Floodplain Grasslands Research Articles

Transfer seeds, hay, or soil blocks? The importance of the completeness of biological inputs to address dispersal and establishment limitations during the restoration of plant assemblages in floodplain grasslands

This study investigated different techniques of grassland restoration to overcome dispersal or establishment limitation, which are key processes influencing early‐successional plant community assembly. A fully randomized in situ experiment was set up in a former arable land in a floodplain along the Garonne river (south‐western France) to test for the effect of (1) the type and completeness of the biological input (any biological material—seed, hay, and soil—transferred to the site under restoration), (2) soil disturbance by deep tillage, and (3) their interaction on plant community dynamics for 5 years. All inputs influenced the plant community structure and composition. The effects depended on the type of the input but not necessarily in link with its completeness. High density and diversity seed mixture led to high levels of richness and relative abundance of target species like soil blocks, the input considered as the most complete. During the first year, hay transfer mostly influenced community assembly through negative litter effects. Delayed germination of several species contributed to buffer these early effects. This study supports the importance of dispersal limitation during early succession in degraded grassland ecosystems whereas soil disturbance had only subtle effects on the seed bank and standing plant community, indicating that competition and establishment limitation were of secondary importance in our study system. Our results suggest that even low‐frequency immigration events (e.g. when a few seeds are transferred within hay) can be of great importance providing that a sufficiently long time period is considered for grassland restoration.

Plastic ingestion by greater one-horned rhinos in Nepal: An emerging conservation threat

Plastic pollution is potentially a major threat to the health of terrestrial organisms, including megafauna, but its effects are relatively understudied compared to marine ecosystems. Here we document the presence of plastic macro-particles in the dung of the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) in the Terai landscape of Nepal. Field data were collected deep within Chitwan National Park and its fringe zone during the monsoon and post-monsoon season of 2020, 2021 and 2022. Over three years, we recorded plastic in ∼10% of 258 rhino dungs piles. This is an underestimate since we did not record micro-particles or search entire dungs. More dungs located deep within the national park (core zone) contained plastic compared to the fringe zone and we recorded no difference in plastic incidence between riverine forest and floodplain grasslands. Rhinos do not appear to target garbage dumps as food sources but are exposed to plastic when foraging. The plastic is carried down river during monsoonal floods and deposited in rhino habitat as the flood waters recede. The relatively higher rate of plastic detection in rhino dungs from the core zone is probably due to details of rhino ranging, and is a potential threat to other wildlife in the river floodplains. We recommend more detailed studies on the patterns and effects of plastic ingestion by rhinos and other wildlife. A comprehensive waste management system within the landscape is required to reduce such threats.

Differential responses to habitat structure and degradation by two Grassbirds (Fam. Locustellidae) syntopic in floodplain grassland

Differential responses to habitat structure and degradation by two Grassbirds (Fam. Locustellidae) syntopic in floodplain grassland

Microhabitat variables influencing the presence and abundance of birds in floodplain grassland of the lower Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, Bangladesh

Grassland bird communities are likely declining in all major grassland ecosystems globally due to habitat loss and modification, yet knowledge of the status of many tropical grassland bird communities is relatively poor. This study investigated the bird community structure and its associations with vegetation characteristics and potential human impacts in seasonal floodplain grassland along the lower Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, Bangladesh (part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain) during 2018–2019 through point counts of birds combined with vegetation surveys. Bird responses were assessed by diversity indexes, non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination and linear models. Results show that the total resident bird community (31 grassland specialists, 34 generalists and 10 waterbirds) overlapped among the four major vegetation types in the study area (forbs and bushes, Saccharum sp., Cynodon sp. and cropland). The diversity of the total bird community increased with cover of forbs and bushes, while the overall diversity of grassland specialists (those adapted to and reliant on some variety of grassland habitat for part or all of their life cycle whether feeding or breeding.) increased with Saccharum sp. cover but decreased with increased crop cover. The diversity of the total bird community and all grassland specialist birds showed no variation with vegetation height. However, the abundance of grassland specialists showed a strong increase with increases in vegetation height. Among the grassland specialists, nine species that were entirely dependent on tall grasses for breeding were considered as obligate tall grass breeders. The abundance of these tall grass breeders decreased with greater cover of both Cynodon sp. and crops but increased with greater cover of Saccharum sp. The retention of vegetation with heights > 150 cm was therefore important to conservation and management of this community. Regular seasonal herding of cattle in these floodplain grasslands was widespread and it was therefore difficult to compare grazed with ungrazed areas. The diversity of neither the total bird community nor the overall grassland specialists showed any association with grazing intensity. However, grazing impacted negatively on the abundance of obligate tall grass breeders. Limited grass harvesting increased the overall diversity of the grassland specialist bird community. The estimated density of nine species of obligate tall grass breeders ranged from 0.19 to 4.41 birds/ha. Continuing rapid agricultural expansion was observed and is a prominent threat to these birds. More habitat-specific information and monitoring are required to quantify risks and aid conservation planning.

Population status, habitat preference and distribution of Bristled Grassbird Chaetornis striata in Bangladesh

Summary The little-known Bristled Grassbird Chaetornis striata is thought to be declining due to the loss of grassland habitats throughout its range, and is currently classified as globally ‘Vulnerable’. In order to investigate the current status and possible causes of the presumed decline, we assessed population density of Bristled Grassbird in Padma and Jamuna river systems of Bangladesh. The study was conducted during the breeding seasons of the Bristled Grassbird in April and May in 2016–2019, using distance sampling and habitat suitability modelling. We also examined habitat preferences and responses to environmental changes based on vegetation structure and habitat modifications at point count locations. We detected a total of 39 birds with a mean group size of 1.44 individuals. We estimated 4.52 (95% CI: 2.65–7.73) individuals per km2 with an encounter rate of 1.48 detections per point count station and 341.15 birds within the study area. Our habitat suitability model projected a total of 167.41 km2 of suitable habitat and a total of 756.7 birds in floodplain grasslands of Padma and Jamuna river systems. The Bristled Grassbird was positively associated with grass height and grass density with 92.31% of 39 detections at Saccharum spontaneum dominated grasslands. We did not find a significant effect on Bristled Grassbird detections with increasing human activities, although the detection rate decreased linearly with increasing agricultural intervention and grass harvesting. These findings indicate that the Bristled Grassbird is more widely distributed throughout Bangladesh, and may be less vulnerable to grassland modifications, than previously thought.

Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Fritillaria meleagris

Abstract This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Fritillaria meleagris L. (Snake's Head Fritillary). The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation. Fritillaria meleagris is a perennial spring bulb that grows in wet mesotrophic meadows and wet openings in woodlands. In Britain, it is localised to floodplain meadows but occurs as an intentional introduction in a range of habitats. There are several large populations on the floodplains of the River Thames and its tributaries in Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Fritillaria meleagris occurs on mesotrophic alluvium soils often overlaying calcareous gravel with a relatively wide pH range. It favours a high ground water table during winter months and spring followed by good drainage of the soil throughout the summer. Fritillaria meleagris plants regularly experience prolonged dormancy. From 30% to 99% of plants in a population can remain below‐ground for more than a year. Fritillaria meleagris produces nectar and is mainly pollinated in April by bumblebee queens in England. Other pollinators include insects of the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, particularly bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies. The release of the seeds from the pod in May–June can take a month. Seeds require warm and cold treatments for the embryo to fully form. Air pockets aid seed flotation on the surface of flood water for up to a month. The seeds of Fritillaria meleagris do not form a seed bank, germinating either during flotation or on bare ground. Fritillaria meleagris declined in Britain during the 20th century due to agricultural improvement and ploughing of floodplain grasslands. In all, 20 or so remaining populations survive in ancient hay meadows. Several of its British locations receive statutory protection as designated sites. However, recent work suggests that F. meleagris was probably introduced to Britain as an ornamental, and the level of protection it receives is therefore likely to change.

Aeolian sediment transport rates in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet Plateau

Aeolian sediment emission from surfaces and subsequent transport are important geological processes. The Tibet Plateau experiences strong aeolian activity in areas such as the Yarlung Zangbo River basin. The dust storms have caused grounding of aircraft, highway closures, and other consequences for the region's residents. However, few researchers have studied this activity, which means that little knowledge is available on aeolian activity to support efforts to mitigate or prevent aeolian disasters. We measured aeolian sediment transport in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River from 2020 to 2021. Field observations showed spatial and temporal variation of the sediment transport rate, with the greatest aeolian sediment transport in spring and winter. The largest total aeolian sediment transport rate occurred over sandy desert, with the smallest emission by a floodplain grassland. The change in sediment transport rate with height followed an exponential function, but the coefficients differed among landscapes. The mean sediment transport rate was greatest above shifting sand near riverbanks (0.21 kg m−1 d−1), where the sand is exposed in the winter and spring, followed by shifting floodplain sands (0.13 kg m−1 d−1), and was lowest above a floodplain grassland (0.03 kg m−1 d−1). Mean grain size also decreased with increasing height above 0.25 m, with a minimum mean grain size (about 52.6 μm) at 3.0 m above a floodplain grassland, and maximum mean grain size (about 100.2 μm) at 3.0 m above a floodplain shifting sand surface. The spatial variation in sediment transport rates and grain size related to the proportion of fine particles in the surface material. By comparing the aeolian sediment transport over different landscapes, we found that river banks and floodplains, which had rich deposits of very fine sand, silt, and clay, were the major sources of dust in this region. Our results indicate that efforts to mitigate or prevent aeolian disasters require a focus on riverbank and floodplain deposits.

Mosaic habitats at Woranso-Mille (Ethiopia) during the Pliocene and implications for Australopithecus paleoecology and taxonomic diversity

Many important Pliocene hominin specimens have been recovered from Woranso-Mille, a paleontological research area in the Afar region of Ethiopia, including the complete cranium of Australopithecus anamensis, a partial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis, mandibular and maxillary elements representing a new species, Australopithecus deyiremeda, and a partial foot of an as-yet-unnamed species. Woranso-Mille is the only site, so far, to have reported the co-existence of more than one early hominin species between 3.8 and 3.3 Ma and the temporal overlap between A. anamensis and A. afarensis. Thus, the site has important implications for our understanding of the paleoecology and taxonomic diversity of early hominins and their ecological niche. This paper explores the paleohabitats of Woranso-Mille through its faunal community ecological structure and taxonomic composition using correspondence analysis and Forbes modified similarity index. The results suggest that Pliocene Woranso-Mille was a mosaic of different habitat types, with riparian woodland and floodplain grassland along rivers draining into a lake, along with less mesic habitats such as woodland, grassland, and shrubland. The apparent high level of vegetation heterogeneity may have promoted dietary specializations and niche differentiation among the different Australopithecus species at Woranso-Mille and allowed for their co-existence at the site.

The Effect of Willow Short Rotation Coppice Cultivation on the Biodiversity Quality of Ground-Layer Invertebrates

The biodiversity quality of ground-layer invertebrates within the cropped area of a plantation of the biomass crop willow short-rotation coppice (SRC) grown within a floodplain was compared to the biodiversity quality of the neighbouring plots of floodplain grassland and a mixed deciduous woodland plantation. Pitfall traps were used to collect ground beetles (Carabidae) and arachnids (Araneae and Opiliones) in the plots over a period of two years. A range of biodiversity indices was used to assess the biodiversity quality of each of the three plots, and the willow SRC was compared to each of the controls using Mann-Whitney tests. The willow SRC transitioned from almost bare ground to young woodland during the two years of the study, which affected comparisons with alternative land uses as the habitat during the second year was very different from the habitat at the start of the study. Compared to plantation woodland, in the first year, the effect was mostly positive, but this declined in the second year. Compared to grassland there was a largely negative effect in both years. However, when in combination with other habitats, willow SRC cultivation on floodplain land may have an overall positive effect on invertebrate biodiversity quality.

Impact of Accumulated Temperature on Wetland Vegetation Area in燩oyang燣ake

Accumulated temperature, which is now widely used in agronomy, is an important ecological factor to the growth of plants, but few relative studies have been found on the vegetation area of floodplain grasslands in Poyang Lake. This research used the classification and regression tree (CART) to classify normalized vegetation area index derived from MODIS LAI (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Leaf Area Index) images from 2008 to 2014, according to different climate indexes, such as mean daily air temperature (n), accumulated temperature (jw), daily maximum temperature (g), daily minimum temperature (d), accumulative precipitation (j), water level (s) and average water level for 20 days preceding (a). The results showed that: (1) The accumulated temperature and the 20-day average WL (water level) were found to have the greatest impact on variation in wetland vegetation area, and they both dominated the classification process twice; (2) Two classification thresholds of accumulated temperature were 790°C and 1784°C, approximately corresponding to the beginning of April and mid-May; (3) 790°C could also be used as a threshold to select remote sensing images to analysis the annual variability of vegetation, i.e. while accumulated temperature is lower than 790°C, remote sensing images of similar accumulated temperature rather than similar date should be selected from different years for comparison. We also found that, effects of different hydrological factors on area of floodplain grasslands showed stage characteristics: (1) From January to March, water level changes slowly with less rainfall, as a result, the 20-day average WL which can interpret the hydrologic characteristics smoothly showed significant importance in this stage; (2) While entering April, intense rainfall make accumulative precipitation to be the dominating factor of classification; (3) From late April to mid-May, in condition of accumulative precipitation higher than 405 mm, daily water level is of most importance, because to the flood recession process as well as rapid water level fluctuations.

Структура, разнообразие и продукция леймусовых сообществ (Leymus chinensis ((Trin.) Tzvel.) южной части Восточного Забайкалья

The study of the steppe gramineous communities with Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel as a monodominant that vegetate on different soil types of meadow and haloxerophytic steppe and steppe floodplain grasslands within the southern part of Eastern Transbaikalia was performed for the first time. Species composition of Leymus communities is represented by 21 families, 45 genera and 62 species, accounted for 11,3% halophytes, 29% – halotolerant, and 59,7% – glycophytes. Multispecies families are Asteraceae (19), Poaceae (11), and Rosaceae (5). Artemisia (9) and Potentilla (4) are multispecies genera, each of Heteropappus, Poa, and Carex genera had 2 species, and the rest are single-species.L. chinensis as edificator mainly formed the projective cover of communities (40- 80%) that is determined by the soil and ecological conditions of its growth. The community dominant has been established to belong to the forest-steppe group, to be a xeromesophyte, of Central Asian type of areal and represented by long-rhizome biomorphs. It is the positive feature for the effective use of mineral fertilizers. The similarity between communities is in the range of weak to medium due to the significant part of single-species families and genera. Leymus communities are attributed mainly to steppe complex with different variants of xerophytes of Asian type of areal. The main part of biomorphs is represented by rhizomatous species, and the share of perennials is also significant. The similarity between communities was evaluated as weak – medium due to a large number of single-species families and genera. Primary production of L. chinensis communities was estimated to be high (2105-3189 g/m2 per year). The contribution of L. chinensis and each of its components (stems, leaves, ears) separately to the above-ground mass, as well as the role of other species (cereals, sedges, legumes, forbs), united in the group of forbs, was determined first. An assessment of the seasonal rag accumulation, depending on the soil and ecological conditions is given. The largest part of ears in aboveground phytomass was noted only in two communities (4 and 5). The coefficient of seed productivity had the maximum value (52-58%) in descriptions 3 and 4, in the rest – 7,5-14%, caused by adaptation of the species to the long-term climate change, due to increased reserves of nutrients that provide energy for vegetative growth and reproduction, reducing the generative. The underground phytomass consist of 84-94% of the total productivity. Depending on the soil-ecological conditions, the excess of underground phytomass over above-ground varies within 1:5-15. In perspective, the development of a system of rational use and mineral fertilizers application of that increase and improve the productive process in the soil-plant system is required to increase and preserve the productive longevity of Leymus communities in Eastern Transbaikalia.

Changes in Avian Community Composition at a Restored Floodplain Grassland in the Mekong Delta

Reinstating flood pulse dynamics has been identified as a method for restoring biotic communities in altered riverine ecosystems. To explore the impacts of flood pulse management on wet grassland bird communities, we surveyed community composition at a restored floodplain grassland in the Plain of Reeds region of the Mekong Delta. Survey sites were situated at different elevations, allowing us to sample the range of grassland habitats found in the study area. Our surveys coincided with three periods of decade-long water management; two surveys occurred during flood pulse water management, and another followed a decade of year-round high-water management. We used PERMANOVA and NMDS to compare avian community composition between these surveys and used foraging guilds to qualitatively assess the impact of water management separate from turnover in individual species. Community composition differed between all surveys at the lowest elevation site, with detection rates for species associated with ponded water, not grassland ecosystems, highest following high-water management. Some grassland species were absent following high-water management and may have been extirpated from survey sites. In the face of grassland loss across the Mekong Delta, our surveys highlight the value of continued flood pulse management for supporting the conservation of wet grassland birds.

Probable extirpation of the hog deer from China: implications for conservation

AbstractThe hog deer Axis porcinus formerly occurred in south-west China but has not been recorded there since 1965. To investigate the current status of the species in China, we conducted interviews, and transect and camera-trap surveys during October 2018–June 2020 to search for signs of hog deer across its historical range in the country. We interviewed 50 local inhabitants and surveyed 14 line transects in four counties of Lincang City, Yunnan Province. The camera traps were deployed in Nangunhe Nature Reserve (39.4 km of transects, 82 camera stations, 15,120 camera days) and Daxueshan Nature Reserve (41.1 km of transects, 68 camera stations, 13,554 camera days). We found no hog deer tracks and no hog deer were trapped by cameras. The floodplain grasslands preferred by hog deer along Nanting River have been transformed into agriculture plantations and human settlements. Our findings suggest that hog deer may have been extirpated from China, most likely as a result of habitat loss and overhunting. The conservation priorities for this species in China are the establishment of a protected area in the Nanting River watershed, restoration of habitat and reintroduction of individuals from range countries.

Snake’s-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris (Liliaceae) in Britain: its distribution, habitats and status

Snake’s-head Fritillary Fritillaria meleagris L. is a scarce plant of unimproved meadows where it was formerly considered to be a native British species. A review of 593 British sites showed that 80% of British populations were located in other habitats where it had been planted or had established from introductions nearby. Of the 118 populations located in unimproved meadows 53 occurred in floodplain grassland in central and southeast England where it has long been considered to be native. However, recent evidence suggests that it is more likely to be a modern introduction (neophyte). It seems inconceivable that such an attractive plant would have been overlooked in the wild by herbalists in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Furthermore, the rapid growth of introduced populations in meadows in Sweden and England has shown that Fritillary populations in Britain could have reached their present size in the 300 years since they were first recorded in the wild. Historical accounts prove that it was being grown for ornament in large gardens in the sixteenth century, from where it presumably escaped along rivers to colonise meadows downstream. Regardless of its status, however, it remains a much-loved and valued component of the British flora and a flagship species for the conservation of floodplain grasslands.

Vegetation of the Dniester Canyon and assessment of its adaptive potential

Syntaxonomy of the natural vegetation of the Dniester Canyon, including 20 classes, 30 orders, 44 alliances, and 71 associations, is presented. The natural vegetation of the canyon is formed by communities of the classes Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae, Quercetea pubescentis, Quercetea robori-petraeae, Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae, Crataego-Prunetea, Festuco-Brometea, Trifolio-Geranietea sanguine, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Sedo-Scleranthetea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Bolboschoenetea maritimi, and Isoëto-Nanojuncetea. Grassland vegetation is characterized by the highest syntaxonomic diversity. Quantitative assessment of syntaxonomic diversity in the three-dimensional system of ecological strategies of species according to Ramensky-Grime (CRS) was carried out. Adaptive capabilities, i.e. the potential for possible further development of forest, shrub and grassland habitats, have been assessed. It has been found that the dynamics of forest shrub, grass meadow and steppe communities is determined by successive endoecogenetic processes. In petrophytic communities, fluctuation changes are not manifested and successional changes are rather limited. Significant fluctuations are inherent in floodplain grasslands that depend on the sharp variability of moisture during the growing season. At the same time, it is emphasized that actual realization of these processes depends on influences of external drivers that can be considered as regulatory factors in possible development of syntaxa.

Factors controlling soil organic carbon stocks in hardwood floodplain forests of the lower middle Elbe River

We assessed key relationships of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks to hydromorphic features, soil texture, C/N ratio, pH, and forest age in hardwood floodplain forests. Floodplain ecosystems play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, particularly due to their SOC storage potential. Interactions between heterogeneous micro-relief and anthropogenically affected vegetation and the hydrologic situation of floodplains make predicting SOC stocks difficult without field validation. Especially within hardwood floodplain forests, the controlling factors for SOC storage remain understudied, whereas these floodplain types can be the largest reservoir for carbon and have a substantial SOC sequestration potential. To determine the controlling factors for SOC storage, we selected 38 hardwood floodplain forest and 11 floodplain grasslands of the lower middle Elbe River and categorized them according to vegetation type (grassland, young forest, or old forest) and hydrologic situation (low-lying or high elevated and active or former floodplain). Profile SOC stocks were determined to a depth of 1 m, and topsoil SOC stocks were related to vegetation and soil characteristics, particularly pedological traits (e.g., hydromorphic features).Forest SOC stocks ranged between 99 and 149 t ha−1. SOC stocks decreased with depth throughout all categories and were unaffected by vegetation type within the same hydrologic situation. Vegetation parameters such as age, basal area, or leaf litter carbon stock had no direct effect on SOC stocks. An active connection to the river had the strongest effect on SOC stocks, with former floodplain sites storing 33% less SOC than the active sites. Within the active floodplains, low sites stored 50% more SOC than high sites. This effect was mainly controlled by relief-affected features such as flooding duration and fine texture, which also were the strongest univariate predictors for SOC stocks (R2 = 0.39 and 0.63). A multiple linear regression showed that fine texture, pH, C/N ratio and forest age can be used to explain 86% of variance in SOC stocks.We conclude that proxies for relief and sedimentation (i.e., hydromorphic features, flooding duration, soil texture, C/N ratio, and pH) are the strongest factors controlling SOC stocks in hardwood floodplain forests. Both can be related to allochthonous carbon inputs, increasing SOC stabilization through the accumulation of fine soil particles, and decreasing aerobic carbon mineralization potential through oxygen scarcity, while vegetation plays only a subordinate role.

Long-term vegetation monitoring in the floodplain grasslands of the lower Havel Valley (northeastern Germany) and conclusions for sustainable management practices

As a result of water regulation measures and the subsequent introduction of intensive use practices, riverine floodplains have suffered severe habitat and species losses. With the changed economic conditions and decrease in animal stocking rates after 1990, opportunities arose for the partial restoration of species-rich vegetation areas in East Germany. Sixty permanent plots were established in the lower Havel Valley in the federal state of Brandenburg from 1993 to 1999. We studied the effects of extensification and partial rewetting in this area during a monitoring programme that lasted until 2018. For this purpose, groundwater levels, historical land use, and soil chemical parameters were investigated, and the soil seed bank and phytosociological relevés were sampled. Previous research has shown that an extended period of intensive grassland use eliminates the possibility of success in short- to medium-term natural restoration because of the lack of suitable propagules. Our question was as follows: how does a floodplain grassland respond to extensification and decreased water regulation in an area that experienced a shorter period of intensification in the past, such as the lower Havel floodplain? Tests of soil samples showed a depleted soil seed bank at the beginning of the monitoring period, but the seed bank was less depleted than those in other areas. Using cluster analysis followed by discriminant analysis, we identified water regime parameters and historical land-use intensity as the main drivers of vegetation differentiation. The classification resulted in the differentiation of vegetation into 13 plant communities. Plant communities were combined into 5 main groups based on their location in the ordination diagram of a detrended correspondence analysis. The shift in group centroids over time correlated with increases in the species diversity and moisture level for all groups. The altered species composition as a result of the changed water regime after 1990 influenced the usability of the grassland differently depending on the relief level. At the end of monitoring, vegetation at sites in the mesic moisture range was determined to have the highest fodder quality observed in this study. With increasing mean groundwater levels, the forage quality of the vegetation decreased until it was so low that the vegetation was hardly suitable for use as animal forage. The plant species diversity was negatively correlated with the plant-available P and Ellenberg N indicator value. Plant-available P, K and Mg showed evidence of leaching during the later study period. The abundance of red-listed species and extensive-use indicator species increased over the course of the study period. This positive trend was reversed by the extreme flood event in the summer of 2013. However, the high species richness and the species compositions of the reference communities were not equal in the other communities, even after almost 30 years of extensification. This finding underlines the importance of the few remaining meadows that are rich in typical floodplain species as donor areas of autochthonous seeds. The results of this study are discussed in light of sustainable management practices and global climate change.

Convergent acoustic community structure in South Asian dry and wet grassland birds.

ABSTRACTAlthough the study of bird acoustic communities has great potential in long-term monitoring and conservation, their assembly and dynamics remain poorly understood. Grassland habitats in South Asia comprise distinct biomes with unique avifauna, presenting an opportunity to address how community-level patterns in acoustic signal space arise. Similarity in signal space of different grassland bird assemblages may result from phylogenetic similarity, or because different bird groups partition the acoustic resource, resulting in convergent distributions in signal space. Here, we quantify the composition, signal space and phylogenetic diversity of bird acoustic communities from dry semiarid grasslands of northwest India and wet floodplain grasslands of northeast India, two major South Asian grassland biomes. We find that acoustic communities occupying these distinct biomes exhibit convergent, overdispersed distributions in signal space. However, dry grasslands exhibit higher phylogenetic diversity, and the two communities are not phylogenetically similar. The Sylvioidea encompasses half the species in the wet grassland acoustic community, with an expanded signal space compared to the dry grasslands. We therefore hypothesize that different clades colonizing grasslands partition the acoustic resource, resulting in convergent community structure across biomes. Many of these birds are threatened, and acoustic monitoring will support conservation measures in these imperiled, poorly-studied habitats. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Rezervaţia peisajeră „La 33 de Vaduri”

The landscape reserve “Thirty-three Fords”, with an area of 244.7 ha, was evaluated floristically and phytocoenotically in the summer of 2011. The presence of Carpineto-Quercetum roboris forest with natural 70-100 year old stands was proved. Artificial black locust and coniferous forests occupy 38.7 %. In the valley of the Naslavcea River, the floodplain grassland vegetation persists, and on the slopes without forests – xeric grasslands. In the landscape reserve “Thirty-three Fords”, 13 rare plant species mentioned in the Environmental Legislation of the Republic of Moldova (1996-1998) were identified.

Anfibios de una Reserva Natural del departamento Las Colonias, Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina

In this work, we report the amphibian fauna composition of a natural protected area locatednear Esperanza city, Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It opened to the public in 2015, with yetno baseline inventory of amphibian species. Additionally, we evaluated the presence of the amphibianparasitic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). We carried out eleven samplingsfrom October 2015 to March 2016 in three environmental units: native forest, exotic forest,and floodplain grasslands. The sampling methods we used were live pit-fall traps with driftfences, auditory encounters, and visual encounters. Sixteen species belonging to 9 genera and4 families were recorded. October was the month with the highest specific richness. Bd-specificreal-time Taqman qPCR made on skin swabs made on 11 species were all negative. Even small,the amphibian species identified in the protected area represent ca. 30% of the anurans alreadyreported for Santa Fe, and 9% of the Argentinean batracofauna.