Vascular Plant Species Richness Research Articles

Maintaining habitat diversity at small scales benefits wild bees and pollination services in mountain apple orchards

Abstract Landscape context influences wild bee abundance and diversity, alongside pollination‐related services. Growing evidence supports the positive effects of landscape heterogeneity on bee diversity and fruit production for pollination‐dependent crops in flatlands. However, little remains known about these relationships in mountainous environments where the landscape matrix surrounding crops is often more complex than in lowlands. We conducted our study in apple orchards in South Tyrol, an Alpine region in Italy, using pan‐traps, direct observations of visitation frequency and a pollinator exclusion experiment. We investigated the scale‐dependent effects of landscape heterogeneity and other parameters on wild bee assemblages and the related pollination service they provide at five spatial scales (radius 100–2000 m). We found that landscape heterogeneity positively affected the abundance and richness of wild bees, with the strongest effect at 500 m. We calculated a multidiversity index, reflecting the land‐use intensity based on the species richness of vascular plants, grasshoppers, butterflies, birds and bats. We identified a positive relationship between this multidiversity index and wild bee richness. Additionally, we found that visitation rate of wild bees was negatively affected by crop cover and that abundance of honeybees did not influence wild bee visitation rate or reproductive success. Finally, reproductive success was positively related to semi‐natural habitat cover. Landscape heterogeneity should be maintained in apple orchards to continue to reap the benefits of vital pollination‐related services. Diversification strategies should be implemented to promote habitat diversity at small scales, even in regions with more than 80% of (semi‐)natural habitats.

Topographic Complexity Is a Principal Driver of Plant Endemism in Mediterranean Islands.

The frequency of endemism in the flora of Mediterranean Islands does not follow a straightforward species-area relationship, and the determinants of endemism are several and complex. The aim of this study was to estimate the explanatory power of a small number of variables on the species richness of vascular plants on selected Mediterranean islands and archipelagos, and on the proportion of narrow endemism in each. We used a novel approach whereby the topographic complexity and isolation of an island were estimated through more detailed methods than those utilised previously. These parameters, along with island area and human population density, were used in a number of regression models with the number of taxa or proportion of endemics as the dependent variables. The results demonstrated that 'topography', a factor that was not specifically included in previous models for Mediterranean islands, exerted a consistent, statistically significant effect on both the number of taxa as well as the proportion of endemic taxa, in all models tested. The 'isolation' factor was not a significant predictor of the number of taxa in any of the models but was a statistically significant predictor of the proportion of endemic taxa in two of the models. The results can be used to make broad predictions about the expected number of taxa and endemics on an island, enabling the categorisation of islands as 'species-poor' or 'species-rich', potentially aiding conservation efforts.

Geodiversity data for Europe.

Geodiversity is an essential part of nature's diversity. However, geodiversity is insufficiently understood in terms of its spatial distribution and its relationship to biodiversity over large spatial extents. Here, we present European geodiversity data at resolutions of 1 km and 10 km. We assess terrestrial geodiversity quantitatively as a richness variable (georichness) using a commonly employed grid-based approach. The data incorporate aspects of geological, pedological, geomorphological and hydrological diversity, which are also available as separate richness variables. To evaluate the data, we correlated European georichness with empirically tested national georichness data from Finland, revealing a positive correlation at both 1 km (rp = 0.37, p < 0.001) and 10 km (rp = 0.59, p < 0.001) resolutions. We also demonstrate potential uses of the European data by correlating georichness with vascular plant species richness in two contrasting example areas: Finland and Switzerland. The positive correlations between georichness and species richness in Finland (rp = 0.34, p < 0.001) and Switzerland (rp = 0.26, p < 0.001) further support the use of our data in geodiversity-biodiversity research. Moreover, there is great potential beyond geodiversity-biodiversity questions, as the data can be exploited across different regions, ecosystems and scales. These geodiversity data provide an insight on abiotic diversity in Europe and establish a quantitative large-scale geodiversity assessment method applicable worldwide. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Geodiversity for science and society'.

Vascular plant communities and biocrusts act as controlling factors in mitigating soil erosion on the Great Wall in a semi-humid area of Northwestern China

The Great Wall, a World Heritage Site and a vertical wall habitat, is under threat of soil erosion. The role of vascular plants and biocrust in controlling soil erosion has attracted attention, yet our knowledge of the underlying mechanism is limited, and there is a lack of systematic strategies for erosion prevention and control. In this study, we quantified the vascular plant community functional composition (including species diversity, functional diversity, and community-weighted mean), biocrust coverage, and soil erosion levels associated with seven different zones (lower, middle, and upper zones on East and West faces, plus wall crest) of the Great Wall. We then employed a combination of linear regression analysis, random forest model, and structural equation model to evaluate the individual and combined effects, as well as the direction and relative importance of these factors in reducing soil erosion. The results indicated that the vascular plant species richness, species diversity, functional richness, community-weighted mean, and moss crust coverage decreased significantly from the crest to the lower zone of the Great Wall (P < 0.05), and were negatively correlated with the soil erosion area and depth on both sides of the Great Wall (P < 0.05). This suggests that higher zones on the wall favored the colonization and growth of biocrusts and vascular plants and that biocrusts and vascular plants reduced soil erosion on the wall. Based on these findings, we propose a “restoration framework” for managing soil erosion on walls, based on biocrust and vascular plant communities (namely target species selection, plant community construction, biocrust inoculation, and maintenance of community stability), which aims to address the urgent need for more effective soil erosion prevention and control strategies on the Great Wall and provide practical methods that practitioners can utilize.

Wealth of Vascular Plants of Avani Seeds Vidhya Sankul, Mehsana, Dist. Mehsana, North Gujarat, India

The present study was aimed at determining the vascular plant species richness of the Avani seeds vidhya-sankul, Mehsana campus. For this, the species richness data was obtained by both secondary sources and intensive surveys from 2020-2022. Campus is extended over 8 acres of land. The campus area are the representative of climax vegetation and exhibit the diversity of species such as trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers and other shade loving herbs. Botanical gardens have valuable medicinal and other plants having high economic value. The data from the primary and secondary sources resulted in the documentation of 284 species belonging to 239 genera under 86 families. Leguminosae and Poaceae were the dominant dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous families respectively. 96% species are belonging angiosperms plants and Zemia pygmea Sims is a rare plants belonging gymnosperms in campus.

How diverse are the mountain karst forests of Mexico?

Tropical forests on karstic relief (tropical karst forest) are among the most species-rich biomes. These forests play pivotal roles as global climate regulators and for human wellbeing. Their long-term conservation could be central to global climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. In Mexico, karst landscapes occupy 20% of the total land surface and are distributed mainly in the southeast of the country, along the eastern slope, and in the Yucatan Peninsula. Within each of these areas, the following types of karst occur: coastal karst, plain karst, hill karst, and mountain karst (low, medium, high). Mountain karst cover 2.07% of Mexico's land surface and are covered by tropical rainforests, montane cloud forests, and tropical deciduous forests. These are probably one of the most diverse biomes in Mexico. However, the mountain karst forests of Mexico have received little attention, and very little is known about their diversity. Here, we evaluated the vascular plant species richness within the mountain karst forests of Mexico. We assembled the first, largest, and most comprehensive datasets of Mexican mountain karst forest species, from different public databases (CONABIO, GBIF, IBdata-UNAM), which included a critical review of all data. We compiled a list of the families, genera, and species present within the mountain karst forests of Mexico. Taxa that best characterize these forests were identified based on their spatial correlation with this biome. We explored biodiversity patterns, identifying areas with the highest species richness, endemism centers, and areas of relatively low sampling intensity. We found that within the mountain karst forests of Mexico there are representatives of 11,771 vascular plant species (253 families and 2,254 genera), ca. 50% of the Mexican flora. We identified 372 species endemic to these forests. According to preliminary IUCN red list criteria, 2,477 species are under some category of conservation risk, of which 456 (3.8%) are endangered. Most of the Mexican mountain karst forests have been extensively explored and six allopatric, species-rich areas were identified. Compared to other regions in the world, the mountain karst forests of Mexico are one of the most diverse biomes. They contain more species than some entire montane systems in Mexico such as Sierra Madre Oriental, and Sierra Madre del Sur. Also, the mountain karst forests of Mexico are most diverse than similar forests of South America and Asia, even if considering the effect of different sampling areas. The fact that mountain karst forests are embedded in areas of high biotic diversity, probably contributes to their great floristic diversity. Thus, the mountain karst forests of Mexico are an important source of diversity and shelters a large percentage of the Mexican flora.

Rapid functional but slow species diversity recovery of steppe vegetation on former arable fields in southern Ukraine

AbstractQuestionsEuropean steppes are among the most threatened ecosystems in the Palaearctic region, mainly because of conversion to arable land. Abandonment may allow for the passive recovery of steppes. We made use of an exceptional old‐field succession chronosequence of nearly 100 years to answer the following questions: (a) Are the plant species composition, species richness and functional characteristics typical of virgin grass steppes able to self‐restore during ca. 100 years after abandonment? (b) Do the rates of recovery of the above vegetation characteristics differ over the studied chronosequence? (c) Do topsoil carbon and nitrogen content change over the succession chronosequence, leading to concentrations similar to that of virgin steppes?LocationSouthern Ukraine.MethodsWe sampled vegetation and soil in a virgin grass steppe and in old fields abandoned for 6, 15, 31, 50 and ca. 97 years. We subjected the composition data to multivariate analysis. To test whether species richness, functional and soil characteristics of the old fields diverge from those of the virgin steppe, we used one‐way analysis of variance with Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) statistic to create 90% confidence intervals.ResultsThe vegetation composition of the three most recently abandoned old fields differed significantly from that of the virgin steppe. The species richness of vascular plants was lower in old fields than in the virgin steppe. The share of steppe habitat specialists was similar to the virgin steppe only in the field abandoned for ca. 97 years. Functional characteristics were significantly different from the virgin steppe only in the most recently abandoned old field. Contents of Corg and Ntot in fields abandoned for ≤50 years were lower compared with the virgin steppe.ConclusionsThe functional characteristics of steppe vegetation seem to recover much faster than its biodiversity. However, based on our results, 100 years can be enough time for the spontaneous re‐establishment of typical steppe vegetation.

How does understory vegetation diversity and composition differ between monocultures and mixed plantations of hybrid poplar and spruce?

Although monocultures are important for timber production, they are often associated with lower biological diversity than mixtures. Thus, mixed plantations have been suggested as a way to enhance biodiversity because of their inherent compositional diversity. However, the effects of monocultures versus mixtures on understory diversity and composition can vary in different ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess how monocultures and mixed plantations influence understory vegetation diversity and composition in the boreal forest region of southern Quebec. We sampled plantations established with deciduous Populus trichocarpa Torrey & A. Gray × balsamifera L. and P. maximowiczii Henry × balsamifera L. and coniferous Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Picea glauca (Moench) species planted in monocultures and in mixed plantations on abandoned farmlands and a forest site. We assessed understory vegetation diversity and composition in each canopy type (coniferous, deciduous, mixed) and in each plantation type. We evaluated bryophyte and lichen diversity and composition specifically in tree microhabitats: soil, tree bases, and tree trunks. We found that vascular plant and lichen species richness was similar in all plantation types, while bryophyte species richness was higher in spruce monocultures and in mixed plantations compared to poplar monocultures. Our results also highlight how land-use history influenced vascular plant composition as abandoned farmland sites were composed of more ruderal vascular plants, while the previously forested site was composed of species found in natural forests. In the context of reforestation and plantations, our study suggests mixing spruce with poplars to maximize understory vegetation diversity as the addition of spruce in mixed plantations promoted the establishment of terrestrial bryophytes, while poplars favored the establishment of epiphytic lichens.

Spatial patterns of phylogenetic and species diversity of Fennoscandian vascular plants in protected areas

Protected areas are one of the main strategic means for conserving biodiversity. Yet, the design of protected areas usually neglects phylogenetic diversity, an important diversity measure. In this paper we assess the phylogenetic diversity and species richness of vascular plants in Fennoscandian protected areas. We evaluate how much species richness and phylogenetic diversity is found within and outside protected areas, and the differences in plant diversity between different categories of protected areas. We also assess the differences in the diversity-area relationship of the different protected area categories in terms of both species richness and phylogenetic diversity. We build a multi-locus phylogeny of 1,519 native vascular plants of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We estimate the phylogenetic diversity and species richness by combining the phylogeny with publicly available occurrence data and the currently protected area system of Fennoscandia. Our results indicate that protected areas in Fennoscandia hold more plant diversity when larger, and that phylogenetic diversity increases faster with area than species richness. We found evidence for more plant diversity outside of protected areas of the different countries of Fennoscandia than inside of protected areas, but no evidence for plant diversity differences between areas with different protection status. Hence, our results indicate that the current protected area system in Fennoscandia is no more effective in conserving phylogenetic diversity and species richness of vascular plants than a random selection of localities. Our results also indicate that planning conservation strategies around phylogenetic diversity, rather than species richness, might be a first step to protect vascular plant diversity more effectively.

Quantitative evaluation of the drivers of species richness in a Mediterranean ecosystem (Cape, South Africa).

Mediterranean ecosystems have a high vascular plant species richness (SR) relative to their surface area. This SR, representing the balance between speciation and extinction, has been attributed to multiple mechanisms that result in both high rates of speciation and/or low rates of extinction. An abiding question is, however, what is special about Mediterranean ecosystems that enables this high SR? Apart from the long-term climatic stability of the region, SR has also been related to resource availability, the many individuals hypothesis, resource spatial heterogeneity, temporal heterogeneity and biotic feedbacks. Spatial patterns of species richness were related to climatic, edaphic and biotic variables and to spatial variability within the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa. Boosted regression tree models were used to explore the strength of relationships between SR and environmental predictors related to each hypothesized mechanism. Water availability (i.e. precipitation) was a stronger predictor of SR than potential evapotranspiration or temperature. Scarcity of nutrients was also related to SR. There was no indication that SR was related to the density of individuals and only temporal heterogeneity induced by fire was related to SR. Spatial heterogeneities of climatic, edaphic and biotic variables were strongly associated with SR. Biotic interactions remain difficult to assess, although we have some evidence for a putative role in regulating SR. While the lack of ecosystem-resetting disturbances (e.g. glaciation) is undoubtedly a key requirement for high species accumulation, predictably, no one explanation holds the key to understanding SR. In the GCFR high SR is the product of a combination of adequate water, nutrient scarcity, spatial and temporal heterogeneity, and possibly biotic feedbacks.

The Historic Square Foot Dataset – Outstanding small‐scale richness in Swiss grasslands around the year 1900

AbstractGrasslands host a significant share of Europe's species diversity but are among the most threatened vegetation types of the continent. Resurvey studies can help to understand patterns and drivers of changes in grassland diversity and species composition. However, most resurveys are based on local or regional data, and hardly reach back more than eight decades. Here, we publish and describe the Historic Square Foot Dataset, comprising 580 0.09‐m2 and 43 1‐m2 vegetation plots carefully sampled between 1884 and 1931, covering a wide range of grassland types across Switzerland. We provide the plots as an open‐access data set with coordinates, relocation accuracy and fractional aboveground biomass per vascular plant species. We assigned EUNIS habitat types to most plots. Mean vascular plant species richness in 0.09 m2 was 19.7, with a maximum of 47. This is considerably more than the present‐day world record of 43 species for this plot size. Historically, species richness did not vary with elevation, differing from the unimodal relationship found today. The data set provides unique insight into how grasslands in Central Europe looked more than 100 years ago, thus offering manifold options for studies on the development of grassland biodiversity and productivity.

Broadleaved trees enhance biodiversity of the understorey vegetation in boreal forests

Understorey vegetation constitutes a remarkable part of the total biodiversity of boreal forests. Mixing broadleaved trees in coniferous forests has been shown to enhance vascular plant abundance and species richness, while high stand density has a counteracting effect. However, more information is needed on how environmental factors modify these biodiversity responses.We investigated how the proportion of broadleaved trees of total basal area, tree species richness, stand density, and shrub cover were reflected in the number of vascular plant species and percentage cover of herbs and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). We also studied the response of site fertility indicators, i.e. C:N ratio and extractable calcium concentration in the soil organic layer, to broadleaved species in mixed-forests.The study was based on the data of understorey vegetation, soil, and stand properties in forests on mineral soil, inventoried on a systematic sample plot network in Finland in 2006. We used a subset of 307 plots in the hemi-southern and middle boreal zones and divided the plots either to xeric or mesic types. We used generalized additive models in analysing the data.Birches (Betula sp.) were the main broadleaved species. Vascular species richness and herb cover generally increased with increasing proportions of broadleaved trees and tree species number both on mesic and xeric sites but decreased with increasing stand density on mesic sites. An increase in proportion of broadleaved trees and stand density resulted in decreased bilberry cover in the southern boreal zone, probably due to stand shading, but in increased cover in the middle boreal zone. Vegetation responses to increasing shrub cover often showed unimodal shape. As increase of proportion of broadleaved trees correlated positively with calcium and negatively with C:N of the organic layer, we suggest that nutrient input from easily decomposable birch leaf litter promotes species richness and herb cover via improved nutrient availability in the soil.Our results indicate that many stand characteristics determining understorey biodiversity can be directed by forest management regimes. Generally, slight increase of broadleaved trees benefitted the understory plant richness, given that stand density is not too high. Because site type and zone controlled many responses, we suggest that it would be beneficial to have habitat and zone-specific instructions in forest management practices that conserve understorey vegetation and its multi-purpose ecosystem services.

Spatial patterns of vascular plant species richness in Poland - a data set

Recognition of species richness spatial patterns is important for nature conservation and theoretical studies. Inventorying species richness, especially at a larger spatial extent is challenging, thus different data sources are joined and harmonized to obtain a comprehensive data set. Here we present a new data set showing vascular plant species richness in Poland based on a grid of 10 × 10 km squares. The data set was created using data from two sources: the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland and the Polish Vegetation Database. Using this data set, we analysed 2,160 species with taxonomical nomenclature according to the Euro + Med PlantBase checklist in 3,283 squares covering the entire territory of Poland (ca. 312,000 km2). The species were divided into groups according to their status and frequency of distribution, and the statistics for each square were obtained. For purposes of analysis, sampling bias was assessed. The data set promotes theoretical analysis on species richness and reinforces the planning of nature conservations.

Patterns of species richness and beta diversity of vascular plants along elevation gradient in Brazilian páramo

Patterns of species richness and beta diversity of vascular plants along elevation gradient in Brazilian páramo

Recovery of vegetation on former alpine roads: how long does it take?

Alpine areas worldwide are under heavy land‐use pressure and degradation. Active restoration treatments can contribute to accelerating recovery of degraded areas. However, monitoring data are needed to understand the contribution of restoration treatments to long‐term management and to predict time to recovery (TR). In this study, we used monitoring data on removed roads in an alpine area in Norway to investigate TR of three vegetation‐based indicators. Four restoration treatments were tested: 1) removal of added gravel down to original terrain surface, and stirring of topsoil; 2) adding fertilizer to the stirred topsoil; 3) adding seeds to the fertilized topsoil; and 4) no removal of added gravel, but stirring of top layer (gravel and soil). The restoration of roads took place in 2002, and monitoring of permanent plots was carried out in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. Reference plots in intact vegetation next to removed roads were monitored in 2014 and 2019. We used species composition and species richness of vascular plants as well as total vegetation cover as indicators of restoration outcome and investigated predicted TR for these indicators under different restoration treatments. Species composition changed significantly with time since restoration in all treatments, approaching that of the reference vegetation. The recovery of species composition was slowest in fertilized and seeded plots, where estimated TR was 2–3 times longer (&gt; 45 years) than in the other treatments (&lt; 20 years). Species richness of vascular plants was restored quickly (&lt; 5 years) within all restoration treatments, whereas recovery of vegetation cover varied more (20–30 years). Our study confirms that vegetation recovery in alpine environments is a long‐term process, but that adding seeds and nutrients is unnecessary for, and even inhibits, the recovery of narrow, disturbed sites such as former roads.

Rapid response of vascular plants and insects to restoration of montane grasslands

IntroductionIndustrialization has ushered in massive changes in agriculture. Particularly in low mountain ranges, large-scale afforestation with Norway spruce on traditionally managed, semi-natural grasslands has caused a severe decline in biodiversity. Tree removal, hay transfer and resumption of grazing or mowing are typical measures to re-create species-rich grasslands. The aim of this study was to use vascular plants and three insect taxa (leafhoppers, true bugs, and grasshoppers) as bioindicators to evaluate the success of montane grassland restoration on former spruce forests in Central Europe. In addition, we intended to identify the drivers of species richness within the studied grasslands in order to derive suitable recommendations for habitat management.MethodsWe analyzed two different treatments: (i) grazed restoration sites where trees had been cut and species-rich green hay had been applied (N = 9) and (ii) target sites with a long continuity of low-intensity grazing (N = 9).Results and DiscussionOur study revealed that all studied taxa responded rapidly to the restoration measures. After a development period of 3 to 5 years, we found no differences in species richness and diversity of leafhoppers, true bugs and grasshoppers (all, target and threatened species). In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling showed a large overlap in species composition between restoration and target grasslands. Among target and threatened species, vascular plants displayed the same pattern as insects and reached similar values when comparing the two treatments. However, total species richness and diversity of vascular plants were still higher on the target sites and species composition overlapped only partially. Grazing intensity was the predictor with the highest explanatory power in multivariable (Generalized) Linear Mixed-effects Models, being negatively related to species richness of leafhoppers and true bugs. We conclude that the measures implemented were effective in re-establishing target communities of different taxa. The transfer of seed-containing hay enabled or accelerated the development of the vegetation. Insects, on the other hand, were able to recolonize the restored grasslands on their own, given that these sites were embedded in a network of species-rich grasslands. With regard to insects (e.g., leafhoppers and true bugs), it should be ensured that grazing is applied at low intensity.

High vascular plant species richness in the Usumacinta River Basin: a comprehensive floristic checklist for a natural region in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot

Background: Mesoamerica is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet. Despite significant efforts made over two centuries to contribute to the floristic knowledge of this region, our understanding of its flora is still scattered and uneven.&#x0D; Questions: What is the magnitude of the vascular plant species richness in the Usumacinta River Basin?&#x0D; Study site and dates: Usumacinta River Basin (Guatemala and Mexico), 1838-2018.&#x0D; Methods: We compiled the checklist by systematizing the floristic information acquired from various sources derived from numerous floristic and ecological studies.&#x0D; Results: We recorded 6,977 species, 1,892 genera and 274 families. The largest numbers of species (5,746) and records (58,859) correspond to the Mexican portion of the Usumacinta River Basin, compared to its Guatemalan counterpart (4,445 species and 19,952 records). The most species-rich families were Orchidaceae (598 species), Fabaceae (512), and Asteraceae (476). The prevalence of these and all other families with significant contributions to the flora varied among three elevation-defined sectors into which the Usumacinta River Basin was subdivided (lower, middle, and upper basin).&#x0D; Conclusions: The Usumacinta River Basin is a strategic region for plant biodiversity conservation as it hosts almost one third of all vascular plant species known for Mesoamerica and ca. 6 % of the entire flora in the Americas. Further botanical exploration should focus on those areas of the basin for which little or no information is available in order to gain a better appreciation of its flora.

The effect of grassland type and proximity to the city center on urban soil and vegetation coverage

Urban soils with associated vegetation are important components of urban ecosystems, providing multiple regulating and supporting ecosystem services. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the soil chemistry and vegetation of urban grasslands considering urbanization gradient and urban grassland type (UGT). We hypothesized that the chemical properties of soil, such as metal content, as well as vegetation traits, differ according to grassland type (lawns, grasslands in parks, grasslands on river embankments, and roadsides) and the location of grassland patches (city center versus peripheries). Our samples included 94 UGT patches which each patch represented by four square sampling plots sized 1 m2. The results showed high differentiation of measured traits unrelated to UGT and location. The exception was K content, with a relatively high concentration in lawns, and some metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), with higher concentrations in the city center than in the peripheries. We found two grassland patches located in the city center where the concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu exceeded the level authorized by Polish standards. In the case of vegetation traits, the variability was not structured considering the UGT and location of the patches, except for bare soil cover, which was higher in lawns in the city center compared to embankments in the peripheries. We observed correlations between vegetation traits and soil chemical properties. The vascular plant species richness decreased when N, P, and C content, along with an increase in grass cover and a decrease in herbs.

Forest age and topographic position jointly shape the species richness and composition of vascular plants in karstic habitats

Key messageDolines may provide important safe havens for many plant species and play a key role in maintaining biodiversity. The combined effects of forest age and topographic position influence the biodiversity patterns of these unique habitats. Forest managers, conservationists, and researchers need to work together in order to maintain the species richness and composition of these habitats under environmental changes.ContextDolines are the most prominent geomorphological features in many karst landscapes that may provide important microhabitats for many species.AimsWe aim to contribute to a better understanding of how forest age and topographic position influence the plant species richness and composition of vascular plants within doline habitats.MethodsWe studied the effects of forest age (four age classes: from 5- to 10-year-old stands to more than 90-year-old stands), topographic position (south-facing slope, bottom, and north-facing slope), and their interaction on the distribution of vascular plants and mean Ellenberg indicator values in dolines using detrended correspondence analysis and mixed-effects models. Diagnostic species for the forest age classes and topographic positions were also determined.ResultsDifferent groups of vascular plant species usually showed significant preferences for certain topographic positions and/or forest age classes in dolines. In general, the number of species in all studied groups of plants increased after a few years of canopy removal. The number of plant species in almost all groups was lowest in dolines covered with 40–45-year-old forests. The moist and nutrient-rich doline bottoms covered with 90–120-year-old forests harboured many climate change vulnerable plant species.ConclusionsForest age and topographic position considerably influence the species richness and composition of vascular plants in dolines; therefore, forest managers and conservationists need to consider their potential impacts when evaluating the effects of climate warming on karst landscapes.

How arsenic contamination influences downslope wetland plant and microbial community structure and function

Mine tailings are prevalent worldwide and can adversely impact adjacent ecosystems, including wetlands. This study investigated the impact of gold (Au) mine tailings contamination on peatland soil and pore water geochemistry, vegetation and microbial communities, and microbial carbon (C) cycling. Maximum arsenic (As) concentrations in peat and pore water reached 20,137 mg kg−1 and 16,730 μg L−1, respectively, but decreased by two orders of magnitude along a 128 m gradient extending from the tailings into the wetland. Carbon and other macronutrient (N, P, K) concentrations in peat and pore water significantly increased with distance from contamination. Relative percent cover and species richness of vascular and non-vascular plants significantly increased with distance into the wetland, with higher non-vascular richness being found at intermediate distances before transitioning to a vascular plant dominated community. Bacterial and archaeal community composition exhibited a decreased proportion of members of the phylum Acidobacteria (notably of the order Acidobacteriales) and increased diversity and richness of methanogens across a larger range of orders farther from the tailings source, an indication of microbial C-cycling potential. Consistent with changes in microbial communities, in vitro microbial CH4 production potential significantly increased with distance from the contaminant source. This study demonstrates both the profound negative impact that metalliferous tailings contamination can have on above and belowground communities in peatlands, and the value of wetland preservation and restoration.