Ellenberg Values Research Articles

Origin and Persistence of Lycopodium clavatum and Lycopodium annotinum (Lycopodiaceae) in Scots Pine Forests.

Understanding the growth dynamics of spore-bearing clonal plant sporophytes and the influence of abiotic and biotic factors is crucial for predicting the persistence of club moss populations and implementing effective habitat management techniques. Despite this, the longevity and development of club-moss populations are rarely studied. This study adopted an integrated approach to assess the probability of repetitive young sporophyte recruitment via sexual propagation in Lycopodium annotinum L. and Lycopodium clavatum L. The size-age problem of clonal spore-bearing forest plants and their niche segregation were addressed. The canopy characteristics, insolation, small-scale disturbance, and genetic polymorphism were studied in temperate semi-natural Scots pine forests in Lithuania. Based on the size of the clones discovered, we hypothesize that initial sporophyte emergence occurred in 20-year-old pine stands, with subsequent sporophyte emergence continuing over time. The emergence was related to small-scale disturbances. High genetic polymorphism indicates that all sporophyte stands studied likely emerged via sexual reproduction. According to Ellenberg values, L. annotinum is related to shady habitats, but our findings show both species coexisting abundantly in the more open habitat, supposedly more suitable for L. clavatum.No significant differences in vegetation relevés and light availability was detected using hemispheric images.

Beescapes – extracting pollen from historical Danish beeswax to explore honeybee foraging

We extracted pollen from historical honeycomb specimens of beeswax to highlight the potential of beeswax as a source for palynological studies. The pollen composition was explored as a proxy for honeybee foraging in the past. Additionally, we wanted to illuminate the potential of the palynological analysis to provenance the specimens. Danish honeycomb samples from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, dating from the late 19th, early twentieth century were processed and analysed for pollen identification. We used Ellenberg values to represent functional traits for the identified taxa and applied these as explanatory variables to study the variation in foraging environment and plant preference of the honeybees. Our results indicate variations of an agricultural landscape, with bees foraging on plants that are high in nutritional value. We found that information gained from palynological analysis of museum samples may be useful in illuminating details of historical apiology. We present our study in light of the importance of environmental biodiversity in Denmark and its vitality for bees as key pollinators in our ecosystem.

Ellenberg‐type indicator values for European vascular plant species

AbstractAimsEllenberg‐type indicator values are expert‐based rankings of plant species according to their ecological optima on main environmental gradients. Here we extend the indicator‐value system proposed by Heinz Ellenberg and co‐authors for Central Europe by incorporating other systems of Ellenberg‐type indicator values (i.e., those using scales compatible with Ellenberg values) developed for other European regions. Our aim is to create a harmonized data set of Ellenberg‐type indicator values applicable at the European scale.MethodsWe collected European data sets of indicator values for vascular plants and selected 13 data sets that used the nine‐, ten‐ or twelve‐degree scales defined by Ellenberg for light, temperature, moisture, reaction, nutrients and salinity. We compared these values with the original Ellenberg values and used those that showed consistent trends in regression slope and coefficient of determination. We calculated the average value for each combination of species and indicator values from these data sets. Based on species’ co‐occurrences in European vegetation plots, we also calculated new values for species that were not assigned an indicator value.ResultsWe provide a new data set of Ellenberg‐type indicator values for 8908 European vascular plant species (8168 for light, 7400 for temperature, 8030 for moisture, 7282 for reaction, 7193 for nutrients, and 7507 for salinity), of which 398 species have been newly assigned to at least one indicator value.ConclusionsThe newly introduced indicator values are compatible with the original Ellenberg values. They can be used for large‐scale studies of the European flora and vegetation or for gap‐filling in regional data sets. The European indicator values and the original and taxonomically harmonized regional data sets of Ellenberg‐type indicator values are available in the Supporting Information and the Zenodo repository.

Colonisation of terrestrial vegetation in an intermittent river: Diversity responses to seasonal drying

AbstractIntermittent rivers are dynamic ecosystems that experience a predictable or unpredictable loss of surface water and are characterised by changing lotic, lentic (ponding) and dry habitats. Plant communities colonising dry channels during the desiccation stage can be diverse, abundant and differ in their tolerances to water availability and habitat conditions. This study examines the colonisation of terrestrial vegetation in two intermittent rivers in the United Kingdom, and whether terrestrial plant taxonomic richness and functional diversity increase during the dry phase. Six reaches were surveyed for terrestrial plants during the dry phase over a standard 100 m length every month from April to October 2021. We found the channel and bank taxonomic richness increased with drying duration. Functional traits of vegetation height, clonality, clonality richness and Ellenberg's value of light moisture also increased with stream desiccation. Bed sediment conditions (the proportion of sand and gravel) and the 12‐month antecedent percentage of zero flow days were the key drivers of plant community composition. We believe plant propagules from the riparian zone and channel vegetation on topographic high points in the channel aided plant colonisation of the riverbed once flow ceased. Past research may have underestimated the biodiversity value of intermittent rivers by failing to include the ecological importance of plants during the dry phase. Information on plant diversity of the dry phase is important to determine the overall biodiversity of intermittent rivers for their long‐term conservation and management.

Changes in the distribution of bryophytes in a highly urbanised region in Western Europe (Flanders, Belgium): a species-traits analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction In densely populated, highly industrialised regions such as Flanders (northern Belgium), species are under significant environmental pressures arising from air pollution, land use changes, and climate change, which affect distribution patterns and species abundance. Methods We compared bryophyte distribution data for 1980–1999 and 2000–2019. Species traits data were analysed to detect general trends in changes in occupancy for different species of moss and liverwort. Key results Species occupancy increased for epiphytic species of both mosses and liverworts. Liverwort species growing on dead, decorticated wood declined, whereas the number of mosses growing on this substrate increased. Liverworts decreased in all terrestrial habitats except artificial stones and other rocky substrates. Occupancy increased for mosses growing on peat substrates and on hard natural rocks. Changes in occupancy among groups of taxa classified according to Ellenberg values showed that liverworts of wet or moist habitats declined compared with those of dry habitats. Liverworts of warmer regions increased; however, for those characteristic of cold climates, there was no significant change. Conclusions Improvements in air quality, particularly due to reduced SO2 and NOx emissions, has allowed epiphytic bryophyte species numbers to recover. Among terrestrial species, there has been a decline in the number of liverwort species especially, and particularly those adapted to wet, cold conditions. This is probably due to longer and more frequent drought periods during summer, coupled with rising ambient temperatures. Larger, more robust wetlands and forests could be created to mitigate against this decline, these habitats being very fragmented in Flanders.

Shade-tolerant temperate broad-leaved trees are more sensitive to thermal stress than light-demanding species during a moderate heatwave

With climate warming, the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events such as heat waves increase the risk of temperature-induced leaf damage. Severe damage can significantly weaken forest trees and lead to accelerated forest mortality. Cross-species studies investigating the thermal sensitivity of temperate tree species are still rare. Here, we aim to elucidate the thermal sensitivity of twelve tree species, of the genera Acer, Carpinus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Ostrya, Quercus, and Sorbus growing in the Vienna Woods, Austria. Thermal sensitivity, defined here as a decline of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) with increasing temperature, was measured on sun-exposed branches under varying levels of heat stress and compared with the turgor loss point (πtlp) as a drought resistance trait. We further included Ellenberg values for shade-tolerance to classify species into either shade-tolerant or light-demanding species. We calculated six different leaf thermotolerance traits: the temperature at the onset (5%) of the Fv/Fm decline (T5), the temperature at which Fv/Fm was half the maximum value (T50), the temperature at which only 5% Fv/Fm remained (T95), the decline width between T5 and T50 (DWT50-T5), between T50 and T95 (DWT95-T50), and between T5 and T95 (DWT95-T5). T5 ranged from 38.0 ± 0.2°C to 49.1 ± 0.5°C across all species and was close to the maximum air temperature of 37.1°C recorded in 2021. T50 values of all species were at least 11.1°C to 21.2°C above the maximum air temperature. πtlp did not clearly explain any differences in thermal sensitivity. DWT50-T5 had the strongest explanatory power to indicate thermal sensitivity depending on a species’ shade-tolerance. We conclude that the inclusion of light-demanding broad-leaved tree species into planting schemes contributes to increasing stand stability under climate change, in particular, it augments the resistance of forest stands to heatwaves.

In the Shadow of Cormorants: Succession of Avian Colony Affects Selected Groups of Ground Dwelling Predatory Arthropods

(1) Nesting of the great cormorants strongly influences terrestrial ecosystems by physical destruction of vegetation and chemical changes in the soil and around the nesting colonies. (2) We investigated spider, harvestmen, and centipede assemblages in different influenced plots (starting colony, active dense colony, and partly abandoned colony) in the biggest Lithuanian cormorant colony in pine woods on the shore of the Baltic Sea in the Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania. Selected groups of ground dwelling predatory arthropods were collected by pitfall traps in 2012–2014. (3) We recorded a total of 4299 spider specimens (102 species), 451 harvestmen specimens (9 species), and 1537 centipede specimens (7 species). The coverage of moss and herb vegetation, mean Ellenberg value for light, bare ground without vegetation, and number of nests significantly influenced the abundance, species richness, and ecological groups of arthropod predators. (4) Active ground hunters represented by spider Trochosa terricola and centipede Lithobius forficatus were positively influenced by bare ground without vegetation and a higher density of nests, and negatively influenced by an increasing coverage of moss and herbs. The opposite effect was found for web builder spiders and less movable species, represented by dominant spider species Diplostyla concolor and harvestmen Nemastoma lugubre and Oligolophus tridens. (5) The results show how cormorant influence the forest vegetation structure and affect the abundance and species diversity of ground dwelling predatory arthropods.

A survey of habitats on agricultural land in Estonia II. Detailed interpretation of the habitats’ landscape ecology and how this relates to alien plant species

The main objectives of the paper are to provide a description of the ecological character of Estonian agricultural landscapes and also their contribution to biodiversity resources. Agricultural landscapes are vulnerable to alterations in environmental factors and management that lead to changes in the balance of plant species and, therefore, to modifications in the structure and character of vegetation. The results show that the distribution and expansion of alien plant species contributes significantly to changes in the composition native plant species in Estonia. Such species are spreading rapidly in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe, leading to major changes in local vegetation and damage worth billions of Euros to the European economy every year (European Commission, 2020). Field visits to representative sites were made to record vegetation data from agricultural landscapes from 2015 to 2017. 35 dispersed random 1-km squares were selected according to the extent of the eight classes of the Environmental Classification of Estonia. 250 sample plots were thus recorded from the 1-km squares, using predetermined rules for their location. 453 vascular plant species (27% of all Estonian species) were recorded in 11 habitats (neglected patches, abandoned patches, clear cuts, forests, tall herbs, patches of alien plant species, mixed grasslands, water margins, lines of scrub/trees, field edges, roadsides). These results indicate the efficiency of small stratified samples and are relevant at a broader scale in Europe for monitoring and surveillance of habitats. Mixed grasslands were later excluded from the analyses as there were insufficient samples. 19 alien plant species were recorded in 141 plots, whereas the cover of alien species was over 25% of the plot in 38 plots. Mature forests had the fewest aliens and roadsides the most, emphasizing the importance of dispersal by vehicles. The most common high cover species were Bunias orientalis, Galega orientalis, Sambucus racemosa, and Melilotus albus. The dispersal of the most common aliens shows the role of management, as these species had the highest cover in linear features especially in roadsides and field edges. The first part of the paper provides tables of the mean figures for the ten habitats of Ellenberg values and the frequency of competitors, stress-tolerators and ruderal species (CSR), which are indicative of the quality and characteristics of the habitats. The second part of the paper provides detailed interpretations of each of the ten habitats based on statistical analyses, combined with the experience of the second author to describe the ecological significance of the habitats. The habitats vary from tall herbs, which are of minimal ecological importance, to water margins and roadsides, which are important for seed dispersal, as well as a resource of biodiversity. Each of the habitats is set in the context of the Estonian landscape, and their contribution to biodiversity is described.

Geographical patterns in the flora of Cambridgeshire (v.c.29)

Cambridgeshire data collected for the BSBI’s Atlas 2020 project include 347,496 records at monad (1 km) or finer resolution. We used these data to cluster taxa by spherical k-means to produce 21 clusters of taxa with similar patterns of distribution. Some of the clusters correspond to well-defined habitats such as chalk grassland, ancient woodland, traditional fenland, and saline riversides and roadsides. Other clusters were less expected, corresponding to arable clayland, washland (the Ouse and Nene washes), waste ground and garden escapes. There was a cluster of ubiquitous species and another of common arable weeds. The distributions of the clusters are displayed as coincidence maps. Some species are intermediate between two clusters. These can be recognised by their relatively poor goodness of fit to any one cluster. The clusters differ markedly in ecological attributes and whether they include rare or threatened species. We interpret these differences using Ellenberg values and the vascular plant Red List for England.

Rediscovery of Cyperus flavescens (Cyperaceae) on the northeast periphery of its range in Europe.

In recent years, three large populations of Cyperus flavescens were found in Poland, the richest occurrence of this species in over 30 years. The goal of this research is to determine the habitat factors lead to the mass occurrence of C. flavescens and the present situation of that species and its habitat in Central Europe. Soil conditions of the three populations were studied. To determine the correlation between the occurrence and abundance of species and the chemical parameters of the soil, the DCA and CCA methods were used. The DCA of environmental Ellenberg values was made for all relevés known from Poland. The occurrence of C. flavescens in plant communities in Central Europe was studied. The maximum entropy method was used for potential distribution analysis of C. flavescens. All analyzed traits are important for this species and none has an advantage over another, so the environmental factor affecting the occurrence of C. flavescens is different from the tested. Analysis on Ellenberg values indicate that the longest gradients are temperature, moisture and nutrients. The analysis of vegetation data involving Cyperus flavescens available from Central Europe indicates that this species occurs mainly in the company of Juncus bufonius and Plantago intermedia, whereas other species of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class appear rarely. In MaxEnt analysis based on bioclimatic variables, the most important variable is BIO1 (Annual Mean Temperature). The results of our observation indicate that anthropogenic factors such as grazing livestock have a positive effect on the occurrence of the species. It is also very likely that the species is promoted by very warm summers with only short periods of heavy rains. A map of the potential distribution of C. flavescens in Central Europe created according historical and future data show an extension of the range of potential habitats to the north and east.

Ecological indicator and traits values for Swedish vascular plants

We introduce and provide a new data-set of species-specific ecological indicator values (alternative ‘Ellenberg values’ for climatic variables, light, moisture, soil reaction/pH, salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus plus response to management and disturbance), physiological and reproductive traits (including symbionts, phenology, pollinators, nectar production, seed properties), indices of relevance for conservation (including introduction history and biodiversity relevance), and presence in 38 main vegetation types for all vascular plant species of Sweden based on a broad survey of published and unpublished data. The potential uses and limitations of the values, traits and indices are briefly outlined and discussed.

Cascading effects of canopy mortality drive long‐term changes in understorey diversity in temperate old‐growth forests of Europe

AbstractQuestionsWe investigated the influence of protracted mortality of a dominant canopy tree (Abies alba) on long‐term understorey dynamics. We ask (a) how tree regeneration and understorey species diversity and composition changed over 32 years; and (b) whether the observed changes were mainly driven by mortality of A. alba.LocationThree old‐growth forest reserves dominated by A. alba and Fagus sylvatica in the Dinaric Mountains of Slovenia.MethodTree layer and understorey regeneration and herbs were surveyed in 147 plots across the three forest reserves in 1983 and 2015. Soils were also sampled in 2015. The study period coincides with a protracted period of increased A. alba mortality in the canopy layer associated with anthropogenic emissions.ResultsBetween 1983 and 2015, the decline in canopy layer A. alba caused a recruitment pulse of F. sylvatica regeneration to the subcanopy tree layer across the three reserves. These changes were accompanied by a significant decline in plot level herb species richness. A model‐based analysis of beta‐diversity revealed significant community convergence during the study period, mainly caused by the loss of rare species. Ellenberg values indicate that these changes were mainly driven by loss of understorey light, while an increase in soil pH may have played a role also.ConclusionsThis observational study suggests that the long‐term decline of A. alba resulted in a cascade of processes — widespread F. sylvatica recruitment that impeded penetration of light to the forest floor, and possibly a change in soil conditions due to the decline of coniferous litter. These changes caused a significant loss of herb diversity and homogenization of the understorey community across the three sites. This study sheds light on the potential cascading consequences triggered by episodes of increased tree mortality resulting from global‐change‐type drivers.

Using species records and ecological attributes of bryophytes to develop an ecosystem health indicator

• Bryological records and Ellenberg values were combined as Ecosystem Health Indicators. • We analysed change across Scotland (1960–2016) for each 10 km × 10 km grid square. • Ellenberg Nitrogen (N) showed a humped relationship indicating recent recovery. • Increasing trends were evident for January and July Temperature. • Bryological records can form the basis of an effective Ecosystem Health Indicator. Environmental policy decisions should be based on robust indicators of changes in the environment. In Scotland these have been formalised as Ecosystem Health Indicators. Indicators work best where there is a direct link between what is measured and environmental change; changes in indices of species diversity or abundance provide alerts to environmental change but do not in themselves provide evidence of mechanisms. An alternative approach is to replace species occurrence data with species habitat or attribute values to create an indicator that links changes in species occurrences to environmental drivers. A series of indicators based on biological recording data, Ellenberg habitat preference values and mean climate niche was created by taking all records for bryophytes in Scotland (522187 records, 1960–2016) and analysing changes in mean attribute values through time for each 10 km × 10 km grid square. The resulting mean attribute values were analysed at the country level and showed clear quadratic (humped) trends for Ellenberg Nitrogen (N) and Reaction (R), an index of environmental acidity. There are linear decreasing trends for Ellenberg Light (L) and Precipitation, and linear increasing trends for January and July Temperature. Ellenberg Moisture (F) showed a clear trend, but it was not interpretable and appeared influenced by recording effort. Disaggregating to region was partly successful, but reduced samples sizes meant that for many regions the national trend was not significant. Ellenberg N and the two Temperature indices appear to be useful indicators as they are interpretable and performed better in the downscaling. Changes in L were also interpretable, but it performed poorly in downscaling to regional values. Ellenberg R appeared to be driven by changes in N as the two values are highly correlated across species. The downward trend in Precipitation ran counter to increases in rainfall suggesting that temperature driven evaporation is more likely to be driving changes in bryophyte distribution and whilst the indicator performed well it is difficult to explain to non-experts. Opportunistically collected data, like plant records, have great potential to be employed as indicators, especially as citizen scientists are involved and state resources can be used for data archiving and analysis. Also, conversion to attribute values removes many of the biases brought by differences in recorder effort and it directly links changes in species occurrences to environmental drivers.

Responses of ground-dwelling spider assemblages to changes in vegetation from wet oligotrophic habitats of Western France

While many arthropod species are known to depend, directly or indirectly, on certain plant species or communities, it remains unclear to what extent vegetation shapes spider assemblages. In this study, we tested whether the activity-density, composition, and diversity of ground-dwelling spiders were driven by changes in vegetation structure. Field sampling was conducted using pitfall traps in bogs, heathlands, and grasslands of Brittany (Western France) in 2013. A total of 8576 spider individuals were identified up to the species level (for a total of 141 species), as well as all plant species in more than 300 phytosociological relevés. A generalised linear model showed that spider activity-density was negatively influenced by mean vegetation height and mean Ellenberg value for moisture. Indices of diversity (ɑ, β, and functional diversities) increased with increasing vegetation height and shrub cover. Variables driving spider composition were mean vegetation height, dwarf shrub cover, and low shrub cover (results from a redundancy analysis). Spiders, some of the most abundant arthropod predators, are thus strongly influenced by vegetation structure, including ground-dwelling species. Although later successional states are usually seen as detrimental to local biodiversity in Europe, our results suggest that allowing controlled development of the shrub layer could have a positive impact on the diversity of ground-dwelling spiders.

Indicators of biomass and methane yields in vegetated buffer strips

Searching for available biomasses is a key factor to promote renewable energy, especially biogas. This paper examines the biogas potential of biomass from Danish buffer strips with different types of natural vegetation and the possibility of using the functional trait composition of the vegetation and the nutrient composition of the biomass as indicators for the quantity of the biomass and its biogas potential. Biomass was harvested from 73 plots in 2014 and 2015 and biomass yield, nutrient content (CNP) and methane yields were determined. Prior to harvesting, the plant communities were characterised in terms of species composition, and a cluster analysis was performed to identify species assemblages in terms of vegetation clusters. Four ecologically meaningful clusters were obtained: a tall herb fringe community, a tall grass community, a low herb and grass community and a rich fen/wet meadow community. The biomass yield was numerically higher in the tall herb fringe and the tall grass communities, while the specific methane yield was higher in the tall grass and low herb and grass communities. When all samples were analysed together, the biomass yield was positively correlated with some of the vegetation traits (Ellenberg value soil reaction and leaf dry matter content) and negatively with nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the biomass. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between the biomass yield and the specific methane yield. In contrast, the biomass yield was positively correlated with the methane yield per ha, indicating that even small differences in biomass yield can be more relevant for the methane yield per ha than differences in specific methane yields in natural vegetation. Biomass from tall herb fringe, tall grass and low herb and grass communities is suitable to be incorporated into the anaerobic digestion supply chain; and in these communities it could be possible to predict methane yield per ha, especially in tall grass community, using vegetation traits (Ellenberg values and Grimes life strategy) and phosphorus content in the biomass.

Diachronic biodiversity analysis of a metropolitan area in the Mediterranean region

A study on urban plant diversity of Catania city (Sicily, Italy) was carried out through the analysis of urban green space network and natural habitats. The study area is extended to 939 km2 and includes 15 km of coastal habitat. Floristic data were used to analyze environmental changes. The vascular plant flora was investigated through a literature list for periods from 1889 to 1909 and from 1970 to 1990 and through an extensive survey campaign from 2010 to 2017. A total list of 927 species was acquired. Each species was associated with its own ecological and chorological information. Ellenberg's values were used as environmental indicators to assess the relationship between plant species and environmental factors.

Morphological and functional traits of herbaceous plants with different functional types in the European Northeast

We aimed to identify marker traits indicating the functional types of plants in the European Northeast. We try to answer the following questions. Which ecological factors make the largest contribution to identifying the functional types of plants in the North and can CO2-exchange and related traits be used as markers? The data were collected from 1000-km latitudinal gradient across middle, north, and far north boreal forests in the east border of Europe. Comparative analysis of 102 species from 36 plant families enabled us to determine the marker traits indicating plant functional types. Competitor species have maximal plant height, comparatively low leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and accumulate high amounts of nitrogen in leaves. These species also have comparatively high photosynthetic and respiration rates. Ruderal species have low values of LDMC, and maximal photosynthetic rate, respiration rate, and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE). Slow-growing stress tolerators have a low photosynthetic rate, low respiration rate, and low levels of nitrogen and PNUE. The specific leaf area (SLA) of these plants shows a highly significant correlation with the light regime. In the boreal zone, SLA was found to be more closely related to light availability than to the plant functional type, indicating that SLA is unsuitable for use as a marker trait. We found strong correlations between plant height, respiration rate, and photosynthetic activity and soil nutrition according to Ellenberg values. Soil mineral element contents and acidity were found to have a significant influence on the functional types of plants.

Landscape history confounds the ability of the NDVI to detect fine‐scale variation in grassland communities

Abstract The NDVI is a remotely sensed vegetation index that is frequently used in ecological studies. There is, however, a lack of studies that evaluate the ability of the NDVI to detect fine‐scale variation in grassland plant community composition and species richness. Ellenberg indicators characterize the environmental preferences of plant species—and community‐mean Ellenberg values have been used to explore the environmental drivers of community assembly. We used variation partitioning to test the ability of satellite‐based NDVI to explain community‐mean Ellenberg nutrient (mN) and moisture (mF) indices, and the richness of habitat‐specialist species in dry grasslands of different ages. The grasslands represent a gradient of decreasing soil nutrient status. If community composition is determined by the responses of individual species to the underlying environmental conditions and if, at the same time, community composition determines the optical characteristics of the vegetation canopy, then positive relationships between the NDVI and mN and mF are expected. Many grassland specialists are intolerant of nutrient‐rich soils. If specialist richness is negatively related to soil‐nutrient levels, then a negative association between the NDVI and specialist richness is expected. However, because grassland community composition is not only influenced by abiotic variables but also by other spatial and temporal drivers, we included spatial variables and grassland age in the statistical analyses. The NDVI explained the majority of the variation in mF, and also contributed to a substantial proportion of the variation in mN. However, variation in specialist richness and the lowest values of mN were explained by grassland age and spatial variables—but were poorly explained by the NDVI. Synthesis and applications. The NDVI showed a good ability to detect variation in plant community composition, and should provide a valuable tool for assessing fine‐scale environmental variation in grasslands or for monitoring changes in grassland habitat properties. However, because the concentration of grassland specialists not only depends on environmental variables but also on the age and spatial context of the grasslands, the NDVI is unlikely to allow the identification of grasslands with high numbers of specialist species.

Ecological niche and phylogeny explain distribution of seed mass in the central European flora

Seed size is a crucial life‐history trait determining the amount of reserves that are available to establishing seedlings. The most frequently observed patterns in seed size distribution are a higher frequency of large‐seeded species in shaded habitats and a positive correlation of seed size with plant size. We analysed to what extent realised niche dimensions, as expressed by Ellenberg indicator values and plant functional traits such as plant height and life form, explained seed mass variation in the central European flora. By including information on phylogenetic relatedness of the species, not only contemporary ecology but also the evolutionary history of plant species could be taken into account. Seed mass evolution was slow and was best explained by selection‐inertia models with multiple adaptive peaks as a function of either habitat or life form. The highest seed mass optima were observed in the deciduous forest and saltwater and seashore habitats, and in phanerophytes in case of models with optima as a function of life form. The analyses showed that Ellenberg values were more important than habitat and life form in explaining seed mass distribution in the central European flora. The often observed relation between shade and large seeds was also evident in our study, but we found an equally important relation between large seeds and drought and a positive relation between seed mass and salinity. Our results indicate that not only plant size and competition for light but a complex set of factors influence the ecology of seed size, and that a more precise delineation of species’ niches improves the understanding of seed size evolution.

Effects of rotational prescribed burning and sheep grazing on moorland plant communities: Results from a 60‐year intervention experiment

AbstractThe effect of prescribed burning for conservation management of plant communities is controversial for moorlands growing on peat. These ecosystems provide many services that may be damaged by fire, hence it is important to fully assess its impact on all aspects of ecosystem structure and function experimentally over relatively long time‐scales. This paper describes change in community composition, major plant species, and plant functional types on moorland on peat in upland Britain over 60 years subject to 3 burning treatments after an initial burn in 1954/1955: no further burn and burning at 10‐ and 20‐year intervals (all ± sheep grazing). Data were analysed using multivariate and univariate methods. Vegetation composition and individual species abundance reflected the degree of disturbance. The least disturbed was dominated by Calluna vulgaris and pleurocarpous mosses, whereas the most disturbed treatment (burned every 10 years) had greater Eriophorum vaginatum, Sphagnum spp., acrocarpous mosses, liverworts, and lichens. The 20‐year treatment was intermediate in response disturbance. Repeated burning increased species abundance‐weighted Ellenberg values for moisture, reaction, light through time, and fertility; the exception was the 10‐year rotation for fertility. These confirm that prescribed burning is not deleterious to peat‐forming species (Eriophorum spp. and Sphagnum spp.), indeed these species were found in greater abundance in frequently burned treatments. It also confirms that a no‐burn policy will lead to increasing dominance of C. vulgaris, a flammable, fire‐adapted shrub, which increases summer wildfire risk. These results inform conservation management policy for moorland vegetation growing on peat; for this site, a 20‐year prescribed burning rotation is recommended.