Abstract
Among the vascular plants there is a lack of the typical epixylous species but they are a constant component on decaying wood. Their distribution patterns on this kind of substrate seem to be the least known among phototrophs. A total of 454 dead logs of Picea abies were analyzed with regard to cover of vascular plants and the independent morphometric features of logs and altitude. Four types of forest were compared, and the frequency and cover of the most frequent species were analyzed across the forest communities along the decomposition stage. Among the logs that were studied, 292 were colonized by vascular plants. The highest number of colonized logs was recorded in Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum and the lowest in a deciduous beech forest of the Fagetalia order. Detrended correspondence analysis revealed that the dead logs occurring in the four forest communities differed significantly in species composition. Constrained correspondence analysis showed that six variables significantly explained the species variation, i.e., altitude, shade, moisture, decomposition stage, cover of bryophytes and status of forest (protected vs. managed). The results of the indicator value method indicated that of the 34 found species, ten could be treated as indicator species for the forest communities that were analyzed. The statistical analysis did not confirm significant role of coarse woody debris as a secondary habitat for rare and protected vascular plants.
Highlights
Among the vascular plants there is a lack of the typical epixylous species but they are a constant component on decaying wood
This study focused on fallen logs of the Norway spruce Picea abies L
The highest percentage (75 %) of colonized logs was found in Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum followed by a P. abies-planted forest (72 %), Abieti-Piceetum (48 %), and the lowest (31 %) was recorded in the beech forest Fagetalia (Fig. 2)
Summary
Among the vascular plants there is a lack of the typical epixylous species but they are a constant component on decaying wood. Zielonka and Piatek (2004) studied colonization by herbaceous and dwarf plants on decaying logs of P. abies in a subalpine spruce forest (Plagiothecio-Piceetum) in the Polish Tatra Mountains They presented the species composition and related it to the stage of decomposition. It is believed that the process of colonization starts with epiphytic lichens which grow on bark of living trees, followed by bryophytes and vascular plants from forest floor in the last stage (Andersson and Hytteborn 1991; Zielonka and Piatek 2004) Taking this into account, we were curious about how the neighborhood, in terms of the forest type, affected the species composition of colonized logs. We hypothesized that: (1) colonization frequency (i.e., the proportion of colonized vs. non-colonized logs) does not depend on the type of forest community in which logs are lying; (2) logs located in different forest communities differ in species composition in terms of the biodiversity and frequency of particular plant species; (3) some environmental factors, i.e., decomposition and altitude, are the most important explanatory variables in species composition across forest communities, and (4) the status of a forest, i.e., protection versus management, contribute to the differences in the species composition of colonized logs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
