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.     

Plant communities of trampled habitats in North Korea

Abstract. A syntaxonomic study of trampled plant communities in North Korea is presented. Analytic and synthetic methods of the Braun-Blanquet approach together with a numeric-syntaxonomical analysis (cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis ordination) were employed. With the exception of the Bryo-Saginetum japonicae, all the associations, such as the Artemisio asiaticae-Plantaginetum asiaticae, Plantagini depressae-Polygonetum avicularis, Polygono avicularis-Potentilletum costatae, Eragrostio multicaulis-Plantaginetum depressae, Euphorbio maculatae-Centipedetum minimae, Digitario pectiniformis-Eleusinetum indicae and Setario viridis-Chlorisetum virgatae, are described for the first time. Some communities also include a number of subassociations. Trampled communities are found along edges of paths and in cracks among paving stones. Soils vary from loamy to sandy and skeletal. A phenomenon of seasonality in expression of ruderal communities was observed in North Korea. It is assumed that this seasonality is controlled by pattern of precipitation showing distinct climatic seasons (e.g. pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods). The ruderal vegetation seasonality is supposed to become more pronounced towards tropical regions. Several mesophilous or slightly hygrophilous European species occur frequently in North Korean trampled communities including Chenopodium glaucum, C. ficifolium and Potentilla supina. Their occurrence in trampled habitats is hypothesized as being related to high air humidity and associated wet climate.     

Some short-lived ruderal plant communities of non-trampled habitats in North Korea

Short-lived plant communities of ruderal habitats in North Korea were studied using the Zürich-Montpellier approach. TheBeckmannio eruciformis-Potentilletum costatae, theDaturo tatulae-Siegesbeckietum pubescentis, theHumulo japonicae-Chenopodietum albi and theCosmo-Humulion japonicae were described as new.     

Unique arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities uncovered in date palm plantations and surrounding desert habitats of Southern Arabia

The main objective of this study was to shed light on the previously unknown arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities in Southern Arabia. We explored AMF communities in two date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) plantations and the natural vegetation of their surrounding arid habitats. The plantations were managed traditionally in an oasis and according to conventional guidelines at an experimental station. Based on spore morphotyping, the AMF communities under the date palms appeared to be quite diverse at both plantations and more similar to each other than to the communities under the ruderal plant, Polygala erioptera, growing at the experimental station on the dry strip between the palm trees, and to the communities uncovered under the native vegetation (Zygophyllum hamiense, Salvadora persica, Prosopis cineraria, inter-plant area) of adjacent undisturbed arid habitat. AMF spore abundance and species richness were higher under date palms than under the ruderal and native plants. Sampling in a remote sand dune area under Heliotropium kotschyi yielded only two AMF morphospecies and only after trap culturing. Overall, 25 AMF morphospecies were detected encompassing all study habitats. Eighteen belonged to the genus Glomus including four undescribed species. Glomus sinuosum, a species typically found in undisturbed habitats, was the most frequently occurring morphospecies under the date palms. Using molecular tools, it was also found as a phylogenetic taxon associated with date palm roots. These roots were associated with nine phylogenetic taxa, among them eight from Glomus group A, but the majority could not be assigned to known morphospecies or to environmental sequences in public databases. Some phylogenetic taxa seemed to be site specific. Despite the use of group-specific primers and efficient trapping systems with a bait plant consortium, surprisingly, two of the globally most frequently found species, Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae, were not detected neither as phylogenetic taxa in the date palm roots nor as spores under the date palms, the intermediate ruderal plant, or the surrounding natural vegetation. The results highlight the uniqueness of AMF communities inhabiting these diverse habitats exposed to the harsh climatic conditions of Southern Arabia.     

Ruderal vegetation of the Broumov basin,NE. Bohemia

In the Broumov basin, NE. Bohemia, in all thirteen ruderal plant associations and several not fully identified communities were observed. The following associations:Chamaeplietum officinalis (Sisymbrion), Urtíco-Artemisietum vulgaris, Artemisio-Melilotetum albae (bothArction lappae),Aegopodio-Geranietum pratensis, Agropyro-Urticetum dioicae (bothAegopodiom podagrariae), andSambuco-Salicetum capreae are described as new. The syntaxonomy of the communities with dominatingPetasites hybridus is more throughly discussed.     

The Banana Forests of Kilimanjaro: Biodiversity and Conservation of the Chagga Homegardens

Natural flora, vegetation, diversity and structure of 62 traditional coffee–banana plantations on Kilimanjaro were investigated and compared with the other vegetation formations on this volcano on basis of over 1400 plots following the method of Braun-Blanquet. The vegetation of the so-called Chagga homegardens belongs floristically to the formation of ruderal vegetation forming two main communities that are determined by altitude. These coffee–banana plantations maintain a high biodiversity with about 520 vascular plant species including over 400 non-cultivated plants. Most species (194) occurring in the Chagga homegardens are forest species, followed by 128 ruderal species, including 41 neophytes. Typical of the agroforestry system of the Chagga homegardens is their multilayered vegetation structure similar to a tropical montane forest with trees, shrubs, lianas, epiphytes and herbs. Beside relicts of the former forest cover, which lost most of their former habitats, there are on the other hand (apophytic) forest species, which were directly or indirectly favoured by the land use of the Chagga people. High demand of wood, the introduction of coffee varieties that are sun-tolerant and low coffee prizes on the world marked endanger this effective and sustainable system.     

Relationships between plant diversity,vegetation cover,and site conditions: implications for grassland conservation in the Greater Caucasus

Overgrazing, land use abandonment and increasing recreational activities have altered the vegetation of high-montane and subalpine grassland of the Caucasus. The failure of previous restoration efforts with unsuitable and exotic plant species indicates the need for information on the present vegetation and in which way it might change. Within the Greater Caucasus, we have described and quantified the mountain grassland which develops under characteristic overgrazed and eroded site conditions. Further, we have proposed potential native plant species for revegetation to restore and conserve valuable mountain grassland habitats. We used non-metric dimensional scaling ordination and cluster comparison of functional plant groups to describe a gradient of grassland vegetation cover. For our study region, we identified four major vegetation types with increasing occurrence of ruderal pasture weeds and tall herb vegetation on abandoned hay meadows within the subalpine zone. Within high-montane grassland a decline of plant diversity can be observed on sites of reduced vegetation cover. Due to a low potential of the grassland ecosystem to balance further vegetation cover damage, the long-term loss of diverse habitats can be expected. We conclude with management recommendations to prevent erosion and habitat loss of precious mountain grasslands.     

Life strategies in the xerothermous vegetation complex of the Lower Unstrut Valley (Saxony‐Anhalt,Germany)

The subjects of this study are the life strategies and life strategy species groups of plant communities in relation to changing habitat conditions along ecological gradients in the xerothermic vegetation complex of the Lower Unstrut Valley (Saxony‐Anhalt. Germany). The nine plant communities studied (Galio‐Carpinetum, Geranio‐Dictamnetum, Adonido‐Brachypodietum, Festuco‐Stipetum, Trinio‐Caricetum. Poo‐Allietum. Teucrio‐Seslerietum, Teucrio‐Melicetum, Onopordetum) could be characterized by significant life strategies ranging from Perennial stayers with diaspore years to Fugitives and Annual shuttle species. Life strategy species groups are of great synstrategic relevance for the respective plant community. They allow a functional and species‐related characterization of plant communities. Most of the plant communities are characterized by small numbered species groups which are thought to be the functional nucleus of the community and relevant to nature conservation and the biotope net discussion. A correlation of life strategies, dispersal and reproduction ecology is given in a special chapter and diagram. It reveals a strong correlation of life strategies – as a system of co‐evolved adaptive traits – to habit at conditions resp. ecological gradients. For example: Annual shuttle species are adapted to open habitats (gaps); Fugitives are mostly restricted to disturbed habitats; Short‐lived shuttle species dominate on ruderal sites; Colonists on naturally disturbed sites; Cryptophytes in the summer‐shaded herb layer of the xerothermic forests; and the moderate and stable habitats are built up by Perennial stayers. Additionally, in the tree layer of the Galio‐Carpinetum, Perennial stayers are set apart of diaspore years. Exclusive long‐range dispersal only reaches a maximum in the tree layer of the Galio Carpinetum, short‐range dispersal dominates on stable, undisturbed, extreme habitats without broader human impact. The dominance of clonal reproduction in the herb layer of the Galio‐Carpineturn is extraordinary. This reproduction type is also relatively high in most of the xerothermic communities.     

A new classification of communities dominated byPotentilla reptans in anthropogenic habitats of Western Slovakia

A new classification is presented of plant communities with predominantPotentilla reptans, in anthropogenic habitats of villages in Western Slovakia, earlier described as thePotentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1974. Species poor communities in drier soils of the roadside and embankments are retained in the associationPotentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1974 emend. Species richer communities in relatively moist ruderal habitats are separated as a new association, thePrunello-Potentilletum reptantis Eliá? 1978.     

Phytosociology and conservation of Carex hordeistichos Vill. in the Lorraine region (France)

Carex hordeistichos is a peri-Mediterranean species, which is rare over all its distribution range. In Lorraine (France), where the field investigations were conducted, as in other Western European areas, it is present only in secondary habitats, constituted of heavily trampled wet pastures and vehicle tracks on clayed soils. All plant communities with Carex hordeistichos described from Western European areas can be linked to the Carici hordeistichi-Trifolietum fragiferi association, classified in the Agropyro-Rumicion wet pasture alliance. The conservation of this threatened ruderal plant requires the maintenance of a high disturbance level through grazing, trampling and soil packing.     

Environmental alteration and allergophytes

Summary The plant recolonization of wasted biotopes was studied in the Karst region in order to evaluate the incidence of allergophytes. The frequency of allergenic species is higher in habitats with low human disturbance, such as wall, ruins, dumps, roadsides and slopes, colonized by ruderal and semi-ruderal plant associations.     

Natural habitats of typical plants growing on ruins of Roman archaeological sites (Rome,Italy)

In this study, we support the hypothesis that wall plant species come mainly from rocky habitats, taking into account that ancient walls show similar characteristics to rocks. The occurrence of wall species in natural habitats was investigated. The main literature concerning wall and natural vegetation of central-southern Italy was viewed. Vegetation synoptic tables were analysed through statistical procedures for comparing occurrence and behaviour of wall species in ruderal habitats as archaeological sites and natural ones.The study pointed out that wall species show similar ecological and coenological features in both habitats. This confirms that the main natural habitat from which wall species come from are rocks, but secondarily also ephemeral Mediterranean meadows and garrigues. Particularly, some wall species belonging to Parietarietea judaicae class are participating in the formation of natural rocky communities of Asplenietea trichomanis. Species occurring on emerging ruins form ephemeral meadows belonging to Helianthemetea guttati, also found in natural Mediterranean environment. On wide tops of ruins, where community dynamism is higher, some perennial herbaceous and shrubby species participate in the formation of impoverished communities matching to natural aspects of Mediterranean maquis. The knowledge of the natural habitat of wall species can be useful for a better management of archaeological sites.     

The halophilous vegetation of the Orumieh lake salt marshes,NW. Iran

The halophilous vegetation of the Orumieh lake salt marshes has been studied, using the Braun-Blanquet method. Vegetation types have been defined by physiognomic-floristic system. The following six main groups of communities are recognized: (1) Semi-woody shrub and perennial halophytic communities (Class Halocnemetea strobilacei) including 6 associations and 5 subassociations, (2) Annual halophytic communities (Class Thero-Salicornietea) including 5 associations and 1 subassociation, (3) Salt marsh brushwood communities (Class Tamaricetea) including 4 associations, (4) Rush and herbaceous perennial halophytic communities (Class Juncetea maritimi) including 7 associations and 1 subassociation, (5) Rush and herbaceous perennial halotolerant communities (Class Agrostietea stoloniferae) including 5 associations, (6) Hydrophilous halotolerant communities (Class Phragmitetea) including 3 associations and 2 subassociations. The soil of these communities has been analysed and their habitats are described and discussed.     

Assessing the role of invasive weeds in the impact of successional habitats on the bird assemblage in overgrowing agriculture

Agricultural habitats are assumed to be biodiversity refuges. However, some studies treat agricultural land management as a cause of the biodiversity decline, to which habitat loss and heterogeneity may contribute. Between the crops, the successional habitats appear – ruderal plant communities and bush areas. Their influence on farmland biodiversity is unknown. This research assessed the impact of spatial relationships between agricultural areas, semi-natural meadows and successional habitats on the bird species richness, Shannon diversity index, and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity index. An additional habitat variable was the presence of weeds, i.e., invasive Caucasian hogweeds Heracleum sp., treated as crops in the past. The birds and habitats research was on 74 sites set in pairs (invaded vs control) in south-eastern Poland. Results showed that birds assembling in agricultural and semi-natural areas were more diverse and contained protected farmland species, while birds appearing in overgrown habitats (i.e., successional and invaded) were clumped with their habitat requirements. In the presence of plant invaders, ruderal habitats negatively affected the bird phylogenetic diversity index. In invaded sites, bush areas had no positive effects on the Shannon diversity index and species richness of birds, in contrast with control sites. The presented research suggests the need to re-evaluate the importance of successional non-crop habitats considered positive in agricultural landscapes if those habitats develop in areas with plant invasion.     

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.     

Naturally recruited herbaceous vegetation in abandoned Belgian limestone quarries: towards habitats of conservation interest analogues?

We examined if naturally recruited herbaceous vegetation in abandoned Belgian limestone quarries tend towards plant communities analogous to semi-natural habitats of conservation interest. We studied taxon-based assemblages (using two-dimensional non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination) and functional patterns (relative to Grime’s competitor, stress tolerator and ruderal plant strategies (CSR) classification) of plant communities (n = 360 plots) among three different time periods after quarry abandonment (< 3 y, 3–20 y, >?20 y). We compared those successional assemblages with those of habitat of conservation interest plant communities (n = 53 plots): lowland hay meadows and rupicolous, xerophilous and mesophilous calcareous grasslands. Our results indicate that naturally recruited herbaceous vegetation compositionally resembled mesophilous grassland, even though initial substrate conditions were more similar to rupicolous or xerophilous grasslands. The specific successional pathway we found in CSR state-space differs from Grime's predictions because there was a functional shift in plant assemblages from dominance by ruderals to dominance by stress-tolerant species. The differences in successional trajectories we found on different types of rock substrate suggest that conservation management should adopt a site-specific approach, recognizing that the highest probabilities of success on hard limestone will be restoration to calcareous grassland analogues.     

Climate and coastal dune vegetation: disturbance, recovery, and succession

The sand dune habitats found on barrier islands and other coastal areas support a dynamic plant community while protecting areas further inland from waves and wind. Foredune, interdune, and backdune habitats common to most coastal dunes have very different vegetation, likely because of the interplay among plant succession, exposure, disturbance, and resource availability. However, surprisingly few long-term data are available describing dune vegetation patterns. A nine-year census of 294 plots on St. George Island, Florida suggests that the major climatic drivers of vegetation patterns vary with habitat. Community structure is correlated with the elevation, soil moisture, and percent soil ash of each 1 m² plot. Major storms reduce species richness in all three habitats. Principle coordinate analysis suggests that changes in the plant communities through time are caused by climatic events: changes in foredune vegetation are correlated with temperature and summer precipitation, interdune vegetation with storm surge, and backdune vegetation with precipitation and storm surge. We suggest that the plant communities in foredune, interdune, and backdune habitats tend to undergo succession toward particular compositions of species, with climatic disturbances pushing the communities away from these more deterministic trajectories.     

Syntaxonomy of vegetation of Svjatoj Nos Peninsula,Lake Baikal 1. Non forest communities

Natural and semi-natural plant communities of Svjatoj Nos Peninsula on the East coast of Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia, Russia, are classified and described using the methods of Braun-Blanquet phytosociology. A total of 48 associations and communities were recognized, comprising alpine tundra, subalpine forb vegetation, aquatic macrophyte vegetation, tall-herb and poor fens, mires, bogs, meadows, sand-dune and steppe vegetation. Twenty six syntaxa of ranks ranging from subassociation to class are described or validated for the first time. All communities are documented by phytosociological relevés.     

Plant communities on anthropogenically disturbed sites on the Chukotka Peninsula,Russia

Abstract. The vegetation of anthropogenically disturbed sites on the Chukotka Peninsula was investigated in 1986 and 1990. 102 sites had been bulldozed free of vegetation and soil between 2 and 20 yr ago and revegetated. Anthropogenic vegetation differs considerably from natural tundra. The total plant cover decreases, lichens are absent, moss composition changes, and graminoids predominate. A floristic classification was developed in order to describe the diversity of anthropogenic communities formed on these sites. Four associations were distinguished, all belonging to the alliance Poion glaucomalacanthae. An additional alliance characterized by Alopecurus alpinus is suggested for colder sites, but it has not yet been described. There is a correspondence of associations to substrate types. The association Phippsietum algidae was found only on loam substrate. The Artemisietum glomeratae and Saxifragetum punctatae are connected with rubble or gravel. The graminoid association Arctagrostietum arundinaceae is generally widespread in disturbed habitats and occurs on a variety of substrate types.