Use of vegetation classification and plant indicators to assess grazing abandonment in Estonian coastal wetlands

Question: What are the effects of grazing abandonment on the vegetation composition of Estonian coastal wetlands? Location: Vormsi Island and Silma Nature Reserve in western Estonia, Europe. Methods: Local knowledge and field reconnaissance were used to identify current and historical management levels of wetland sites within the west Estonian study area. Nine study sites, with varying management histories, were selected comprising an area of 287 ha. A total of 198 quadrats were taken from 43 distinct vegetation patches in five of the sites. TWINSPAN analysis was used to identify community type, and a phytosociological key was constructed for character taxa. This vegetation classification was then applied within a GIS‐based context to classify all the study sites, using a ground survey technique and 1:2000 scale air photos. Results: We identified 11 different brackish coastal wetland community types. Indicator species were defined with community characteristics for the seven main vegetation types readily recognisable in the field. Coastal wet grasslands were most extensive in grazed sites, or sites that had been more intensively grazed, while abandoned sites were largely composed of Phragmites australis stands, tall grassland, and scrub. Site variations based on vegetation composition were significantly correlated with past grazing intensity. Plant community types showed significant edaphic differences, with particularly low soil moisture and high conductivity and pH for open pioneer patches compared to other vegetation types. Conclusion: Abandonment of traditionally grazed coastal grasslands threatens their characteristic biodiversity. This study found that grazing abandonment reduced the extent of coastal wetland grasslands of particular conservation value. Nevertheless, plant species of conservation interest were found across the sequence of community types described. The study shows that grazing is an important factor influencing coastal wetland plant communities but suggests that vegetation distribution is affected by environmental variables, such as topography.     

A biogeographical analysis of the European Atlantic lowland heathlands

Questions: What is the climatic envelope of European Atlantic heathlands and the relationship between their floristic geographical variability and climatic parameters? Are the biogeographic patterns extracted from genuine heath plants comparable to those extracted from the accompanying flora? To what extent does the species composition extracted from phytosociological data support the current theory of refuge areas of heath vegetation in southern Atlantic Europe during the Pleistocene ice ages? Location: Atlantic Europe and NW Morocco. Methods: The geographical territory in which Atlantic heathlands occur was divided into 23 sectors following geographic and chorological criteria. A presence–absence table with 333 taxa was then constructed with the available phytosociological data. The taxa were classified into different groups according to their phytosociological affinity. Several types of numerical analysis were performed with this matrix and the climatic data obtained from meteorological sources. Results: Heathlands require a humid and oceanic climate and are limited by cold temperatures in the north and by summer droughts in the south. The highest floristic richness of this vegetation type is found in NW Iberia. Ordinations indicate a strong correlation between floristic composition of biogeographic sector and summer drought (Ios) and thermicity (It). Conclusions: The main climatic factors determining lowland heathland floristic distribution are thermicity and summer drought. The current optimal conditions for heath flora in NW Iberia suggest that there were southern refuges during the Pleistocene ice ages from which northward expansion has taken place.     

The seedbanks of the Breckland heaths and heath grasslands, eastern England, and their relationship to the vegetation and the effects of management

The vegetation and the associated germinable seedbank of a range of heath and grass heath communities in Breckland, eastern England, were compared. The composition of vegetation and seedbank were similar for heather-dominated communities due to the predominance of Calluna vulgaris . Recent rotovation of previously heather-dominated communities invaded by Deschampsia flexuosa reduced the number of emerging C. vulgaris seedlings by more than 80%. The composition of seedbanks of calcicolous grasslands differed considerably from the vegetation, with a significant contribution from many ruderal species not present in the vegetation and an absence of important species such as Pilosella officinarum. Acidic grasslands were intermediate between calcicolous grasslands and heather-dominated heathlands, with seedbanks characterized by high densities of Rumex acetosella and a number of ruderal species that were absent or rare in the vegetation. The composition of the seedbank of more mesotrophic grasslands suggests that the imposition of some form of disturbance may recreate more open grasslands typical of Breckland.     

The Balkan wet grassland vegetation: a prerequisite to better understanding of European habitat diversity

The knowledge of broad-scale floristic variation in wet grasslands, which are endangered throughout Europe, is still limited and some regions have remained unexplored so far. In addition, hitherto published phytosociological studies were concentrated at the national level and therefore national vegetation classifications are not consistent with each other. In order to overcome these shortcomings of traditional phytosociology, we gathered original data from Bulgaria and analysed them together with the data from Central Europe. We further analysed major compositional gradients within Bulgarian wet grasslands and changes in species richness along them. We sampled 164 wet grassland vegetation plots throughout Bulgaria. We further prepared a restricted data set of wet grasslands from Central-European phytosociological databases. Both data sets were merged and classified by modified TWINSPAN. Four distinct vegetation types were differentiated. Even if they correspond with traditional alliances, which are primarily drawn as geographically defined units in Western and Central Europe (sub-Mediterranean Trifolion resupinati, sub-continental Deschampsion cespitosae and Molinion caeruleae and sub-oceanic Calthion palustris), they all occur in Bulgaria. When more precise classification was applied, two types of sub-Mediterranean wet grasslands and one high-altitude type of Calthion grasslands were detected solely in Bulgaria. DCA analysis showed that altitude is a dominant gradient controlling variation in Balkan wet grasslands. The second DCA axis was interpreted as the gradient of nutrient availability. Species richness shows skewed-unimodal trends along both major gradients, with the highest species richness in intermittently wet nutrient-limited grasslands. Tukey post-hoc test of altitudinal differences amongst vegetation types is significant for all pairs of clusters, suggesting that altitudinal differentiation is responsible for co-occurrence of nearly all European types of wet grasslands in Bulgaria. Our results suggest that (1) climate is an important factor for the diversity of wet grasslands; (2) Balkan vegetation of middle altitudes matches with that of Central Europe, whereas that of the lowest altitudes corresponds rather to the sub-Mediterranean region and high mountains are specific; (3) upward shift of Central-European vegetation types in southern Europe, so often described in forest vegetation is also evident for grassland vegetation and (4) the high diversity of Balkan vegetation is determined by a diverse relief enabling confluence of habitats possessing different climatic conditions.     

Heathland vegetation of the northern-central part of the Iberian Peninsula

Heathland vegetation of northern Spain, included in theCalluno-Ulicetea, was studied using a set of 802 phytosociological relevés. The existing syntaxonomy has been tested and most of the types (associations and subassociations) fit satisfactorily with the observed groupings. Two main problems were encountered within theUlex dominated communities of the Cantabrian fringe and the Castilian-Cantabrian heathland communities. Both groups of communities were subject to ordination in order to clarify relationships between them. For the former group, ordination suggests that three associations can be distinguished: theUlici-Ericetum vagantis (lowlands up to the submontane belt), theVaccinio-Ulicetum gallii for the communities of higher altitudes (montane belt) and theUlici-Ericetum ciliaris (hygrophilous heathlands). The Castilian-Cantabrian heathlands show a variable Mediterranean influence and have a dispersed distribution due to lithological conditions. This results in the distinction of two new associations, viz. theArctostaphylo crassifoliae-Daboecietum cantabricae (marly, water-retaining soils) and theEricetum scopario-vagantis (sandy soils). A complete classification of theCalluno-Ulicetea in the studied area and short ecological and biogeographical diagnoses are given.     

台湾植被分类方案

复杂的自然条件导致面积仅为36000多平办公里的台湾兼有热带和寒温带的群落类型,堪称中国乃至世界植被之缩影。它的植被分类也是对中国乃至世界植被分类的补充。台湾植被分类采用的是外貌-区系原则,分类单位和系统自上而下是：植被型纲、植被型目、植被型、群团组、群团和群丛。高级单位(植被型纲、植被型目和植被型)以群落的生态外貌为依据;中、低级单位主要依据种类组成,兼顾优势种和标志种的指示意义。在中级单位中(群团组、群团),重视优势种的作用,在低级单位中(群丛)更重视特征种(或标志种)的意义。按此原则将台湾植被划分为5个植被型纲(森林、灌丛、草本植被、岩原植被、沼泽和水生植被),29个植被型目(寒温性针叶林,凉温性针叶林,暖温性针叶林,暖性针叶林、落叶阔叶林、常绿阔叶落叶阔叶混交林、常绿苔藓林、常绿硬叶林、常绿阔叶林、热带雨林、热带季雨林海岸林、暖性竹林、常绿针叶灌丛、革叶灌从、落叶阔叶灌丛、常绿阔叶灌丛、刺肉灌从、竹灌丛、草甸、疏灌草地、干热旱生草地、岩屑堆稀疏群落、石隙植被、木本沼泽、草本沼洋、藓类沼泽、淡水水生植被和成水水生植被),53个植被型。列举了各个植被型中的重要群团。     

台湾植被分类方案

复杂的自然条件导致面积仅为36 000多平方公里的台湾兼有热带和寒温带的群落类型,堪称中国乃至世界植被之缩影.它的植被分类也是对中国乃至世界植被分类的补充.台湾植被分类采用的是外貌-区系原则,分类单位和系统自上而下是:植被型纲、植被型目、植被型、群团组、群团和群丛.高级单位(植被型纲、植被型目和植被型)以群落的生态外貌为依据;中、低级单位主要依据种类组成,兼顾优势种和标志种的指示意义.在中级单位中(群团组、群团),重视优势种的作用,在低级单位中(群丛)更重视特征种(或标志种)的意义.按此原则将台湾植被划分为5个植被型纲(森林、灌丛、草本植被、岩原植被、沼泽和水生植被),29个植被型目(寒温性针叶林,凉温性针叶林,暖温性针叶林,暖性针叶林、落叶阔叶林、常绿阔叶落叶阔叶混交林、常绿苔藓林、常绿硬叶林、常绿阔叶林、热带雨林、热带季雨林海岸林、暖性竹林、常绿针叶灌丛、革叶灌丛、落叶阔叶灌丛、常绿阔叶灌丛、刺肉灌丛、竹灌丛、草甸、疏灌草地、干热早生草地、岩屑堆稀疏群落、石隙植被、木本沼泽、草本沼泽、藓类沼泽、淡水水生植被和咸水水生植被),53个植被型.列举了各个植被型中的重要群团.     

Pflanzensoziologische Studie der Fynbosvegetation am Kap der guten Hoffnung

Zusammenfassung Im Swartboschkloof-Naturschutzgebiet am Kap der Guten Hoffnung wurden pflanzensoziologische Methoden ausprobiert und ergaben eine vorl?ufige Klassifikation der dortigen Fynbos-(Macchia), Flu?saum- und Wald vegetation. Acht Gesellschaften sind floristisch beschrieben und mit Standortfaktoren korreliert worden. Die Ergebnisse sind vielversprechend, und die M?glichkeiten einer Klassifikation der kapl?ndischen Fynbos-Vegetation in ein formelles pflanzensoziologisches System werden diskutiert.

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Summary TheBraun-Blanquet phytosociological method was tested in the complex Fynbos (Macchia) vegetation of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. In Swartboschkloof Nature Reserve the Fynbos, riverine scrub and forest vegetation was classified preliminarily into eight communities, which are described floristically and related to habitat. The results hold promise, and the possibilities of classifying the Cape Fynbos in a formal phytosociological system are discussed.

     

Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation

Abstract. In European phytosociology, variable plot sizes are traditionally used for sampling different vegetation types. This practice may generate problems in current vegetation or habitat survey projects based on large data sets, which include relevés made by many authors at different times. In order to determine the extent of variation in plot sizes used in European phytosociology, we collected a data set of 41 174 relevés with an indication of plot size, published in six major European journals focusing on phytosociology from 1970 to 2000. As an additional data set, we took 27 365 relevés from the Czech National Phytosociological Database. From each data set, we calculated basic statistical figures for plot sizes used to sample vegetation of various phytosociological classes. The results show that in Europe the traditionally used size of vegetation plots is roughly proportional to vegetation height; however, there is a large variation in plot size, both within and among vegetation classes. The effect of variable plot sizes on vegetation analysis and classification is not sufficiently known, but use of standardized plot sizes would be desirable in future projects of vegetation or habitat survey. Based on our analysis, we suggest four plot sizes as possible standards. They are 4 m² for sampling aquatic vegetation and low‐grown herbaceous vegetation, 16 m² for most grassland, heathland and other herbaceous or low‐scrub vegetation types, 50 m² for scrub, and 200 m² for woodlands. It has been pointed out that in some situations, sampling in either small or large plots may result in assignment of relevés to different phytosociological classes or habitat types. Therefore defining vegetation and habitat types as scale‐dependent concepts is needed.     

Diversity,variability and habitat characteristics of the communities dominated by Sesleria species (Poaceae) in the Western Carpathians

This study provides a view of vegetation types dominated by Sesleria species in the Western Carpathians (Sesleria caerulea, S. heufleriana, S. tatrae, and S. uliginosa). We also took into account characteristics/traits such as plant life forms, autochthonous status, endemism, and ploidy level occurring within each relevé in our data set. Altitude and Ellenberg indicator values derived for each relevé were considered as well. Eight vegetation types/formations/habitats were recognized in a data set of 942 phytosociological relevés: (1) synanthropic vegetation, (2) rock fissures and screes, (3) alpine grasslands and heaths, (4) mesic grasslands and pastures, (5) springs and fens, (6) forests, (7) xerophilous shrubland, and (8) high-mountain scrubs (krummholz). Results corroborated and clearly emphasized that Sesleria caerulea has the widest ecological amplitude of all studied species because the species occurred among all studied vegetation types. Sesleria tatrae was present only in several vegetation types occurring from montane to alpine vegetation belts in the highest mountains. Sesleria heufleriana and S. uliginosa were recorded only in low-altitude areas. The difference between them lies mainly in the dampness of each locality. Sesleria heufleriana was frequently found in xerophilous communities, whereas S. uliginosa preferred humid habitats of springs and fens.     

Are habitat types compatible with floristically‐derived associations?

Abstract. The habitat type system developed by R. Daubenmire has been widely adopted throughout the western United States. Habitat types result from a site classification derived from the classification of late seral plant communities using selected indicator species. It has been suggested that the classification of late successional vegetation used to derive habitat types does not substantially differ from phytosociological classification in the sense of Braun‐Blanquet approach, and that habitat types can be adopted in their present form into floristically‐based vegetation classifications. Despite the many commonalities between the two systems, however, the classification methods, and specifically the use of indicator species in the habitat type system, yield a significantly different classification than the phytosociological approach. This is demonstrated in the comparison of a habitat type classification with the results of a recent phytosociological classification of forest vegetation in the northern Salish Mountains of Montana.     

How to determine a regional species pool: a study in two Swedish regions

The species pool hypothesis has been proposed as one of the possible explanations for the local species richness of plant communities. For testing and validating this theory, it is of crucial importance to determine the dimension of the regional pool, which is the reservoir of species that are potentially able to exist in a community. The main purpose of this study was to develop and test different methods for the determination of the regional species pool. Two regions in Sweden served as study areas, Öland and Uppland. In both regions, three different vegetation types were treated: dry calcareous grasslands, coastal meadows and deciduous forests. For the determination of the regional pool two main groups of methods are proposed: 1) six ecological approaches, based on Ellenberg species indicator values, and 2) two phytosociological approaches, based on the occurrence of species in different syntaxa in the framework of the Braun-Blanquet system. The different screening methods were tested using Sørensen's index expressing the similarity between the community species pool and the regional species pool. Two types of error were recognized which may result in low index values. For the six ecological methods Sørensen's index values were below 50%. The methods differed considerably from each other in accuracy, due to large differences in errors of both types. The phytosociological methods resulted in higher similarity values of up to almost 70%. The two approaches differed in error type but gave similar results.     

Plant communities preferences of terrestrial crustaceans (Isopoda: Oniscidea) in a protected coastal area of southeastern Sicily (Italy)

We studied the plant communities preferences of oniscidean isopods in a protected coastal area in southeastern Sicily that is characterized by ponds, dunes and rocky coast. In total, five sites were sampled between March 2003 and February 2004 using pitfall traps. A total of 7,326 specimens were found, belonging to 23 species. The vegetation analysis, using the phytosociological method, recognized a total of 11 types of plant communities, with specific ecological features. Measuring the species richness, diversity and annual activity density (aAD) values of the terrestrial isopod communities from each sampling site revealed differences among the various plant communities. PCA analysis confirmed the correlation between isopods species and specific plant communities. Moreover our results show that the high species richness is associated with a high vegetation cover and number of plants.     

High-altitude vegetation of the Western Carpathians — a syntaxonomical review

This paper presents a survey of high-altitude plant communities which occur in the Western Carpathians with an enumeration of the characteristic, transgressive and differential species of the individual alliances, orders and classes. It describes the tall-herb vegetation (Mulgedio-Aconitetea) and communities of the subalpine shrubs (Betulo carpaticae-Alnetea viridis), the montane and alpine calcareous swards (Elyno-Seslerietea), the wind-exposed cryophilous swards on ridge edges with low snow cover (Carici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardii), the chionophilous communities of snow beds and snow fields (Salicetea herbaceae), the arctic-boreal dwarf-shrub heathlands (Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea), the alpine acidophilous grasslands (Caricetea curvulae) and the high-mountain mat-grass swards of the alliance Nardion strictae (Nardetea strictae).     

Spontanvegetation Nordgriechischer Bergdörfer

The synanthropic vegetation in seven villages of Northern Greece (N Pindhos and Olympus massif)—situated either in theQuercion confertae or in theFagetalia zone—is analyzed on the basis of about 100 phytosociological relevés. The most important vascular plant species of ruderal sites have also been mapped floristically. Nineteen plant communities are discernible, some of which are mentioned for the first time here. Nevertheless, the author refrains from hastily describing new associations, unless a more detailed phytosociological data basis on ruderal vegetation in the Southern Balkans is available. A table refers to differences and similarities between the recognized plant communities in Greek villages and those which correspond to them in Central Europe. Non-industrial methods of agriculture and animal husbandry are among the most important conditions for the remarkable rich vegetation in Greek mountain villages.     

Edaphic relationships among Cirsio-Molinietum and related wet grassland communities in lowland Wales

Abstract. Soil properties are characterized for a range of the Molinietalia vegetation types in lowland Wales. In this oceanic region there is overlap in the distribution of various forms of wet pasture dominated by Molinia caerulea and Juncus acutiflorus. There is subtle and continuous variation in species composition among four communities investigated; this has been analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and partitioned between subcommunities recognized in Rodwell (1991). Canonical Variates Analysis indicated that the main differences in soil conditions between the vegetation classes are related to gradients in base-status; apparent variation in soil fertility may also be significant and requires further investigation. In general, Molinia-Cirsium dissectum fen-meadow soils have higher pH, higher Ca-levels, greater base saturation and lower acidity than Molinia-Potentilla erecta wet grasslands; those of Juncus-Galium palustre rush-pasture and Molinia-Crepis paludosa mire had relatively high levels of inorganic N. The findings are discussed with reference to ecological and phytosociological relationships, and also in the context of nature conservation.     

Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

The phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological relevés with its occurrence were set for light — 6, temperature — 5, continentality — 4, moisture — 5, soil reaction — 6 and nutrients — 5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.