Vegetation changes in semi-natural meadows after abandonment in coastal northern Finland

A research project on traditional cultural landscapes in coastal northern Finland provided the opportunity to compare presently managed meadow sites to a series of corresponding abandoned sites. Twenty-two grassland habitats. either grazed or mown, were studied to analyze differences between species compositions The data were classified with TWINSPAN and ordinated with Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis. The multivariate analysis recognized successfully habitats that are either presently used or differ considerably from the others by their moisture gradient although a few very coininon generalist species were present in almost every seral stage studied. The studied deviant habitats resemble most of the previously described vegetation types in northern Finland. Results suggest that drought can delay the invasion of tall broad-leaved species. The results also support the idea that abandoned meadows of corresponding moisture gradients begin to resemhle each other in later stages of succession. Multivariate methods can be used to determine the succession stages in grassland habitats and thus help to determine the urgency for restoration practices.     

The contribution of persistent soil seed banks and flooding to the restoration of alluvial meadows

Restoration of species-rich flood meadows impoverished by agricultural intensification is an important challenge. The relationships between flooding regime and soil seed bank were compared in three successive meadow communities (hygrophilic, mesohygrophilic and mesophilic) distinguished along a topographic and hydric gradient. Differences in flood duration and frequency between the three associations allowed the study of the contribution of floods to soil seed bank richness and density. No significant difference was found in species richness among the three soil seed banks, whereas the densities were significantly higher in the wettest community. The three seed bank compositions were clearly distinguished along the hydric gradient. In fact, the three seed bank types constituted a species poor version of the meadow communities to which they belong. Flood contributions appear to play a minor role in seed bank enrichment. Thus, seed dispersal by flood water would probably be insufficient to enable the restoration of alluvial meadows.     

Vegetation patterns of floodplain meadows along the climatic gradient at the Middle Elbe River

Central European floodplain meadows are characterised by flooding mainly in winter/spring and dry conditions over the summer. They harbour many rare and endangered plant species. We studied the vegetation of floodplain meadows along the regional climatic gradient of the Middle Elbe River. This gradient exhibits rather continental conditions in the south-east and oceanic conditions in the north-west. We aimed at detecting the influence of climate on the vegetation of floodplain meadows along this gradient.     

Vegetation and soil properties in restored wetlands near Lake Taihu,China

Riparian wetlands are important components of the lake ecosystem, and they play essential roles in maintaining system health. Remediation of degraded lakeshore wetlands is an essential component of lake restoration. A study was conducted to investigate the restoration of lakeshore wetlands, which were converted to rice fields and then abandoned for 2, 5, 10 and 15 years, near Lake Taihu. Soil samples (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) were taken and plant species were investigated. The carbon content in the soil had increased significantly, rising from 0.71% to 1.85% between 2 and 15 years. Organic matter accumulation improved soil texture, and water stable aggregate content (>0.25 mm) and soil porosity increased. Total nitrogen in the soil increased from 0.06% to 0.13%, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen increased from 124.4 mg kg⁻¹ to 351.5 mg kg⁻¹. Total phosphorus in the soil increased from 0.045% to 0.071%, and the Olsen-P value increased from 5.13 mg kg⁻¹ to 16.0 mg kg⁻¹. Results showed that phosphorous did not increase as much as nitrogen. In the vegetation restoration process, plant species composition moved towards a natural wetland community, and spatial heterogeneity and landscape diversity increased. The richness of plant biodiversity increased rapidly in the first 2 years, then more slowly in later restoration stages. The wetlands recovery process may be complicated by interactions of biota and soil and hydrological conditions.     

Variability of nutrient limitation in the Archipelago Sea,SW Finland

Over a two year study period, zooplankton was sampledin Gazi Bay, Kenya, using a 335 μm mesh size Bongonet. Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN)classification technique demonstrated that rainfalland tidal regime had substantial influence on thezooplankton community structure. Samples collectedduring the rainy season months clustered together whentreated with TWINSPAN. Furthermore, theclustering was more pronounced for neap tidesamples than for spring tide ones. Samples obtainedduring spring tide did not give a clear cut pattern. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (C.C.A.) confirmedthese findings, a clustering together of rainy/neaptide samples; and little separation (based onenvironmental variables) between samplingstations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of grazing on the vegetation of shore meadows along the Bothnian Sea,Finland

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing on shoreline meadows. To accomplish this, five ungrazed and four grazed meadow transects (a total of 411 1 m2 plots) were studied on the west coast of Finland (61° 30–61° 33 N/21° 28–21° 41 E). The summed cover of all species was decreased by grazing. The abundances of annuals+biennials, perennials, dicots and pteridophytes were decreased while the cover of monocots was increased by grazing. This trend was similar in all elevation classes and mainly both in the seashore and the delta. In the seashore grazing decreased the cover of chamaephytes and therophytes and in delta it seemed to increase the cover of geophytes and hemicryptophytes, but these results were influenced by differences in elevation. The height of vegetation and the dry biomass were smaller in the grazed than in the ungrazed plots. Agrostis stolonifera, Carex nigra, Festuca rubra, Juncus gerardii, Leontodon autumnalis, Poa subcaerulea and Potentilla anserina were more abundant in grazed, while the abundances of Filipendula ulmaria, Galium palustre, Lathyrus palustris and Phragmites australis were greater in ungrazed plots. Shores are multi-stress environments in which the water level fluctuation narrows the species pool. Grazing cattle is a disturbance, which has varied effects on different vegetation zones and on different kinds of species. Overall, it appears that stress-tolerant perennial monocots and halophytes are favored by grazing in those shoreline communities.     

Restoration of semi-natural, species-rich grasslands on river dikes after reconstruction

The effect of different methods of reconstruction and different seed mixtures on the restoration of botanically valuable, semi-natural, species-rich grasslands on enlarged river dikes (embankments) was studied. If during the reconstruction a strip of the species-rich vegetation is kept unaffected it functions as a source of propagules. From this intact zone species disperse to other parts of the dike and the redevelopment of the vegetation is stimulated. When it is not possible to save part of the original vegetation, the upper soil layer can be put aside as complete sods or as topsoil and can be replaced as the new topsoil after the reconstruction. In this way the redevelopment of species-rich grasslands is promoted by the reestablishment of previously occurring species out of the propagules present in the replaced top soil. The application of the original subsoil or the use of imported clay as the new toplayer prevent a quick restoration of botanically valuable, semi-natural, species-rich grasslands. Seed mixtures applied influence the development of succession. Redevelopment of former river dike grasslands is quickest if D1 + LGM (i.e., standard seed mixture plus locally gathered seed mixture) is used as a seed mixture. Seed mixtures containing a considerable proportion of Lolium perenne seeds are unsuitable as the redevelopment is retarded, whereas application of locally gathered seed mixtures accelerate succession.     

Vegetation zonation along the desert-wetland ecosystem of Taif Highland,Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has no permanent lakes or rivers but has wet meadows, which are desert wetlands temporarily formed due to the seasonal rainfall. This work investigates the environmental variables' impact on the vegetation pattern in the desert-wetland ecosystem in Taif highlands. Forty-one stands were randomly selected representing three main habitats (wet meadows, slopes, and terraces) to study their floristic features and vegetation analysis. A total of 142 species were recorded belonging to 111 genera and 45 families in the desert wetlands of Taif Province. About 64.1% were natural plants, while 25.4% were segetal weeds, 7.7% were aquatic plants, and 2.8% were plants that escaped from cultivation. Therophytes dominated over the other life forms, and mono-regional taxa were the dominant chorotype. Multivariate analysis of the recorded plants produced eight vegetation groups; four of them (A: Potamogeton nodosus-Nasturtium officinale, B: Lemna gibba-Leptochloa fusca, C: Typha domingensis- Xanthium strumarium and D: Conyza stricta- Cyperus longus) represented the wet meadows, while two (E: Acacia gerrardii- Commicarpus plumbagineus and H: Osteospermum vaillantii- Eragrostis Pilosa) for slopes and other two (F: Argemone ochroleuca-Cyperus rotundus and G: Pulicaria undulata- Solanum incanum) for the desert terraces. The vegetation zonation was clear, which started from real aquatic species in the wet meadows passing through mixed vegetation in the slopes and ended with proper xerophytic vegetation in the terraces. Conyza stricta- Cyperus longus community had the highest species diversity, while that of Potamogeton nodosus-Nasturtium officinale had the lowest. The principal component analysis indicated that HCO₃, NO₃, Mg, Cl, Ca, and pH values were the most effective soil variable. The presence of several segetal weeds suggests the alteration of the natural status of the desert-wetland ecosystem, and thus the conservation of these natural habitats becomes urgent.     

Vegetation and environmental conditions in recently restored wetlands in the prairie pothole region of the USA

How closely the vegetation of restored wetlands resembles that of comparable natural wetlands is a function of the probability of propagules of wetland species reaching reflooded wetlands and how similar environmental conditions in the restored wetland are those in the natural wetlands. Three years after reflooding, we examined the vegetation composition, water level fluctuations, soil organic carbon content, and soil bulk density as well as surface water pH, alkalinity, conductivity, and calcium and magnesium concentrations of 10 restored and 10 natural wetlands. In the restored wetlands, more species of submersed aquatics colonized than were found in natural wetlands, and they rapidly spread to form extensive beds that were larger than those found in natural wetlands. Emergent and wet meadow species in restored wetlands, however, were found in only sparse stands as were a variety of annuals. The vegetation of natural wetlands was predominantly large stands of emergent species. Fluctuations in water storage volume and basin surface area were similar for both restored and natural wetlands. The surface water in restored wetlands had higher pH and lower alkalinity, conductivity, and calcium and magnesium concentrations than that in natural wetlands. Soils of restored wetlands have a lower organic carbon content and higher bulk density than do those of natural wetlands. Our results suggest that for submersed aquatics, dispersal of propagules to restored wetlands is rapid and environmental conditions in restored wetlands are very suitable for their establishment. For other guilds of wetland species, e.g., sedges and other wet meadow species, dispersal to restored wetlands is likely much slower and may pose a serious problem for the re-establishment of these species in restored wetlands. Even if dispersal is not limiting, low surface organic carbon and high bulk density may prevent the establishment of these species in restored wetlands.     

三峡水库蓄水对消涨带植被的初步影响

三峡库区消涨带植被一直受到广泛关注。为了研究水库蓄水对175 m以下消涨带原有植被的潜在影响,2008年8月在三峡大坝上游长江干流从巴南到秭归12个监测点,设立68个5 m×5 m永久监测样方,比较被水淹过的156 m以下与当时尚未水淹的156～175 m地段植被物种组分、物种多样性和草本层生物量的差异。结果表明：被水淹过与尚未水淹的植被物种组分存在显著差异,DCA可以将二者明显分开,156 m以上尚未水淹的植被以灌丛为主;156 m以下被水淹过的植被以草丛为主,优势种包括多年生草本：狗牙根（Cynodon dactylon）、牛鞭草（Hemarthria altissima）和硬秆子草（Capillipedium assimile）;一年生草本：狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、毛马唐（Digitaria ciliaris）和千金子（Leptochloa chinensis）。木本植物基本死亡,只有枫杨（Pterocarya stenoptera）、牡荆（Vitex negundo）和地瓜（Ficus tikoua）存活。此外,被水淹过的植被中灌木物种数比例显著降低,而一年生草本物种数比例显著增加。被水淹过和尚未水淹植被的物种多样性也存在显著差异,被水淹过植被物种总数、灌木和多年生草本物种数显著低于尚未被水淹过的植被,但一年生草本物种数没有显著差异。被水淹过的植被草本层生物量与尚未水淹的植被没有显著差异。可见,水淹显著改变了消涨带原有植被物种组分和物种多样性,但一年生草本物种数和草本层生物量没有显著差异。未来175 m以下的植被中,草本尤其是一年生草本将占据优势。在消涨带植被恢复选择适应水淹生境物种过程中,应分别从植物的生活史、生理学和形态学等角度进行筛选,尤其应重视生活史适应策略植物的应用。被水淹过的156 m以下现有优势草本和存活的灌木可以作为三峡库区未来消涨带植被恢复的备选物种。     

Vegetation changes around the last glacial maximum and effects of the Aira-Tn ash,at the Itai-Teragatani site,central Japan

On the basis of fossil pollen, plant macrofossils and fossil wood, vegetation existing around the Itai-Teragatani Site between 26000 and 20000 yr ago was reconstructed. On the upland, there were mixed forests of conifers and deciduous broad-leaved trees throughout the studied period. The forests consisted mainly ofPinus subgen.Haploxylon andQuercus subgen.Lepidobalanus, together withTsuga, Cryptomeria andUlmus-Zelkova. In the wetland, there were stands ofBetula andAlnus in grassland consisting of Cyperaceae, Gramineae,Lysichiton, Thalictrum, Sangusiorba, Umbelliferae and Compositae. The vegetation changed three times during the studied period. The first change, which occurred prior to the fall of the Aira-Tn ash, was characterized by an increase inAbies, Pinus subgen.Haploxylon and hygrophytes, and a decrease inCryptomeria andAlnus. This is considered to reflect a cooler climate, and expansion of grassland. The second change was caused by the fall of the Aira-Tn ash, which caused serious damage to the vegetation. Many taxa, except forAlnus, Cyperaceae andLysichiton, decreased or vanished after the ash fall. The third change was the process of recovery after the damage. The regenerated forests differed from those before the ash fall. With the regeneration conifers andArtemisia increased. This seemed to reflect the changes in climate and ground conditions caused by the accumulation of the ash.     

Restoration of brook valley meadows in the Netherlands

Until recently, restoration measures in Dutch brook valley meadows consisted of re-introducing traditional management techniques, such as mowing without fertilisation and low-intensity grazing. In the Netherlands, additional measures, such as rewetting and sod cutting, are now carried out on a large scale to combat negative influences of drainage and acidifying influences by atmospheric deposition. An analysis of successful and unsuccessful projects shows that restoration of brook valley meadows is most successful if traditional management techniques are applied in recently abandoned fields that had not been drained or fertilised. Large-scale topsoil removal in former agricultural fields that had been used intensively for several decades is often unsuccessful since seed banks are depleted, while hydrological conditions and seed dispersal mechanisms are sub-optimal. In areas with an organic topsoil, long-term drainage had often led to irreversible changes in chemical and physical properties of the soil. Successful sites were all characterised by a regular discharge of calcareous groundwater provided by local or regional hydrological systems, and, where not very long ago, populations of target species existed. On mineral soils, in particular, sod removal in established nature reserves was a successful measure to increase the number of endangered fen meadow species. It is argued that attempts to restore species-rich meadows should be avoided on former agricultural fields, where pedological processes have led to almost irreversible changes in the soil profile and where soil seed banks have been completely depleted. From a soil conservation point of view, such areas should be exploited as eutrophic wetlands that are regularly flooded.     

Rate of succession in restored wetlands and the role of site context

Question: Are changes in plant species composition, functional group composition and rates of species turnover consistent among early successional wetlands, and what is the role of landscape context in determining the rate of succession? Location: Twenty‐four restored wetlands in Illinois, USA. Methods: We use 4 years of vegetation sampling data from each site to describe successional trends and rates of species turnover in wetlands. We quantify: (1) the rate at which composition changes from early‐successional to late‐successional species and functional groups, as indicated by site movement in ordination space over time, and (2) the rate of change in the colonization and local extinction of individual species. We correlate the pace of succession to site area, isolation and surrounding land cover. Results: Some commonalities in successional trends were evident among sites. Annual species were replaced by clonal perennials, and colonization rates declined over time. However, differences among sites outweighed site age in determining species composition, and the pace of succession was influenced by a site's landscape setting. Rates of species turnover were higher in smaller wetlands. In addition, wetlands in agricultural landscapes underwent succession more rapidly, as indicated by a rapid increase in dominance by late‐successional plants. Conclusions: Although the outcome of plant community succession in restored wetlands was somewhat predictable, species composition and the pace of succession varied among sites. The ability of restoration practitioners to accelerate succession through active manipulation may be contingent upon landscape context.     

小相岭山系主要植被类型的动态变化分析

以3S技术作为信息获取和处理的手段,将景观生态学原理与植被变化研究的传统方法相结合,对小相岭山系主要植被类型在近30年发生复杂相互转化的主要表现和动态变化特征进行量化分析。结果表明：（1）针阔叶混交林与针叶林的变化趋势相似,在30年中持续增长,增幅分别为17．57％、7．56％;新增斑块与原有斑块连接在一起,形成边界复杂的大斑块,景观破碎度和均匀性有所降低。（2）高山灌丛呈先减少后增加的变化趋势,在90年代面积与数量都有所回升,但新增斑块多数为尺寸较小的斑块,大量小斑块的出现导致景观破碎度和离散度有所增加。（3）高山流石滩植被在30年中不断减少,减幅为6．41％;由于减少的多是小斑块,因此破碎化程度并未加深,且分布的均匀性有所加强。研究结果不仅可以解释该山系主要植被景观格局与生态过程相互作用的机理,而且可以阐明其动态演替的方向、过程或扩展潜力。     

Temporal changes in the island flora at different scales in the archipelago of SW Finland

Question: How have species richness and vegetation patterns changed in a group of islands in the northern Baltic Sea over a 58‐yr period of changing land use and increasing eutrophication? Location: A group of 116 islands, the Brunskär sub‐archipelago, in SW Finland. Methods: A complete survey of vascular plant species performed in 1947–1949 by Skult was repeated by our group using the same methodology in 2005–2007 (historical versus contemporary, respectively). DCAs were performed and total number of species, extinction–colonization rates, species frequency changes and mean Ellenberg indicator values for light, moisture and nitrogen and Eklund indicator values for dependence of human cultural influence were obtained for each island and relevé. Results: Species richness has declined on large islands and increased on small islands. The increase in number of species on small islands is driven by a strong increase in frequency of shore species, which in turn is induced by more productive shores. The decrease in species richness on large islands is related to overgrowth of open semi‐natural habitats after cessation of grazing and other agricultural practices. Conclusions: After the late 1940s, open habitats, which were created and maintained by cattle grazing and other traditional agricultural activities, have declined in favour of woody shrub and forest land. Shores have been stabilized and influenced by the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, and the vegetation has become more homogeneous. This development, resulting in lower species diversity, poses a challenge for the preservation of biodiversity both on a local and on a landscape level.     

Dynamics of species richness and composition in a limestone grassland restored after tree cutting

Abstract. After abandonment many limestone grasslands have been overgrown by trees and shrubs; as a result, species-rich communities with many regionally rare and endangered species are vanishing. Some studies suggest that, in cases where grassland is being restored, the species composition and rate of change is strongly dependent on the initial conditions, i.e. the earlier presence of grassland species and the opportunity for colonization of new sites by grassland species. These hypotheses were tested in a five-year restoration experiment after the clearing of a 35-yr-old secondary pine wood developed on abandoned grassland. Tree cutting induced rapid changes in the floristic composition and species cover. The number of grassland species from the class Festuco-Brometea increased significantly in the restored grassland, but their cover was much lower than in the old grassland. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed significant differences in species composition between the grassland restored in former wood gaps and that developed in former closed wood. In wood gap sites the cover of species from the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and tufted perennials was much higher, whereas the cover of Festuco-Brometea species was lower. Significantly more shrubs, woodland species, ruderal and nitrophilous species as well as annual and biennial species occurred in the former closed wood site. It was found that richness and composition of the restored grassland depended strongly on the community composition before tree cutting, as well as on the presence of grassland species in the neighbourhood. Periodical tree cutting enables the maintenance of a temporal-spatial mosaic of scrub-grassland communities in isolated habitats and the preservation of local species diversity.     

珠江流域植被覆盖时空变化分析

为阐明珠江流域植被覆盖变化的整体状况,基于RS与GIS技术,应用美国国家航天航空局最新的全球植被指数变化研究数据(GIMMS),对珠江流域1982~2003年间的地表植被覆盖的空间分布及时间序列变化进行了综合分析。结果表明:(1)22年来,珠江流域大部分地区的NDVI都呈现不同程度的下降趋势,表明珠江流域植被活动在减弱;(2)从季节变化来看,珠江流域平均植被覆盖除春季呈不显著上升外,其余各季均呈不显著下降趋势;(3)空间上,中下游地区都呈现不同程度的下降趋势,其中珠江三角洲地区达到了极显著水平;而上游南、北盘江流域、右江、左江及郁江流域则呈不显著增加趋势。这种空间异质性是由于城市化过程、农业生产活动、区域气候特征等综合因素作用的结果。