Changes in species composition following field and tree layer restoration and management in a wooded hay meadow

A hillside with abandoned, wooded hay meadows in Leikanger in Sogn og Fjordane county, Western Norway, was investigated in 1992–1995. A management regime combining restoration (topping) of old pollarded trees, scything and removal of hay was reintroduced in the area. The availability of light, hydrological conditions and the nutrient content of the soil were the most important factors determining development of hay meadow vegetation to forest vegetation. Indicators of shaded conditions included Valeriana sambucifolia and Oxalis acetosella , while Anthriscus sylvestris was indicator of light conditions. Species such as Campanula rotundifolia, Pimpinella saxifraga, Plantago lanceolata, Lychnis viscaria and Hieracium pilosella , which were recorded mostly on dry ridges, were regarded as relict species, more common formerly when the area was managed in a traditional way. The cover of tall grasses and herbs, such as Dactylis glomerata, Poa trivialis and Anthriscus sylvestris , increased the first two years after restoration. This indicates an increase in available nutrients, probably a pioneer clearing fertilization due to the introduced pollarding. Restoration and management resulted in drier, more homogenous ecological conditions and reduced the differences in local climate between formerly open meadows and more wooded areas in the restored area. However, most of the vegetation seemed to be quite stable during the study period. One class, however, comprised releves from several unstable plots of the experimental site. The frequency of some light-demanding species increased in the experimental site, while the frequency of Oxalis acetosella and Epilobium montanum increased in the control site.     

Plant species diversity in an old, traditionally managed hay meadow compared to abandoned hay meadows in southwest Norway

A chronosequence, representing a successional series, was used for the comparison of a hay meadow site managed in an old traditional way for at least a hundred years, and hay meadow sites abandoned for about 10, 20 and 30 years, respectively. Old traditional management included grazing early and late in the growing season, mowing in August and light or no fertilizing. The tree cover was the most important factor deciding the composition of vegetation. Time since abandonment was not completely correlated to tree cover, as some plots had a dense canopy and others were situated in the open. The total species number decreased with number of years since abandonment in plots > 0.001 m²and <100 m². The highest species number in 1 m² plots was recorded in the managed site, with 38 species of phanerogams. Fourtyeight % of the indicators of traditional management present in the managed site was recorded in the site which had been abandoned for 30 years. Frequency — log area curves made it possible to group species according to persistence in the sward. As a result, a group of functional indicators of rare hay meadows in the region was distinguished.     

The effect of land management on plant community composition, species diversity, and productivity of alpine Kobersia steppe meadow

Grassland degradation is widespread and severe on the Tibet Plateau. To explore management approaches for sustainable development of degraded and restored ecosystems, we studied the effect of land degradation on species composition, species diversity, and vegetation productivity, and examined the relative influence of various rehabilitation practices (two seeding treatments and a non-seeded natural recovery treatment) on community structure and vegetation productivity in early secondary succession. The results showed: (1) All sedge and grass species of the natural steppe meadow had disappeared from the severely degraded land. The above-ground and root biomass of severely degraded land were only 38 and 14.7%, respectively, of those of the control. So, the original ecosystem has been dramatically altered by land degradation on alpine steppe meadow. (2) Seeding measures may promote above-ground biomass, particularly grass biomass, and ground cover. Except for the grasses seeded, however, other grass and sedge species did not occur after seeding treatments in the sixth year of seeding. Establishment of grasses during natural recovery treatment progressed slowly compared with during seeding treatments. Many annual forbs invaded and established during the 6 years of natural recovery. In addition, there was greater diversity after natural recovery treatment than after seeding treatments. (3) The above-ground biomass after seeding treatment and natural recovery treatment were 114 and 55%, respectively, of that of the control. No significant differences in root biomass occurred among the natural recovery and seeded treatments. Root biomass after rehabilitation treatment was 23–31% that of the control.     

A hay meadow in western Norway-changes in the course of a growing season

Interference of management with groups of species/single species in a hay meadow is studied in a pilot project. Plant species are recorded 3 times during growing season from 10 permanent plots at intervals along 2 transects crossing the meadow. Hult-Sernander-Du Rietz scale is used for estimating cover, and phenological phases are estimated according to Dierschke.
The hay meadow is lightly fertilized in spring, mown once late in July and grazed lightly by calves in autumn. Until 7–8 years ago the meadow was more heavily grazed by sheep both in spring and autumn.
50 species are recorded, 44 within the permanent plots, 33 are indicators of agricultural management, 21 are indicators of traditional management, and 24 are adapted to grazing. The meadow belongs to Cardamino pratensis-Conopodietum majoris, subas-sociation campanuletosum. Luzula campestre, Campanula rotundifolia, Potentilla erecta, Hypochoeris radicata and Trifolium repens vary little in cover throughout the summer. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Leucanthemum vulgare, Trifolium pratense and Agrostis capillaris have a higher cover just before mowing than afterwards. Conopodium majus is not present above ground at all in August. Rumex acetosa and Achillea millefolium have their highest cover values in August. The time of flowering varied. At the spring analysis, Ajuga pyramidalis, Anthoxantum odoratum, Luzula campestre and Plantago lanceolata flowered. The main flowering took place at the end of June, when 20 species flowered. In August the flowers of Leontodon autumnalis, Hypochoeris radicata, Potentilla erecta and Hieracium vulgatum characterized the meadow. Several hypothesis and proposals for testing of the hypothesis are put forward.     

Stochastic species turnover and stable coexistence in a species-rich, fire-prone plant community

Understanding the mechanisms that maintain diversity is important for managing ecosystems for species persistence. Here we used a long-term data set to understand mechanisms of coexistence at the local and regional scales in the Cape Floristic Region, a global hotspot of plant diversity. We used a dataset comprising 81 monitoring sites, sampled in 1966 and again in 1996, and containing 422 species for which growth form, regeneration mode, dispersal distance and abundances at both the local (site) and meta-community scales are known. We found that species presence and abundance were stable at the meta-community scale over the 30 year period but highly unstable at the local scale, and were not influenced by species' biological attributes. Moreover, rare species were no more likely to go extinct at the local scale than common species, and that alpha diversity in local communities was strongly influenced by habitat. We conclude that stochastic environmental fluctuations associated with recurrent fire buffer populations from extinction, thereby ensuring stable coexistence at the meta-community scale by creating a "neutral-like" pattern maintained by niche-differentiation.     

Non-native earthworms alter the assembly of a meadow plant community

Non-native earthworms can alter ecosystems by modifying soil structure, depredating seeds and seedlings, and consuming soil organic matter, yet the initial responses of plant communities to earthworm invasions remain poorly understood. We assessed the effect of non-native earthworms on seedling survival during germination and after establishment using six native and six non-native plant species grown from seed in single- and multi-species experimental mesocosms. We examined the extent to which earthworms (1) influenced seedling survival, (2) selectively depredated native versus non-native plants, (3) impacted establishment based on seed size and/or root morphology, and (4) shaped community assembly. The effect of earthworms on seedling survival varied temporally and among species but inconsistently with respect to species origin. Differences in seed/seedling survival translated to changes in community assembly. Earthworms tended to reduce species abundance, richness, evenness, and diversity in multi-species mesocosms and led to the divergence of communities by treatment. In general, species with large seeds and fibrous roots dominated communities with earthworms present, whereas species with small seeds and taproots only persisted in multi-species mesocosms without earthworms. Our findings suggest that earthworms act as ecological filters in the early stages of invasion to shape community composition based on plant morphological traits.

     

Species-specific PCR to describe local-scale distributions of four cryptic species in the Penicillium chrysogenum complex

Penicillium chrysogenum is a ubiquitous airborne fungus detected in every sampled region of the Earth. Owing to its role in Alexander Fleming's serendipitous discovery of Penicillin in 1928, the fungus has generated widespread scientific interest; however its natural history is not well understood. Research has demonstrated speciation within P. chrysogenum, describing the existence of four cryptic species. To discriminate the four species, we developed protocols for species-specific diagnostic PCR directly from fungal conidia. 430 Penicillium isolates were collected to apply our rapid diagnostic tool and explore the distribution of these fungi across the London Underground rail transport system revealing significant differences between Underground lines. Phylogenetic analysis of multiple type isolates confirms that the ‘Fleming species’ should be named Penicillium rubens and that divergence of the four ‘Chrysogenum complex’ fungi occurred about 0.75 million yr ago. Finally, the formal naming of two new species, Penicillium floreyi and Penicillium chainii, is performed.     

Effects of geographic distance and climatic dissimilarity on species turnover in alpine meadow communities across a broad spatial extent on the Tibetan Plateau

Understanding the underlying mechanisms that generate species turnover or beta diversity among biological communities is a central theme in ecology. Here, we distinguish the effects of geographic distance and climatic dissimilarity on species turnover of vascular plants in alpine meadow communities on the Tibetan Plateau in China. We calculated species turnover between each pair of 17 sites, using the Jaccard??s and Simpson??s indices. We selected six variables to quantify climate at each site, and subjected values of the climatic variables to a principal component analysis. We applied a variance partitioning approach to disentangle the effects of geographic distance and climatic dissimilarity on species turnover in alpine meadow communities. We also examined the effect of elevation variation on species turnover. Geographic distance and climate dissimilarity together explained 49.1?% of the variation in compositional difference between alpine meadow communities; the amount of the variation explained purely by geographic distance and purely by climatic dissimilarity was 6.8?% and 2.8?%, respectively. When geographic distance, climate dissimilarity, and elevation difference were included in an analysis, they together explained 55?% of the variation in compositional difference between alpine meadow communities; the pure effect of each of the three sets of explanatory variables was 4.8, 4.3, and 3.5?%, respectively. The fact that the vast majority of the variation explained by geographic distance and climatic dissimilarity cannot be independently attributed to either factor suggests that the two factors operate together in determining regional patterns of species composition in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau.     

Two-dimensional pattern analysis on dominant species and community in subalpine meadow of Luya Mountain, Shanxi Province, China

The spatial pattern analysis of population and community is important to understand community structure and has become one key topic in modern plant ecology. There are many techniques for analyzing one-dimensional pattern in ecological literature. Two-dimensional pattern analysis is better than one-dimensional analysis in the study on community spatial characteristics and structure. However, it is hard to analyze these two-dimensional patterns due to poor effective methodology. The two-dimensional sampling using two transects that meet at right angles was applied to get quadrat data in this work. And then the data from the two transects were analyzed separately by one-dimensional pattern analysis method, two-term local quadrat variance. The length, width, and area of patches at different scales of pattern for populations were obtained from the analysis. For community pattern, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was employed to summarize the species information firstly, and then the first DCA axis scores were analyzed to check its pattern. The application of this method to the pattern analysis on dominant populations and community for subalpine meadow (Comm. Polygonum viviparum + Carex rigescens + Kobresia bellardii) in the Luya mountains showed that it could release the characteristics of spatial pattern clearly and was a very effective technique. The method is easy to use and saves time with obvious advantages, compared with the two-dimensional pattern analysis methods presented in the literatures. In the study meadow, the patterns of the main dominant species, Polygonum viviparum, Carex rigescens, and Kobresia bellardii, were apparent and comparatively regular in shape with large areas of patches at the same scale compared with other species such as Festuca sp. and Thalictrum petaloideum. There were two or three scales of patterns for each plant population studied. This was related to population features, the interaction with environmental factors, and their dominant position in the community. The two scales of patterns for the meadow community were clear. The pattern of community was closely correlated with that of the main dominant species. The patches of dominant species were inter-distributed and overlapped, and formed the community pattern together. This is beneficial for utilization of resources, and keeping the community stable. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(6): 1264–1268 [译自: 生态学报]     

Two-dimensional pattern analysis on dominant species and community in subalpine meadow of Luya Mountain,Shanxi Province,China

The spatial pattern analysis of population and community is important to understand community structure and has become one key topic in modern plant ecology.There are many techniques for analyzing one-dimensional pattern in ecological literature.Two-dimensional pattern analysis is better than one-dimensional analysis in the study on community spatial characteristics and structure.However,it is hard to analyze these two-dimensional patterns due to poor effective methodology.The two-dimensional sampling using two transects that meet at right angles was applied to get quadrat data in this work.And then the data from the two transects were analyzed separately by one-dimensional pattern analysis method,two-term local quadrat variance.The length,width,and area of patches at different scales of pattern for populations were obtained from the analysis.For community pattern,detrended correspondence analysis (DCA)was employed to summarize the species information firstly,and then the first DCA axis scores were analyzed to check its pattern.The application of this method to the pattern analysis on dominant populations and community for subalpine meadow (Comm.Polygonum viviparum+Carex rigescens+Kobresia bellardii)in the Luya mountains showed that it could release the characteristics of spatial pattern clearly and was a very effective technique.The method is easy to use and saves time with obvious advantages,compared with the twodimensional pattern analysis methods presented in the literatures.In the study meadow,the patterns of the main dominant species,Polygonum viviparum,Carex rigescens,and Kobresia bellardii,were apparent and comparatively regular in shape with large areas of patches at the same scale compared with other species such as Festuca sp.and Thalictrum petaloideum.There were two or three scales of patterns for each plant population studied.This was related to population features,the interaction with environmental factors,and their dominant position in the community.The two scales of patterns for the meadow community were clear.The pattern of community was closely correlated with that of the main dominant species.The patches of dominant species were inter-distributed and overlapped,and formed the community pattern together.This is beneficial for utilization of resources,and keeping the community stable.     

Effects of grazing and fertilization on the relationship between species abundance and functional traits in an alpine meadow community on the Tibetan Plateau

Trait‐based approaches can provide a useful tool for linking plant attributes to community structure and ecosystem function. Seed mass and plant height play important roles in the dynamics of plant communities, but few empirical community level studies have tested this, especially in stressful environments. The aim of the present study was to determine if there is a relationship between functional traits (seed mass and plant height) and changes in species relative abundance (SRA) in response to grazing and fertilization. We measured SRA and plant functional traits for 40 common species in a Tibetan Plateau alpine meadow. In the fertilized meadow, seed mass and plant height was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of the species. In the grazed meadow, these variables were significantly negatively correlated. Our results demonstrates that plant functional traits can be used to predict the change of SRA in plant community. Grazing promotes the dominance of small‐seeded and short‐stature species, and fertilization facilitates the occurrence of large‐seeded and tall‐stature species.     

Mediterranean hay meadow communities: diversity and dynamics in mountain areas throughout the Iberian Central Range (Spain)

This paper reports a phytosociological study on managed hay meadow communities in the main mountains of the Spanish Central Range. Multivariate techniques (Cluster analysis and CA-ordination) were applied in the classification of the relevés and ordination of vegetation units and species. Clusters were related to the following associations: Agrostio castellanae–Arrhenatheretum bulbosi, Festuco amplae–Cynosuretum cristati, and F. amplae–Agrostietum castellanae. The scattergram suggested that the dynamic patterns between communities are associated with soil nutrient content and moisture. We propose a new subassociation: F. amplae–A. castellanae gaudinietosum fragilis that includes Salmantincensean Agrostis castellana communities growing in regions with lower supramediterranean thermotype.     

应用指示种预测森林管理对物种多样性及群落组成的影响

采用指示种分析方法,研究了会同亚热带森林物种多样性和群落组成对森林管理的响应.从357个林下种中鉴定出显著性指示种94个,并构造新的指示种数据集,检验指示种数据集和源群落数据集之间的关联,评估指示种对林下植被管理效应的预测潜能.结果表明:指示种数据集和源群落数据集之间存在极显著的关联(Mantel r=0.898),指示种数据集很好地预测了生物多样性的变化(回归分析,R2>0.74);指示种很好地预测了群落组成对森林管理的响应(ANOVA,F>16.79);非度量多尺度排序(NMDS)以及K-means聚类分析表明,对于不同森林管理的样地类型,指示种数据集的识别能力和源群落数据集是一致的.从物种多样性、群落组成以及在森林类型的识别上,指示种数据集和源群落数据集有一致性规律,作用几乎相同,因此森林评估可以利用指示种代替源群落预测森林管理效应,以减少森林全面调查的成本.     

Temporal dynamics of an ephemeral plant community: species turnover in seasonal rock pools on Ivorian inselbergs

Inselbergs are monolithic, old and stable landscape elements with a worldwide distribution. On inselbergs, relatively old (i.e. hundreds of years old) rock pools form a unique habitat that offers locally wet conditions in an otherwise edaphically and microclimatically dry environment. They occur as seasonally water-filled depressions with a thin layer of soil, and are mainly inhabited by ephemerals and cryptogams. Even during the rainy season, they often become dry if precipitation is lacking for a few days. Between 1990 and 1999, about 200 rock pools in the Ivorian savanna zone were examined on a regular basis. Absolute and relative turnover rates were calculated: values ranged from 0.00 to 3.00 and 0 to 78%, respectively. Mean turnover was 0.19 (17%). The turnover in the SRPs increased significantly with soil depth and area. No correlation was found between turnover and species number of the pools, which increased significantly with area. The highest turnover was shown by the annual Cyanotis lanata. The turnover of therophytes was higher than those of other life-forms. Turnover and frequency of the species were only weakly correlated. In an environment of frequent stochasticity, climatic disturbances are the major driving force determining community dynamics (e.g. local extinctions and immigrations) of these habitat islands.     

Long-term survival despite low genetic diversity in the critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle

The critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle ( Haliaeetus vociferoides ) is considered to be one of the rarest birds of prey globally and at significant risk of extinction. In the most recent census, only 222 adult individuals were recorded with an estimated total breeding population of no more than 100–120 pairs. Here, levels of Madagascar fish-eagle population genetic diversity based on 47 microsatellite loci were compared with its sister species, the African fish-eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer ), and 16 of these loci were also characterized in the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ) and the bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ). Overall, extremely low genetic diversity was observed in the Madagascar fish-eagle compared to other surveyed Haliaeetus species. Determining whether this low diversity is the result of a recent bottleneck or a more historic event has important implications for their conservation. Using a Bayesian coalescent-based method, we show that Madagascar fish-eagles have maintained a small effective population size for hundreds to thousands of years and that its low level of neutral genetic diversity is not the result of a recent bottleneck. Therefore, efforts made to prevent Madagascar fish-eagle extinction should place high priority on maintenance of habitat requirements and reducing direct and indirect human persecution. Given the current rate of deforestation in Madagascar, we further recommend that the population be expanded to occupy a larger geographical distribution. This will help the population persist when exposed to stochastic factors (e.g. climate and disease) that may threaten a species consisting of only 200 adult individuals while inhabiting a rapidly changing landscape.     

Ethnobiology of snappers (Lutjanidae): target species and suggestions for management

In this study, we sought to investigate the biology (diet and reproduction) and ethnobiology (fishers knowledge and fishing spots used to catch snappers) of five species of snappers (Lutjanidae), including Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus synagris, Lutjanus vivanus, Ocyurus chrysurus, and Romboplites saliens at five sites along the northeast (Riacho Doce, Maceió in Alagoas State, and Porto do Sauípe, Entre Rios at Bahia State) and the southeast (SE) Brazilian coast (Paraty and Rio de Janeiro cities at Rio de Janeiro State, and Bertioga, at São Paulo State.). We collected 288 snappers and interviewed 86 fishermen. The stomach contents of each fish were examined and macroscopic gonad analysis was performed. Snappers are very important for the fisheries of NE Brazil, and our results indicated that some populations, such as mutton snapper (L. analis) and lane snapper (L. synagris), are being caught when they are too young, at early juvenile stages. Local knowledge has been shown to be a powerful tool for determining appropriate policies regarding management of target species, and artisanal fishermen can be included in management processes. Other suggestions for managing the fisheries are discussed, including proposals that could provide motivation for artisanal fishermen to participate in programs to conserve resources, such as co-management approaches that utilize local knowledge, the establishment of fishing seasons, and compensation of fishermen, through 'payment for environmental services'. These suggestions may enhance the participation of local artisanal fishermen in moving to a more realistic and less top-down management approach of the fish population.