Plant Community Development Research Articles

EBryoSoil: a citizen science application to monitor changes in soil ecosystems.

Biological soil covers (BSCs) play a pivotal role in ecosystem functioning by enhancing soil stability, mediating nutrient cycling, and influencing soil hydrology. Recognized as ecosystem engineers, they can physically modify, maintain, or create habitats, facilitating plant community development. Through these intricate interactions, BSCs contribute significantly to ecological processes, highlighting their importance in the overall health and functionality of the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Here we present the results obtained from the contributions of the citizen scientists uploaded from November 2019 to January 2021 with eBryoSoil, an app that allows citizens to participate in mapping the BSC communities across the Iberian Peninsula. Here, we emphasize the importance of habitats and consequently, their interaction with climatic variables for the persistence of BSCs (lichens and bryophytes). Conservation efforts targeted at preserving diverse habitats are essential to ensure the continued presence of lichen and bryophyte communities. Despite challenges posed by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, this citizen science project demonstrated success in utilizing a specifically tailored app to gather valuable information on BSC communities, providing insights into their vulnerability to climate change. This program serves as an illustrative example of how citizen science can effectively identify and study vulnerable habitats, offering a blueprint for future studies focused on understudied organisms.

Native seed mix richness impacts revegetation of reclaimed land

Interest in using native plant species for land reclamation and ecological restoration continues to increase. Yet sufficient knowledge of characteristics of native species for revegetation, specifically their response in field settings, continues to lag. Thus our study was conducted to determine whether the richness of native seed mixes impacted plant community development following reclamation in the Aspen Parkland ecoregion of Alberta, Canada. Four seed mixes were used: mix I with 6 grasses, mix II with 10 grasses, mix III with 6 grasses and 10 forbs, and mix IV with 10 grasses and 10 forbs. Each seed mix was designed with equal amounts of pure live seed for each species. After two growing seasons, seed mix richness generally had little or no effect on seeded species richness, individual seeded species, density, non-seeded species density, and ground cover, except for seeded forbs. Seed mixes II and III, with moderate species richness, provided the most benefit for developing species rich communities. Seeding with high species richness is more expensive, sometimes difficult to procure seed, and may not associate with communities of greater species richness, negating their need.

Manipulated microtopography alters plant community development in fragile farm–pastoral transition zone

Abstract The ecosystems within agro-pastoral transition zones exhibit inherent fragility and heightened susceptibility to climate variability, exacerbated by profound degradation resulting from anthropogenic activities. Subsequent vegetation degradation in these areas precipitates severe soil erosion, presenting formidable challenges for ecological restoration efforts. The utilization of microtopographic structures to mitigate soil erosion and facilitate vegetation recovery stands as a prominent strategy for vegetation restoration within agro-pastoral transition zones. Despite the acknowledgment in current restoration practices that the efficacy of microtopography-based restoration is contingent upon slope, aspect and elevation, there remains a notable absence of precise observed information on this correlation. This study, conducted in the Bashang Grassland, a typical agro-pastoral transition zone in northern China, aims to fill the information gap concerning the correspondence between microtopographic structures and restoration outcomes. Our findings revealed that microtopography has a significant impact on vegetation characteristics, with outcomes varying by location. Shaded slopes displayed higher biomass and density compared with sunny slopes and valleys. While microtopography affected community structure, it did not substantially alter species richness, highlighting the critical role of location and pit construction in successful restoration endeavors. This study provides insights for the selection, design and assessment of microtopography-based restoration in vulnerable ecosystems.

Forest topsoil salvage and placement depth affects oil sands reclamation in the boreal forest.

Reclamation of disturbances from oil sands mining requires effective soil management to ensure successful plant establishment and to promote recovery of native plant communities. In this study we investigated the effects of salvage depths (shallow vs. deep) and placement depths (shallow vs. deep) of forest topsoil on plant establishment, species richness, and soil properties in two substrate types (sand and peat-mineral). Shallow salvage led to greater tree stem densities and higher canopy cover for most plant groups, although there was no significant difference in species richness between shallow and deep salvages. Deep placement generally resulted in greater canopy cover, while its effect on plant density was very small for most plant groups. On peat-mineral substrate, fewer differences were detected between shallow and deep salvage, and multiple treatments resulted in greater cover. Findings suggest that a balance between maximizing the area over which propagules are redistributed and providing sufficient resources for successful plant establishment is necessary. Forest topsoil from shallow salvages and deep placements is recommended when targeting increased site productivity and species diversity. In contrast, deep salvage should be used when the primary objective is to obtain maximum reclamation material volume. Salvage depth effects may be influenced by substrate type, with peat-mineral substrate providing more favourable conditions for plant establishment. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impacts of different salvage and placement depths on plant community development and the potential effects of substrate properties on soil and plant response.

Assembly and succession of the phyllosphere microbiome and nutrient-cycling genes during plant community development in a glacier foreland

The phyllosphere, particularly the leaf surface of plants, harbors a diverse range of microbiomes that play a vital role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of microbial successions and their impact on functional genes during plant community development is limited. In this study, considering core and satellite microbial taxa, we characterized the phyllosphere microbiome and functional genes in various microhabitats (i.e., leaf litter, moss and plant leaves) across the succession of a plant community in a low-altitude glacier foreland. Our findings indicate that phyllosphere microbiomes and associated ecosystem stability increase during the succession of the plant community. The abundance of core taxa increased with plant community succession and was primarily governed by deterministic processes. In contrast, satellite taxa abundance decreased during plant community succession and was mainly governed by stochastic processes. The abundance of microbial functional genes (such as C, N, and P hydrolysis and fixation) in plant leaves generally increased during the plant community succession. However, in leaf litter and moss leaves, only a subset of functional genes (e.g., C fixation and degradation, and P mineralization) showed a tendency to increase with plant community succession. Ultimately, the community of both core and satellite taxa collaboratively influenced the characteristics of phyllosphere nutrient-cycling genes, leading to the diverse profiles and fluctuating abundance of various functional genes during plant community succession. These findings offer valuable insights into the phyllosphere microbiome and plant–microbe interactions during plant community development, advancing our understanding of the succession and functional significance of the phyllosphere microbial community.

Phytocoenotic assessment of herbaceous plant communities in the organic sweet cherry orchard

Biodiversity loss is one on global environmental issues facing humanity. Intensive use of natural resources has led to degradation of landscapes and reduction of the species diversity of plant communities. Therefore, finding natural solutions to overcome these challenges is an urgent issue. The purpose of the study was to investigate the dynamics of floral composition and coenotic structure of herbaceous plant communities in an organic cherry orchard for the sustainable functioning of the agricultural landscape. The dynamics of the coenotic composition of natural grasses of vegetation cover in the organic cherry orchard was studied during 2013-2020 in the arid conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine on low-humus sandy loam soils. Morphological, ecological, and geographical methods were used to investigate the species diversity of flora in an organic garden. The composition of herbaceous plant communities was estimated using conbentional geobotanic description methods. The results of the study of the species composition and coenotic structure of plant communities of grass cover in an organic sweet cherry orchard are presented. Grassing of the garden with natural grasses has led to the enrichment of agricultural landscapes with useful species that are important components of sustainable agricultural systems and can perform ecological services. Colonisation of the grass cover by invasive and quarantine species was not observed due to natural processes of demutation succession and the use of moderate four-fold mowing of plants during the growing season (to a height of 15- 20 cm). As part of herbal plant communities in the 8th year of research, all species were useful, had medicinal properties, and served as a food base. The natural grasses in an organic sweet cherry orchard are a resource of biomass and biodiversity. Phytocoenotic analysis of the grass cover in the organic cherry orchard will allow substantiating and proposing principles for predicting the development of plant communities to optimise their structure, improve quality, and maintain biodiversity

Seeding season and mowing affect native plant community development on reclaimed aspen parkland

ABSTRACT Land use intensification and rising production inputs continue to negatively affect many ecosystem services with significant challenges to restore these ecosystem services in the disturbed landscape. Using native species to revegetate disturbed ecosystems continues to gain momentum. An understanding of the role of seeding season and mowing in native plant community development is required to improve reclamation success. Research using 20 native grasses and forbs was conducted to determine how seeding season (fall, spring) and mowing (mowed, unmowed) influenced revegetation of grassland reclamation sites in Alberta, Canada. Species density, biovolume, richness and ground cover were assessed over two growing seasons. Density, biovolume and species richness of seeded grasses and forbs were generally higher in spring than fall seeded treatments, whereas non-seeded grasses and forbs were lower in spring seeded treatments. During the first growing season, mowing increased seeded species density and biovolume and decreased non-seeded species biovolume, with no effect on seeded species in the second growing season. Mowing and fall seeding decreased bare ground in the second growing season. The outcomes of this study suggest grasses and forbs were more successful when spring seeded versus fall seeded, and beyond the first growing season the influence of mowing was negligible.

2011–2015年洞庭湖洲滩群落植物生态型、生活型和生长型组成数据集

Analyzing plant life-forms and ecotypes can provide deep insights into the relationship between plant community structure and environmental conditions, and plant life-forms play an important role in understanding the emergence, development, and succession laws of plant community. An investigation was made on the species life-forms and ecotypes of wetland plants in Dongting lake wetland. In accordance with the unified monitoring specifications of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), the Dongting Lake Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station conducts long-term positioning monitoring on the species composition, species life-forms, growth forms and ecotypes of typical beach vegetation in the wetland ecosystem in response to the changing hydrological conditions of Dongting Lake. The dataset of long-term monitoring conducted on three typical plant communities (Carex sp., Miscanthus lutarioriparius and Polygonum hydropiper) in Dongting Lake wetland has been verified by experts to ensure the accuracy of the data. We then classified and processed the data to obtain the dataset of community composition of plant life-forms, growth forms and ecotypes on Dongting Lake beach (2011–2015). The dataset covers a total of 8 indicators, namely species name, Latin name, life-form, growth form, ecotype according to light intensity, ecotype according to water requirement, ecotype based on soil pH and ecotype according to responses sediment burial. This dataset comes with detailed background information to ensure its consistency across both spatial and temporal dimensions. This dataset comes with detailed background information about site information and site management records to ensure its consistency across both spatial and temporal dimensions. This dataset can provide support for the analysis of the classification of plant life forms and the composition and structure of ecotypes, and serve as valuable reference for further study of vegetation succession in Dongting Lake wetland.

Success in restoring native plant communities on kimberlite mining dumps in the Afro-alpine Drakensberg region of Lesotho.

Rehabilitation strategies for degraded mine dumps have generally seen limited success due to different complications associated with mining biophysical disturbance. In this study, we tested a combination of two methods to expedite revegetation of kimberlite tailings at Letseng Diamond Mine (i.e., in the Afro-alpine areas of Lesotho). We ran trials on different growth media located on fine and coarse kimberlite tailings (i.e. sites) mixed with different substrate combinations and topsoil and sowing a seed mix comprised of native plant species. Overall, as predicted, fine kimberlite tailings displayed significantly higher plant abundance than coarse kimberlite tailings, and sown seeds performed significantly better than spontaneous colonisation by emerging species. Kimberlite tailings mixed with topsoil (100 mm) showed significantly greater plant abundance, and similarly, when coarse kimberlite tailings were introduced to fine tailings. Physicochemical analyses of growth media components suggested that topsoil provided additional nutrients and that plants could readily access available nutrients in the fine kimberlite tailings. We noted a gradual significant increase in plant abundance over 5 years, enhanced by new plant species emerging from the topsoil seed bank or by natural seed dispersal. Although plant abundance differed significantly, both fine and coarse kimberlite tailings displayed high plant species diversity (H = 3.4 and D = 0.95 and H = 3.5 and D = 0.95, respectively). Out of 36 emerging plant species, 15 species spontaneously colonised both growth media. The significant variation in abundance among plant species between treatments was mostly attributed to dominant forb species, namely Chrysocoma ciliata, Glumicalyx montanus, Oxalis obliquifolia, Senecio inaequidens and Trifolium burchellianum. We have identified suitable growth media for plant community restoration on kimberlite tailings in the Drakensberg alpine area using a seed mix of native plant species in combination with natural seed dispersal from the surrounding pristine environment. We provide evidence for using two complementary approaches to optimise native plant community development during restoration in the Drakensberg alpine area.

Differential Analysis of Island Mountain Plant Community Characteristics: Ecological Sensitivity Perspectives

Island plants form the foundation for maintaining the ecology of an island. With the development of the island’s infrastructure, its ecosystems become damaged to a certain extent. A comprehensive understanding of island habitats and plant community characteristics is crucial for the development of island plant communities. This paper focuses on Pingtan Island in Fujian Province, China, as the research subject. Firstly, considering the significance of the wind environment on the island, this study constructed a wind environment model for the entire island of Pingtan to evaluate the ecological sensitivity from a macro perspective. Subsequently, 33 typical sample plots were selected based on different ecologically sensitive areas to conduct a micro-survey and the characterization of the montane plant communities on Pingtan Island. The findings reveal that (1) Pingtan Island’s ecological sensitivity is dominated by areas with ecological insensitivity (35.72%), moderate ecological sensitivity (33.99%), and high ecological sensitivity (18.02%). The soil texture, wind environment, and land use type are the primary influencing factors in the ecological sensitivity of Pingtan Island. (2) A total of 47 families, 82 genera, and 93 species of plants were investigated in a typical sample site in the mountainous area of Pingtan Island. The plant community structure was dominated by the successional stage of shrubs and herbs. There is some similarity in the plant composition of different ecologically sensitive areas. High ecologically sensitive areas have more species. As sensitivity increases, the dominant species in the three ecologically sensitive areas continue to undergo plant succession from Acacia confusa to Pinus thunbergii to Eurya emarginata. (3) Both community characteristics and species diversity vary between sensitive areas. The canopy density (CD) and the mean height of tree layer (MHTL) are higher in moderate ecologically sensitive areas. The mean tree diameter at breast height (MDBH) and the mean height of shrub layer (MHSL) are higher in high ecologically sensitive areas, while the mean height of herb layer (MHHL) is higher in extreme ecologically sensitive areas. Four diversity indicators increase with increasing sensitivity. In the moderate and high ecologically sensitive areas, Casuarina equisetifolia and A. confusa thrive, with Pinus thunbergii showing the opposite trend. However, species diversity is better characterized by A. confusa and P. thunbergii, with C. equisetifolia being the least diverse. Both the community characteristics and species diversity of P. thunbergii are optimal in extreme ecologically sensitive areas. In this study, the ecological sensitivity of Pingtan Island and the characteristics of montane plant communities were systematically analyzed to explore more stable montane plant communities on the island, aiming to provide a scientific basis and model reference for the ecological restoration and sustainable development of Pingtan Island and other islands.

Local site conditions, not landscape context, influence restored plant communities within urban contexts

Restoration outcomes are variable, which impairs our ability to plan projects, meet goals, and predict restoration outcomes. Understanding the drivers of this variation is an important research need, especially within urban ecosystems, which support altered abiotic and biotic conditions and face higher rates of loss and degradation than non‐urban areas. Despite the importance of urban areas for restoration, research and practice have largely focused on non‐urban areas. It is unclear if we can extend current knowledge from restoration ecology to urban systems. Here, we surveyed 30 urban prairie restoration plantings across southern Michigan. We collected plant community and site condition data (e.g. soil attributes) and we quantified landscape context as the percentage of urban land surrounding each site. Variation in plant community composition among restorations was related primarily to site‐level factors, such as soil compaction, texture, and water‐holding capacity, rather than landscape context. Non‐prairie species were structured primarily by the local site conditions. There was an increase in non‐prairie richness for sites that experienced warmer local climate conditions, while there was a decrease in non‐prairie richness for sites where soils were less compacted, sandier, and had elevated water‐holding capacity. Prairie species richness responded oppositely. Overall, our study revealed specific factors structuring restoration outcomes in urban contexts and illustrated the importance of local site conditions, not surrounding landscape context, for shaping plant community composition. Restoration practices developed in non‐urban areas should be extended to urban contexts to better understand the impact of local site conditions on plant community development.

Status of E-Commerce as Correlated to the Development of Plant Community

During the time of the pandemic in 2020, it is notable that the trend of plants flourished. However, at present, there is a decline in demand. The Municipality of Bay, Province of Laguna, is recognized as the "Garden Capital of Laguna," brimming with various plants. The local plant community represents the largest community in the Bay. Thus, the Local Government Unit of Bay acknowledges the necessity to empower and develop this plant community. This research aimed to establish a correlation between the status of e-commerce and the sustainable development of the plant community. The study utilized a descriptive research design and employed a self-made questionnaire to gather information and data from the entire population of respondents. The data collected from the survey were tallied and interpreted. The results revealed that ornamental plants significantly correlate with all the factors of sustainable development of plant communities. Furthermore, both home gardening and plant parenting showed a significant correlation with all the factors of sustainable development of plant community. Among the types of e-commerce, business-to-consumer (B2C) was the only one found to have a significant correlation with the factors of sustainable plant community development. Facebook exhibited greater significance concerning the factors of sustainable development of plant community compared to online selling websites/apps.

Phyllosphere microbial associations improve plant reproductive success.

The above-ground (phyllosphere) plant microbiome is increasingly recognized as an important component of plant health. We hypothesized that phyllosphere bacterial recruitment may be disrupted in a greenhouse setting, and that adding a bacterial amendment would therefore benefit the health and growth of host plants. Using a newly developed synthetic phyllosphere bacterial microbiome for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), we tested this hypothesis across multiple trials by manipulating microbial inoculation of leaves and measuring subsequent plant growth and reproductive success, comparing results from plants grown in both greenhouse and field settings. We confirmed that greenhouse-grown plants have a relatively depauperate phyllosphere bacterial microbiome, which both makes them an ideal system for testing the impact of phyllosphere communities on plant health and important targets for microbial amendments as we move towards increased agricultural sustainability. We find that the addition of the synthetic microbial community early in greenhouse growth leads to an increase in fruit production in this setting, implicating the phyllosphere microbiome as a key component of plant fitness and emphasizing the role that these bacterial microbiomes likely play in the ecology and evolution of plant communities.

Establishing peat-forming plant communities: A comparison of wetland reclamation methods in Alberta's oil sands region.

The Sandhill Wetland (SW) and Nikanotee Fen (NF) are two wetland research projects designed to test the viability of peatland reclamation in the Alberta oil sands post-mining landscape. To identify effective approaches for establishing peat-forming vegetation in reclaimed wetlands, we evaluated how plant introduction approaches and water level gradients influence species distribution, plant community development, and the establishment of bryophyte and peatland species richness and cover. Plant introduction approaches included seeding with a Carex aquatilis-dominated seed mix, planting C. aquatilis and Juncus balticus seedlings, and spreading a harvested moss layer transfer. Establishment was assessed 6 years after the introduction at SW and 5 years after the introduction at NF. In total, 51 species were introduced to the reclaimed wetlands, and 122 species were observed after 5 and 6 years. The most abundant species in both reclaimed wetlands was C. aquatilis, which produced dense canopies and occupied the largest water level range of observed plants. Introducing C. aquatilis also helped to exclude marsh plants such as Typha latifolia that has little to no peat accumulation potential. Juncus balticus persisted where the water table was lower and encouraged the formation of a diverse peatland community and facilitated bryophyte establishment. Various bryophytes colonized suitable areas, but the moss layer transfer increased the cover of desirable peat-forming mosses. Communities with the highest bryophyte and peatland species richness and cover (averaging 9 and 14 species, and 50%-160% cover respectively) occurred where the summer water level was between -10 and -40 cm. Outside this water level range, a marsh community of Typha latifolia dominated in standing water and a wet meadow upland community of Calamagrostis canadensis and woody species established where the water table was deeper. Overall, the two wetland reclamation projects demonstrated that establishing peat-forming vascular plants and bryophytes is possible, and community formation is dependent upon water level and plant introduction approaches. Future projects should aim to create microtopography with water tables within 40 cm of the surface and introduce vascular plants such as J. balticus that facilitate bryophyte establishment and support the development of a diverse peatland plant community.

The role of ancient human settlements in creating nutrient hotspots in a savanna ecosystem, central Zimbabwe

Ancient human settlements play an important role in creating heterogeneous African savanna ecosystems through forming nutrient hotspots with increased biodiversity and improved forage quality. However, plant community development and herbivore utilization of these sites after abandonment remain poorly understood. We compared plant and soil parameters in ancient human settlements with off-sites locations. In addition, we set camera traps in ancient settlements and surrounding vegetation to determine their use by herbivores. Grass basal cover, height, biomass and species diversity in ancient settlements had recovered to similar levels with the surrounding landscape. Ancient settlements had small trees (in terms of height and canopy volume), lower tree density and lower species diversity than the surrounding landscape. Soil phosphorus and calcium were higher in ancient settlements than surrounding landscape, while pH, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and sodium were similar between the two sites. Impala and greater kudu camera sightings were higher in ancient settlements than surrounding vegetation, while warthogs showed no preferential foraging between ancient settlements and surrounding vegetation. We conclude that ancient settlements created functional heterogeneity through altering the structure of savanna vegetation influencing foraging patterns of herbivores such as impala.

Twenty-Eight Years of Plant Community Development and Dynamics in the Balize Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana, USA

Deltaic landscapes go through cycles of birth, growth, decline, and death governed by intertwined geological, biological, and ecological processes. In this study, we tracked deltaic lobes in the Balize Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana, USA, over 28 years (1984–2012). Hydrologic and geomorphic patterns as well as sustained patterns of wetland plant richness, diversity, and biomass are described. Plant diversity and biomass were modeled by nMDS ordination. Taxa (53) were harvested and dried (116,706 g) from 965 (0.25 m2) plots and divided into three groups: I. four foundation species, corresponding to 78.9% of the total harvest; II. nine pioneer species, corresponding to 13.6% of the total harvest; and III. all other taxa, corresponding to 7.5% of the total harvest (eight miscellaneous grasses, eight miscellaneous sedges, and twenty-four miscellaneous herbs). Autogenic/allogenic processes (sedimentation, subsidence, plant colonization, and succession events) affected composition and biomass. Eleven important species were identified. Taxon richness increased on mudflats during primary succession (fifteen to twenty-five taxa per site), then declined to fewer than five taxa per site. The niche space theory explained patterns of community change, with a similar total biomass/yr (~500 g/m2/yr) at all study sites. Quantile regression analyses showed that the water quality and quantity of the Mississippi River influenced biomass, especially in springtime waters. Stochastic events (storms, herbivory, salt burn, and flood pulses) impacted biomass. Long-term studies like this are required in a future of climate unknowns.

Advances in the Biosynthesis of Terpenoids and Their Ecological Functions in Plant Resistance.

Secondary metabolism plays an important role in the adaptation of plants to their environments, particularly by mediating bio-interactions and protecting plants from herbivores, insects, and pathogens. Terpenoids form the largest group of plant secondary metabolites, and their biosynthesis and regulation are extremely complicated. Terpenoids are key players in the interactions and defense reactions between plants, microorganisms, and animals. Terpene compounds are of great significance both to plants themselves and the ecological environment. On the one hand, while protecting plants themselves, they can also have an impact on the environment, thereby affecting the evolution of plant communities and even ecosystems. On the other hand, their economic value is gradually becoming clear in various aspects of human life; their potential is enormous, and they have broad application prospects. Therefore, research on terpenoids is crucial for plants, especially crops. This review paper is mainly focused on the following six aspects: plant terpenes (especially terpene volatiles and plant defense); their ecological functions; their biosynthesis and transport; related synthesis genes and their regulation; terpene homologues; and research and application prospects. We will provide readers with a systematic introduction to terpenoids covering the above aspects.

Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration

Political discourse around coastal wetland restoration and blue carbon management strategies has increased in the past decade, yet carbon storage has neither been a reason for restoration, nor a criterion to measure the success of current saltmarsh restoration schemes in the UK. To maximise climate change mitigation through saltmarsh restoration, knowledge on the key drivers of carbon stock variability is required. We use restored saltmarshes of similar age, paired with adjacent natural marshes as references, to identify drivers of carbon stocks following managed realignment within an estuary in southeastern England. From surficial soil cores (top 30 cm), we measured carbon stock alongside environmental characteristics. Carbon stock between natural and restored sites were similar after ~ 30 years when restored sites were above mean high water neap (MHWN) tidal levels. Elevated marsh platforms likely provide suitable conditions for the development of mature plant communities associated with greater capture and production of organic carbon. The restored site at Tollesbury (Essex, UK) had a 2-fold lower carbon stock than other restored sites in the estuary. We attribute this to the site’s low position in the tidal frame, below MHWN tidal levels, coupled with low sediment supply and the dominance of pioneer plant communities. As blue carbon is anticipated to become an important facet of saltmarsh restoration, we recommend that sites above MHWN tidal levels are selected for managed realignment or that preference is given to coastlines with a high sediment supply that may rapidly elevate realignment sites above MHWN. Alternatively, elevation could be artificially raised prior to realignment. Restoration schemes aiming to maximise climate change mitigation should also encourage the establishment of key plant species (e.g., Atriplex portulacoides in our study) to enhance carbon stocks. However, the overall goal of restoration ought to be carefully considered as trade-offs in ecosystem services may ensue if restoration for climate change mitigation alone is pursued.

Ecological niche overlap in the Arctic vegetation influenced by seabirds

In the High Arctic, nutrients are the most limiting resources, so terrestrial vegetation is of low complexity and grows slowly. However, locally, large seabird colonies increase soil fertility by deposition of faeces, supporting the development of rich and fast-growing plant communities. Here, we assessed how seabird colonies affected ecological niche segregation of plants, across the fertilisation gradient. Study sites were located near five little auk colonies, distributed longitudinally across the Svalbard archipelago. We described vascular plant composition and identified 13 environmental variables, based on which, we calculated and tested the niche overlap (NO) between the 18 most frequent species. Based on the hierarchical classification of the NO matrix, we distinguished typical High Arctic Vegetation (HAV), and Bird-Cliff Vegetation (BCV). The BCV was characterised by higher average NO and soil δ15N compared to HAV. The highest NO values across the fertilisation gradient were found on the border between the distinguished communities and were positively correlated with species diversity. We suggest that in the High Arctic, seabirds-delivered nutrients lead to the development of separate plant communities through the mechanism of avoiding inter-species competition, while simultaneous high species diversity and NO are related to high facilitation between plants on the border between the communities.

Plant succession on glacial moraines in the Arctic Brooks Range along a >125,000-year glacial chronosequence/toposequence

ABSTRACT Widespread glacial retreat is now occurring in many arctic mountain ranges, yet little is known about primary succession following deglaciation in these settings. Newly created habitats could provide refugia for flora and fauna whose ranges are threatened elsewhere by rapid warming. To assess vegetation responses to glacial retreat in an arctic–alpine setting, we first describe plant community development on two recently deglaciated moraines in the Brooks Range. We then compare these recent communities with communities developed along a moraine chronosequence that spans >125,000 years and ranges in altitude between 800 and 1,700 m.a.s.l. Results show that (1) within twenty-two to thirty-six years following deglaciation, primary succession begins with the assembly of small communities of eight to thirteen vascular and nonvascular plant species; (2) species turnover is low, with many pioneer taxa, particularly lichens, persisting at the oldest sites and across all altitudes; and (3) overall, succession is directional and slow, with species richness increasing for up to 25,000 years, and percentage vegetation cover reaching >100 percent on the oldest glacial deposits. This is the first vegetation study on primary succession in the high central Brooks Range, and it supplies a previously missing alpine element within a vegetation transect across northern Alaska’s bioclimatic gradient.