can create more diverse green roof communities and enhance biodiversity in urban areas, particularly in semi-arid regions.

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