AIM: Formalized classifications synthesizing vegetation data at the continental scale are being attempted only now, although they are of key importance for nature conservation planning. Therefore, we ...aim to provide a vegetation classification and to describe the main biogeographical patterns of floodplain forests and alder carrs in Europe. LOCATION: Europe. METHODS: A database of more than 40 000 vegetation plots of floodplain forests and alder carrs across Europe was compiled. After geographic stratification, 16 392 plots were available for classification, which was performed using the supervised method Cocktail. We also searched for new associations using semi‐supervised K‐means classification. The main biogeographic patterns and climate‐related gradients in species composition were determined using detrended correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. RESULTS: Thirty associations of floodplain forests and alder carrs were distinguished, which belong to five alliances. The Alnion incanae includes riparian, seepage and hardwood floodplain forests in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones (dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior) and in the boreal zone (dominated by A. incana). The Osmundo‐Alnion represents oceanic vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus angustifolia and F. excelsior distributed mostly on the Iberian Peninsula and composed of species with Atlantic distribution and Iberian endemics. The Populion albae comprises floodplain forests frequently dominated by Fraxinus angustifolia, Populus alba and P. nigra that are widespread in floodplains of large rivers under summer‐dry climates in the Mediterranean region. The Platanion orientalis represents eastern Mediterranean floodplain forests dominated by Platanus orientalis. The Alnion glutinosae includes forest swamps dominated by Alnus glutinosa distributed mostly in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones. The main biogeographic patterns within European floodplain forests and alder carrs reflect the climatic contrasts between the Mediterranean, nemoral, boreal and mountain regions. Oceanic floodplain forests differ from those in the rest of Europe. The hydrological regime appears to be the most important factor influencing species composition within regions. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first applying a formalized classification at the association level for a broad vegetation type at the continental scale. The proposed classification provides the scientific basis for the necessary improvement of the habitat classification systems used in European nature conservation.
Abstract This study was carried out in the carbonate (marble) part of North Pirin Mts. Its upper parts are declared protected area of National Park category according to the Bulgarian Protected Areas ...Act. It is also a NATURA 2000 protected zone under the Habitats Directive, and a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main reason for the conservation of this territory is the exceptional concentration of rare, relict and endemic plant species, its specific flora, vegetation and fauna. Subject of the study are the plant communities and habitats, with participation of 8 local endemic plant taxa, such as Cyanus achtarovii, Oxytropis kozhuharovii, O. urumovii, Odontarrhena orbelica, Alyssum pirinicum, Veronica kellereri, Brassica nivalis subsp. jordanoffii and Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii . The plant communities were studied according to the classical Braun-Blanquet’s approach by sampling the phytocoenoses, where the local endemics participate. The major syntaxa to which these communities belong, were determined. The plant communities with the participation of local endemics were also referred to lower units according to EUNIS habitats classification. The study found that most of the studied endemic species occur in various vegetation types and exhibit relatively wide ecological flexibility, despite inhabiting restricted area. The main reason for this is the comparative uniformity of the high mountain marble relief. This study also highlights the high conservation value of the vegetation cover and habitat diversity of the carbonate alpine and subalpine vegetation belts of Northern Pirin Mts., as a habitat for numerous endemic and relict plant species.
Aims: Although many phytosociological studies have provided detailed local and regional descriptions of coastal dune vegetation, a unified classification of this vegetation in Europe and the ...Mediterranean Basin has been missing. Our aim is to produce a formalized classification of this vegetation and to identify the main factors driving its plant species composition at a continental scale. Location: Atlantic and Baltic coasts of Europe, Mediterranean Basin and the Black Sea region. Methods: We compiled a database of 30,759 plots of coastal vegetation, which were resampled to reduce unbalanced sampling effort, obtaining a data set of 11,769 plots. We classified these plots with TWINSPAN, interpreted the resulting clusters and used them for developing formal definitions of phytosociological alliances of coastal dune vegetation, which were included in an expert system for automatic vegetation classification. We related the alliances to climatic factors and described their biogeographic features and their position in the coastal vegetation zonation. We examined and visualized the floristic relationships among these alliances by means of DCA ordination. Results: We defined 18 alliances of coastal dune vegetation, including the newly described Centaureo cuneifoliae-Verbascion pinnatifidi from the Aegean region. The main factors underlying the differentiation of these alliances were biogeographic and macroclimatic contrasts between the Atlantic-Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, along with ecological differences between shifting and stable dunes. The main difference in species composition was between the Atlantic–Baltic and Mediterranean–Black Sea regions. Within the former region, the main difference was driven by the different ecological conditions between shifting and stable dunes, whereas within the latter, the main difference was biogeographic between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Conclusions: The first formal classification of the European coastal dune vegetation was established, accompanied by an expert system containing the formal definitions of alliances, which can be applied to new data sets. The new classification system critically revised the previous concepts and integrated them into a consistent framework, which reflects the main gradients in species composition driven by biogeographic influences, macroclimate and the position of the sites in the coast–inland zonation of the dune systems. A revision of the class concept used in EuroVegChecklist is also proposed.
The species richness–productivity relationship is one of the most debated patterns in ecology. Species coexistence theory suggests that it could be tightly linked to the type of nutrient limitation ...(no limitation, single‐nutrient limitation, colimitation by several nutrients). Yet, the effects of nutrient limitation on the species richness–productivity relationship have been rarely studied at the regional and continental scales.
Combining the predictions of the humped‐back model and the niche dimension hypothesis, we hypothesized that an increase in plant species richness with the number of different limiting nutrients is detectable only at higher productivity levels, at which competition for nutrients is more intense. Therefore, we expected the shape of the diversity–productivity relationship to differ between sites colimited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), sites limited by a single nutrient (either N or P), and sites not limited by any of these nutrients.
To test this hypothesis, we used species richness data collected in 10 m × 10 m plots at 694 temperate dry grassland sites across eight regions in northern Eurasia. Productivity ranged from 10 to ~500 g/m2 of above‐ground standing biomass. The type of nutrient limitation was identified by critical nutrient ratios alone and their combination with critical nutrient concentrations measured in the plant tissue. Relationships were analysed using generalized linear and mixed‐effect models.
In line with our expectations, species richness of Eurasian temperate dry grasslands increased more steeply and peaked higher under higher productivity levels at N&P‐colimited sites. When nutrient limitation was assessed by both ratios and concentrations, species richness at N&P‐colimited sites continued to increase monotonically until the maximum productivity sampled in this study. In contrast, at sites with a single‐nutrient limitation or no limitation, the peak in species richness was lower and occurred at a lower productivity of about 300–400 g/m2.
Synthesis. We provide the first evidence that the species richness–productivity relationship may depend on the type of nutrient limitation as predicted by the species coexistence theory. To generalize these findings, the role of nutrient limitation needs to be tested in other ecosystems, including more productive plant communities.
In a large‐scale study from Eurasian grasslands, we tested how the number of limiting nutrients affects the plant species richness‐productivity relationship. In line with the species coexistence theory, we found that the peak in plant species richness was higher and occurred under higher productivity in grasslands colimited by two nutrients than in those limited by a single or no nutrient.
Distribution maps of vegetation alliances in Europe Preislerová, Zdenka; Jiménez‐Alfaro, Borja; Mucina, Ladislav ...
Applied vegetation science,
January/March 2022, 2022-01-00, 20220101, Letnik:
25, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Aim
The first comprehensive checklist of European phytosociological alliances, orders and classes (EuroVegChecklist) was published by Mucina et al. (2016, Applied Vegetation Science, 19 (Suppl. 1), ...3–264). However, this checklist did not contain detailed information on the distribution of individual vegetation types. Here we provide the first maps of all alliances in Europe.
Location
Europe, Greenland, Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cyprus and the Caucasus countries.
Methods
We collected data on the occurrence of phytosociological alliances in European countries and regions from literature and vegetation‐plot databases. We interpreted and complemented these data using the expert knowledge of an international team of vegetation scientists and matched all the previously reported alliance names and concepts with those of the EuroVegChecklist. We then mapped the occurrence of the EuroVegChecklist alliances in 82 territorial units corresponding to countries, large islands, archipelagos and peninsulas. We subdivided the mainland parts of large or biogeographically heterogeneous countries based on the European biogeographical regions. Specialized alliances of coastal habitats were mapped only for the coastal section of each territorial unit.
Results
Distribution maps were prepared for 1,105 alliances of vascular‐plant dominated vegetation reported in the EuroVegChecklist. For each territorial unit, three levels of occurrence probability were plotted on the maps: (a) verified occurrence; (b) uncertain occurrence; and (c) absence. The maps of individual alliances were complemented by summary maps of the number of alliances and the alliance–area relationship. Distribution data are also provided in a spreadsheet.
Conclusions
The new map series represents the first attempt to characterize the distribution of all vegetation types at the alliance level across Europe. There are still many knowledge gaps, partly due to a lack of data for some regions and partly due to uncertainties in the definition of some alliances. The maps presented here provide a basis for future research aimed at filling these gaps.
We provide distribution maps for 1,105 phytosociological alliances of vascular‐plant dominated vegetation listed in the EuroVegChecklist. The alliances were mapped in 82 territorial units, in which three levels of occurrence probability are indicated: (a) verified occurrence; (b) uncertain occurrence; and (c) absence. We also provide summaries showing the number of alliances in different European regions.
Plant communities of two peat-shrub species –
Spiraea salicifolia
and
Potentilla fruticosa
were studied in the Rhodope Mts., with emphasis on their use as a resource for the mammals associated with ...them. These shrubs are boreal relicts among the dominant coniferous forests. The field surveys were conducted in the spring-autumn period of 2021–2022. In both study areas, the species composition of the mammals was studied by camera traps for medium and large mammals, and by Sherman live traps for small mammals. The species registered were roe deer (
Capreolus capreolus
), red fox (
Vulpes vulpes
), wild boar (
Sus scrofa
), pine marten (
Martes martes
), European hare (
Lepus europaeus
), red squirrel (
Sciurus vulgaris
), bank vole (
Myodes glareolus
) and yellow-necked mouse (
Apodemus flavicollis
). Having in mind that small mammals are vital prey base for avian and mammalian predators, it is not surprising that
M. glareolus
and
A. flavicollis
individuals were captured in the habitats that they probably use as shelters. The pine marten inhabits the forests by which the community of
P. fruticosa
is surrounded, but probably feeds on the rodents in the shrub. In this way, it probably provides it with an alternative to the forest food base and hunting ground. From the presented results, it seems that the
L. europaeus
uses
P. fruticosa
shrubs as food. Therefore, the plant communities of the two relict peat-shrub species studied probably provide shelter and food for the mammals. Their importance is established for at least one species of mammal with conservation significance at national and European level –
M. martes
. Therefore, it is necessary to continue and expand the future monitoring on mammal diversity of these relict communities.
This paper deals with relationships between vegetation of Macedonian pine (
) and soils developed on different parent materials on the territory of North Macedonia. We analysed the floristic ...composition at localities on limestone, on scree of dolomite marble and on scree of silicate. On limestone and scree of dolomite marble, rendzinas on hard limestone and dolomite have developed, and on silicate parent material brown forest soils. The vegetation was sampled according to the Braun-Blanquet approach. DCA and indicator values were used for ecological interpretation of the vegetation patterns. The mechanical and chemical properties of soil and textural classes were also processed. An evident increased presence of carbonates in the soil of scree of dolomite marble on Nidže Mountain was observed, unlike that on Shar Mountain which has formed on typical limestone. Although it is a forest community dominated by the same species, differences between the massifs, the precipitation regime, geology, differences in soil properties in relation to the appearance of carbonates and pH values, and other factors, result in differences in their floristic composition and are the reason for the distinction between the two groups. On silicate on Nidže Mountain, Macedonian pine forests have also developed on brown forest soils, with a different floristic composition to that of the other group on carbonate (dolomite and limestone).
Aims
To create a comprehensive, consistent and unequivocal phytosociological classification of European marsh vegetation of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea.
Location
Europe.
Methods
We applied the ...Cocktail method to a European data set of 249,800 vegetation plots. We identified the main purposes and attributes on which to base the classification, defined assignment rules for vegetation plots, and prepared formal definitions for all the associations, alliances and orders of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea using formal logic. Each formula consists of the combination of “functional species groups”, cover values of individual species, and in the case of high‐rank syntaxa also of “discriminating species groups” created using the Group Improvement (GRIMP) method.
Results
The European Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea vegetation was classified into 92 associations grouped in 11 alliances and six orders. New syntaxa (previously invalidly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature) were introduced: Bolboschoeno maritimi‐Schoenoplection tabernaemontani, Glycerio maximae‐Sietum latifolii, Glycerio notatae‐Veronicetum beccabungae, Schoenoplectetum corymbosi and Thelypterido palustris‐Caricetum elongatae. Based on a critical revision, some other syntaxa were rejected or excluded from the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea.
Conclusions
This work provides the first consistent classification of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea at the European scale, which is an important tool for nature conservation. Our classification largely respects previously existing concepts of syntaxa, but it also proposes modifications to the recently published EuroVegChecklist. This work also provides a protocol that can be used for extending the current classification to new syntaxa and geographical regions.
This paper presents a comprehensive and formalized classification of European marsh vegetation. The work is based on more than 200,000 vegetation plots and provides a consistent protocol and a hierarchic expert system for the classification of 92 phytosociological associations, 11 alliances and six orders of Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea class.
•Estimating missing Ellenberg Indicator Values (EIV) could help plant ecology studies.•We tested and compared several methods for estimating missing EIV from existing data.•Multiple Linear Regression ...and k-Nearest Neighbour performed better than the others.•Statistical methods are more effective than imputation based on expert knowledge.•This approach would greatly facilitate monitoring species with unknown EIV.
Ellenberg indicator values (EIV) are widely used in vegetation ecology, but the values for many species in Southeastern Europe are not available due to incomplete knowledge of their ecology: it is therefore of paramount importance to estimate missing values in existing databases. The entire EIV set for a single species can be missing or a single EIV can be missing for species for which other indicator values are available. Our aim here is to provide a simple method to impute missing values for species who have missing data in a single or multiple EIV. For this purpose, we adopt a multiple imputation procedure and compare a number of imputation methods on the basis of two datasets: i) “indices”, the set of 9 Ellenberg indicators taken from literature, available for 10,824 species and ii) “vegetation”, a set describing the physical and climatic characteristics (Light, Temperature, Continentality, Soil moisture, Nitrogen, Soil pH, Hemeroby index, Humidity, Organic_matter) of 29,935 relevés from Southeastern Europe where at least one tree species is present. The imputation methods we considered are: k-Nearest Neighbour, multiple linear regression (with or without collinearity correction), Reprediction Algorithm, Weighted Averaging (WA) and Weighted Averaging Partial Least Squares (WAPLS) regression. The different methods of imputation were compared by looking at the output produced and its deviation from the “true” observed values for a set of species with known EIVs. We have considered a set of species with known EIVs and proceeded to multiple imputation using the methods above; as a measure of performance we adopted the mean squared error (MSE) estimate, and expert judgement of ecological consistency. Models based on Regression and k-Nearest Neighbour seem to outperform the others. On the contrary, Reprediction algorithm in its different forms: produced less satisfactory results.
Imputation of missing values is generally based on expert knowledge or on some variant of weighted averaging (also known as Hill’s method). Here we show that other methods may be more effective and should be appropriately considered by vegetation scientists, since those may allow the application of EIVs in other biogeographic regions.
The first comprehensive phytosociological classification of all vegetation types in Europe (EuroVegChecklist; Applied Vegetation Science, 2016, 19, 3–264) contained brief descriptions of each type. ...However, these descriptions were not standardized and mentioned only the most distinct features of each vegetation type. The practical application of the vegetation classification system could be enhanced if users had the option to select sets of vegetation types based on various combinations of structural, ecological, and biogeographical attributes. Based on a literature review and expert knowledge, we created a new database that assigns standardized categorical attributes of 12 variables to each of the 1106 alliances dominated by vascular plants defined in EuroVegChecklist. These variables include dominant life form, phenological optimum, substrate moisture, substrate reaction, salinity, nutrient status, soil organic matter, vegetation region, elevational vegetation belt, azonality, successional status and naturalness. The new database has the potential to enhance the usefulness of phytosociological classification for researchers and practitioners and to help understand this classification to non‐specialists.
This new database contains standardized attributes of 12 variables that characterize 1106 phytosociological alliances dominated by vascular plants defined in EuroVegChecklist. These variables include dominant life form, phenological optimum, substrate moisture, substrate reaction, salinity, nutrient status, soil organic matter, vegetation region, elevational vegetation belt, azonality, successional status and naturalness.
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