Variety of habitats associated with common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) growing in Lithuania

Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is an important conifer from the ecological and economical point of view. In some areas of the distribution range, it is a widely studied species. Up till now insufficient attention has been paid to junipers growing in the Baltic countries where it is one of three natural conifers and important forest tree species. Recently, molecular markers-based diversity of Lithuanian populations of J. communis was determined, although related biological and ecological variables remain undisclosed. The present study is aimed at the evaluation of biotic and abiotic environment of J. communis according to plant species composition. Fourteen sites with J. communis were selected in the territory of Lithuania. At each site undergrowth trees and shrubs, herbaceous species, dwarf shrubs, and mosses were recorded and the abundance of each species was evaluated. Abiotic environment characteristics were obtained using Ellenberg’s indicator values (EIV) of the plant species neighbouring junipers. In the sites with J. communis, 80 species of herbs and dwarf shrubs belonging to 18 families were registered. The largest variety of herbaceous species and dwarf shrubs (18–22 per site) was registered for sites representing xero-thermophile fringes. Species coverage data recorded in the sites in most cases allowed to group sites according to their habitats. Despite rather small territory of the present survey (latitude (N) 56°07’–54°11’, longitude (E) 21°06’–26°30’), the ranges of indexes for environment factors of juniper sites were rather wide: 6.0–7.3 for light, 3.0–5.8 for temperature, 3.7–5.3 for continentality, 4.2–7.8 for soil moisture, 2.7–7.4 for soil reaction, and 2.7–4.4 for soil nitrogen. Among the sites selected by us, the most contrasting in terms of EIV were locations representing coastal brown dunes covered with natural Scots pine forests and xero-thermophile fringes.

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Effect of Soil Diversity on Forest Plant Species Abundance: A Case Study from Central-European Highlands

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050534 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 534

Author(s):

Pavel Samec ◽

Jiří Volánek ◽

Miloš Kučera ◽

Pavel Cudlín

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Plant Distribution ◽

Soil Diversity ◽

Abiotic Environment ◽

Soil Group ◽

Biogeographical Regions ◽

Forest Distribution

Plant distribution is most closely associated with the abiotic environment. The abiotic environment affects plant species’ abundancy unevenly. The asymmetry is further deviated by human interventions. Contrarily, soil properties preserve environmental influences from the anthropogenic perturbations. The study examined the supra-regional similarities of soil effects on plant species’ abundance in temperate forests to determine: (i) spatial relationships between soil property and forest-plant diversity among geographical regions; (ii) whether the spatial dependencies among compared forest-diversity components are influenced by natural forest representation. The spatial dependence was assessed using geographically weighted regression (GWR) of soil properties and plant species abundance from forest stands among 91 biogeographical regions in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Regional soil properties and plant species abundance were acquired from 7550 national forest inventory plots positioned in a 4 × 4 km grid. The effect of natural forests was assessed using linear regression between the sums of squared GWR residues and protected forest distribution in the regions. Total diversity of forest plants is significantly dependent on soil-group representation. The soil-group effect is more significant than that of bedrock bodies, most of all in biogeographical regions with protected forest representation >50%. Effects of soil chemical properties were not affected by protected forest distribution. Spatial dependency analysis separated biogeographical regions of optimal forest plant diversity from those where inadequate forest-ecosystem diversity should be increased alongside soil diversity.

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Chemical and Phytocoenological Characteristics of Two Different Slovak Peatlands

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071290 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1290

Author(s):

Danica Fazekašová ◽

Gabriela Barančíková ◽

Juraj Fazekaš ◽

Lenka Štofejová ◽

Ján Halas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Profile ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Nitrogen Supply ◽

Point Of View ◽

Statistical Testing ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Soil Reaction ◽

Chemical Parameters

This paper presents the results of pedological and phytocoenological research focused on the detailed research of chemical parameters (pH, organic carbon, and nutrients), risk elements (As-metalloid, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and species composition of the vegetation of two different peatlands on the territory of Slovakia—Belianske Lúky (a fen) and Rudné (a bog). Sampling points were selected to characterize the profile of the organosol within the peatland, the soil profile between the peatland and the agricultural land, and the soil profile of the outlying agricultural land, which is used as permanent grassland. Based on phytocoenological records, a semi-quantitative analysis of taxa in accordance with the Braun–Blanquet scale was performed. The study revealed that the thickness of the peat horizon of the fen in comparison with the bog is very low. In terms of the quality of organic matter, the monitored peatlands are dominated by fresh plant residues such as cellulose and lignin. Differences between individual types of peatlands were also found in the soil reaction and the supply of nitrogen to the organic matter of peat. The values of the soil exchange reaction were neutral on the fen, as well as slightly alkaline but extremely low on the bog. A significantly higher nitrogen supply was found in the organic matter of the fen in contrast to the bog. At the same time, extremely low content of accessible P and an above-limit content of As in the surface horizons were also found on the fen. From the phytocoenological point of view, 22 plant species were identified on the fen, while only five species were identified on the bog, which also affected the higher diversity (H’) and equitability (e). The results of the statistical testing confirmed the diversity of the studied peatlands and the different impact of environmental variables on plant diversity.

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An ecological look at saline wetlands

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.52.2004.1.5 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 37-44

Author(s):

M. Shokri ◽

N. Safaian ◽

M. Z. Ahmadi

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Water Table ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Point Of View ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Salicornia Europaea ◽

The Caspian Sea ◽

Aeluropus Littoralis ◽

Natural Equilibrium

Due to the occurrence of considerable areas of wetlands in the world, the wise, sustainable use of these lands is one of major importance for ecologists and agriculturists. As the presence of indicator species and plant communities can be a measure of the compatibility between plants and edaphic conditions in these regions, the ecological niches of plant species in part of the southern coastal areas of the Caspian Sea have been studied to show the correlation of each species with its own habitat. The plant communities were separated with Ward's cluster analysis. The correlation of these communities and plant species with environmental factors was investigated with the CCA method, using PC-Ordination-4 software. The results showed that the soil EC, water table, soil pH, SAR and ESP were 14-157 dS/m, 0-240 cm, 6.5-8.5, 13.4-84.8 and 2-55%, respectively. This range of values, in addition to creating ecological niches for species with different ecological roles, was also effective in the formation of plant communities. The analysis of vegetation and soil data with the CCA method showed the relationships between soil factors and vegetation. In spite of the dominance of the species Halocnemum strobilaceum in all the plant communities, the correlation of this species with plant species such as Aeluropus littoralis, Salicornia europaea, Aeluropus lagopoides,Salsola aurantia and Puccinella distans in relation to changes in EC, water table, pH, SAR and ESP, is important from the point of view of sustaining the physical environment and ecological function. The simplification of these ecosystems (by drainage, agriculture, etc.) may disturb the natural equilibrium. As these ecosystems are susceptible and changes in their use are costly from the ecological and economic points of view, the wise use of ecosystems in their natural forms (rangelands and habitats) is recommended to prevent the spread of salinity and to protect habitats and biodiversity.

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A Note on the Flowering of Ajuga orientalis L. in Relation to Air Temperature in Mount Aenos (Cephalonia, Greece)

Current Agriculture Research Journal ◽

10.12944/carj.6.3.05 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 261-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aristidis Matsoukis ◽

Athanasios Kamoutsis ◽

Aikaterini Chronopoulou-Sereli

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Landscape Design ◽

Point Of View ◽

Meteorological Variables ◽

Phenological Stage ◽

Aesthetic Value ◽

Beginning Of Flowering ◽

Start Dates

Ajuga orientalis L. is a widespread plant species in many countries, such as Greece, Italy and Turkey, with promising aesthetic value in the field and in landscape design, but nothing is known about its phenology, from a detailed, quantitatively, point of view, in relation to meteorological variables. Thus, under the aforementioned context, the purpose of our work is the elucidation of part of the phenology of this plant, especially concerning its flowering. To achieve this, the phenological stage ‘Beginning of flowering’, in terms of its start dates (julian days), was investigated in relation to average air temperature (T) of March in two areas, Roudi and Kaboulieri at north-northwest and south-southeast slopes, respectively, of Mount Aenos, Cephalonia, Greece, for three successive years (2014-2016). From the analysis of the T of March, it was confirmed that Kaboulieri area was significantly warmer (P<0.05) than Roudi area by 0.8 oC both in 2014 and 2015, with a significantly earlier appearance (P<0.05) of ‘Beginning of flowering’ of A. orientalis in Kaboulieri, ranging from 9.1 (2015) to 10.9 (2014) julian days. The findings of our study could be used for the planning of an efficient preservation program process of the aforementioned plant species in a vulnerable mountainous environment, such as the Mount Aenos environment, as well as for its further exploitation as a decorative plant.

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Herbaceous plant species diversity in communal agro-pastoral and conservation areas in western Serengeti, Tanzania

Tropical Grasslands - Forrajes Tropicales ◽

10.17138/tgft(7)502-518 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 502-518

Author(s):

Pius Yoram Kavana ◽

Anthony Z. Sangeda ◽

Ephraim J. Mtengeti ◽

Christopher Mahonge ◽

John Bukombe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Plant Species ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Plant Species Diversity ◽

Livestock Grazing ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Herbaceous Species ◽

Grazing Land ◽

Grazing Lands

Agro-pastoralism involves the growing of crops and keeping of livestock as a livelihood strategy practiced by communities in rural areas in Africa and is highly dependent on environmental factors including rainfall, soil and vegetation. Agro-pastoral activities, e.g. livestock grazing and land clearing for crop cultivation, impact on environmental condition. This study evaluated the impacts of agro-pastoral activities on herbaceous plant species diversity and abundance in western Serengeti relative to conservation (protected) areas. A vegetation survey was conducted along the grazing gradients of ten 4 km transects from within village lands to protected areas. A total of 123 herbaceous species belonging to 20 families were identified. Higher herbaceous species diversity and richness were found in protected areas than in communal grazing lands. Similarly, the number of perennial herbaceous species was higher in the former than the latter, while occurrence of annuals was higher in the village areas. This observation indicates poor rangeland condition in village communal grazing lands as compared with protected areas. It is obvious that current agro-pastoral activities have contributed to a reduction in herbaceous species diversity in village lands in western Serengeti. However, the array of pasture species, especially desirable perennial species, still present in communal grazing areas, suggests that rejuvenation of these areas is possible. Resting of grazing land is recommended to reverse the trend towards diversity reduction and ensure future availability of feed resources for grazing animals in village lands.

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Species-specific effects of passive warming in an Antarctic moss system

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.190744 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. 190744 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hannah M. Prather ◽

Angélica Casanova-Katny ◽

Andrew F. Clements ◽

Matthew W. Chmielewski ◽

Mehmet A. Balkan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Fungal Biomass ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Moss Species ◽

Abiotic Environment ◽

Invertebrate Communities ◽

Passive Warming ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Species Specific ◽

Antarctic Moss

Polar systems are experiencing rapid climate change and the high sensitivity of these Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems make them especially vulnerable to accelerated ecological transformation. In Antarctica, warming results in a mosaic of ice-free terrestrial habitats dominated by a diverse assemblage of cryptogamic plants (i.e. mosses and lichens). Although these plants provide key habitat for a wide array of microorganisms and invertebrates, we have little understanding of the interaction between trophic levels in this terrestrial ecosystem and whether there are functional effects of plant species on higher trophic levels that may alter with warming. Here, we used open top chambers on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, to examine the effects of passive warming and moss species on the abiotic environment and ultimately on higher trophic levels. For the dominant mosses, Polytrichastrum alpinum and Sanionia georgicouncinata , we found species-specific effects on the abiotic environment, including moss canopy temperature and soil moisture. In addition, we found distinct shifts in sexual expression in P . alpinum plants under warming compared to mosses without warming, and invertebrate communities in this moss species were strongly correlated with plant reproduction. Mosses under warming had substantially larger total invertebrate communities, and some invertebrate taxa were influenced differentially by moss species. However, warmed moss plants showed lower fungal biomass than control moss plants, and fungal biomass differed between moss species. Our results indicate that continued warming may impact the reproductive output of Antarctic moss species, potentially altering terrestrial ecosystems dynamics from the bottom up. Understanding these effects requires clarifying the foundational, mechanistic role that individual plant species play in mediating complex interactions in Antarctica's terrestrial food webs.

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Plants of Central Queensland

10.1071/9781486302260 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eric Anderson

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Plant Species ◽

Point Of View ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Distribution Maps ◽

Grazing Lands ◽

Sustainable Productivity

Conservation and sustainable productivity are vital issues for Australia. In order to manage vegetation well from an agricultural, recreational or conservation point of view, an understanding of individual plant species is important. Plants of Central Queensland provides a guide for identifying and understanding the plants of the region so that pastoralists and others can be better equipped to manage the vegetation resource of our grazing lands. Central Queensland straddles the Tropic of Capricorn, although many of the plants in the book will also be found outside this area, as shown by their distribution maps. The book provides information on the habit, distribution, foliage and fruits of 525 plant species. Informative notes highlighting declared, poisonous, weed and medicinal plants are included, and plants useful for bees and bush tucker are also noted. These are the most important plants you might see if you live in or travel through central Queensland. This book has an easy-to-read, non-botanical format, with helpful photographs and distribution maps that greatly aid anyone interested in the vegetation of central Queensland. It is based on a previous work of the same title but is greatly expanded, incorporating information on an additional 285 plant species.

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JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS, COMMON JUNIPER

The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland ◽

10.1017/cbo9781107252837.020 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 1400-1408

Author(s):

Henry John Elwes ◽

Augustine Henry

Keyword(s):

Juniperus Communis ◽

Common Juniper

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Responses of carbon and nitrogen concentrations in high arctic plants to experimental warming

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b01-052 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 79 (6) ◽

pp. 711-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anne Tolvanen ◽

Gregory HR Henry

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Plant Species ◽

Ellesmere Island ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Dwarf Shrub ◽

Dwarf Shrubs ◽

N Concentration ◽

Cassiope Tetragona ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Nitrogen Concentrations

We studied total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentration in five arctic plant species, Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don (evergreen dwarf shrub), Dryas integrifolia Vahl (semi-evergreen dwarf-shrub), Salix arctica Pall. (deciduous, dioecious dwarf shrub), Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill (forb), and Carex stans Drej. (graminoid, sedge), after five growing seasons of experimental increase in temperature. The experiments were established in different habitats along a moisture gradient in a coastal lowland at Alexandra Fiord, Ellesmere Island (79ºN). Sampling was conducted three times during the growing season. The seasonal patterns of C and N concentration were similar across all investigated species, even though the absolute concentrations differed. Nitrogen concentrations were high early in the season during the active growth period but declined later in the season. Warming decreased the N concentration and increased the C/N ratio in the three woody species, whereas N concentrations in the forb and the sedge were not affected. Although not measured directly in our study, the differences in concentrations may be due to the slower response in nutrient uptake and growth in the dwarf shrubs but increased nutrient uptake and growth in the forb and the sedge. Among-site differences were only significant in C concentrations of old tissues of Cassiope tetragona and S. arctica. Male and female S. arctica did not differ in their responses to warming. Differences among plant species in their plastic responses may relate to survival during rapid environmental change. Slow-responding dwarf shrubs may be under increased risk of competition from more responsive and faster growing species, such as forbs and graminoids.Key words: allocation, climate change, dwarf shrub, forb, graminoid, ITEX, Ellesmere Island.

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Short Communication: Floristic composition and relationships between plant species abundance and soil properties in common hazel (Corylus avellana) mountainous forest of northern Iran

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d190535 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 1835-1841

Author(s):

GHADER POURRAHMATI ◽

ASADOLLAH MATAJI ◽

HASSAN POURBABAEI ◽

ALI SALEHI

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Plant Species ◽

Short Communication ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Woody Species ◽

Corylus Avellana ◽

Herbaceous Species ◽

Northern Iran ◽

Total N

Pourrahmati G, Mataji A, Pourbabaei H, Salehi A. 2018. Short Communication: Floristic composition and relationships between plant species abundance and soil properties in common hazel (Corylus avellana) mountainous forest of northern Iran. Biodiversitas 19: 1835-1841. Mountainous forests are valuable terrestrial ecosystems because of their useful services for the human being. Here, we explored the floristic composition and the relationships between plant species abundance distribution and soil physical and chemical properties in common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in the mountainous forest of northern Iran. Within the forest stand, 30 quadrats (20 m × 20 m and 1 m × 1 m for woody and herbaceous species, respectively) were selectively sampled along an altitudinal range from 1300 m to 1800 m a.s.l. to assess plant species composition and abundance, and soil samples were taken to perform chemical and physical analyses. The results showed that a total of 43 herbaceous and 15 woody species belonging to 23 and 8 families were identified. The abundance of herbaceous species was significantly correlated with soil properties (pH and total N). Furthermore, the abundance of woody species had a non-significant correlation with soil properties.

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