scholarly journals Analyses of floristic composition of the abandoned Cu-dump field Piesky (Staré Hory Mountains, Slovakia)

Web Ecology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Turisová ◽  
Peter Sabo ◽  
Tomáš Štrba ◽  
Samuel Koróny ◽  
Peter Andráš ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Metal Mobility ◽  
Alien Invasive Species ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Successional Stages ◽  
Edaphic Variables

Abstract. The Cu-dump field Piesky is an important historical abandoned mining area in the region of central Europe, well known for the high content of heavy metals in its soil, especially copper, the content of which varies from 933.40 to 1485.40 mg kg−1. Floristic and phytosociological research was carried out here during the vegetation seasons in 2011–2014. Altogether a total of 156 taxa of vascular plants were found. The most common species were Acetosella vulgaris, Agrostis capillaris, A. stolonifera, Arabidopsis arenosa and Festuca rubra, which were important constituents of all mine heaps in central Slovakia. We examined a total of 11 phytosociological relevés at various sites, which were selected to capture the variability of plant communities throughout topographical and ecological variability, various successional stages and impacts from humans. They were classified into five habitats: initial successional stages, grasslands, forest stands, wetland and feeding grounds for wild animals. Each site was evaluated in terms of its species richness, index of diversity and the representation of metallophytic, alien invasive species, synanthrophytes and native non-apophytes. This representation is based on species number and abundance, and their ratios to all taxa abundance and species richness are reflected by several indicators, which we have called indexes of metallophytization, synanthropization and naturalness of the vegetation (community) composition. In addition, indexes of invasive alien taxa and native non-apophytes proportion were used. Furthermore, each of the 11 sites was characterized by its basic topographic properties and climatic and edaphic variables, using the phytoindication approach based on the Ellenberg indicator values. The correlation analysis has uncovered several important and significant associations between some of these indicators and the climatic and edaphic variables. The negative correlations between the number of native non-apophytes and temperature (and between their relative abundances in the individual habitats and light) partially confirm that on mine heaps the numbers of synanthrophytes retreat into climax forest stands. Other correlations confirm that synanthropisation of the vegetation at a site is also higher in more eutrophic and less acidic soils for mine heaps. The species richness was highest in the grasslands and wetland and lowest in the initial succession stages, while beta diversity decreased in an opposite direction. Most synanthrophytes were found on grasslands, attracted by higher amount of nutrients in the soil, brought by sewage sludge from water treatment plants during partial recultivation of this mine heap in the years 2000 and 2010. The idea behind it was to support and accelerate the succession, however the use of the sludge may not have been the best option. Despite strict control of its chemical content, a high input of nutrients inevitably increases numbers of synanthrophytes in the vegetation cover. Finally, planting deciduous trees on young mine heaps as a method of directed succession is a better option than planting coniferous ones. The latter trees create acidic litter, increasing heavy metal mobility in the soil. We have found the dump heap Piesky to be a very suitable locality for studying processes of primary and directed succession in extreme environments and their impacts on the floristic composition of vegetation.

scholarly journals Weeds Associated with Banana Crops in Magdalena Department, Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. QUINTERO-PERTÚZ ◽  
E. CARBONÓ-DELAHOZ ◽  
A. JARMA-OROZCO
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Cycle Growth ◽  
The Family ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Pattern Comparison ◽  
Representative Farms ◽  
Banana Crops

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine the richness and composition of weed communities associated with banana plantations in Magdalena department, Colombia. Between September 2016 and May 2017, a total of 164 hectares were assessed over four agroecological zones (Alta, Media, Baja and Norte); in each zone, three representative farms were selected where, through zigzag paths, botanical collections were made in cultivated lots. Information on life cycle, growth habit and origin of each species was included. The floristic composition was represented by 204 species distributed among 143 genera and 54 families. Poaceae, with 31 species, was the family with the highest species richness, followed by Fabaceae (12) and Asteraceae (11). From the total species recorded, 113 are perennial (55%) and 91 are annual (45%); 141 species are herbaceous (68%), 38 are climbers (20%), and 25 are arboreal or shrubby (12%). Native species predominate over introduced species. The species richness does not differ significantly between the sampling zones, but the weed community composition does. The presence of common species reported as important weeds worldwide was recorded in the four zones. However, some species were recorded in only one of the zones, generating a differential composition pattern. Comparison with local inventories showed changes in the composition of the weed complex over time. The presence of various species not previously considered weeds in the banana crops of this region is highlighted.

scholarly journals Effects of Disturbance on Understory Vegetation across Slovenian Forest Ecosystems

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kutnar ◽  
Nagel ◽  
Kermavnar
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
The Mean

The herbaceous understory represents a key component of forest biodiversity across temperate forests of Europe. Here, we quantified changes in the diversity and composition of the forest understory layer in representative Slovenian forest ecosystems between 2004/05 and 2014/15. In total, 60 plots were placed across 10 different managed forest types, ranging from lowland deciduous and mid-altitude mesic mixed forests to mountain conifer forests. This network is part of an international network of sites launched within the ICP Forests Programme aimed to assess the condition of forests in Europe. To examine how disturbance influenced understory dynamics, we estimated the disturbance impacts considering both natural and/or anthropogenic disturbances that cause significant damage to trees and to ground-surface layers, including ground-vegetation layers and upper-soil layers. Species richness across 10 sites (gamma diversity) significantly decreased from 272 to 243 species during the study period, while mean species richness per site did not significantly change. The mean value of site level Shannon diversity indices and evenness significantly increased. The cover of most common plant species increased during the monitoring period. The mean value of disturbance estimates per site increased from 0.8% in 2004/05 (ranging from 0% to 2.5%) to 16.3% in 2014/15 (ranging from 5.0% to 38.8%), which corresponded to a reduction in total vegetation cover, including tree-layer cover. More disturbed sites showed larger temporal changes in species composition compared to less disturbed sites, suggesting that forest disturbances caused understory compositional shifts during the study period. Rather than observing an increase in plant diversity due to disturbance, our results suggest a short-term decrease in species number, likely driven by replacement of more specialized species with common species.

scholarly journals Effect of forest fire on floristic composition, structure, dominance and species richness in subtropical pine forest of Ponda watershed, Rajouri, J&K

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1&2) ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Junaid Ahmed ◽  
Sanjay Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Forest fires have profound impacts on physical environment including land cover, land use, forest ecosystem and biodiversity. In the present study the effect of fires on floristic composition, structure, dominance and species richness in subtropical pine forest of Ponda watershed, Rajouri, J&K, lying at an altitude range of 800 m to 1000 m above mean sea level, was assessed. The forests in the study area were divided into two strata i.e., burnt and un-burnt forest. Random sampling was carried out by laying out forty sample plots in all, with twenty sample plots in each strata covering burnt and unburnt forest sites of the study area. The plot dimensions of 20m x 20m were used for studying trees and 5m x 5m for shrubs (laid within the plots for trees). The density, basal area and IVI along with diversity and concentration of dominance of trees and shrubs in both forest sites were studied. Similarity index was also calculated for burnt and unburnt forest of the study area. The results show that the total density and total basal area of trees and shrubs was highest in un-burnt forest sites with density values of 468.75 and 5284 individuals/ha and 85.33 m2/ha and 25.42 m2/ha, respectively. The results on the basis of the comparison of IVI values of all species in both forest stands also reveal that the respective dominant tree and shrub species were Pinus roxburghii and Carissa opaca. The calculated values of Shannon-Wiener, Margalef and Menhinick indices i.e. 1.93, 2.53 and 0.82 for trees and 1.80, 2.08 and 0.44 for shrubs, respectively, reveal that the species richness and diversity was high for unburnt forest stand whereas, Simpson’s index value of tree (0.48) and shrub (0.75) show that an concentration of dominance was highest in burnt forest stands. The calculated value of Sorenson’s and Jaccard’s index of similarity for trees (0.60 and 0.43) was maximum as compare to shrubs (0.47 and 0.31) which shows that forest fire have profound effect on shrub than trees.

Syntaxonomy of mid-successional stages of secondary forests of the central elevated part of the Southern Urals

2012 ◽  
pp. 109-134
Author(s):  
P. S. Shirokikh ◽  
A. M. Kunafin ◽  
V. B. Martynenko
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Southern Urals ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
The Southern Urals ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
Tree Layer ◽  
Shade Tolerant Species ◽  
Successional Stages

The secondary birch and aspen forests of middle stages of succession of the central elevated part of the Southern Urals are studied. 4 subassociations, 1 community, and 7 variants in the alliances of Aconito-Piceion and Piceion excelsae are allocated. It is shown that the floristic composition of aspen and birch secondary forests in the age of 60—80 years is almost identical to the natural forests. However, a slight increase the coenotical role of light-requiring species of grasslands and hemiboreal forests in the secondary communities of the class Brachypodio-Betuletea was noticed as well as some reduction of role the shade-tolerant species of nemoral complex and species of boreal forests of the class Vaccinio-Piceetea. Dominant tree layer under the canopy of secondary series is marked by an active growth of natural tree species.

Diversity metrics, species turnovers and nestedness of bird assemblages in a deep karst sinkhole

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrado Battisti ◽  
Marco Giardini ◽  
Francesca Marini ◽  
Lorena Di Rocco ◽  
Giuseppe Dodaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Random Distribution ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Bird Assemblages ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Stick Model ◽  
Karst Sinkhole

We reported a study on breeding birds occurring inside an 80 m-deep karst sinkhole, with the characterization of the assemblages recorded along its semi-vertical slopes from the upper edge until the bottom. The internal sides of the sinkhole have been vertically subdivided in four belts about 20 m high. The highest belt (at the upper edge of the cenote) showed the highest values in mean number of bird detections, mean and normalized species richness, and Shannon diversity index. The averaged values of number of detections and species richness significantly differ among belts. Species turnover (Cody’s β-diversity) was maximum between the highest belts. Whittaker plots showed a marked difference among assemblages shaping from broken-stick model to geometric series, and explicited a spatial progressive stress with a disruption in evenness towards the deepest belts. Bird assemblages evidenced a nested subset structure with deeper belts containing successive subsets of the species occurring in the upper belts. We hypothesize that, at least during the daytime in breeding season, the observed non-random distribution of species along the vertical stratification is likely due to (i) the progressive simplification both of the floristic composition and vegetation structure, and (ii) the paucity of sunlight as resources from the upper edge to the inner side of the cenote.

Diversity and distribution of large branchiopods in Kiskunság (Hungary) in relation to local habitat and spatial factors: implications for their conservation

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesbet Boven ◽  
Bram Vanschoenwinkel ◽  
Els R. De Roeck ◽  
Ann Hulsmans ◽  
Luc Brendonck
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Species Dispersal ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Spatial Factors ◽  
Large Branchiopods

Large branchiopods are threatened worldwide by the loss and degradation of their temporary aquatic habitats owing to drainage and intensive agriculture. Sound ecological knowledge of their diversity and distribution is a prerequisite to formulate effective conservation measures. In the present study, large branchiopods were collected from 82 temporary freshwater pools belonging to five habitat types in Kiskunság (Hungary). Dormant propagule bank analysis complemented the field survey. Eleven species were found, with large branchiopods occurring in more than half of the study systems. The high regional species richness and occurrence frequency of large branchiopods make Kiskunság a true ‘hot spot’ of large branchiopod diversity. The local environment was more important than spatial factors (isolation) in explaining the presence of the most common species. Dispersal was most likely not limiting for the large branchiopods in the study area and colonisation success of different species was differentially affected by local conditions, possibly invertebrate predation risk and hydroperiod. Meadow pools and wheel tracks contributed most to regional species richness through the presence of rare and exclusive species. To conserve branchiopod diversity, we stress the importance of high habitat diversity in the landscape and the need to conserve neglected habitats such as wheel tracks.

scholarly journals Structure of three subtropical bat assemblages (Chiroptera) in the Andean rainforests of Argentina

Mammalia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano S. Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Guild Structure ◽  
Trophic Guild ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Mist Net ◽  
Yungas Forests

AbstractI evaluated bat assemblages in terms of species richness, relative abundance, trophic guild structure, and seasonal changes at three sites along of the Southern Yungas forests. A total of 854 individuals were captured, representing 25 species of three families, with an effort of 27,138 m of mist net opened per hour. Subtropical assemblages showed a similar structure to those from tropical landmark, with a dominance of frugivorous Phyllostomid; in addition, a few species were abundant, followed by a long tail of less common species. However, subtropical sites differed due to the dominance of the genus

scholarly journals Effect of fire on a monodominant floating mat of Cyperus giganteus Vahl in a neotropical wetland

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rocha ◽  
CC. Santos Júnior ◽  
GA. Damasceno-Júnior ◽  
VJ. Pott ◽  
A. Pott
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Characteristic Species ◽  
Cyperus Giganteus ◽  
Pantanal Wetland ◽  
Floating Mat ◽  
Adult Plants

The rhizomatous Cyperus giganteus, abundant in the Pantanal wetland, can dominate extense floodable areas as monodominant communities. The Jacadigo lake has a large area of C. giganteus, where we performed an evaluation on community structure during two months in 2010, before it was hit by a wildfire which top-killed the vegetation, compared to ten months post-fire. We utilized 40 plots of 1m × 1m, along permanent trails, assessing two strata: the upper, near the inflorescence of adult plants, and the lower, close to the water level. Our results show that fire does not affect dominance of C. giganteus, as it maintained the same cover as before fire; species richness is not much altered either - 28 before fire and 34 thereafter. Fire changed the floristic composition, due to the annual variation of species and the ability of some plants to colonize gaps and to regrow after fire from underground organs and seeds. The stratification of the vegetation with characteristic species of upper and lower strata was similar after fire.

scholarly journals Floristic composition of the Montane Forest in the Almadina-Barro Preto axis, Southern Bahia, Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Macielle Macedo Coelho ◽  
André Márcio Amorim
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Arboreal Habit

The aim of this study is to survey the angiosperms of two montane forest remnants in the southern Bahia, Brazil: Corcovado (SCO) and Pedra Lascada (SPL). Both fragments are located in the municipality of Almadina and Barro Preto, respectively, and are 18 km distant from each other. We sampled 899 species of angiosperms distributed in 437 genera and 116 families. The SCO was the richest area with 678 species, distributed in 367 genera and 100 families. SPL showed 466 species in 269 genera and 88 families. The percentage of species identified was 85.8% and of this total, 37.7% are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, 11.2% are endemic to southern Bahia and northern Espírito Santo and 7% are disjunct between the Atlantic Forest and Amazon. The remaining percentages (44.3%) were of species widely distributed. The richest families in the two areas were Orchidaceae (10%), Rubiaceae (7%), Bromeliaceae (5.5%), Melastomataceae (4.2%) and Poaceae (4%). The richest genera were Psychotria (2%),Piper (1.8%), Ocotea (1.6%),Vriesea (1.5%) and Peperomia (1.4%). More than half of the recorded species showed non-arboreal habit, regarding life forms documented. That comes against the assertion that many authors in the tropical forests, where species richness in angiosperms is expected for non-woody species, especially in montane forests. Twelve species have been identified as new, but seven others already described from collections previously obtained in these two areas. Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae and Bromeliaceae showed significant richness in this study these families are commonly reported as the richest in other inventories in the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia reinforcing their importance to the regional flora. The high levels of richness, endemism, and the growing numbers of new taxonomic discoveries from the SPL and SCO sites indicate the biological importance of these two forest remnants. The implementation of parks or other protected environmental reserves would be essential to the conservation of its species.

Distribution of moss-inhabiting diatoms along an altitudinal gradient at sub-Antarctic Îles Kerguelen

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niek J.M. Gremmen ◽  
Bart van de Vijver ◽  
Yves Frenot ◽  
Marc Lebouvier
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Cross Validation ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Diatom Species ◽  
Expected Species Richness

Altitudinal gradients provide excellent opportunities to study relationships between species distribution and climatic variables. We studied the species composition of 39 samples of moss-inhabiting diatoms, collected at 50 m intervals from 100–650 m above sea level. The samples contained a total of 130 diatom species, of which 51 occurred in 10 or more samples. Altitude appeared to be the most important variable explaining variation in species composition. Of the 51 common species, 33 showed a significant relationship with altitude. Although the majority of the latter declined with increasing altitude, for nine species the probability of occurrence first increased with increasing elevation, but decreased again at higher altitudes, and four species increased systematically with elevation. As a result, expected species richness per sample decreased from an estimated 43 at 100 m to 25 species per sample at 650 m. Diatom distribution patterns proved to be suitable predictors of the altitudinal position of sample sites. Cross-validation yielded a strong relationship between predicted and observed altitudes.

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