Vascular Plant Species Composition Research Articles

Urban Cemeteries as Biodiversity Refuges: A Comparative Study of Plant Ecobiomorphs in Central Kazakhstan

Cemeteries are often overlooked in ecological studies, yet they represent unique urban microhabitats that contribute to the preservation of diverse plant species, including those adapted to various ecological niches. This study aimed to assess the species composition, ecological classifications, and abundance of vascular plants in the cemetery and surrounding areas to explore cemeteries’ role in conserving plant ecobiomorph diversity in arid climates. This study identified 79 plant species from 23 families within the cemetery compared with 31 species from 11 families in the surrounding area. The plant community in the cemetery was dominated by mesophytes, suggesting favorable and stable conditions for plant growth, while xerophytes were more common in the surrounding areas, indicating harsher, drier conditions. The diversity of plant life forms, including perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees, was significantly higher within the cemetery, indicating a more complex and resilient ecosystem. Our study demonstrates that cemeteries act as vital refuges for plant biodiversity. They offer significantly higher species diversity and more complex ecosystem structures compared with the surrounding areas. These findings emphasize the critical role cemeteries play in urban biodiversity conservation, particularly in increasingly arid environments.

Agricultural legacy shapes plant diversity patterns in mountain grasslands of Maramureș and Bukovina: A cross‐border perspective (Ukraine, Romania)

Abstract We investigated farming practices and grassland plant diversity patterns in the historical regions of Maramureș and Bukovina, located in the central Eastern Carpathians of Romania and Ukraine. We explored the influence of social and historical factors on recent grassland plant diversity, including changes and modifications in land use and grassland management practices. We used stratified random sampling to select 48 grassland parcels in eight villages on the Ukrainian‐Romanian borderlands. We identified the factors that affect the composition and diversity of grassland vascular plants and bryophytes at multiple spatial scales and compared the frequency and timing of historical and recent grassland management practices to distinguish between preserved and modified agricultural traditions. In most of the grassland parcels studied (83% in Romania and 78% in Ukraine), traditional land use persisted. Local plant species richness was primarily influenced by management practices, outweighing the impact of topography and soil factors. Regular mowing at appropriate intensity increased the richness of vascular plants, while grazing promoted the richness of bryophyte species. Modifications to farming systems, observed in all studied villages, were mainly due to declining population and livestock numbers. Although the timing of spring and autumn grazing in hay meadows still adhered to tradition, mowing schedules shifted earlier, especially for the first cut of two‐cut hay meadows. Traditional corralling, fertilization and hayseed application have become rare or discontinued in certain villages, while controlled burning has increased. Past use of mineral fertilizers in Ukrainian villages during the Soviet era influenced the recent diversity and composition of vascular plant species, favouring nutrient‐demanding species. Social factors and agricultural policies indirectly affect biodiversity in semi‐natural grasslands, leaving a tangible footprint even in the most remote areas of the Carpathian Mountains. We provide basic recommendations to preserve the remarkable biodiversity of the region. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Xylotrophic Agaricomycetes Monitoring in Some Types of Spruce and Birch Forests (Subzone of the Southern Taiga, Perm Territory, Russia)

We have summarized the results of xylotrophic agaricoid basidiomycetes long-term monitoring in some types of indigenous and derived forests in the southern taiga subzone of Perm Krai. We carried out the research by a stationary method on the test 50×20 m areas, one in each type of forest: spruce forest at the brook, sorrel spruce forest and birch forest. We did the work in three periods: I – 1975–1977, II – 1994–1996, III – 2010–2012. The collection of material was carried out annually: in August 3 times with an interval of 10 days (the species composition, number and air-dry biomass of basidiomes were taken into account), and in September once (only the species composition of fungi was taken into account). To date, we have established that the number of xylotrophic agaricoid fungi in the studied forest types varies from 60 (sorrel spruce forest) to 66 (birch forest). Most of the identified species belong to the Tricholomataceae family (37.7–43.3% of the total number of xylotrophic fungi species in each of the biogeocoenoses). There was an annual accumulation of detectable fungal species, with the largest number of species (67–75%) detected from 2 to 9 times, and 2–3% of them were permanent, occurring annually. There was relative stability of the species composition of higher vascular plants (Jaccard generality coefficient: J = 56–88) over time and more significant changes in the species composition of xylotrophic fungi (J = 36–50). The spruce forests had the most similarity of fungi species composition between the cenoses by periods (J = 44–52), and for the entire observation period, the sorrel spruce forest and birch forest had the maximum Jaccard index between cenoses (J = 56). The yield of xylotrophic agaricoid fungi in the studied cenoses varies by years of observation. The birch forest had the largest number and biomass of basidiomata for all the three periods of the research. A decrease in the number of basidiomes of xylotrophic fungi in the sorrel spruce forest was established with an increase in the average monthly air temperature in August (Spearman correlation coefficient: rs = −0.70). The sorrel spruce forest was the most favorable for the biota of xylotrophic agaricoid basidiomycetes, both in number (Shannon index: H = 1.23) and in biomass (H = 1.20), during all the research, since the biota of xylotrophes of the specified cenosis was more diverse and its components were most aligned.

Mosaic of biological soil crusts and vascular plants contributes to the spatial heterogeneity of key soil properties at different successional stages of restored inland sand dunes

Abstract Background and aims Inland sand dunes constitute Natura 2000 habitat that has become a priority to ensure biodiversity protection and habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale; however, without proper management, spontaneous succession leads to overgrowing of trees and thus to habitat degradation. Understanding succession processes, relationships between biotic and abiotic components, and their changes over time after restoration, is the key to proper planning of future restoration activities. The aim was to determine the changes of biological soil crust (BSC), vascular plants and physicochemical parameters of BSC, below-crust, rhizosphere, and bare substrate types at different stages of succession in inland dunes of the Błędowska Desert (Poland). We also analyzed the interplay between these factors to further understand the mechanism of BSC development and recognize driving factors causing changes in the soil environment. Results Our results showed that BSCs contributed to increased organic C, total N, nutrients in soil, and acidification with the succession. The content of inorganic N forms was significantly higher in bare soil compared to below-crust soil. Rhizosphere soil was enriched in organic matter and nutrients, which improves soil conditions within plant patches. Moreover, below-crust soil pH, total N content and water holding capacity drive the patterns of BSC morphological groups and species composition of lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants. Conclusion Our study shows that spatial structure of the inland dune ecosystem is a mosaic of BSCs and plants that contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of key soil properties. We concluded that it is necessary to consider the matter of BSC in restoration treatments.

Influence of Picea Abies Logs on the Distribution of Vascular Plants in Old-Growth Spruce Forests

The deadwood contributes to an increase in soil heterogeneity due to the changing the microrelief (by the formation of windthrow-soil complexes), as well as changes in physical and chemical characteristics of decaying wood directly during xylolysis. We hypothesized that fallen logs as an element of microrelief influence the species composition and cover structure of vascular plants. We studied the influence of Picea abies (L.) Karst fallen logs of moderate and advanced decay stages on the horizontal distribution and heterogeneity of vascular plant cover in different microsite types (small boreal grass type, blueberry type, small boreal grass-blueberry type, herbs, and blueberry type) in old-growth middle taiga spruce forest in the Kivach State Nature Reserve (Republic of Karelia, Russia). The fallen deadwood acts as a factor of heterogeneity, causing reversible changes in the homogeneity of the original plant cover. The decaying logs influence the horizontal distribution of small herbs by changing the occurrence and density of shoots of Oxalis acetosella L., Maianthemum bifolium (L.) F.W. Schmidt, Vaccinium myrtillus L., and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., as well as the occurrence of Luzula pilosa (L.) Willd. and Calamagrostis arundinacea (L.) Roth. Its impact on the heterogeneity parameters can be traced up to 20 cm from the log. The differences in vascular plant cover between fallen logs and the surrounding forest floor depend on the soil conditions of the microsite. The heterogeneity of conditions created by the logs smoothed out with increasing decay class, resulting in decreasing differences in the heterogeneity parameters of vascular plant cover between deadwood and forest floor. The changes in the homogeneity of the initial vascular plant cover by deadwood and the gradual smoothing of heterogeneity between the logs and the forest floor in rich and poor conditions have different, mainly opposite, trends. Finally, the structure of the vegetation cover reaches a state that is typical of particular growth conditions beyond deadwood.

Biomorphological traits and leaf dry matter content are important to plant persistence in a highly unstable volcanic ground

The colonisation of newly formed territories by plants during primary succession is a crucial stage in the formation of ecosystems. Adaptations of species to withstand harsh environment allow them to survive and form pioneer communities. We analysed ten categorical and quantitative plant traits to examine their role in plant resistance to substrate instability in primary volcanic habitats. The research questions were: 1) which plant traits enable plants to persist under the most unstable ground conditions?; 2) what are the ecological strategies of species that grow under the condition of stress, such as low mineral nutrition, coupled with intense disturbance, such as unstable ground? The research was conducted on the Tolbachinsky Dol plateau in Kamchatka, Russia, on loose volcanic sediments of the 1975 eruption. At altitudes ranging from 700 m a.s.l. to 1000 m a.s.l., 40 sample plots were established along the gradients of altitude and degrees of ground instability. The species composition of vascular plants and the percentage cover of species, as well as other habitat characteristics, were assessed. Linear models were used to investigate the relationship between traits and ground instability. The principal component analysis was used to identify groups of characteristic traits. Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) had the largest explained variance. The LDMC community weighted means decreased with increasing disturbance (ground instability). A whole set of categorical traits, i.e. plant functional types, characterised the adaptation of plants to unstable ground. These characteristics include life-form (according to Serebryakov classification), density of shoots arrangement, morphology of underground organs, and, to a lesser extent, dispersal mode. The study analysed 45 species, and it was found that only four of them were adapted to perform under conditions of high substrate instability. The study showed that the mutual interaction of a suite of biomorphological traits and leaf density characteristics formed a syndrome of pioneer species adapted to unstable ground. The ecological strategies of the majority of species in the studied communities were characterised by the predominance of the stress-tolerant strategy, explained by the extremely poor mineral nutrition in the primary habitats. Under conditions of both low nutrient availability and high disturbance intensity, species with a mixed stress-tolerant-ruderal strategy are favoured. In the gradient of increasing disturbance, the role of the ruderal axis increased while stress tolerance decreased. However, the role of ecological strategy may be weakened by the presence of other important adaptive traits.

Variability and determinants of vascular plant species composition in patches of old managed oak forest stands dispersed within Scots pine monocultures

In the temperate zone of Europe, Scots pine forests are expected to occupy the poorest habitats which are unfavourable for deciduous trees. However, as a result of deforestation of the most fertile habitats and the preference for Pinus sylvestris in silviculture, pine forests have become the dominant feature of the landscape in Central Europe. As a result, the area of optimal habitat for deciduous forest flora has been significantly reduced. Nevertheless, remnant patches of deciduous forest persist as habitat islands within extensive pine forest complexes and may serve as important refugia for meso- and eutrophilic forest species. However, the factors that contribute to the variation in species composition of such habitat islands and their role in maintaining biodiversity remain poorly understood. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap.The studied deciduous (oak) stands exhibited a diverse vegetation, with species composition influenced by overstorey attributes, oak age, patch location, and the area and circularity of the deciduous forest. Species traits related to environmental variables included mainly preferences for closed or open forests, requirements for soil moisture, reaction, and fertility, and requirements for light conditions. The key message from our research is that oak islands are not simply patches of trees that are different from the surrounding area. Instead, they represent distinct plant communities that have developed to adapt to the prevailing environmental conditions by recruiting species with particular traits. The presence of oak islands within Scots pine monocultures is therefore important for increasing the diversity of the forest complex.The most relevant recommendation from our research for forest management is to maintain as many patches of deciduous tree stands as possible within a single pine forest complex, as even small habitat islands can make a significant contribution to the biodiversity of the forest complex.

The Impact of Adjacent Road on Vascular Plant Species Composition in Herbaceous Layers of Peucedano-Pinetum and Tilio-Carpinetum Urban Forests in the City of Warsaw (Poland)

The research was conducted in two types of urban forests: Peucedano-Pinetum and Tilio-Carpinetum. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in plant species compositions in the herbaceous layer of urban forests with different habitat fertility adjacent to the road in the northern part of Warsaw (Poland). Seven transects were laid out in each type of forest, with 10 plots spread out from the edge zone (forest border) to the interior of the forests. The size of each plot was 100 m2. The other seven transects were located within the forest, 150 to 200 m away from the forest’s edge. The field research included phytosociological relevés carried out on the existing transects. The indoor studies included an analysis of forest community disturbance. Furthermore, an analysis of abiotic environmental conditions using ecological indicator numbers was carried out. Ecotones of Peucedano-Pinetum are more likely to be colonized by the species inconsistent with the habitat due to processes that increase habitat fertility. The Tilio-Carpinetum forest is more easily colonized by invasive plant species than the Peucedano-Pinetum. The range of road effects can be determined as an area located within 90 m inward of the forest in the case of the Peucedano-Pinetum community and 100 m in the case of the Tilio-Carpinetum community. The presented research is important for formulating directions about how to manage the forests and their surroundings in terms of shaping forests of more natural character, with species more consistent with a forest habitat.

The Water Flow Regime in the Weir Area for Vascular and Rush Plant Species Composition

The hydrotechnical construction, damming up the riverbed, creates two zones of hydraulic conditions, which affect the water discharge and sediment transport routes, as well as plant species composition, as a habitat answer to the hydraulic regime. This study examined the diversity of the vascular and rush plant species upstream and downstream of the weir. The Świder River, a small lowland river in Central Poland, was chosen as a study area. An examined river reach was located at 21 + 340 kilometers of the Świder River. Vegetation properties, plant species, and granulometric fraction composition were recognized at chosen cross-sections along the riverbed where specific hydraulic conditions could be met. The spatial distribution of vortices, smooth or rapid flow areas, and velocity pulsations influence the biotic environment, thereby affecting the species composition, quantity, and plant diversity. In the headwater zone, an environment more favorable to grain accumulation could be met, which was mixed with organic components in an agricultural catchment area. This phenomenon leads to creating favorable conditions for increased biodiversity. The present study demonstrated that small weirs could positively affect the composition of vascular and rush plants.

Future forests and biodiversity: Effects of Douglas fir introduction into temperate beech forests on plant diversity

Introduction of drought-tolerant exotic tree species is seen as an important adaptation measure of forest management to climate change in Central Europe. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is particularly favored in this context, because it is adapted to summer droughts due to the climate in its natural distribution range in temperate western North America and it is also fast-growing and the wood is readily marketable. In Germany, there are plans to grow Douglas fir on a large scale in mixed forests with other tree species on acidic soils. Potential ecological consequences have not yet been sufficiently scrutinized. Here, we analyze effects of Douglas fir introduction into forests of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), which would naturally predominate Central Europe’s forests. We analyzed vascular plant diversity and species composition of the ground vegetation in a gradient with increasing Douglas fir canopy fraction that ranged from pure beech (0% Douglas fir) via mixed stands (25%, 50%, 75% Douglas fir) to pure (100%) Douglas fir forest. Species richness, Shannon diversity, and Simpson diversity increased with increasing Douglas fir canopy fraction. However, this increase was primarily driven by an increase of nitrogen-tolerant disturbance indicators, whereas the share of forest species that were predominant in pure beech forests decreased. Beech forest species declined gradually with increasing Douglas fir canopy fraction, but these declining species were fewer than the number of species increasing due to Douglas fir introduction. Cover of ∼30% of species remained constant when Douglas fir was introduced. Strong changes in the ground vegetation were observed at Douglas fir canopy fractions > 40 – 50% and the original character of the ground vegetation was completely lost beyond a threshold of 75%. Therefore, we discourage from high Douglas fir proportions beyond these thresholds in production forests and from any introduction of Douglas fir where nature conservation is a priority.

The effect of site preparation on vegetation restoration in young hemiboreal mixed stands

Tree logging significantly impacts environmental conditions, increases soil and air temperature, and changes the microclimate and soil hydrology. This contributes to the changes in bryophyte and vascular plant cover and species composition. Site preparation positively affects the growth of planted trees in young stands but also causes forest understorey disturbance. During site preparation in young stands by spot mounding and disc trenching methods, new microtopographies, e.g. soil tumps and hollows are made in young stands. Site preparation generally increases vascular plant diversity, but there is a lack of information about the vegetation differences between microtopography depending on different site preparation methods and soil types. The aim of this study was to investigate how the microtopography formed during site preparation by spot mounding or disc trenching affects bryophyte and vascular plant communities in hemiboreal young stands two to three years after tree logging. Spot mounding altered vegetation composition more than disc trenching. Bryophyte species cover decreased in prepared soil, but Ellenberg’s moisture value increased; therefore, site preparation before planting contributes to the conservation of typical forest bryophyte species in young stands. Hollows lead to better typical forest habitat species preservation, but soil tumps diversify environmental conditions by providing new patches for the development of grassland habitat species that are not typical in this ecosystem, but temporally provide new ecosystem services. Keywords: bryophytes, spot mounding, disc trenching, vascular plants, plant growth forms, Ellenberg’s indicator values

Study of the relationship between agrochemical indicators of soils and species composition of plants in some sites of the Lena River Delta, Northern Yakutia

In connection with climate change and the development of natural resources in the Arctic, increasingly relevant is the problem of revealing the response of tundra vegetation to various natural and anthropogenic impacts, as well as the search for indicators for developing a system of monitoring the state of ecosystems in the Far North. The aim of this work was to describe the floristic composition and structure of plant communities, as well as to search for relationships between agrochemical indicators of soils and the species composition of plants in certain key sites of the Lena River Delta. A total of ten key sites of the Lena delta were studied. Agrochemical analysis of the soil samples was performed using standard methods. The content of biogenic and abiogenic elements was measured using an emission spectrometer. The relationship between the soil parameters and floristic composition was studied using cluster analysis. It was shown that the clustering of sites by standard agrochemical indicators was weakly expressed, while in terms of the content of elements in the mineralized samples and in water extracts the sites were grouped into two clusters at the level of 40 %÷60 % of the differences. The clustering of sites by plant species composition was very weak, and it was not possible to identify clusters with high or medium level of similarity, nor was it possible to detect similarity between cluster diagrams constructed by soil parameters and by plant species composition. As a result of the study, it is shown that the species composition of vascular plants weakly correlates with the properties of the soils of the key sites. The individual features identified manifest themselves in the form of trends and no clear patterns of interrelation of vegetation and soil parameters are discerned.

Assessment of the population status of the relict species Lomelosia austroaltaica (Bobrov) Sojak in the flora of the Kazakstan Altai

The article discusses the population parameters of a rare relict species Lomelosia austroaltaica in the territory of the Kalba Upland in the Kazakhstan Altai. It has been established that the population is located in the Eastern Kalba on the Medvedka Mountain (Koktau Mountains) as part of the feather grass-lomelosia phytocenosis. The total area occupied by phytocenosis with the participation of Lomelosia austroaltaica, is 2.5 hectares. Vegetation cover is poorly formed, represented by 30 species of flowering plants. The structure and appearance of the phytocenosis are determined by the dominants Stipa capillata- cop2, S. pennata - cop1. In ecological terms, the species composition of the higher vascular plants of the surveyed phytocenosis is formed by xeropetrophytes - 20 species (66.7 %), xeromesophytes - 7 species (23.3 %), mesophytes - 3 species (10 %). The total projective cover is 44.4 %, the proportion of Lomelosia austroaltaica in the phytobiota is 22.2 %, i. e. according to its coenotic features, the species is an assectator. Individuals are scattered and unevenly distributed over the area, their height ranges from 28 to 48 cm (33.6 ± 7.4.6), forming loose sods 47.9 ± 5.2 cm in diameter from 46.3 ± 7.2 cm vegetative and 51.3 ± 10.5 cm generative shoots. A direct dependence of seed productivity on the number of formed heads on a generative shoot was revealed. Mass flowering of individuals was recorded in the second decade of June, the period of seed ripening is late August - early September. The population is normal, incomplete, the age spectrum is left-sided. The ratio of young and adult fractions (pl + j + im) : (v + g) = 11.8 : 7.8 indicates a stable state of the population at the present stage. Mainly seeds maintain the number of individuals. The species needs state protection.

Plant species composition and vegetation structure ofSphagnumcultivation sites

AbstractAimsThe cultivation ofSphagnummosses in paludiculture has high potential for the use of formerly drained peatlands under wet conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plant species composition and vegetation structure ofSphagnumcultivation sites in comparison with near‐natural donor sites and rewetted sites withoutSphagnumintroduction.LocationCentral Europe, northwest Germany close to the Dutch–German border.MethodsThe treatments (rewetting with and withoutSphagnumintroduction) and a near‐natural donor as a reference were each studied at three different sites. At each site, bryophyte and vascular plant species composition as well as parameters of vegetation structure were sampled in 40 randomly positioned plots of 25 cm × 25 cm.ResultsIn addition to the highly frequentSphagnum, several further plant species typical of bogs were introduced. At two cultivation sites, the species composition showed a high degree of similarity to the near‐natural donor sites, whereas the third site was more similar to the rewetted sites without the introduction ofSphagnumbiomass. Rewetted sites were species‐poor in comparison with all other sites. Apart from a high cover ofSphagnum, the vegetation structure at the cultivation sites differed significantly from the near‐natural donor sites.ConclusionsSphagnumcultivation sites can be used to grow donor material for peatland restoration and contribute to species conservation by providing substitute habitat for bog‐typical and threatened plant species.

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 (> 45 years) than in the other treatments (< 20 years). Species richness of vascular plants was restored quickly (< 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.

The spread of alien vascular plant species in the biotopes of the Moshnohirsky Ridge (Cherkasy region, Ukraine)

Invasion of organisms pose a potential threat to the existence of natural habitats and lead to impoverishment of biological diversity. Particularly pronounced is the negative impact within the boundaries of the Middle Dnieper region, where approximately a quarter of vascular plant species are of alien origin. The purpose of the study was to identify the current species composition of alien vascular plant species, the specific features of their distribution outside the culture, naturalisation, and involvement in plant communities of Moshnohirsky Ridge biotopes. The species composition of plants was recorded by transects and releves in the habitats of representatives of alien plant species were conducted to achieve this goal. It was determined that the vegetation cover of forest and related biotopes in the research area is significantly contaminated with alien vascular plant species, amounting to 48 species from 45 genera and 29 families. Substantial involvement of alien species is noted in Forest biotopes of hornbeam-oak forests – 35.4%, and oak and pine-oak forests – 29.2%. Among the alien species that have a substantial impact on the structure of plant communities of these broad-leaved forest biotopes are Impatiens parviflora DC., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Acer negundo L. Over time, the majority of introduced species are considered neophytes (81.3%), with a significant portion originating from North America (43.8%), the Mediterranean region (16.7%), and East Asia (8.3%). In terms of their penetration into natural ecosystems, species that are capable of actively integrating into natural communities, namely agriophytes and agriocoenophytes, hold high positions (a total of 30.2%). In contrast to these groups, limited alien species without active distribution – ephemerophytes and colonophytes are substantially represented in the groupings of the research area (30.6%). The identified patterns of distribution and cenotic distribution of alien species are the primary basis for the formation of optimal measures to counteract new invasions in forest communities and restrain the process of population compaction for species that already have a wide distribution within the research area

CHANGES IN FLORA SPECIES COMPOSITION AND SOIL ENZYME ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITIES OF ACER NEGUNDO IN THE KEMEROVO REGION

The article presents the study results of the species composition of vascular plants and soil activity in communities dominated by Acer negundo . The studies were carried out on accounting sites located in the mountain-taiga and forest-steppe zones of Kuzbass. The selection of trial plots was made taking into account the horizontal differentiation of space into under-crown (registration plots) and external zones (control) of phytogenic fields. Floristic descriptions and analysis of the soil by the level of activity of enzymes (invertase, protease, phosphatase) were carried out using standard methods. The species diversity of vascular plants in the areas under study constituted 64 species. The dominant plant species in the ash-leaved maple communities were identified. Under the canopy of A. negundo , ruderal species - Cirsium setosum, Elytrigia repens, Lamium album, Urtica dioica, and Taraxacum officinale - dominate, while in the outer zones, the proportion of meadow species increases - Achillea millefolium, Dactylis glomerata, and Festuca pratensis . It has been established that the floristic composition of communities does not affect significantly the level of activity of soil enzymes. In the undercrown space of A. negundo , an increase in the activity of hydrolytic enzymes by an average of 11% was noted, compared with the outer zones.

Impacts of Diffuse Land-Use on Plant Diversity Patterns in the Miombo Woodlands of Western Zambia

Land use is known to influence the diversity of vascular plants in the Miombo woodlands. However, little is known about the interaction between soil and land use in herbaceous and woody species. We compared the diversity of vascular plants at the plot level (20 m × 50 m) and site level for three sites in the Miombo woodlands of western Zambia subject to different levels of intensity classes of diffuse land use (e.g., livestock herbivory and selective timber harvesting). For each of the sites, twenty plots were randomly selected for assessment of species composition of vascular plant species, indicators of land-use intensity, and soil chemistry per plot. We hypothesized that the site with the lowest human impact would have the highest richness and diversity of woody and herbaceous species. At the site level, we found that richness and diversity of woody species were unaffected by land-use intensity, whereas herbaceous species richness was higher for the protected site (28 species on average per 1000 m2) than the two other sites (23 and 21 species on average per 1000 m2). At the plot level, herbaceous species richness was positively associated with woodcutting and soil pH. We interpret the positive effect of woodcutting on herbaceous species richness as the effect of lower competition by the woody component for resources such as water, nutrients, and light. With regard to the absence of any effect of land-use intensity on the richness of woody species, we conclude that in our study areas selective timber harvesting may be at a sustainable level and might even have a positive effect on the diversity of the herbaceous layer.

Factors affecting the biodiversity of historical landscape elements: detailed analyses from three case studies in Slovakia.

A direct, positive correlation between biodiversity and the traditional agricultural landscape is evident on the national or regional scale. It is mostly conditioned by higher landscape diversity and less intensive farming. We have carried out research on a detailed scale at plot level (productive plots of arable lands, grasslands, vineyards, orchards, and unproductive agrarian landforms (mostly field margins) such as terraced slopes, terraced steps, heaps, mounds, and unconsolidated walls) in three traditional agricultural landscapes: the mountain village Liptovská Teplička, the vineyard landscape in Svätý Jur, and dispersed settlements in a submontane area in Hriňová. We determined the statistical significance of the impact of the selected landscape ecological factors (a set of factors concerning land use and management, agrarian landforms and relief properties) on the distribution of vegetation and selected invertebrate groups (spiders, millipedes, grasshoppers, and crickets). We also explored whether maintaining traditional land use and traditional management helped to enhance the biodiversity. We found that the management regime is the most important factor determining the species composition of vascular plants and all studied animal groups. Also, present land use and agrarian landforms character (type, skeleton content, continuity) are significant factors. Our expectation of a positive relationship between biodiversity and the maintaining traditional land use and traditional management was, in general, not confirmed: such a relation was only found in Svätý Jur for biodiversity of spiders.

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.