Abstract
AbstractAimsThe dynamics of plant communities varies across temporal scales. A correct understanding of temporal patterns is crucial for the interpretation of monitoring outputs. Focusing on the understorey community of an ancient coppice at three temporal scales, our aims were to: (a) assess the link between year‐to‐year variations and a decadal successional change; (b) estimate how seasonal cyclical dynamics could interfere with the changes at interannual and decadal scales; and (c) account for the effects of coppicing restoration.LocationMt Děvín, S Moravia, Czech Republic.MethodsComposition of a temperate forest understorey was monitored in 26 permanent plots on a year‐to‐year basis for a decade (2008–2018) and monthly (2015–2016). Adjacent semi‐permanent plots (23 in total) were resurveyed in 1953–2003. The three scales of temporal variation were statistically analyzed and compared looking at the vascular plant diversity (species richness) and compositional turnover (dissimilarity measures and patterns in multivariate space).ResultsEach of the three temporal scales captures specific patterns in herbaceous understorey species richness and turnover. The interannual variation shows fluctuations rather than trends and is lower than the magnitude of changes on a decadal scale. However, canopy thinning was responsible for rapid changes compatible with the long‐term trend of biodiversity decline following the abandonment of coppicing decades ago. The seasonal dynamics showed a distinct cyclical development typical of temperate forests. It exceeded the magnitude of interannual changes, pointing at the potentially significant source of error from the timing of data collection.ConclusionsComparison of the monitoring and legacy data revealed complex patterns in the forest understorey dynamics. Contrary to general assumptions, the short‐term dynamics of forest understorey can be significant. It is recommended that monitoring designs consider not only permanent plots but also resurveys of semi‐permanent plots. Considering more than one temporal scale will improve our understanding of the plant community dynamics.
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