Assessing succession stages and community distribution characteristics on mountainous ecosystem hosting coming winter Olympics games

<p>Alpine mountain ecosystem shows strong interactions between abiotic and biotic parameters. They also received high attention from human activities. Considering coming international events such as the Winter Olympic Games (WOG) and its human impacts, foreseeing uncontrolled ecosystem changes is key. In this research, the vegetation communities distribution under different conditions were modeled in the Yin Mountains in Chongli Country (China), the core area of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Firstly, we surveyed the key factors limiting the vegetation communities development to guide the vegetation restoration after major events in this region. After that, the vegetation succession stage was assessed using the Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and market basket analysis (MBA) to classify the vegetation communities. Plant community and relationships among environmental variables were investigated through the trend correspondence (DCA) and canonical correspondence analyses (CCA). The results show that soil moisture and organic matter could be considered the main factors limiting the development of shrub and herb communities. The distribution of different forest communities was mainly affected by geomorphological factors such as slope positions, aspect and inclination. In middle and high altitude areas, apart of arbor and shrub communities generally showed the process of transformation from the pioneer community to transitional community in the competition. We conclude that providing the basis to understand the environmental factors that restrict the development of vegetation communities in the northern Yin Mountains was helpful to foresee uncontrolled and coming impacts after the WOG.</p>

Spontaneous plant recolonization on reclaimed post-coal mining sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia: Native versus alien and succession progress

Hapsari L, Trimanto, Budiharta S. 2020. Spontaneous plant recolonization on reclaimed post-coal mining sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia: Native versus alien and succession progress. Biodiversitas 21: 2003-2017. Comparative vegetation analyses subjected to recolonization of spontaneous plants were carried out in two post-coal mining reclamation sites, with different ages of reclamation, specifically 9 years old and 17 years old, in Bontang, East Kalimantan. This study aims to determine the spontaneous plant diversity and composition, identify the spontaneous alien plant species invasion (IAS), analyze the underlying micro-climates and soil factors and their association to the spontaneous plant recolonization, also to evaluate the succession progress. Results showed that both reclamation sites have undergone some vegetation and environmental improvements. The plant succession stage of both sites was identified at the same stage, as establishment phase of early-succession stage in transition to mid-succession stage. The spontaneous plants were comprised of two layers, i.e. (i) understories include grasses, ferns, lianas, herbs, shrubs and tree seedlings; and (ii) saplings include some of trees and small trees. Plant diversity indices on both sites were in moderate category. At understory layer, the 9-y.o. site was mostly dominated by grass Polytrias indica, whereas the 17-y.o. site was dominated by shrub Asystasia gangetica. At sapling layer, the 9-y.o. site was mostly dominated by Glochidion obscurum, whereas the 17-y.o. site was dominated by Macaranga tanarius. Dominant pioneer tree and shrub species in two reclamation sites mostly from general species component of secondary tropical forests from the families Euphorbiaceae, Phyllantaceae, Melastomaceae, Leguminosae, and Lamiaceae. It was recorded seven IAS in the 9-y.o. site, which six out of seven species were dominant. Meanwhile, in the 17-y.o. site was recorded eight IAS but only four species were dominant. Two dominant noxious weed species were also identified. Each IAS and noxious weed species has invasiveness traits that make them well-grown, successfully recolonized and invaded the reclamation site. Environmental factors include air temperature, air moisture, and light intensity; and soil conditions include pH, C/N ratio and physicochemical properties affected the variation of spontaneous plant establishment on each reclamation site. These comparative study findings may become inputs for coal mining operations management to evaluate and improve their reclamation program; such as by soil reconditions, controlling the populations of IAS, and planting more intensively of native tree species.

UNDERGROWTH PHYTOMASS IN THE SECONDARY DECIDUOUS STANDS OF THE MIDDLE TAIGA

The determination of organic matter reserves by forest phytocenoses is important in assessing biological produc-tivity of deciduous plantations formed at felling. As a rule, phytomass of the stand and soil cover is given when assess-ing forest productivity. This indicator is rarely determined for the undergrowth. The deciduous phytocenoses of the middle taiga, formed at the cutting of spruce of myrtillus type, have been studied. The undergrowth of the studied phy-tocenoses is represented by six species of woody plants: Salix caprea L., Sorbus aucuparia L., Rosa acicularis Lindl. and Lonicera pallasii Ledeb. Besides the mentioned species, Salix pentandra L. and S. philicifolia L are found in birch and spruce young growths. The method of “model trees” using allometric equations and the method of the “middle tree” for estimating the mass of individual species were used to determine the undergrowth phytomass. The specifics of the undergrowth phytomass dynamics in the studied after-cutting phytocenoses is associated with the overgrowing of felling by forest-forming and undergrowth species at the same time. It subsequently leads to competition between them. According to the studies in birch and spruce young forests, the undergrowth phytomass of decreased from 8.8 to 4.7 t/ha over 10 years; in aspen-birch stands - from 4.0 to 3.8. Throughout the entire studied period, fractions, accumulating organic matter (trunks and branches) for a long time, prevail in the undergrowth phytomass. The mass of leaves is 6-8% of the total undergrowth phytomass. The dynamics of the accumulation of organic matter by undergrowth is determined by biological characteristics of the species that form it, their abundance, natural thinning, and succession stage of the secondary stands.

Patterns of change in α and β taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the secondary succession of semi-natural grasslands in the Northern Apennines

We studied the secondary succession in semi-natural grasslands (dry grasslands and hay meadows) located in the eastern side of the Tuscan Apennines (Tuscany, Central Italy). We compared these habitats, investigating: (i) the changes in species richness, composition and phylogenetic diversity during the succession; (ii) whether the trends in species loss and species turnover in taxonomic diversity matched those in phylogenetic diversity. We performed a stratified random sampling, in a full factorial design between habitat type and succession stage (60 sampled plots, 10 × 2 types of habitat × 3 stages of succession). We constructed a phylogenetic tree of the plant communities and compared the differences in taxonomic/phylogenetic α- and β-diversity between these two habitats and during their succession. We identified indicator species for each succession stage and habitat. Looking at α-diversity, both habitats displayed a decrease in species richness, with a random process of species selection in the earlier succession stages from the species regional pool. Nevertheless, in the latter stage of dry grasslands we recorded a shift towards phylogenetic overdispersion at the higher-level groups in the phylogenetic tree. In both habitats, while the richness decreased with succession stage, most species were replaced during the succession. However, the hay meadows were characterized by a higher rate of new species’ ingression whereas the dry grasslands became dominated with Juniperus communis. Accordingly, the two habitats showed similar features in phylogenetic β-diversity. The main component was true phylogenetic turnover, due to replacement of unique lineages along the succession. Nevertheless, in dry grasslands this trend is slightly higher than expected considering the major importance of difference in species richness of dry grasslands sites and this is due to the presence of a phylogenetically very distant species (J. communis).

Long-term monitoring reveals invariant clutch size and unequal reproductive costs between sexes in a subtropical lacertid lizard

Based on 20,000 records representing c. 11,000 individuals from an 8-year capture-mark-recapture (CMR) study, we tested and confirmed a new case of invariant clutch size (ICS) in a sexually dichromatic lacertid lizard, Takydromus viridipunctatus. In the grassland habitat of the early succession stage, females showed strictly low and invariant clutch size, multiple clutches in a breeding season, high reproductive potential, and annual breeding cycles that correspond to the emergence of male courtship coloration. The hatchlings mature quickly, and join the adult cohort for breeding within a few months, whereas adults show low survival rates and a short lifespan, such that most die within one year. Mortality increased in both sexes during the breeding season, especially in females, indicating an unequal cost of reproduction in survival. These life history characters may be explained by two non-exclusive hypotheses of ICS—arboreal hypothesis and predation hypothesis—within the ecological context of their habitat. Our study highlights a confirmed case of ICS, which adapts well to this r-selected grassland habitat that experiences seasonal fluctuation and frequent disturbance.

Syntaxonomy of plant communitiesat the quarriesafter the cuttingsof lichen and green mosspine forests(middle taiga subzone of the European North-East of Russia)

Plant communities of sandy (quarry 3 — 62°05ʹ26ʺ N, 48°43ʹ56ʺ E; 6 — 61°57ʹ35ʺ N, 50°36ʹ22ʺ E) and sandy loam (1 — 62°06ʹ28ʺ N, 48°48ʹ48ʺ E; 2 — 62°06ʹ19ʺ N, 48°48ʹ42ʺ E; 4 — 62°04ʹ36ʺ N, 48°34ʹ55ʺ E; 8d — 61°44ʹ00ʺ N, 50°39ʹ05ʺ E) quarries and the surrounding lichen and green-moss pine forests quarries are charaterized. The research has been performed in the middle taiga subzone of the European North-East of Russia. Floristic classification (Braun-Blanquet, 1964) was made for 91 relevés. The Ellenberg ecological values (Ellenberg, 1974) were used to assess moisture (F), acidity (R) and nitrogen content (N). Ordination was made by NMS approach using ExcelToR software. Plant communities of renewing and young pine stands at the quarries as well as of surrounding middle aged and mature stands are assigned to the alliance Cladonio stellaris–Pinion sylvestris Kielland-Lund ex Ermakov et Morozova 2011 order Pinetalia sylvestris Oberdorfer 1957 class Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1939 (Ermakov, Morozova, 2011) while communities of meadow succession stage to the union Cynosurion cristati Tx. 1947 order Arrhenatheretalia elatioris class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937 (Mirkin, Naumova, 2012). Five associations, two subassociations, one variants, two subvarants and one community are established within two classes (among these, two associations. one variants, two subvariants and one community are new). Community Polytrichum piliferum (Table 3, rel. 1–7). DS: Ceratodon purpureus, Cladonia subulata, C. fimbriata, Niphotrichum canescens, Polytrichum piliferum, Salix acutifolia. These are pioneer communities at the second decade stage of succession on sandy substrate. (quarry 3) with recovering Pinus sylvestris tree layer, absence of herb-dwarf shrub layer and. presence of pioneer mosses (Polytrichum piliferum, Ceratodon purpureus), algal crusts, and lichen thalli of Cladonia, Peltigera, and Stereocaulon. Number of species — 32 (13–20). Ass. Polytricho piliferi–Pinetum sylvestris ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 3, rel. 8–30; nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — rel. 18; Fig. 4). DS: Ceratodon purpureus, Cladonia gracilis ssp. turbinata, C. fimbriata, C. subulata, C. verticillata, Niphotrichum canescens, Peltigera malacea, Polytrichum piliferum, Salix acutifolia, Stereocaulon tomentosum. These are renewing pine forests at 3rd and 5th decades of succession with ground cover dominated by pioneer mosses and lichens in sandy quarries 3 and 6, and in the most drained habitats of sandy loam quarries 1, 2, 4 (slopes). Pine canopy density is 0.1–0.3, its height — 3–6 m. Herb-dwarf shrub layer is scarce (1– 10 %), that of moss-lichen is of 20–80 %. Number of species — 111 (27–45). Subass. Deschampsio–Agrostietum tenuis typicum Turubanova 1986. D S : Agrostis tenuis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Galium mollugo, Hieracium umbellatum, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pimpinella saxifraga, Stellaria graminea. These are communities of short meadow succesion stage at the sandy loam quarries 1, 2, 4, 8d. Unlike meadows of abandoned lands and pastures, described by L. P. Turubanova (1986) as subass. Deschampsio–Agrostietum tenuis typicum, the communities on technogenic habitats have lower abundance of meadow species and higher diversity of synanthropic and xerophylous species, as well as tree invasion. This is a reason to establish variant Calamagrostis epigeios (Table 4, Fig. 5) within the subass. typicum. Its DS: Betula pendula/pubescens, Calamagrostis epigeios, Ceratodon purpureus, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Erigeron acris, Pinus sylvestris, Tussilago farfara. Multispecies herb layer is mainly formed by meadow species and weeds (20–80 %). PC of moss layer — 1–50 %. Number of species — 103 (30–41). Duration of meadow stage is responsible for differences between subvariants Amoria hybrida and Trifolium medium. Ass. Polytricho juniperini–Pinetum sylvestris ass. nov. hoc loco (Table 5, nomenclature type (holotypus hoc loco) — rel. 9; Fig. 6). D S : Agrostis tenuis, Amoria repens, Brachythecium salebrosum, Orthilia secunda, Peltigera didactyla, Polytrichum juniperinum, Pyrola media, Trifolium medium, Vicia sepium. These communities are young pine stands at the third decade of succession on sandy loam in quarries 1, 2, 4, 8d. Canopy density of pines — 0.4–0.8, height — 4–8 m. There is a lot of species typical for meadow succession stage in scarce herb layer (5–40 %). as well as an occurrence of forest dwarf shrubs, and few species indicative to ass. Linnaeo borealis–Pinetum sylvestris. Moss-lichen layer (10–60 %) is formed by pioneer species and forest mosses. Number of species — 137 (27–67). NMS-ordination (Fig. 7) and data on substrate preferences of syntaxa as well as information about the duration of recovery process is the reason to built a scheme of vegetation succession in quarries in place of reduced pine trees after the cutting of lichen and green moss pine forests (Fig. 8). Series 1. Community Polytrichum piliferum (F 4.1, N 3.5, R 3.8) → ass. Polytricho piliferi–Pinetum sylvestris (F 4.1, N 3.5, R 4.1) → ??? → subass. Cladonio arbusculae–Pinetum sylvestris typicum (F 3.8, N 2.5, R 2.4). Series 2. Subvar. Amoria hybrida var. Calamagrostis epigeios subass. Deschampsio–Agrostietum tenuis typicum (F 4.4, N 4.8, R 5.4) → subvar. Trifolium medium var. Calamagrostis epigeios subass. Deschampsio–Agrostietum tenuis typicum (F 4.7, N 4.6, R 4.9) → асс. Polytricho juniperini–Pinetum sylvestris (F 4.5, N 3.9, R 4.3) → ??? → ass. Linnaeo borealis–Pinetum sylvestris (F 4.3, N 3.1, R 2.8). Additional studies are necessary to reveal the duration of succession period and intermediate stages of transition from ass. Polytricho piliferi–Pinetum sylvestris and Polytricho juniperini–Pinetum sylvestris to ass. Cladonio arbusculae–Pinetum sylvestris and Linnaeo borealis–Pinetum sylvestris. Thus, the restoration of lichen pine forests of subass. Cladonio arbusculae–Pinetum sylvestris typicum at sandy quarries passes through the stage of pine forests of ass. Polytricho piliferi–Pinetum sylvestris, which is preceded by pioneer vegetation of сommunity Polytrichum piliferum. The restoration of green moss pine forests (ass. Linnaeo borealis–Pinetum sylvestris) at sandy loam quarries passes through the stage of young pine stands (ass. Polytricho juniperini–Pinetum sylvestris), which is preceded by meadows of subvariantas Amoria hybrida and Trifolium medium var. Calamagrostis epigeios subass. Deschampsio–Agrostietum tenuis typicum.

Distribution Pattern of Trait-Based Community Assembly for Cyclobalanopsis Glauca in the Guilin Karst Mountainous Areas, China

Cyclobalanopsis glauca is one of the most dominant species in the late succession stage of plant communities in the Guilin karst mountainous areas of China. In order to explore its role in community assembly and adaptation strategies, we quantified three continuous traits (LA, SLA and WD) for 52 woody species and documented community composition for 20 plots across different habitat conditions. We performed a trait-gradient analysis to partition species trait values between alpha and beta components within and between communities. Alpha trait components consistently varied more widely than beta components, which suggests that much of the trait variation between species was associated with different functional strategies within a shared environment. The different correlation structures for alpha and beta components reflects community assembly processes at different scales. The alpha components were largely uncorrelated with the exception of SLA and WD, while the beta components showed significant correlations along the environmental gradient. There is a significant positive correlation between LA and SLA and significant negative correlations between both LA and WD as well as between SLA and WD. These results demonstrate that slow-growing species with high resource-use efficiency gradually became the dominant species in the late successional stage for Cyclobalanopsis glauca forest and co-occurring species in the same community employ different trait assemblies.

Habitat features of the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks in the West Carpathians

Habitat characteristics of 43 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks were studied in the mountains of Central Slovakia (West Carpathians) in 1984–2002. Macro-habitat was described with respect to topography and succession stage. Micro-habitat was described with respect to forest type and forest stand structure. Twenty-seven out of forty-three display grounds were situated in the upper half of the lateral ridges. Sixteen leks were located on hills of the lateral ridges (slope < 10%). All the leks were situated in old succession stages of the forest (80–200 years old). Twenty-seven display grounds were located in natural forests, sixteen leks were situated in man-managed stands more than 80 years old. Leks were situated in a variety of forest types with overstorey tree-density between 400–1,050 stems per ha. Distribution of leks was limited above all by macro-habitat characteristics (elevated sites, old stands). Age-space structure seemed to be a significant micro-habitat feature (preference of multi-layered stands).