A synecological investigation of Athyrium distentifolium-dominated stands in Western Norway

This paper presents results of a study on the synecology of Athyrium distentifolium. The investigation is based on phytosociological and ecological analyses of stands dominated by A. distentifolium within its whole distributional area in Western Norway. The distribution and floristic composition of the stands are related to different environmental parameters such as climate, soil and topography. The data are analysed by numerical methods, of which two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and simple discriminant functions (DISCRIM) are the most useful. Based on a TWINSPAN classification of the 211 investigated stands, 9 different groups (types) are distinguished. These belong mainly to three phytosociological alliances: Cryptogrammo-Athyrion alpestris (1 group), Lactucion alpinae (5 groups) and Vaccinio-Piceion (3 groups). The quadrats are in most cases very poor in species, even in edaphically rich areas. Soil richness in the stands is very variable. A. distentifolium may be dominant in edaphically rich areas and it is not a calciphobe species in W. Norway. Most stands show no signs of human influence. Length of snow-lie is assumed to be of major importance for the development and distribution of A. distentifolium stands.     

A synecological investigation of Matteuccia struthiopteris — dominanted stands in Western Norway

This investigation is based on phytosociological and ecological analyses of stands dominated by M. struthiopteris within its main distributional area in Western Norway. The distribution and floristical composition of such stands are related to different environmental parameters such as regional climate, soil and topography. The data are analysed by numerical methods, of which two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and simple discriminant functions (DISCRIM) are the most useful. Few stands occur in areas where the mean July temperature is below 12.0 °C, and where the mean January temperature is higher than 0 °C. The soil is rich in metal cations, with a base saturation mostly higher than 50% in the B-layer. Based on a TWINSPAN classification of the 230 investigated stands, 9 different groups (types) are distinguished. Many stands have a tree layer of Alnus incana, while stands with a canopy of Betula pubescens, Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus glabra are considered to be marginal sites for M. struthiopteris. The types described are interpreted as belonging to the Pruno padi-Alnetum incanae, Alno incanae-Fraxinetum excelsioris and Alno incanae-Ulmetum glabrae associations within the Alno-Ulmion alliance. The floristic composition of the quadrats is highly correlated with the altitude/temperature gradient. The other important factor is interpreted to be soil moisture. Soil richness is poorly correlated with the floristic composition of the different stands. Several stands represent a regeneration stage after cessation in cultivation, while others appear to have been very little influenced by human activity.     

Taxonomy and ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanea sativa</Emphasis> Mill. forests in Greece

Castanea sativa Mill. is an important species of the Balkan Peninsula with high ecological and economic value. This article contributes to a phytosociological synsystematic approach of the C. sativa plant communities in Greece that covers the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and describes the ecological parameters involved in their distribution and taxonomy. Phytosociological data have been collected from 14 mountainous areas across continental Greece, which are considered representative of the main forest types of C. sativa in the area. The 14 mountains demonstrate a variety of environmental conditions. Five communities (associations) and seven sub-communities (sub-associations) have been identified and described using TWINSPAN, Corespondence Analysis and the Braun-Blanquet classification scheme. Castanea sativa (chestnut) forests of Greece can be distinguished as three broad groups, defined primarily by their geographical distribution. In northern and central Greece chestnut stands are characterized by their high floristic homogeneity, which is reflected in the identification of only one community per region. Chestnut forests in northern Greece, in particular, exhibit strong floristic similarities with those of the rest of the Balkans. In southern Greece, on the other hand, the southern distribution limit of chestnut in the Balkans, there is a greater floristic diversity between the sampled mountains which is reflected in the presence of three confirmed communities and two sub-associations. Several factors have been identified as important in determining the structure and floristic composition of chestnut forests in Greece. Whilst climate and the grazing regime are influential, the degree of silvicultural management appears to be the most important factor determining the floristic composition of chestnut forests and their long-term sustainability.     

Nuovi micromiceti su Pandanacee

Abstract

Helianthemetea guttati communities are pioneer spring and early summer ephemeral grasslands, dominated by non-nitrophilous therophytes. In Continental Portugal, these communities have not yet been fully investigated, and thus the objectives of the present study are: (1) to identify community types in therophytic grasslands; (2) to recognize those communities that configure the European priority habitat 6220* (pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals); (3) to establish environmental gradients underlying their spatial variation; (4) to assess how floristic composition is affected by land use factors. Vegetation sampling using phytosociological methodology was carried out on 80 grasslands. Modified Twinspan classification and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied for the classification and ordination of relevés whereas partial CCA (pCCA) and variation partitioning were used to assess the relative influence of individual land use factors. Some 270 species were identified across 11 community types whose floristic patterns were mainly explained by environmental gradients related to altitude and soil type while land use variables could only explain a small part of the floristic variation. Based on biogeography and the determination of diagnostic species, four phytosociological new associations and a new subassociation are proposed: Holco-Brachypodietum distachyi, Holco-Micropyretum tenellae, Micropyro-Anthoxanthetum aristati and Leontodonto-Vulpietum bromoidis vulpietosum membranaceae.     

Quantitative vegetation-environment relationships in west norwegian tall-fern vegetation

The aims of this paper are to detect floristic variation within different types of tall-fern dominated vegetation and to interpret these patterns in terms of environmental variables. Numerical approaches have been applied to a large and varied vegetational data-set with associated environmental data from stands dominated by Athyrium distentifolium, Thelypteris limbosperma , and Matteuccia struthiopteris in different parts of western Norway. The numerical procedures of two-way indicator species analysis, simple discriminant functions, and canonical correspondence analysis have been used, and the strengths and weaknesses of these as tools in discerning vegetational-environmental relationships are discussed. For each of the 96 quadrats investigated, 17 environmental variables were measured. The investigation shows that some of the observed differences in vegetational composition can be explained in terms of relatively simple soil and climatic variables measured for each quadrat. The ferns appear to be ecologically well separated. T. limbosperma-dominaled stands are mainly characterised by low soil fertility, high January temperature, and high humidity. A. distentifolium-dominated stands are associated with low winter temperatures, and M. struthiopteris-dominated stands have high soil fertility and high summer temperatures.     

The vegetation of seacliffs and headlands in New South Wales,Australia

A phytosociological survey of seacliff and headland vegetation on the central and south coast of New South Wales was carried out. Analysis of the quadrat data led to the recognition of 15 communities; the occurrence of a number of other vegetation types is briefly discussed. The vegetation types fall into three major groupings: grasslands, scrub and heathland, although the coincidence between structural and floristic boundaries is poor. Ordination of the communities indicates that the major factors varying between communities are exposure and soil fertility, the grasslands and scrubs occurring on more fertile soils than the heathlands. Amongst the woody communities it is suggested that the two major groups recognized fall into different phytosociological alliances, although lack of studies of Australian vegetation limits the applicability of a conventional hierarchical classification. The true heathlands correspond closely with the alliance Leptospermion, previously recognized in Victoria. The scrub communities are assigned to a new alliance, the Westringio-Banksion integrifoliae.     

Plant communities in broad-leaved deciduous forests in Hordaland county, Western Norway

The vegetation of broad-leaved deciduous forests in Hordaland, Western Norway is described with regards to species composition and structure. The investigation is based on phytosociological analyses of native forest stands dominated by Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus glabra , or Tilia cordata. Two-way-indicator analysis (TWINSPAN) and correspondence analysis (CA) are used to distinguish different vegetation types and assess possible gradients in the vegetation data. The vegetation types are discussed in relation to equivalent forest communities and to syntaxonomical units. Two forest types are described at the first hierarchical TWINSPAN level: 1) A hygrophilous and slightly thermophilous Fraxinus excelsior-Cirriphyllum piliferum forest characterised by an open tree canopy, a dense field layer of tall herbs and ferns, and a high cover of bryophytes. 2) A thermophilous and less hygrophilous Corylus avellana-Brachypodium sylvaticum forest characterised by a dense tree layer, a more open field layer with larger elements of small herbs, and a somewhat lower bryophyte cover. The CA analysis clearly separates the samples from the first TWINSPAN division along the first ordination axis. Five forest types have been described at the second hierarchical level, mainly associated with differences in mesotrophic and eutrophic species, but there is clearly a gradient structure in the species composition between these plant communities. In relation to syntaxonomy, the first TWINSPAN division supports the separation of the west Norwegian broad-leaved deciduous forests into a hygrophilous plant community, the Eurhynchio-Fraxinetum (Blom 1982) Øvstedal 1985 and a drier and more thermophilous community, the Primulo-Ulmetum (Blom 1982) Øvstedal 1985.     

河北小五台山国家级自然保护区森林群落与环境的关系

植物与环境之间的关系是一个复杂的演变过程,运用数量生态学方法探讨森林群落的物种组成、种群的生态特征、不同植物群落与环境之间的关系,有助于保护该区森林群落的稳定性和生物多样性。根据148个森林群落样方数据,选用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)和典范对应分析(CCA)方法,对河北小五台山国家级自然保护区森林群落进行分类和排序研究。结果表明:(1)TWINSPAN将该区的森林群落分为20个类型;(2)CCA排序结果较好地反映出群落分布格局与环境梯度的关系,各个森林群落类型在前两轴分异明显,在11个环境因子中,海拔、坡位、凋落层厚度、土壤导电率、土壤温度、土壤湿度、土壤厚度和干扰程度这8个环境因子对森林群落的分布起较大的作用,影响森林群落的分布格局,形成不同的植被类型。(3)乔木层优势种的CCA二维排序图所揭示的环境梯度与群落类型的分布有很大的相似性;t值双序图阐明了海拔、凋落层厚度、土壤温度、干扰程度等环境因子对森林群落乔木层优势种有着重要影响。采用TWINSPAN分类与CCA排序的方法,较好地解释了森林群落与环境因子的关系,为小五台山地区森林生态系统的科学管理和保护提供了理论依据,研究结果也为同类地区森林生态系统研究及保护提供参考和借鉴。     

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.     

三峡库区消涨带植物群落的数量分析

运用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析法(DCA)对三峡库区消涨带植物群落进行了数量分类和排序分析。TWINSPAN将122个样方分成19类,可归为4个植被型,分类结果反映了植物群落与环境梯度间的关系,并在DCA分布图上得到较好的验证。DCA分布图的对角线基本反映了水淹时间长短和土壤湿度高低,表明水淹时间和土壤湿度是该区域植物群落组成和空间分布的主要限制性影响因子。对消涨带不同部位植物群落的物种组成和分布规律的分析为筛选耐水淹物种、进行三峡水库消涨带的植被恢复提供了物种参考。     

Restoration of the Cirsio dissecti‐Molinietum in The Netherlands: Can we rely on soil seed banks?

Abstract. Vegetation and soil seed banks of a threatened Atlantic fen meadow community were studied using recent phytosociological records and seedling emergence from soil samples. Similarly managed but differently degraded stands that suffered different levels of species impoverishment were compared. The actual vegetation was related to a set of phytosociological references representing the subassociations of the community. DCA positions of reference relevés from the different subassociations were overlapping, suggesting that in all references many common species occur. Recent records were positioned in‐between the seed bank samples and the references. The soil seed banks of all stands were dominated by ordinary species. Most character species had at most sparse seed banks and no seedlings of locally extinct character species, mentioned in historic floristic records, were detected. In contrast species of pioneer and small‐sedge communities as well as those of heathlands were abundant in the seed banks. Based on the vertical distribution of seeds in the soil layers most fen meadow species were classified into transient or short‐term persistent seed bank types. We concluded that complete restoration of the Cirsio dissecti‐Molinietum without reintroduc‐tion is only likely in stands that were degraded only a few years ago. On the other hand, the presence of viable seeds of Nanocyperion and Parvocaricetea species is promising for the restoration of these communities even after decades. Recreation of pioneer habitats by sod cutting will preserve these species.     

卧龙自然保护区亚高山草甸的数量分类与排序

在野外植被调查的基础上,采用植被数量分析方法对岷江流域卧龙自然保护区亚高山草甸进行TWINSPAN分类和DCA排序,研究了植物种、植物群落与环境之间的关系.结果表明,该地区亚高山草甸共有植物139种,隶属于31科88属.应用数量分类方法将114个样方分为12个群落类型.在分析不同环境因子间的关系基础上,从定量的角度揭示了影响群落分布的主要因素是海拔梯度和土壤含水量.DCA排序图反映出排序轴的生态意义,第1轴反映了各群落类型所在环境的海拔梯度,从上到下,随着海拔的升高,植物群落或植物种的耐寒性越来越强;第2轴基本上反映了各群落类型所在环境的土壤含水量.排序结果与分类结果比较吻合,反映出植物群落类型和物种分布随环境因子梯度变化的趋势.     

The Finnish forest site type approach: ordination and classification studies of mesic forest sites in southern Finland

A.K. Cajander's forest site type classification system is based on definition of plant communities typical to certain climatical and edaphical site conditions, but the structure and composition of the tree stands in Finland are considered sensitive to random variation and are therefore not used as primary classification criteria. The system has often received criticism, usually that the effects of the tree stand and successional stage of the stand have been underestimated. Most of the present-day forest stands in Finland represent young successional stages and are subjected to intensive management. This should result in an additional difficulty in the application of the forest site types in the field.The present study is based on three independent data sets representing forests on mineral soil in southern part of Finland. TWINSPAN classification, DCA ordination and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) techniques were applied in successive stages of the data analysis. It was found that the definition of the intermediately fertile, mesic site types was clearly confused by the effects of the tree species and age of the stand. The analyses also revealed that the succession pathways on mesic forest sites are largely determined by the tree species composition. In stands dominated by Pinus sylvestris, the succession follows the competitive hierarchy model, whereas in stands dominated by Picea abies, severe shading of the tree canopy governs the development of understorey vegetation.Abbreviations CCA Canonical correspondence Analysis - DCA Detrended correspondence Analysis - TWINSPAN Two-way indicator species analysis     

Multivariate analysis of the vegetation of the volcanoes Tláloc and Pelado,Mexico

Abstract. Multivariate analysis was used to describe the composition and distribution of vegetation types on the slopes of the volcanoes Tláloc and Pelado, Mexico. These volcanoes are situated in the transitional zone between the Holarctic and Neotropical floristic regions, which offers a partial explanation for the relatively high α and β diversities. Previous research argued that human activities, i.e. burning and grazing, rather than abiotic factors, play a major role in determining the distribution and floristic composition of the vegetation. TWINSPAN, Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis were used to test this hypothesis. Floristic and environmental data from 138 relevés and seven explanatory environmental variables were included: elevation, soil depth, soil moisture, percentage litter cover, percentage cover of bare ground, burning and grazing were included in the analysis. Soil moisture and elevation accounted for ca. 63% of the residual inertia and none of the remaining explanatory variables proved to be correlated significantly with the first two axes. The present results suggest that burning and grazing operate on a finer scale. In conclusion, soil moisture and elevation are the most relevant variables to explain the distribution of the vegetation under study.     

安太堡矿区人工植被在恢复过程中的生态关系

采用TWINSPAN、DCA和DCCA,从植物种、植物群落与环境因子关系方面对平朔安太堡矿区的人工植被在恢复过程中的生态关系进行了研究.结果表明,将63个样方划分为12个群落类型,反映了植物群落与环境梯度之间的关系,并列举了各群落的特征.DCA排序图明显反映出排序轴的生态意义,随着复垦时间的增加,土壤含水量也不断升高.DCCA排序进一步表明了土壤有机质含量是所有因子中对植物群落发展起决定性作用的主要环境因素.     

Predicting presence of proazulenes in theAchillea millefolium group

Phytosociological classification of vegetation is often justified on the grounds it provides a means of predicting properties other than floristic composition. It is difficult to find examples inliterature where this possibility of prediction is actually used. In this paper, we examine the qualitative variation in proazulenes of theAchillea millefolium group as a function of cytological, abiotic and floristic factors. Sixty-six sites in natural populations were examined. Twenty to forty individuals per site were tested in the field for the presence of proazulenes. Ploidy level of collected specimens was examined to differentiate between taxa within the aggregate. Soil analyses were also performed and species composition of the sites was recorded. The floristic data was classified and attributed to phytosociological units. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to investigate the relationships between environment and floristic data, t-tests were performed and correlation coefficients were calculated to distinguish the mutual relationships between environmental factors, populations and relative frequency of proazulenes-containing individuals. In the area under study, hexaploid populations of yarrows were characterized by a low frequency of proazulenes. They were confined to dry and nutrient-poor habitats of fallows, slightly moist grasslands and fringes. Tetraploid populations consisted of different types. Both high and low frequencies of proazulenes-containing individuals occurred. A high frequency of such plants per site was positively correlated with phosphate, magnesium and manganese and negatively with carbonate and hydrogen ion concentration in soil. The results show that effective prediction of proazulenes-containing individuals is possible from the species composition of the sites, which is a comparatively simple procedure avoiding more expensive cytological and chemical assessment.     

植物群落和土壤理化性质对碧塔海湿地土壤细菌群落的影响

土壤微生物是湿地生态系统中土壤-植物系统生源要素迁移转化的引擎。探究湿地生态系统地上植物群落、土壤理化性质和空间结构与土壤细菌间的相互关系是维护湿地生态系统健康和稳定的关键。本研究运用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)对碧塔海湿地采集的35个样方中的植物群落进行分类,并采用高通量测序技术对样方的表层土壤细菌进行测序,分析植物群落、土壤理化性质和空间结构与细菌群落间的关系。结果表明: 双向指示种分析将样方的植物群落划分为3种群落类型,相同类型的植物群落在外貌和结构上相似,说明基于双向指示种分析的数量分类方法在高原湿地生态系统植物群落分类中有较好的适用性;细菌相对丰度统计结果表明,酸杆菌门(21.0%)、绿弯菌门(15.5%)、变形菌门(15.3%)和拟杆菌门 (10.1%)是碧塔海湿地总丰度高于10%的门类,相似性分析(ANOSIM)显示,不同植物群落类型对应的土壤细菌群落存在显著差异,说明植物群落对土壤细菌组成有一定的影响;典范对应分析(CCA)结果显示,植物群落的多样性、含水率、pH、铁和空间结构是影响土壤细菌群落的重要因素。方差分解结果显示,细菌群落既受单一环境变量的影响,也受环境变量间复合作用的影响。综上,地上植物群落、土壤理化环境和空间结构共同塑造细菌群落,地上植物群落-细菌-土壤理化性质是不可分割的整体。     

Ten years primary succession on a newly created landfill at a lagoon of the Mediterranean Sea (Lake Burullus RAMSAR site)

This study was carried out on the transported bed soil dredged from the outlet of Lake Burullus to the Mediterranean Sea and deposited nearby, forming by this way new land that underwent a primary plant succession. The multi-methodological approach comprised floristic inventories, vegetation sampling and soil composition analyses of the study site in order to detect the crucial parameters controlling the plant resettlement on recently deposited soil as related to time, local micro-topography and substrate characteristics. Floristic composition was assessed for the first 10 years of primary succession (2001–2010) on 18 stands of the area, distributed on basement, slope stands and plateau of the landfill, respectively. Vegetation surveys were the basis of multivariate analyses of the vegetation and soil data using TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA. Relationships between the edaphic gradients, floristic composition and species diversity were assessed.     

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.     

High elevation coniferous vegetation of Guatemala

A phytosociological study of the juniper (locally called huito), pine (locally called sacch), pine-alder and fir forests of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and Cadena Volcánica in Guatemala was carried out. The Zürich-Montpellier approach was followed. In total 119 relevés were sampled and the data were organised in phytosociological tables to distinguish vegetation clusters. TWINSPAN was used to evaluate major differences among plant communities. Seven zonal plant communities were distinguished and described, namely: (1)Relbunium microphyllum-Agrostis tolucensis, (2)Werneria nubigena-Agrostis exserta, (3)Lachemilla vulcanica-Pinus hartwegii, (4)Holodiscus argenteus-Pinus hartwegii, (5)Hypnum cypressiforme-Juniperus standleyi, (6)Agave hurteri-Alnus firmifolia and (7)Sabazia pinetorum-Abies guatemalensis. This paper provides a thorough floristic characterisation of each community and outlines the major anthropogenic activities. To conclude, ecologic and floristic (dis)similarities between plant communities of the study area and those of Central Mexico, like the different altitudinal distribution of fir forests and the establishment of mid-successional communities such as theAgave hurteri-Alnus firmifolia were discussed.