Ellenberg Scales Research Articles

Аутекологічні особливості та характеристика еконіш діатомових водоростей (Bacillariophyta Karsten) пониззя р. Ворскла

The species diversity of diatoms in the lower reaches of the Vorskla River, which belong to the territory of the Regional Landscape Park "Nizhnovorsklyansky", is analyzed. The material for the work comes from algological samples collected in the lower reaches of the Vorskla River in the spring and autumn periods. A section of about 7 km of the lower reaches of the Voskla River, a section of the Vorskla Bay and the Kamyanke Reservoir, floodland water bodies, swamps and wetlands were surveyed. Collection of algae samples was carried out from different ecology groups. Samples were processed in live and fixed state using the method of direct microscopy. A total of 288 taxa were identified. An analysis of the autecology of 133 representatives of diatoms in relation to the main environmental factors (temperature, acidity, salinity) has been carried out. The obtained digital data were processed by generally accepted methods of statistical research. Based on Ellenberg scales, phytoindication methods are used to characterize the ecological niche and to clarify the nature of the interaction between the main ecofactors of the noted representatives of <i>Bacillariophyta</i>. Based on the analysis of the values of the range of variation of ecofactors, the range of the optimum zone for the studied species was established, and according to the tolerance amplitude (BP) they were divided into 4 classes (stenotopic, hemistenotopic, hemieurytopic and eurytopic). It is established that the ecological niche of the studied taxa is characterized by a shift towards a neutral environment in terms of acidity (6.5 ≤ рН ≥ 7.5) and salinity 0–2‰. Groups of stenotopic species to the temperature, salinity and acidity of the environment, which can be sensitive indicators of changes in these environmental factors, have been identified. According to the results of hierarchical clustering, the affinity of the studied indicator species was established. Clusters that unite a complex of species characterized by similar values of ecological amplitude to the leading environmental factors were formed.

Ecological-coenotic characteristics of <i>Cantharellus cibarius</i> Fr. and its tolerance to human impact in southern taiga and sub-taiga forests of the Kirov Region

The paper analyzes plant communities with Cantharellus cibarius Fr. in southern taiga and sub-taiga forests in the Kirov Region. Golden chanterelle occurs mostly in pure pine forests and pine forests mixed with spruce and birch of green-moss, lichen and cowberry types in young to maturing stands; the crown density is low or medium. Species richness of herbaceous-shrub storey in the studied communities varied from 5 to 29. The ecological preferences of C. cibarius, defined with Ellenberg (1974) scales, allow to characterize the species in the following way: temperate climate species, shade-resistant, rarely found in conditions of total shading; mesophyte regarding soil humidity, prefers acidic soils with low nitrogen, but, as an exception, marked on neutral soils rich in nitrogen. The differences in the species ecological preferences in conditions of southern taiga and sub-taiga are insignificant. The hemeroby index varied from 0,05 to 0,33 for the studied communities. The average share of species tolerant to human impact was 13,23%, and the share of anthropophobic species 86,77%. These data characterise C. cibarius as the species capable of tolerating moderate human impact in southern taiga subzone, but being less tolerant to human impact in sub-taiga areas and coniferous-broadleaved forests.

БИОТОПИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ И УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬ К АНТРОПОГЕННОМУ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЮ LISTERA OVATA (L.) R.BR. В КИРОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Stash ovate (Listera ovata (L.) R. Br.) – herbaceous short-rooted perennial. The purpose of the study is to identify the environmental preferences of Listera ovata and its resistance to anthropogenic impact on the territory of the Kirov region. As a result of phytoindication of the studied Listera ovata habitats, ecological characteristics were obtained using six H. Ellenberg scales (1974). According to the illumination scale, which evaluates the ratio of plants to the relative illumination prevailing in the habitat of the species, Listera ovata grows at different levels of illumination: as in open habitats with 60–80 % illumination. In relation to the thermoclimatic factor that evaluates heat / cold resistance, the studied species is an inhabitant of a temperate climate (the 5th stage of the Ellenberg scale). On the continental scale Listera ovata is characterized as a suboceanic species (4th stage of the Ellenberg scale), which corresponds to the geographical distribution zone of the species within the Kirov region. In relation to soil moisture, the distribution of the species in habitats with soils ranging from medium-wet (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale) to wet (6th stage of the Ellenberg scale) was noted. On the scale of soil acidity, which determines the dependence of species on acid-base soil conditions, Listera ovata occupies habitats characterized from moderately acidic (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale) to weakly alkaline soils (7th stage of the Ellenberg scale). According to the nitrogen richness scale, which shows the total supply of nutrients (N, K, P, Mg) in the soil, the species is confined to habitats with moderately provided basic nutrients (5th stage of the Ellenberg scale). Analysis of hemerobicity by species composition in plant communities showed that the studied plant communities with Listera ovata are mainly represented by oligo and meso-hemerobic species: from 30.56 to 37.78 %. These are species of communities that are close to natural, that tolerate irregular weak influences, and species of semi-natural communities that are resistant to extensive influences (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Fragaria vesca, Asarum europaeum, Pimpinella saxifraga, Melica nutans, Maianthemum bifolium, Vaccinium myrtillus). The share of species of natural communities that do not tolerate anthropogenic influence is 1.65 %. About 21 % are occupied by species far from natural communities that are resistant to intensive use (Melilotus albus, Pastinaca silvestris, Calamagrostis epigeios). Weed species of natural and anthropogenic communities that suffer regular severe disturbances account for 7.67 % (Trifolium repens, Galium odorata, Taraxacum officinale). The share of specialized weed species of intensive crops is 4.06 % (Chamaenerion angustifolium, Tussilago farfara, Cirsium arvense, Galium aparine, Anthriscus sylvestris). Types of completely disturbed ecosystems in the studied habitats were not identified. All studied phytocenoses with L. ovata are dominated by anthropophobic species: from 62 to 77 %. The percentage of anthropotolerant species is not high and varies from 23 to 38 %.

Интерпретация ценоморф растений юго-востока Украины в терминах фитоиндикационных шкал

В работе показана дискретная природа ценоморф растений на примере флоры юго-востока Украины. С помощью дискриминантного анализа показано, что ценоморфы являются дискретными классами видов растений, которые обособлены между собой в большей степени, чем можно предположить исходя из только лишь континуальной природы экологических различий между видами. В качестве предикторов в дискриминантном анализе использованы диапазональные фитоиндикационные шкалы Дидуха и перемасштабированные шкалы Элленберга. Высокий уровень дискриминирующей способности модели, построенной на основе континуальных предикторов, свидетельствует о значительной специфичности видов растений в пределах отдельных ценоморф. Приведен анализ экоморфической структуры ценоморф. Предложена новая ценоморфа – ариданты. Причина компактности ценоморф находится в коадаптации видов растений в пределах каждой ценоморфы, а также в трансформирующем влиянии растительной обстановки на окружение. С помощью метода классификационных деревьев выполнен поиск классификационных правил выделения ценоморф на основе фитоиндикационных шкал. Предложено рассматривать фитоиндикационные шкалы как маркеры биотопа, а ценоморфы – как маркеры экотопа.

Ecological phytocoenotic characteristics of <i>Platanthera bifolia</i> (L.) Rich. within the territory of Nature Reserve «Bylina» in Kirov Region

Ecological-phytocoenotic confinement of Platanthera bifolia in conditions of middle taiga subzone of Kirov Region was investigated. Studied coenopopulations are restricted mostly to spruce-birch, pine and rarely to spruce phytocoenoses. Herbaceous-shrub cover includes 78 species of vascular plants with dominance of Maianthemum bifolium L., Vaccinium myrtillus L. , Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., Hieracium pilosella L., Equisetum sylvaticum L. , Pyrola rotundifolia L. , Linnaea borealis L. , Trientalis europaea L. , etc . Populations age spectres are in most cases normal and incomplete. Ontogenesis of P. bifolia has pregenerative and generative periods as well as juvenile, immature, virginile and generative age stages. Ecological positions of the species within Bylina Nature Reserve are given by Tsyganov scales. It was shown that P. bifolia is a mesobiont species. Maximum potential of P. bifolia is marked on soil acidity scale (11,54%) and illumination scale (11,51%). Estimation of habitat ecological conditions for P. bifolia was accomplished with Ellenberg scales. It was defined that P. bifolia is characterised by significant ecological amplitude. It is a subcontinental, semi-shade species which prefers semi-wet soils with moderate acidity and moderate nutritients richness. According to hemeroby parameters, P. bifolia can be considered a species that survives insignificant and moderate anthropogenic influence in the studied area.

Ancient and recent (post-agricultural) forest communities as indicators of environmental conditions in north-eastern Poland (Masuria and Kurpie region)

The paper analyses three forest types belonging to the following associations: (1) fresh pine forest (Peucedano-Pinetum), (2) mixed pine forest (Querco roboris-Pinetum) and (3) oak-hornbeam forest (Tilio cordatae-Carpinetum betuli). They are located in north-eastern Poland. We compared the indicator value of three sets of data: (1) phytosociological relevés representing ancient forests (each type/association), (2) phytosociological relevés representing the youngest recent forests with the shortest regeneration period (each type/association) and (3) the ‘abstract pattern’ (representing the core of a specific type of plant community with a characteristic combination of species and clearly representing a separate type of ecosystem/association). Three sets of data together with their indicator values/numbers: light intensity (L), soil moisture (F), soil reaction (R), and nitrogen supply (N) according to the Ellenberg scale, constituted the basic material for comparative indicator analysis. The percentage shares of ecological groups of species have been calculated as well as the average indicator values for each of these within a data set. The results obtained show that the ‘abstract pattern’ can be treated as a good measure for the evaluation of ancient forest habitat conditions; it is clearly visible in the mean L and F indicator values of the Peucedano-Pinetum and Querco-Pinetum associations, and also in the N of Peucedano-Pinetum and R of Querco-Pinetum, which are closer to ancient forest than to recent forest. In all cases, we found ecological differences between the ancient and recent forests based on their indicator values. Statistically significant differences of the mean L indicator values between ancient forest and recent forest have been found in three types of forest community.

Analysis of Species Indicator Values in Response to Spatial Environmental Variation of Differently Managed Agro-habitats

This paper investigates species indicator values in response to spatial gradients of environmental indices (light, L; moisture, F; nitrogen, N; temperature, T) in different agro-habitats (crop fields and their boundaries of intensive/conventional farming, IF; organic farming, OF) of Lithuania. All plant species were classified according to indicator values of the Ellenberg scale of general abiotic environmental factors (light, moisture, nitrogen, temperature) available for Central Europe. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was applied to analyze the patterns of relationships between species indicator values and environmental conditions in six different agro-habitats. Variation of N-values (ranging from 2 to 9 and x point) was observed to be the highest between ecological gradients, thus indicating wide spatial dispersion of soil N deposition in the habitats. The presence of particular plant species with medium indicator values (L5-L6, F4-F5, N5-N6, T4-T5) suggests that IF crop habitats are favored for establishment of mezophytes. Crop and margin habitats in OF agro-habitats were found to possess a wider environmental gradient, ensuring higher biodiversity.

Eco-coenotic conditions and structure of Trollius europaeus L. populations in an extrazonal habitat complex (Transylvanian Carpathian foothills)

To estimate the importance of community structure and environmental factors for maintenance and in situ conservation of populations of European Globeflower ( Trollius europaeus subsp. europaeus) in four sites (one within a natural reserve) in a low elevation but cool valley of the Transylvanian Carpathian foothills, an inventory of all globeflower individuals was performed and floristic relevés were recorded in different community types (meadow, fen and scrub). As a surrogate for habitat conditions, we used plant species indicator values for light, moisture and nitrogen. Globeflower density is highest in mesic habitats, the ecological optimum estimated (about 6 on Ellenberg's scale) being slightly lower than that indicated for Central Europe (7). The juvenile:fertile plants ratio (J:F) declines with increasing soil moisture. Larger flower production in hygrophilous communities does not result in a higher proportion of juveniles or J:F ratio. Despite the presumed strong competition determined by high species richness in some host communities, the most dynamic population (large proportion of juveniles) was found in mesophilous, mown meadows. A clumped distribution of fertile plants under the open scrub canopy seems to be responsible for the significantly larger number of flowers per individual observed, as compared with the relative amount of flowers produced in the adjacent sward. Irrespective of host community, the juveniles display an aggregated distribution with respect to fertile plants, which is probably related to short-distance dispersal of seeds. Our results reveal the importance of host community species richness and soil moisture for the target population stage structure and reproductive investment.

Calibration of Ellenberg indicator values for the Faroe Islands

Ellenberg's bio-indication system for soil moisture (F), soil nitrogen (N) and soil reaction (R) was examined, based on 559 vegetation samples and environmental charac- teristics (vegetation cover, soil depth, soil moisture, chemical soil properties) from four Faroe islands. The original indicator values from central Europe were used for the calculation of weighted community indicator values of F, N and R. These were regressed with respect to environmental data, applying standard curvilinear regression and generalized linear model- ling (GLM) and new predicted values of community indicator values were obtained from the best model. Faroe species optima values of 162 taxa for one or more of the three Ellenberg scales were derived from fitting Huisman-Olff-Fresco (HOF) models of species abundance with respect to predicted com- munity indicator values and are proposed as new Ellenberg species indicator values to be used in the Faroe Islands. F was best correlated with a GLM model containing soil moisture, organic soil fraction, soil depth and total vegetation cover, R with a GLM model containing pH and calcium in % organic soil fraction, N with total phosphorus in % organic soil fraction. The calibrated species indicator scales are much truncated, as compared with the original values, resulting in significantly different overall distributions of the original and new species indicator values. The recalculated community indicator values are much better correlated to environmental measurements. Several species do not have clear optima, but linear or monotone relationships to the examined indicator scales. This probably indicates that the occurrence of some species in the Faroe Islands are either determined by factors other than moisture, pH or soil nutrient status or, given the young age and environ- mental instability of the islands, are governed by stochastic mechanisms. Extension of Ellenberg indicator values outside central Europe should always be carefully calibrated by means of adequate environmental data and adequate statistical models, such as HOF models, should be applied.

The relationship between butterflies and environmental indicator values: a tool for conservation in a changing landscape

We examined relationships between Dutch butterfly species and the Ellenberg indicator values for nutrients, acidity and moisture. Presence/absence data on butterflies were obtained from monitoring transects of the Dutch Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Mean indicator values were calculated from vegetation samples of a selection of transect sections. Single and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationships. Except for the moisture value, the vegetation samples covered the Ellenberg scales quite well. Significant correlations between moisture and acidity (−) and nutrients and acidity (+) were observed. Sites that were both acid and nutrient-rich were not observed. Most of the observed significant relationships were unimodal (Gaussian), in which species show a clear optimum indicator value. Other species showed a sigmoidal (linear) response to one or more of the ecological indicator values. Several species were significantly correlated with all three indicator values. For a small group this was also the case in the multiple regression model. This was probably caused by multicollinearity of the indicator values, leading to some spurious significant single regression models. We discuss methodical problems and possibilities for refinements of the models. The observed relationships between butterflies and indicator values agreed well with available ecological information.The observed regression models can be used to (a) predict the effects of environmental factors on the butterfly fauna, (b) use changes in the abundances of certain species as indicators of ecological processes and (c) determine the sensitivity of butterflies for eutrophication, acidification and ground-water draining. In conclusion, the models provide a powerful aid in the conservation of butterflies in a changing environment.

A new species index for forest vascular plants: development of functional indices based on mineralization rates of various forms of soil nitrogen

1 Soil nitrogen mineralization rates for ammonium, nitrate and total‐N were determined by incubation experiments for 661 sample plots of deciduous forest from different regions in southern Sweden. 2 Species N indices for nitrate and ammonium were calculated as the weighted averages of mineralized N in those plots where the species were present. 3 Optimized linear models were used to combine mineralization rates for NH+4 + NOminus;3 to produce a functional N index for plots (FNIP) and to combine the species indices for NH+4 + NOminus;3 to produce a functional N index for species (FNIS). 4 The sample scores along the first axis of a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were highly correlated with soil acidity and mineralized ammonium, whereas total‐mineralized N accounted for most of the variation along the second DCA axis. The species scores along the first axis were highly correlated with the ammonium index. 5 FNIP was somewhat better correlated with the sample scores along axis 1 than mineralized ammonium, but only slightly better correlated than total‐mineralized N relative to axis 2. Similar results were obtained for FNIS. 6 Ammonium index and FNIS explained more of the floristic variation along the ordination axes than Ellenberg's N indicator values. Weighted averages of these indices also showed higher correlations with the sample scores along the axes than corresponding averages of Ellenberg's N values. However, when ammonium index and FNIS for the most frequent species were transformed into classes, they were generally similar to the Ellenberg scale. 7 The ammonium indices differed considerably between regions, caused by differences in N deposition, total‐N mineralization and nitrification rate. In one of the regions with comparatively low nitrification, the ammonium index was found to be uncorrelated with the species scores along the first DCA axis. FNIS differed much less between regions and thus was more robust; it appears to be a good and generally applicable expression of the species’ responses to N availability in deciduous forest soils.

Experimental calibration of Ellenberg's indicator value for nitrogen

Ellenberg's indicator values constitute a relative scale of optima per species with regard to several soil factors, mainly based on field experience. For the coupling of soil and vegetation models these optima have to be expressed in metric units. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of germination experiments to calibrate the indicator values for nutrients against nitrogen availability. Germination and juvenile development were followed during a maximum of six weeks on five NH 4NO 3 levels and two pH levels. Per plant species (19 in total) the optima with regard to NH 4NO 3 concentration was estimated on the basis of percentages germination, survival, formation of cotyledons and formation of leaves. The estimated optima were regressed on the indicator values for nutrients (Ellenberg's N). A significant correlation was found for percentage germination and formation of leaves. The observed relation can be used to calibrate the Ellenberg scale for N.