<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmitetum japonicae</Emphasis> in Korean Peninsula and Japan

Plant communities dominated by Phragmites japonica and described as Phragmitetum japonicae Minamikawa 1963 were studied in northern part of the Korean Peninsula. 40 sampled relevés were compared with similar vegetation in South Korea and Japan. In total 118 phytocoenological relevés were synthesized. Three subassociations (artemisietosum feddei, boehmerietosum spicatae and inops) were described as new. Two subassociations (humuletosum scandentis and polygonetosum thunbergii) described from Japan were found also in Korea. The problems of classification of this heterogeneous and species-poor vegetation unit were discussed.     

Classification and gradient analysis of the beech forest vegetation of the southern Rodopi (northeast Greece)

Pure and mixed beech forest vegetation of the southern Rodopi range (northeast Greece) was studied using 614 relevés and multivariate analyses (TWINSPAN and DCA). Classification of the relevés resulted in 12 vegetation units, 8 of which were ranked as associations or communities and the rest as subcommunities and variants. DCA diagrams of relevés and taxa indicated that floristic differentiation was attributed mainly to factors such as altitude (affecting temperature and humidity), soil nutrient content and substrate type (affecting physical and chemical soil properties). Differential taxa of vegetation units were chosen based on their phi coefficient values, which were calculated from three different percentage synoptic tables that corresponded to three ranks (ecological groups, associations and communities, and subcommunities and variants) of floristic differentiation. The calculation of phi coefficient on the basis of relative constancy of taxa helps to overcome the problem of the dependence of fidelity values on the number of relevés per vegetation unit and to facilitate the better investigation of the floristic differentiation even of rare vegetation units represented by a small number of relevés. Furthermore, the calculation of fidelity values for different hierarchical levels enables a more detailed and thorough investigation of the floristic differentiation of the vegetation units.     

The salt marsh vegetation on the East Adriatic coast

Phytosociological characteristics and a rate of endangerment of the salt marsh vegetation in central and southern parts of the east Adriatic coast were studied. A total of 73 vegetation relevés were made and elaborated according to the standard procedures of the Braun-Blanquet method. Numerical analysis of the relevés and life forms was performed. Two associations of the class Arthrocnemetea-Puccinellio festuciformis-Arthrocnemetum fruticosi and Limonio-Artemisietum coerulescentis were recorded, together with the association Juncetum maritimo-acuti of the class Juncetea maritimi. These associations show no significant differentiation with regard to their floristic composition, but only in terms of particular species cover and frequency rates, as well as by life forms and microecological habitat conditions. These are specific habitats, rarely found in the studied area, and highly threatened by human activity (tourism, agriculture).     

The coastal plant communities of Juniperus macrocarpa in the Mediterranean region

Juniperus macrocarpa is a threatened taxon growing on coastal areas of the Mediterranean region. A remarkable part of its communities are included in Juniperion turbinatae, considered as priority habitats for conservation in the Habitats Directive 92/43 EEC. We have summarized the current status of this type of vegetation, including the described associations of this alliance in order to analyse the variability of the syntaxa, based on its floristic composition and geographic distribution. The available relevés were arranged in a synthetic table and subjected to a detendred correspondence analysis. Two new suballiances (Juniperenion turbinatae and Asparago orientalis-Juniperenion macrocarpae) have been proposed. A typological classification of these communities with ecological and biogeographical diagnoses is given.     

Revision of the central Mediterranean xerothermic cliff vegetation

Questions

What are the syntaxonomic and synchorological patterns of the xerothermic chasmophytic vegetation in the central part of the Mediterranean Basin? What are the diagnostic species of the high‐rank syntaxa of Asplenietalia glandulosi, Onosmetalia frutescentis and Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis?

Location

Mediterranean coastal and subcoastal areas of southern France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and of mainland Greece.

Methods

The data set of 1,261 published relevés was analysed using hierarchical clustering (Flexible Beta method), involving a series of data transformations. Indicator species analysis was used to select the best dendrogram solution and identify diagnostic taxa of the main clusters. The dendrogram was interpreted from a syntaxonomic point of view, using nomenclatural type relevés as a basis. The NMDS ordination was performed in order to visualize the floristic relationships among associations and high‐rank syntaxa. MRPP was used to test for differences among alliances.

Results

The classification revealed four main clusters of relevés representing the chasmophytic vegetation of southern France, Sardinia and the northwestern part of Italy (Asplenienalia glandulosi/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the southwestern part of Italy and Malta (Tinguarrenalia siculae/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the Adriatic Basin area (Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis) and the southern Balkans (Onosmetalia frutescentis). The NMDS ordination confirmed the overall pattern, while MRPP showed significant differences among the alliances of the above‐mentioned orders and suborders. The lists of diagnostic taxa of the high‐rank syntaxa were revised according to a supra‐national perspective.

Conclusions

The new syntaxonomic scheme provides a comprehensive overview of the chasmophytic vegetation of the central part of the Mediterranean Basin. This scheme mostly matches the recently published EuroVegChecklist, but also exhibits important novelties concerning the syntaxonomic position of some alliances (Dianthion rupicolae, Centaureion pentadactyli, Arenarion bertolonii and Caro‐Aurinion), and the floristic and chorological relationships among high‐rank syntaxa, with new revised sets of diagnostic taxa. This revision might be useful for further small‐scale phytosociological studies.

     

Typology and ecology of Californian serpentine annual grasslands

Abstract. A first classification for serpentine annual grasslands distributed throughout northern and central California is proposed. This study has followed the Braun‐Blanquet phyto‐sociological system based on floristical, biogeographical and bioclimatic features of the sampled areas. Numerical analyses of classification and ordination were applied to the floristic relevés. Minimum Variance Clustering grouped relevés into basic classification units that allowed us to define low‐hierarchical syntaxonomical units (associations) and ‘communities’. A Principal Coordinate Analysis was used to extract those ecological parameters related to the axes that separate those classification units from the previous dendrogram. The results showed that differences in species composition was mainly due to a continentality gradient and the shady effect of an overstory vegetation. On the basis of both analyses we propose a first syntaxonomic scheme on ultramafic (mainly serpentine) annual plant communities of the biogeographical Californian Region that comprises four associations, two subassociations and some provisional communities.     

Current knowledge and phytosociological data on the high-altitude vegetation in the Western Carpathians — a review

Presented survey summarizes the results of the studies published predominantly after 2000, dealing with the plant communities around and above the timberline in (montane) subalpine to alpine (subnival) belt of the Western Carpathians. All of these communities underwent a critical syntaxonomical and nomenclatorical revision, hence the demonstrated overview of high-mountain vegetation of Western Carpathians (mostly from Slovakia, less from Poland border areas) represent the current state of knowledge. The high-altitude vegetation database, which is the part of Slovak National Vegetation Database, SNVD (), incorporated 8,160 published relevés on 15 May 2007 (of the total of 30,469 published relevés in the SNVD). Concerning the unpublished relevés, the individual authors have provided more than 18,400 of them to be stored in SNVD; 2,301 of all unpublished relevés could be assigned to high-altitude vegetation. Mountain and alpine vegetation is in SNVD presented by 15 classes; the most frequent class is Mulgedio-Aconitetea. With its quantity and also the quality of relevés, the high-altitude database, as well as the whole SNVD, represents the unique database within Slovakia, which provides information not only about the locality, floristic composition and variability of individual vegetation types, but also about several environmental variables such as inclination, aspect, geology or soil type, characteristic for individual relevés. Together with other Central European databases, SNVD takes up the leading position in Europe.     

Syntaxonomic analysis of theAndropogon-rich grasslands (Hyparrhenietalia hirtae) in the western Mediterranean region

Using the Braun-Blanquet approach, a syntaxonomical revision of the orderHyparrhenietalia hirtae in the western Mediterranean region was made. Various syntaxa were studied with relevés from the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Sardinia, Sicily and adjacent islands, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and Morocco. One alliance (Hyparrhenion hirtae), 8 associations (one of them new:Lotononido lupinifoliae-Hyparrhenietum sinaicae) and several subassociations and variants were distinguished. A complete classification of theHyparrhenietalia hirtae in the studied area with ecological and biogeographical diagnoses is given.     

A Phytosociological Survey of the Chionophilous Communities of Western North America. Part I: Temperate and Mediterranean Associations

Through tabular and average linkage cluster analyses, 872 phytosociological relevés, including 491 obtained from the literature and 381 of our own relevés obtained in the field, were ordered and classified. Based on these relevés, we then described and typified the associations, alliances, orders, subclasses, and classes defining the chionophilous communities of the boreal, temperate and Mediterranean climates of western North America. Diagnostic tables, ordination, clustering, and climatic, edaphic, and biogeographical data were used to establish floristic affinities among these syntaxa and interpret their distributions. Syntaxa were characterized by their floristic composition, physiognomy and biogeographical distribution, along with their position on the snow gradient. Finally, we ascribed the communities growing in temperate and Mediterranean climates to the new class Hieracio gracilis-Juncetea drummondii, including 3 subclasses, 6 orders, 12 alliances and 34 associations.     

A phytosociological classification of Swiss mire vegetation

The mapping and monitoring of Swiss mires has so far relied on a classification system based on expert judgement, which was not supported by a quantitative vegetation analysis and which did not include all wetland vegetation types described in the country. Based on a spatially representative sample of 17,608 relevés from 112 Swiss mires, we address the following questions: (1) How abundant are wetland vegetation types (phytosociological alliances) in Swiss mires? (2) How are they distributed across the country––is there a regional pattern? (3) How clearly are they separated from each other? (4) How clear and reliable is their ecological interpretation? Using published wetland vegetation relevés and lists of diagnostic species for phytosociological units (associations and alliances) established by experts, we developed a numerical method for assigning relevés to units through the calculation of similarity indices. We applied this method to our sample of 17,608 relevés and estimated the total area covered by each vegetation type in Switzerland. We found that vegetation types not included in previous mapping were either rare in Switzerland (partly due to mire drainage) or poorly distinguished from other vegetation units. In an ordination, the Swiss mire vegetation formed a triangular gradient system with the Sphagnion medii, the Caricion davallianae and the Phragmition australis as extreme types. Phytosociological alliances were clearly separated in a subset of 2,265 relevés, which had a strong similarity to one particular association, but poorly separated across all relevés, of which many could not be unequivocally assigned to one association. However, ecological gradients were reflected equally well by the vegetation types in either case. Overall, phytosociological alliances distinguished until now proved suitable schemes to describe and interpret vegetation gradients. Nevertheless, we see the urgent need to establish a data base of Swiss wetland relevés for a more reliable definition of some vegetation units.     

Syntaxonomic study of vegetation in Velká Kotlina cirque,the Sudeten Mountains

A species-rich flora consisting of about 350 species of vascular plants and 200 of bryophytes has developed in the Velká Kotlina cirque, as a result of biotope diversity and uninterrupted Postglacial evolution. A longlasting interaction of the species pool with a variety of habitats covering about 1 km² has created numerous species-saturated communities whose structure reffects both biogeographical characters of the whole Sudeten Mountains, and local peculiarities in soil, microclimate and hydrology. In a set of 400 vegetation relevés altogether 29 associations, 15 alliances, 10 orders and 10 classes have been identified. Each of the 16 newly described associations and also 14 subassociations, is characterized by the appropriate original diagnosis and full enumeration of the nomenclatural type.     

Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae,a new class of ephemeral communities in Western Australia*

Abstract. In Western Australia - a relatively arid portion of the continent - wet environments are only occasionally vegetated, but well-developed communities occur in winter-wet habitats in sandplain depressions, along water courses and on rock (mostly granite) outcrops. These communities are composed of small-sized annuals, mostly belonging to the Centrole-pidaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaginaceae, and Stylidiaceae. Multivariate analysis was carried out on 46 phyto-sociological relevés; four associations are recognized with a distinct floristic composition and ecology. Species occurring in this vegetation are mostly therophytes (66%) and many are endemics; a new vegetation class Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae, endemic for Australia, is proposed and described.     

Syntaxonomical revision of the Triseto flavescentis-Polygonion bistortae alliance in the Carpathians

Abstract

This phytosociological study of the Carpathian species-rich mesophilous mountain hay meadows (Triseto flavescentis-Polygonion bistortae alliance, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class) presents the first unified large-scale classification system in four countries: Slovakia, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. The starting dataset contained relevés of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Nardetea strictae classes. Numerical classification and semi-supervised classification by K-means method were used for the analyses. An electronic expert system and diagnostic species for grassland vegetation served for identification of a priori groups in K-means method. The final dataset contained 612 relevés. Altitude, climatic data and Ellenberg indicator values were used for ecological differentiation of syntaxa. The main gradients in floristic composition were analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis. Finally, the eight well-differentiated associations and one newly described association were determined: Campanulo glomeratae-Geranietum sylvatici, Geranio sylvatici-Trisetetum flavescentis, Crepido mollis-Agrostietum capillaris, Geranio-Alchemilletum crinitae, Alchemillo-Deschampsietum caespitosae, Phyteumo (orbicularis)-Trifolietum pratensis, Astrantio-Trisetetum flavescentis, Trollio altissimi-Knautietum dipsacifoliae and Violo declinatae-Agrostietum capillaris ass. nova. The differences in vegetation diversity of mountain hay meadows between particular countries were confirmed: Alchemillo-Deschampsietum caespitosae occurs in all studied territories, Campanulo glomeratae-Geranietum sylvatici occurs predominantly in Slovakia and the newly described association Violo declinatae-Agrostietum capillaris ass. nova could be found only in Ukraine.     

Plant communities dominated by Salix gracilistyla in Korean Peninsula and Japan

Riverside vegetation dominated by Salix gracilistyla was analysed. In total, 77 phytocoenological relevés from Japan and both Korean Republics were compared. Based on 20 own relevés from Kumgang-san Mts (North Korea) a new association Artemisio feddei-Salicetum gracilistylae was described. It occupies alluvia of rivers and streams flooded for several times yearly. This species-rich community differs from the most similar, but species-poor association Salicetum gracilistylae Minamikawa 1963, described from Japan and known also from South Korea by numerous differential taxa.     

Geographical and ecological differentiation in Greek Fagus forest vegetation

Question: Which are the gradients of floristic differentiation in Greek beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests? Which is the role of geographical and ecological factors in this differentiation? Location: Beech forests of the plant geographical regions Northeast, North Central and East Central Greece. Methods: A total of 1404 published and unpublished phytoso‐ciological relevés were used in the analyses. TWINSPAN and DCA were applied to classify and ordinate the relevés. Altitude, Indicator Values of relevés and their X and Y coordinates were used in a posteriori interpretation of the ordination axes. Kendall's correlation coefficients were calculated between DCA relevé scores and explanatory variables. Multiple linear regression was used to partition the variation explained by the first two DCA axes, between the geographical and the ecological variables. Results: Classification resulted in 14 vegetation units defined by species composition. Two types of gradients, ecological and geographical, were revealed by the DCA of all releves. The partition of the variation accounted for by the first and second DCA axis was attributed mainly to ecological and geographical variables, respectively. Conclusions: Beech forests of northeast and Central Greece show phytogeographical differences, while ecologically similar vegetation units occur in both regions. A west‐east gradient is revealed in Greek beech forest vegetation. The extent of the study area, its position along regional gradients and the comprehensiveness of the data set that is analysed determine the types of the gradients which can be revealed in a vegetation study.     

Maquis vegetation in the eastern Cantabrian coastal fringe

Abstract. The typology and distribution are discussed of hitherto poorly known Mediterranean-type maquis vegetation from the eastern stretch of the coastal fringe of the Cantabrian Mountains. 51 phytosociological relevés of maquis with Arbutus unedo (‘madroñales’) and Quercus coccifera (kermes oak shrubland or ‘coscojares’) were submitted to Correspondence Analysis and table rearrangement. The results are discussed and interpreted in the light of actual biogeographical and palaeohistorical knowledge. A sharp division between (uniform) acidophilous and (diversified) basophilous communities was revealed. On the basis of the phytosociological classification four new syntaxa are described: the associations Ulici gallii-Arbutetum unedonis, Phillyreo latifoliae-Arbutetum unedonis - with two subassociations: arbutetosum unedonis and viburnetosum tini - and the association Genisto occidentalis-Quercetum cocciferae.     

Syntaxonomy of Arundo stands along the eastern Adriatic coast

Based on the diagnostic morphological characters of the Arundo taxa, and after both field and herbarium observation, three species (A. micrantha, A. plinii and A. donax) were found along the eastern Adriatic coast. Altogether, 50 phytocoenological relevés from Arundo stands were collected in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania between 2010 and 2013. Three associations with a predominance of Arundo species were determined: Arundinetum plinianae, Arundinetum micranthae and Arundini donacis–Convolvuletum sepium. Among them, Arundinetum micranthae is described and proposed as a new association, belonging to the Artemisietea vulgaris class. It occurs frequently along the coastal belt between the cities of Split and Dubrovnik in South Croatia. The syntaxonomy of the associations is discussed and comparison with similar communities from Italy is made. The vegetation and floristic structure of the associations is discussed as a potential basis for biodiversity conservation programmes and for evaluating the state of these ecosystems in the future.     

Floristic composition,site conditions and diversity of poet’s daffodil (Narcissus radiiflorus Salisb.) hay meadows in the Venetian Pre-Alps and outer Dolomites (N-Italy): implications for conservation and restoration

Abstract

Hay meadows are an important component of the alpine landscape, which evolved over millennia of human activities. When traditionally managed, hay meadows support a rich flora and are recognized for high species diversity. However, both intensification and abandonment can lead to a loss of biodiversity in this vegetation. In this paper, the focus was on the hay meadows where Narcissus radiiflorus Salisb. forms white mosaic carpets during the blooming period. This vegetation was studied through 26 phytosociological relevés, taken in the Venetian Pre-Alps and outer Dolomites (Northern Italy). Relevés were numerically classified and analysed in their relationships with site conditions. Moreover, diversity metrics were calculated for detecting the conservation status of hay meadows subjected to different types of disturbance. The results showed that poet’s daffodils’ dominance brings together hay meadows showing a substantial range of floristic and ecologic variation and that part of the stands dominated by Narcissus radiiflorus could be referred to a habitat type regarded as prioritary for nature conservation. Moreover, management-related variations in functional diversity suggested that the best practice recommended for conservation and restoration of this habitat is the continuation of traditional late mowing. This practice will allow preserving both biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.     

Bias in Ellenberg indicator values — problems with detection of the effect of vegetation type

A recent analysis published in this journal found different relationships between mean Ellenberg indicator values and environmental measurements in different vegetation types. The cause was stated as bias in mean Ellenberg values between relevés which in turn suggested to reflect a bias in individual Ellenberg values. We discuss two phenomena that could explain these results without the need to invoke bias in either individual or mean Ellenberg values. Firstly, slopes of linear regression lines underestimate true relationships when analyses involve explanatory variables measured with error. Secondly, syntaxon‐specific distributions of Ellenberg values follow from the floristic definition of phytosociological units. Mean Ellenberg values per relevé therefore carry the stamp of their associated syntaxon even though associated abiotic conditions may vary between relevés. This will lead to variation in slopes and intercepts between vegetation types not because of bias in individual Ellenberg values but because of prescribed bias in the distribution of Ellenberg values between syntaxa. The residual variation in calibrations carried out across vegetation types is undoubtedly reduced by introducing vegetation type as a factor. However users should note that this is unlikely to reflect bias in individual Ellenberg values but is more likely to reflect error in environmental measurements as well the constraint imposed by phytosociological classification.