scholarly journals Mid-term changes in the physiognomy of plant communities and functional plant groups define successional pathways of mountain vegetation in the province of Córdoba (Argentina)

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-24
Author(s):  
Marcos Sebastián Karlin ◽  
Sebastián Abel Arnulphi ◽  
Javier Rodolfo Bernasconi Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Restoration Strategies ◽  
Mountain Vegetation ◽  
Successional Pathways

Abstract To identify restoration strategies over degraded semi-natural plant communities, successional pathways and their local controls should be identified. The objective of this work is to quantify the changes in the physiognomy and functional groups of plant communities in the Sierras Chicas of Córdoba along seven years. Lyapunov coefficients were calculated and arranged in two-phase diagrams, identifying different successional pathways over two soil categories and six plant communities. Du Rietz`s life forms were identified defining several plant functional groups. Results showed two successional pathways in the field of azonal soils and three in the field of intrazonal soils. Rainfall, extent of human-caused disturbances, and plant interactions are the leading causes explaining the changes in the structure of the plant communities. Fire and overgrazing retract the successions by altering the cover of plant communities and their functional groups.

scholarly journals Effects of Continuous Slope Gradient on the Dominance Characteristics of Plant Functional Groups and Plant Diversity in Alpine Meadows

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi-Peng Zhang ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Hong-Liang Gu ◽  
Zhi-Gang Zhang ◽  
Qian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Alpine Meadows

Many studies reported the effect on plant functional groups and plant diversity under discontinuous slope gradient. However, studies on the effect of continuous slope gradient on plant functional groups and plant diversity in alpine meadows have rarely been conducted. We studied the effect of a continuous slope gradient on the dominance characteristics of plant functional groups and plant diversity of alpine meadows on the Tibetan plateau—in Hezuo area of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Altogether, 84 samples of alpine meadows grass and 84 soil samples from seven slope gradients at sunlit slopes were collected. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient, this study revealed: (1) Continuous slope gradient is an important factor affecting plant communities in alpine meadows, due to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and water content. The number of families, genera, and species increased first then decreased at the different slope gradient levels, respectively; (2) there is a close relationship between the soil and plant functional groups, and plant diversity. In other words, the slope determines the functional groups of plants and the soil nutrients; and (3) soil characteristics (pH value, Soil Total Nitrogen, Soil Water Content) are the determining factors of the plant community characteristics at each slope gradient level. To conclude, a continuous slope gradient is an important factor that affects plant communities in alpine meadows.

scholarly journals Impact of weather on dynamics of plant functional groups in an abandoned limestone grassland

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Dzwonko ◽  
Stefania Loster
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Abandoned Grassland ◽  
Vegetative Spread ◽  
Natural Grassland

We examined to what extend the rate and direction of changes in unmanaged grassland depend on fluctuations in climatic conditions. Vegetation data from permanent plots in a semi-natural grassland in southern Poland collected over 12 years were used. Relations between weather variables, time, and the cover of 41 more frequent species and 14 plant functional groups were analysed. The greatest effect on the dynamics of species and functional groups had precipitation in spring and/or early summer, particularly in the current year. The majority of plant groups were significantly affected also by the temperature in spring and early summer in one of the three previous years. During 12 years, the cover of annuals and biennials, short plants, and plants with small leaves decreased, while the cover of taller plants, plants with larger leaves, and with vegetative spread increased. The analyses suggest that these successional changes were not directly associated with climatic conditions but were affected by them indirectly through interspecific competition. The fluctuations in climatic conditions, chiefly precipitation, had a significant effect on both the composition and the rate of changes in abandoned grassland. The increase in the cover of tall perennial species with broad leaves hindered succession towards woodland despite of the presence of woods in the closed vicinity. It can be expected that during drier periods colonisation of grassland by later successional species could be easier.

scholarly journals Ecologyсal-taxonomic structure of wood and shower plants of industrial pads of PJSC «Central Iron Ore Enrichment Works»

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 47-61
Author(s):  
E. O. Yevtushenko ◽  
Y. V. Pozdnii ◽  
I. O. Komarova ◽  
L. H. Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Taxonomic Structure ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Satisfactory Condition ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Field Investigations

The article is devoted to shrubs and plant groups in the territory of the industrial sites of PJSC «Central Mining and Processing Plant».  The material of this work was collected in the growing season 2017-2018 years on the territory of the central industrial site and industrial sites №2 Gleuvatsky Quarry, the Giant mine, Artemivsky Quarry, Petrovsky Quarry, mine them.  Ordzhonikidze, sludge workshops, which are separated in space and placed at a certain distance from each other separated in kind. The studied tree and shrub communities were formed with the participation and maintained by the person in a satisfactory condition.  In the course of itinerant field investigations the species belonging to trees and shrubs were determined. In the future, on the basis of the ecomorphic characteristics of the species, comparative ecological-taxonomic spectra of tree-shrub plant communities of industrial sites were constructed. As a result of researches it was found out that the tree-shrub groupings of the industrial sites of PJSC «TSGZK» consist of 96 species of higher plants belonging to 28 families.  Gymnosperms account for a small fraction of taxonomic spectra.  Within the sites there is considerable variability in the number of species and families.  The most numerous are the families Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Aceraceae.  Families of Aceraceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Hippocastanaceae, Oleaceae, Salicaceae, Ulmaceae, Pinaceae are represented by species at all industrial sites of PJSC «CMPP».  Only within the Ordzhonikidze mine site are species of the Berberidaceae, Paeoniaceae family occurring, and within the Gleevatsky Quarry site, there are Cannabaceae families.  In the taxonomic spectra of plant communities of all sites, the dominant position is occupied by the family Rosaceae.  Monovid families occupy half or more of the taxonomic spectra.  By reducing the number of species, families, share of species participation in shrubs and shrubs, the corresponding declines can be constructed.  The same series can characterize tree-shrub plant groups by the density of species of trees, shrubs, individuals per unit area. According to the ecological and biomorphic characteristics of the species, the corresponding spectra of bio- and ecomorphs are constructed.  Ecological spectra are individual in proportion to the participation of certain ecomorphs for each shrub community of the site.  Rows of decreasing species numbers are constructed for each ecomorph.  It is established that in tree and shrub plant groups of all industrial sites of PJSC «CMPP» wood life forms with root-root system dominate, vegetatively motionless.  In the spectra of ecomorphs, the most numerous are solvants, phanerophytes, mesotrophs, entomophiles.  In the spectra of hygro-, heliomorph and diasporax, the composition of dominant ecomorphs changes at the industrial sites.

Response of plant functional groups within plantations and naturally regenerated forests in southern New Brunswick, Canada

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1261-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
B V Ramovs ◽  
M R Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Growth Forms ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Old Field ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Young Forests

We examined the composition of understory vascular plant species in managed forests to determine how life-history attributes influence plant response to disturbance. Forest types investigated were plantations on old fields (31–77 years old, n = 6), plantations on cutover land (19–64 years old, n = 8), young forests naturally regenerated after clear-cutting (27–66 years old, n = 6), and mature natural forests with no recent harvesting activity (80–100 years old, n = 6). Species were categorized by habitat preference (forest, intermediate, disturbed), growth form (12 categories), and life form (15 categories). Forest-habitat species dominated both natural stand types, whereas disturbed-habitat species dominated both plantation types. Mature natural stands contained higher frequency and cover of many herb growth forms, and cutover plantations contained higher values for shrubs. Old-field plantations contained low values for all growth forms. Two life forms, geophytes and rosette hemicryptophytes, were not well represented in either plantation type. All plant functional groups were present in each stand type, suggesting that differences among stand types occur as shifts in the relative abundances of functional groups. We hypothesize that some species may be at risk of local extirpation in plantations because of their limited growth rates and reproductive characteristics.

Resistance of Native Plant Functional Groups to Invasion by Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger L. Sheley ◽  
Jeremy James
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Big Sagebrush ◽  
Key Functional Groups ◽  
Wyoming Big Sagebrush ◽  
Density And Biomass

AbstractUnderstanding the relative importance of various functional groups in minimizing invasion by medusahead is central to increasing the resistance of native plant communities. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of key functional groups within an intact Wyoming big sagebrush–bluebunch wheatgrass community type on minimizing medusahead invasion. Treatments consisted of removal of seven functional groups at each of two sites, one with shrubs and one without shrubs. Removal treatments included (1) everything, (2) shrubs, (3) perennial grasses, (4) taprooted forbs, (5) rhizomatous forbs, (6) annual forbs, and (7) mosses. A control where nothing was removed was also established. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block with 4 replications (blocks) at each site. Functional groups were removed beginning in the spring of 2004 and maintained monthly throughout each growing season through 2009. Medusahead was seeded at a rate of 2,000 seeds m−2 (186 seeds ft−2) in fall 2005. Removing perennial grasses nearly doubled medusahead density and biomass compared with any other removal treatment. The second highest density and biomass of medusahead occurred from removing rhizomatous forbs (phlox). We found perennial grasses played a relatively more significant role than other species in minimizing invasion by medusahead. We suggest that the most effective basis for establishing medusahead-resistant plant communities is to establish 2 or 3 highly productive grasses that are complementary in niche and that overlap that of the invading species.

scholarly journals Aspectos ecofisiológicos para la conservación de ecosistemas tropicales contrastantes

2017 ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Aura Azócar ◽  
Fermín Rada ◽  
Carlos García-Nuñez
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Water Factor ◽  
Temperature Water

<p>The identification of plant functional groups allows to evaluate plant properties as: recovering capacity, regeneration and resistence to environmental changes. It is possible to define plant functional groups in the seasonal savana and the high barren plateau taking in to account the ecophysiological plant responses to water stress and daily temperature-water rythmn, respectively. In the savana, although the wooden component is constituted by evergreen and deciduous tree species, they make only a functional group taking in to account their responses to water stress, this is similar in the herbaceous component. Results suggest that a change in environmental factors may generate a floristic replace without major changes in the system function.<br />However, in the high barren plateau, the different life forms also constitute different functional groups according to plant responses to temperature-water factor, suggesting that the substitution of any group will put in danger the preservation of this ecosystem.</p>

Alpine vegetation of the Ivanovskiy, Prokhodnoy and Rossypnoy Ridges (Western Altai)

2015 ◽  
pp. 96-124
Author(s):  
E. G. Zibzeev ◽  
T. A. Nedovesova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Climate Forcing ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Mountain Systems ◽  
Mountain Vegetation ◽  
Coenotic Diversity

The mountain systems are characterized by diverse ecological conditions (climate, geomorphological, soil, etc.). The wide spectrum of environmental conditions entails a rich diversity of plant communities growing on the small territory and determines the different flora and vegetation geneses. The uniqueness of floristic and coenotic diversities of the high-mountain vegetation of the south of Western Altai (Ivanovskiy, Prokhodnoi, and Rossypnoi Ranges) are associated with the effect of two climate-forcing factors such as the westerly humid air mass and dry warm airflow from the inner Kazakhstan regions. The paper summarizes the data on coenotic diversity (Zibzeev, 2010, 2012) and gives a syntaxonomic analysis of the high-mountain vege­tation in the Ivanovskii, Prokhodnoi, and Rossypnoi Ranges (Western Altai, Kazakhstan). The classification of plant communities was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet approach (Westhoff, van der Maarel, 1973). The relevés records were stored in the TURBOVEG database and classified by ­TWINSPAN (Hill 1979).

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLIFF PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE TUAPKHAT MASSIF

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Krylenko ◽  
Sergey Krylenko
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Plant Associations ◽  
Black Sea Coast ◽  
Paper Structure ◽  
Sea Coast ◽  
Main Factor

Preservation of biological diversity is necessary for sustainable development and rational use of coastal resources. In this paper structure of the cliff plant communities of the massif Tuapkhat (the Black Sea coast, Russia) are characterized. Flora of this coastal zone combines features of Mediterranean and middle European Russia types. Herbaceous and shrub life-forms and xeromorphous and petrophilous plant associations dominate at the studied area. The main factor determining the species composition of the examined communities is substrate character.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document