Phytosociological Analysis of Natural and Artificial Pine Forests of the Class Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1939 in the Sudetes and Their Foreland (Bohemian Massif, Central Europe)

Research Highlights: Differentiation of Scots pine forests of the class Vaccinio-Piceetea in Poland has been the subject of numerous studies, including revisions. Despite that, the area of southwestern Poland was hitherto practically unexplored in this respect. Background and Objectives: The aim of this work was therefore (i) to present the diversity of the pine forests in the Sudetes and their foreland; (ii) to compare the ecology of studied communities. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 175 phytosociological relevés collected between 1991 and 2020 in natural and anthropogenic pine stands. To identify vegetation types, we used the modified TWINSPAN algorithm; principal coordinate analysis, distance-based redundancy analysis and permutational tests were applied to identify the variation explained and the main environmental gradients shaping the studied plant communities. Results: Five associations were distinguished: thermophilous Asplenio cuneifolii-Pinetum sylvestris Pišta ex Husová in Husová et al. 2002, which develops on shallow soils over ultrabasic substrates, Hieracio pallidi-Pinetum sylvestris Stöcker 1965, which prefers outcrops of acidic rocks; Betulo carpaticae-Pinetum sylvestris Mikyška 1970, which is relict in origin and occurs on the upper Cretaceous sandstones, the peatland pine–birch forests of the Vaccinio uliginosi-Betuletum pubescentis Libbert 1933 and the Vaccinio myrtilli-Pinetum sylvestris Juraszek 1928. Moreover, community Brachypodium sylvaticum-Pinus sylvestris with the occurrence of many thermophilous and basiphilous species was also found on limestone substratum. The analysis of the species composition of pine plantations established on deciduous and mixed forests habitats revealed that these anthropogenic communities were marked by a random combination of species in which a certain group of common forest generalists participated. The distinguished communities differed clearly among each other also in habitat characteristics. Particularly important for their differentiation were soil reaction and nutrients, supported by differences in moisture, temperature and light availability. Apart from the edaphic factors, altitude and the bedrock type proved to be equally important. Conclusions: Our study provides new remarks to the typology and synecology of pine forest communities in SW Poland.

Download Full-text

Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-013-0216-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Katarína Hegedüšová ◽

Iveta Škodová ◽

Monika Janišová ◽

Judita Kochjarová

Keyword(s):

Related Species ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Ecological Indicator ◽

Indicator Values ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Phytosociological Relevés ◽

Ecological Indicator Values

AbstractThe phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological relevés with its occurrence were set for light — 6, temperature — 5, continentality — 4, moisture — 5, soil reaction — 6 and nutrients — 5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.

Download Full-text

Diversity and ecology of oak forests in SW Poland (Sudetes Mts.)

Phytocoenologia ◽

10.1127/phyto/2015/0021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 85-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kamila Reczyńska

Keyword(s):

Permutation Test ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Light Availability ◽

Quercus Petraea ◽

Oak Forests ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Ellenberg Indicator Values ◽

Sw Poland ◽

Steep Slopes ◽

Deep Soils

This paper presents a typology of oak forest communities in SW Poland. Numerical classification and ordination methods were applied to distinguish the main vegetation units and to identify the environmental gradients affecting their composition. The ecological preferences of the studied communities were analysed using both measured variables and Ellenberg indicator values combined with a modified permutation test. Six vegetation units were distinguished: the association Viscario vulgaris-Quercetum petraeae mainly occurs on shallow, skeletal soils on nutrient-poor substrates in dry habitats, the association Luzulo luzuloidis-Quercetum petraeae in oligotrophic, dry-mesic habitats on moderately steep slopes and plateaux, the association Calamagrostio arundinaceae-Quercetum petraeae in mesic, oligo- and mesotrophic habitats on gentle slopes and plateaux, the community Galium verum-Quercus petraea on ultrabasic substrates of serpentine monadnocks, the association Sorbo torminalis-Quercetum in dry-mesic, mesotrophic habitats on steep, sunny slopes with initial, but relatively mineral-rich soils, and the association Melico pictae-Quercetum roboris in mesic, mesotrophic habitats with deep soils and mineral-rich substrates on gentle slopes and plateaux. The species composition of the syntaxa identified here is mainly influenced by the type of bedrock (particularly its base-richness), soil reaction and nutrients. If there are no differences in base-richness, the second most important factors are those associated with land relief (especially slope inclination) affecting light availability and moisture.

Download Full-text

Oak forest vegetation in the northern part of the Štiavnické vrchy Mts (Central Slovakia)

Hacquetia ◽

10.2478/v10028-010-0011-1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 221-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michal Slezák ◽

Anna Petrášová

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Forest Vegetation ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Data Matrix ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Oak Forest ◽

Data Set ◽

Phytosociological Relevés

Oak forest vegetation in the northern part of the Štiavnické vrchy Mts (Central Slovakia)The phytosociological research of the oak forest vegetation was carried out in the northern part of the Štiavnické vrchy Mts (Central Slovakia) using the standard Zürich-Montpellier approach. The data set consisting of 41 phytosociological relevés was obtained by the authors in two vegetation seasons in 2008 and 2009. The numerical classification and the ordination methods were applied to determine the main vegetation types and to explain the structure of the vegetation-environmental data matrix, respectively. Four associations within two classes were distinguished:Luzulo albidae-Quercetum petraeaeHilitzer 1932, typical for shallow, mineral-poor and acidic soils,Melico uniflorae-Quercetum petraeaeGergely 1962 occuring on mesic stands with skeletal and deeper soils,Poo nemoralis-Quercetum dalechampiiŠomšák et Háberová 1979 developing on moderately canopyopened stands in the submontane belt,Sorbo torminalis-QuercetumSvoboda ex Blažková 1962 growing on moderately acidic substrates in drier regions. The major environmental gradients responsible for variation in forest species composition was associated with soil nutrient and soil reaction following the Ellenberg indicator values as well as the measured environmental variables (C/N-ratio and soil acidity). Special attention was given to the discussion on species composition and site ecology.

Download Full-text

Grassland communities of traditional orchards in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)

Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae ◽

10.5586/asbp.3552 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hubert Zarnovican ◽

Jozef Kollár ◽

Iveta Škodová

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Large Scale ◽

Gradient Analysis ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Rural Landscape ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Grassland Vegetation ◽

Phytosociological Relevés ◽

Intensively Managed ◽

Traditional Manner

Traditional orchards are a valuable feature of the rural landscape and they are specific for regions with scattered settlement such as the Myjava hilly land and White Carpathians. Here, the permanent species-rich grasslands beneath trees were regularly managed in the traditional manner until some were replaced in the 1970’s and 80’s by intensively managed orchards, some of which were abandoned in the early 1990’s. Our 2011–2015 phytosociological research followed the standard Braun-Blanquet approach. We classified 178 phytosociological relevés recorded in orchard meadows (156 relevés), former intensively managed orchards (16 relevés), and two relevés from a semi-intensively grazed orchard. Traditionally managed orchard meadows were classified in the following five units: (i) Pastinaco sativae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris – thermophilous variant, (ii) Pastinaco sativae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris – transitional variant to Alchemillo-Arrhenatheretum elatioris, (iii) Ranunculo bulbosi-Arrhenatheretum elatioris, (iv) Onobrychido viciifoliae-Brometum erecti, and (v) Brachypodio pinnati-Molinietum arundinaceae. Formerly intensively managed large-scale orchards were classified as Pastinaco sativae-Arrhenatheretum elatioris association and the semi-intensively grazed orchard as Lolio perennis-Cynosuretum cristati association. The species composition varies considerably due to tree-shading and different management treatments applied in the orchards, so the relevés of the delimited syntaxonomic units are not typical and have transitional character. Moisture, soil nutrients, and soil reaction were identified as the main environmental gradients influencing species composition. We tested four management treatments in direct gradient analysis and found that abandonment has the strongest effect on species composition. Comparison of grassland vegetation in the studied traditional orchards with that described in Germany reveals differences in species composition. Moreover, species richness of the compared Arrhenatherion elatioris and Bromion erecti alliances in Slovakian orchard meadows was higher than in the German orchards.

Download Full-text

Reef fish community structure on three islands of Itaipu, Southeast Brazil

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252008000200015 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 267-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

José Policarpo de Mendonça-Neto ◽

Cassiano Monteiro-Neto ◽

Luiz Eduardo Moraes

Keyword(s):

Environmental Gradients ◽

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Brazilian Coast ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Rocky Reefs ◽

Chain Link ◽

One Year

We provide here the first assessment of the composition, abundance and distribution of rocky reef fishes of Itaipu Sound, Rio de Janeiro, off the southeastern Brazilian coast. Monthly visual censuses, benthic quadrats and chain link transects were conducted over one year on rocky reefs at three islands (Menina, Mãe and Pai). A total of 2466 individual fish, belonging to 29 families and 42 species were recorded. The most abundant fish species were Parablennius pilicornis, Haemulon steindachneri, Orthopristis ruber and Diplodus argenteus. Sheltered and complex habitats showed the most abundant and diverse fish populations. There was a major significant separation between sampling sites and a secondary seasonal pattern. The three sites showed similar fish communities with locally structured environmental gradients according to their inherent habitat characteristics.

Download Full-text

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) density and environmental gradients at their biogeographical range edge

10.1101/2020.07.14.202499 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Erin G. Wessling ◽

Paula Dieguez ◽

Manuel Llana ◽

Liliana Pacheco ◽

Jill D. Pruetz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pan Troglodytes ◽

Habitat Heterogeneity ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Pan Troglodytes Verus ◽

Range Limit ◽

Range Edge ◽

Food Species ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

ABSTRACTIdentifying ecological gradients at the range edge of a species is an essential step in revealing the underlying mechanisms and constraints that limit the species’ geographic range. We aimed to describe the patterns of variation in chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) density and habitat characteristics perpendicular to the northern edge of their range and to investigate potential environmental mechanisms underlying chimpanzee distribution in a savanna-mosaic habitat. We estimated chimpanzee densities at six sites forming a 126 km latitudinal gradient at the biogeographical range edge of the western chimpanzee in the savanna-mosaic habitats of southeastern Senegal. To accompany these data, we used systematically placed vegetation plots to characterize the habitats at each site for habitat heterogeneity, tree density and size, floral assemblages, among other variables. We found that both biotic and abiotic factors are potential determinants of the chimpanzee range limit in this ecoregion. Specifically, chimpanzee-occupied landscapes at the limit had smaller available floral assemblages, less habitat heterogeneity, and contained fewer closed canopy habitats in which chimpanzees could seek refuge from high temperatures than landscapes farther from the range limit. This pattern was accompanied by a decline in chimpanzee density with increasing proximity to the range limit. Our results provide several indications of the potential limits of food species diversity, thermal refuge, and water availability to the chimpanzee niche and the implications of these limits for chimpanzee biogeography, especially in the face of climate change predictions, as well as to species distributional modeling more generally.

Download Full-text

Niche Models Differentiate Potential Impacts of Two Aquatic Invasive Plant Species on Native Macrophytes

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12040162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 162

Author(s):

Michael R. Verhoeven ◽

Wesley J. Glisson ◽

Daniel J. Larkin

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Invasive Plant ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Myriophyllum Spicatum ◽

Light Availability ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Potamogeton Crispus ◽

Starting Point ◽

Niche Models

Potamogeton crispus (curlyleaf pondweed) and Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) are widely thought to competitively displace native macrophytes in North America. However, their perceived competitive superiority has not been comprehensively evaluated. Coexistence theory suggests that invader displacement of native species through competitive exclusion is most likely where high niche overlap results in competition for limiting resources. Thus, evaluation of niche similarity can serve as a starting point for predicting the likelihood of invaders having direct competitive impacts on resident species. Across two environmental gradients structuring macrophyte communities—water depth and light availability—both P. crispus and M. spicatum are thought to occupy broad niches. For a third dimension, phenology, the annual growth cycle of M. spicatum is typical of other species, whereas the winter-ephemeral phenology of P. crispus may impart greater niche differentiation and thus lower risk of native species being competitively excluded. Using an unprecedented dataset comprising 3404 plant surveys from Minnesota collected using a common protocol, we modeled niches of 34 species using a probabilistic niche framework. Across each niche dimension, P. crispus had lower overlap with native species than did M. spicatum; this was driven in particular by its distinct phenology. These results suggest that patterns of dominance seen in P. crispus and M. spicatum have likely arisen through different mechanisms, and that direct competition with native species is less likely for P. crispus than M. spicatum. This research highlights the utility of fine-scale, abundance-based niche models for predicting invader impacts.

Download Full-text

Effect of black walnut (Juglans nigra) on the understorey vegetation – a case study of South Moravian forests (Czech Republic)

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/68/2016-jfs ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 136-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hrib Michal ◽

Podrázský Vilém ◽

Matějka Karel ◽

Viewegh Jiří

Keyword(s):

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽

Black Walnut ◽

Juglans Nigra ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Brachypodium Sylvaticum ◽

Understorey Vegetation ◽

Alluvial Forests ◽

Native Tree Species ◽

Forest Phytocoenosis

The article analyses the influence of black walnut on forest phytocoenosis in South Moravian forests and assesses how its representation may affect the understorey vegetation of the forest ecosystems. In July 2014, 31 relevés were processed in the South Moravian forests. These were stands of pure black walnut (Juglans nigra) as well as black walnut with small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), along with neighbouring autochthonous stands (pure ash – European and narrow-leaved), oak (summer oak), or their mixtures. Ellenberg’s indicator values reveal differences in the plant communities under black walnut comparing those under native tree species for the variables nitrogen, soil reaction and temperature. In addition, total cover is significantly higher under walnut. Other differences are visible from the detrended correspondence analysis ordination. The study also confirmed that in the stands of black walnut the preference of some species is suppressed, for example Brachypodium sylvaticum and Poa nemoralis in alluvial forests and Melica uniflora in hilly forests.

Download Full-text

Diversity of subalpine and alpine vegetation of the eastern part of the Nízke Tatry Mts in Slovakia: major types and environmental gradients

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-009-0176-6 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 64 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lucia Sekulová ◽

Michal Hájek

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽

Dwarf Shrub ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Data Set ◽

Entire Data ◽

Second Gradient ◽

One Year

AbstractChanges in composition and structure of alpine and subalpine plant communities in relation to ecological factors were analysed in the Nízke Tatry Mts, Slovakia. Species cover values of vascular and non-vascular plants in each vegetation plot were recorded on the nine-degree scale. A data set of 156 relevés of alpine and subalpine vegetation was sampled recently during one year in the eastern part of the Nízke Tatry National Park. The data set was analysed by cluster analysis and Detrended Correspondence Analysis. analyses were carried out on the entire data set, including the subset of short grassland and dwarf-shrub vegetation. Major gradients and clusters were ecologically interpreted using Ellenberg indicator values. In the entire data set, the major gradient in species composition was associated with nutrient availability and the second most important gradient with light. In the case of short grassland and dwarf-shrub vegetation, the gradients were different. The first one was associated with soil reaction and the second gradient was associated with moisture. Clusters proposed by numerical classification reproduced many traditional phytosociological associations, namely Seslerietum distichae, Sphagno capillifolii-Empetretum nigri, Junco trifidi-Callunetum vulgaris, Juncetum trifidi, Dryopterido dilatatae-Pinetum mugo, Luzuletum obscurae, Agrostio pyrenaiceae-Nardetum strictae, while some other associations were less clearly differentiated (communities of the alliances Calamagrostion villosae, Adenostylion alliariae, Trisetion fusci, Cratoneuro filicini-Calthion laetae or Salicion herbaceae). The next clusters included Vaccinium and Festuca supina dominated communities and artificial roadside grasslands sown 50 years ago. Bryophytes and lichens were highly represented among diagnostic species of particular associations. Distribution pattern of particular plant communities was strongly influenced by site position either on northern or southern slope of the mountains.

Download Full-text

Taxonomic and numerical sufficiency in depth- and salinity-controlled marine paleocommunities

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/pab.2016.49 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 463-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Martin Zuschin ◽

Rafał Nawrot ◽

Mathias Harzhauser ◽

Oleg Mandic ◽

Adam Tomašových

Keyword(s):

Compositional Data ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Community Response ◽

Species Level ◽

Taxonomic Resolution ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Level Data ◽

Numerical Transformation ◽

Variation Explained ◽

Intertidal Habitats

AbstractNumerical and taxonomic resolution of compositional data sets affects investigators’ abilities to detect and measure relationships between communities and environmental factors. We test whether varying numerical (untransformed, square-root- and fourth-root-transformed relative abundance and presence–absence data) and taxonomic (species, genera, families) resolutions reveals different insights into early to middle Miocene molluscan communities along bathymetric and salinity gradients. The marine subtidal has a more even species-abundance distribution, a higher number of rare species, and higher species:family and species:genus ratios than the three habitats—marine and estuarine intertidal, estuarine subtidal—with higher fluctuations in salinity and other physical parameters. Taxonomic aggregation and numerical transformation of data result in very different ordinations, although all habitats differ significantly from one another at all taxonomic and numerical levels. Rank correlations between species-level and higher-taxon, among-sample dissimilarities are very high for proportional abundance and decrease strongly with increasing numerical transformation, most notably in the two intertidal habitats. The proportion of variation explained by depth is highest for family-level data, decreases gradually with numerical transformation, and is higher in marine than in estuarine habitats. The proportion of variation explained by salinity is highest for species-level data, increases gradually with numerical transformation, and is higher in subtidal than in intertidal habitats. Therefore, there is no single best numerical and taxonomic resolution for the discrimination of communities along environmental gradients: the “best” resolution depends on the environmental factor considered and the nature of community response to it. Different numerical and taxonomic transformations capture unique aspects of metacommunity assembly along environmental gradients that are not detectable at a single level of resolution. We suggest that simultaneous analyses of community gradients at multiple taxonomic and numerical resolutions provide novel insights into processes responsible for spatial and temporal community stability.

Download Full-text