Vascular Plant Species Composition Research Articles

No support for long-term effects of commercial tree stump harvest on understory vegetation

Intensification of forestry may further increase the threat that forestry already imposes on biodiversity. The recent re-introduction of stump harvest in Swedish forestry clearly represents such intensification. Stump harvest not only decreases the available habitat for organisms living on dead wood, but also causes soil disturbance that can potentially alter understory diversity. In this study we capitalized on the large-scale stump harvest (c. 10,000ha) that took place during the period from 1977 to 1989 in south-central Sweden. In 2013, we performed vegetation surveys in forest stands where stumps were harvested and in conventionally harvested reference stands. Twenty-four to 36years after stump harvest we found no differences in species richness and composition of vascular plants and mosses between the two categories of stands. We conclude that our study lends no support for any long-term effects of stump harvest on understory vegetation. The lack of differences between stump harvested and conventional clear-cut stands may be due to that the additional disturbance effects generated by stump harvest were overridden by the strong disturbance effects already imposed by the standard forest management, i.e. clear-cutting with subsequent soil scarification.

Beaches under pressure – effects of human access on vegetation at Baltic Sea beaches

AbstractQuestionsHow do cover, richness and composition of plant species vary according to different levels of beach access? What shifts in plant traits occur along gradients of tourism intensity? What recommendations regarding the sustainable management of Baltic Sea beaches can be proposed?LocationSouthern Baltic Sea beaches in Germany.MethodsIn this study, the species composition of vascular plants on beaches with differing accessibility to tourists was analysed at the southwest Baltic Sea coast. In total, 894 vegetation plots were evaluated in order to determine vegetation changes along the sea–inland gradient due to different levels of human accessibility at beaches. Relevés were conducted as repeated transects from the beach ridge to the shore. Shifts in vegetation characteristics due to different levels of tourism access were analysed at the level of plant communities and plant species traits.ResultsSpecies richness did not differ significantly between the levels of accessibility. Vegetation cover significantly increased with distance to the shore and was highest in the upper shore area of closed beaches (52.0 ± 2.7%). Corresponding to the increase in beach access, we observed an increase in ruderal species and a decrease in typical beach species of the vegetation class Honckenyo‐Elymetea. Tourism access and distance to the shoreline had a decisive influence on the distribution of plants with selected plant traits. In particular, at accessible sites, a loss of plants with leaves having high scleromorphy was recorded.ConclusionsIncreased beach access results in a loss of typical beach plant species. Changes in vegetation characteristics are considered to alter the function of the beach ecosystem. Based on these results, we derived spatially differentiated management measures for excluding the most sensitive beach areas from tourism.

Vegetation composition and shrub extent on the Yukon coast, Canada, are strongly linked to ice-wedge polygon degradation

Changing environmental and geomorphological conditions are resulting in vegetation change in ice-wedge polygons in Arctic tundra. However, we do not yet know how microscale vegetation patterns relate to individual environmental and geomorphological parameters. This work aims at examining these relations in polygonal terrain. We analysed composition and cover of vascular plant taxa and surface height, active layer depth, soil temperature, carbon and nitrogen content, pH and electrical conductivity in four polygon mires located on the Yukon coast. We found that vascular plant species composition and cover correlates best with relative surface height. Ridges of low-centred polygons and raised centres of high-centred polygons support the growth of mesic and wetland species (e.g., Betula glandulosa , Salix pulchra , S. reticulata , Rubus chamaemorus , various ericaceous dwarf shrubs, Eriophorum vaginatum , Poa arctica ). Wetland and aquatic plant species (e.g., E. angustifolium , Carex aquatilis , C. chordorrhiza , Pedicularis sudetica ) grow in low-lying centres of polygons and in troughs between polygons. We also found a relationship between vascular plant species composition and substrate characteristics such as pH, electrical conductivity and total organic carbon, although the individual influence of these parameters could not be determined because of their correlation with relative surface height. Our findings stress the regulatory role of microtopography and substrate in vegetation dynamics of polygonal terrain. Ongoing warming in this region will lead to changes to polygonal terrain through permafrost degradation and subsequent conversion of low-centred into high-centred polygons. Our results indicate that shrubs, particularly Betula glandulosa and heath species, have the potential to expand most. Keywords: Ice-wedge polygon mires; western Canadian Arctic; modern vegetation; microtopography; permafrost. (Published: 17 June 2016) To access the supplementary material for this article, please see the supplementary files in the column to the right (under Article Tools). Citation: Polar Research 2016, 35 , 27489, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.27489

Rastlinski Svet Dolomitov

In Europe, the management of semi-natural grasslands is changing steadily in extent and intensity. These changes represent a serious threat to one of the most species-rich habitats in Europe; therefore, the related shifts in species composition should be assessed by means of sound scientific. We describe a new methodology aimed at: (i) quantifying the temporal changes in vascular plant species composition of semi-natural grasslands; (ii) identifying the environmental and management variables that drive patterns of change. Our approach consists of a diachronic analysis based on historical phytosociological data associated with detailed vegetation maps. To describe and test our methodology, in 2013 we re-visited 24 historical plots of Bromus erectus grasslands that were first sampled in 1982. To designate the new sampling sites, we combined the topographic and typological information available for the historical plots with the spatial information of the associated map. The degree of change in species composition was calculated through ordination techniques; multivariate distances were used in a regression analysis to identify the environmental variables responsible for patterns of compositional change. Our worked example demonstrated that species composition has changed significantly in the last 30 years, with patterns that have been substantially influenced by topography and landscape structure.

The macroecology of island floras

Islands are key model systems in biogeography and ecology. However, standardized data on environmental characteristics of the large number of islands worldwide have so far been lacking, and the effects of these characteristics on island ecology and biodiversity remain insufficiently understood. In my PhD thesis, I presented the first comprehensive environmental characterization of the world’s islands, covering past and present bioclimatic and physical island characteristics (including the spatial setting of islands and archipelagos). I used these data to investigate how island characteristics influence the diversity and assembly of island floras at different spatial scales and across major plant groups. To this end, I assembled a global database of vascular plant species composition including 45,000 species and covering 1,070 islands. I showed that different aspects of island environments affect different facets of insular diversity (species richness, turnover, phylogenetic diversity) across scales and major plant groups, in accordance with their predominant dispersal- and speciation-related traits and adaptations to climate. The results contribute to a better understanding of the environmental and evolutionary drivers of plant assemblage composition, on islands as well as on mainlands.

The macroecology of island floras

Islands are key model systems in biogeography and ecology. However, standardized data on environmental characteristics of the large number of islands worldwide have so far been lacking, and the effects of these characteristics on island ecology and biodiversity remain insufficiently understood. In my PhD thesis, I presented the first comprehensive environmental characterization of the world’s islands, covering past and present bioclimatic and physical island characteristics (including the spatial setting of islands and archipelagos). I used these data to investigate how island characteristics influence the diversity and assembly of island floras at different spatial scales and across major plant groups. To this end, I assembled a global database of vascular plant species composition including 45,000 species and covering 1,070 islands. I showed that different aspects of island environments affect different facets of insular diversity (species richness, turnover, phylogenetic diversity) across scales and major plant groups, in accordance with their predominant dispersal- and speciation-related traits and adaptations to climate. The results contribute to a better understanding of the environmental and evolutionary drivers of plant assemblage composition, on islands as well as on mainlands.

The effects of rock climbing on cliff‐face vegetation

AbstractQuestionWhat are the effects of rock climbing on diversity, abundance and composition on cliff‐face vegetation along environmental and use gradients typical of modern climbing?LocationNew River Gorge National River, WV, US.MethodsWe compared species richness, abundance and composition of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens on 79 pre‐established rock climbs and 32 unclimbed ‘control’ sites across potential climb‐use intensity and cliff structure using linear models, residual analysis and NMDS ordination.ResultsDifferences in species richness and abundance associated with potential climb‐use intensity and cliff structure were variable across taxonomic groups. Linear models indicated that cliff angle was the strongest explanatory variable of species richness and abundance for all three taxonomic groups. Once the effects of biophysical variables were modelled, analysis of the residuals indicated that potential climbing‐use intensity had a small but negative effect on species richness and abundance of vascular plants (range 3–6%), no effect on bryophytes (0%) and a substantial effect on lichens (range 10–12%). Similarly, NMDS ordination indicated that cliff angle, canopy height and aspect were the primary drivers of species composition. We observed no change in community composition due to climbing.ConclusionsOther studies have observed significant impacts of climbing on vegetation at the base of cliffs. Here, we observe that potential climbing‐use intensity has some impact on species richness and abundance of vascular plants and more significant impacts on lichens, however cliff angle is a fundamental control on cliff vegetation. Because of the challenge in sampling steep and overhanging cliffs, we recommend that climbers be directly involved in the assessment, monitoring and management of cliff resources in order to ensure that the full range of biophysical conditions of cliff ecosystems are considered.

Different patterns in species richness and community composition between trees, plants and epiphytic lichens in semi-natural pastures under agri-environment schemes

Agri-environment schemes (AES) have been established to counteract negative effects of agricultural intensification on e.g. semi-natural pastures and meadows. The efficiency of most AESs have, however, been poorly evaluated. We evaluated the success of a Swedish AES for the management of semi-natural pastures by comparing species richness and composition of vascular plants (except trees), epiphytic lichens and trees among pastures receiving higher (high value pastures) and lower levels of AES paymens (general value pastures). There was no difference in the number of tree species among high and general value pastures, even though AES regulations allow a maximum of 60 and 100 trees/ha in general and high value pastures, respectively. High value pastures had, however, a higher number of plant and epiphytic lichen species than common value pastures. Moreover, a higher number of pasture specialist plant species were indicative of high value pastures than of general value pastures. No lichen species indicating high value pastures are associated with habitats with low canopy cover (such as e.g. pastures). Finally, tree identity was an important factor for explaining the number and composition of epiphytic lichen species. Our study highlights that species groups can respond differently to agri-environment schemes and other conservation measures. Even though the effects are the desired on the diversity of one assessed taxon, this is not always the case for non-target organism groups.

Composição e similaridade da flora sssociada a sítios antropizados do município de João Pessoa - Paraíba

Neste estudo é apresentada a composição e similaridade florística de espécies vasculares sinantrópicas em uma área periurbana antropizada, no município de João Pessoa, Estado da Paraíba, e sua relação com outras floras sinantrópicas. Foram encontradas 98 espécies, em 75 gêneros e 30 famílias. Entre as espécies, 41,84% são cosmopolitas; 29,6%, pantropicais; 13,3% ocorrem apenas no cone sul da América; 8,2%, neotropicais; 5,1%, gondwânicas; e 2% ocorrem em toda a América. Asteraceae e Poaceae foram as famílias mais representativas em número de espécies. Os resultados foram comparados com os de outros levantamentos florísticos correlatos, utilizando o índice de similaridade de Sörensen, e observou-se que não é somente a proximidade geográfica entre os locais estudados que reflete uma maior similaridade florística entre as áreas, e sim a amplitude dos táxons e a presença de micro-habitat semelhante. A área de estudo está relacionada a uma área inserida na região Centro-Oeste do Brasil.

Participation of various habitat groups in the flora of spring niches in the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland)

Abstract The paper presents composition of vascular plant species in spring niches in the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland). 111 species of vascular plants, fourteen mosses, two liverworts and one species of ferns were recorded during the first comprehensive study carried out in 2009 and 2010. Plants occurring in these places showed different degrees of association with spring niches. The largest group was represented by accidental krenophytes (74 species), while spring plants - obligatory krenophytes, constituted only a small part of the local flora (5 species). Meadow species of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class and forest species of the Querco-Fagetea class, penetrating niche areas from the adjacent areas, were the dominating ones. Plants of aquatic and spring communities were scarce, due to the predominance of small type karst springs. The diversity of vegetation was significantly influenced by habitat factors such as availability of light, humidity or the amount of organic matter in the soil.

Observation of "fairy rings" in the lowlands

Investigations on the formation of fairy rings by <i>Agaricales</i> were performed in the year·s 1971-1974 in forest meadows and reserves in Dziekanów Leśny and on agricultural mowed ones in Kazuń near Warsaw. During 240 observations 378 maps were made. In forest meadows 15 species formed rings and on agricultural mowed meadows 22 species. Many species formed rings considerably affecting the growth of vascular plants. This caused the formation of distinct zone.s parallel to the lines of fructifications. Many more species formed rings without affecting the growth and species composition of vascular plants. The appearance of fairy rings and the analysis of the reasons for their occurrence may facilitate in a certain sense the investigation of the speed and way of growth of mycelium in the soil.

Direct and Indirect Drivers of Moss Community Structure, Function, and Associated Microfauna Across a Successional Gradient

Relative to vascular plants, little is known about what factors control bryophyte communities or how they respond to successional and environmental changes. Bryophytes are abundant in boreal forests, thus changes in moss community composition and functional traits (for example, moisture and nutrient content; rates of photosynthesis and respiration) may have important consequences for ecosystem processes and microfaunal communities. Through synthesis of previous work and new analyses integrating new and published data from a long-term successional gradient in the boreal forest of northern Sweden, we provide a comprehensive view of the biotic factors (for example, vascular plant productivity, species composition, and diversity) and abiotic factors (for example, soil fertility and light transmission) that impact the moss community. Our results show that different aspects of the moss community (that is, composition, functional traits, moss-driven processes, and associated invertebrate fauna) respond to different sets of environmental variables, and that these are not always the same variables as those that influence the vascular plant community. Measures of moss community composition and functional traits were primarily influenced by vascular plant community composition and productivity. This suggests that successional shifts in abiotic variables, such as soil nutrient levels, indirectly affect the moss community via their influence on vascular plant community characteristics, whereas direct abiotic effects are less important. Among the moss-driven processes, moss litter decomposition and moss productivity were mainly influenced by biotic variables (notably the community characteristics of both vascular plants and mosses), whereas moss functional traits (primarily specific leaf area and tissue nutrient concentrations) also were important in explaining moss di-nitrogen-fixation rates. In contrast, both abiotic and biotic variables were important drivers of moss microfaunal community structure. Taken together, our results show which abiotic and biotic factors impact mosses and their associated organisms, and thus highlight that multiple interacting factors need to be considered to understand how moss communities, associated food webs, and the ecosystem processes they influence will respond to environmental change.

Exclusion of herbivores slows down recovery after experimental warming and nutrient addition in an alpine plant community

Summary Global change, such as climate warming and nitrogen deposition, has been predicted to induce non‐reversible regime shifts in natural ecosystems. However, we lack knowledge of the potential for recovery from global change perturbations and factors influencing the recovery rate. We examined the recovery of an alpine plant community from a combined warming and nutrient addition experiment, which initially caused profound changes in plant community composition and diversity. We also examined whether the recovery process was affected by herbivory, as the presence of herbivores has been shown to modify the response of plant communities to global change. Many aspects of the alpine plant community had not recovered from experimental warming and nutrient addition 6 years after cessation of the treatments. A persistent shift in vascular plant species composition seemed to inhibit recovery and maintain a community dominated by highly competitive grasses at the expense of the previously dominating dwarf shrub Dryas octopetala, lichens and bryophytes. The exclusion of herbivores decreased the community recovery rate by maintaining unfavourable conditions for lichens and bryophytes. Synthesis. Our findings suggest that a shift in dominance hierarchies in arctic and alpine plant communities due to global change is not readily reversible. Herbivory may, however, facilitate plant community recovery.

Steppe-Like Grass Land Vegetation in the Hills around the Lakes of Vegoritida and Petron, North-Central Greece

Abstract The present paper describes the floristic composition and synecology of steppe-like dry grasslands occurring in a Natura 2000 site in North-Central Greece around the two karstic lakes of Vegoritida and Petron. In total, 245 releves of vascular plant species composition and abundance were sampled and subjected to cluster analysis and ordination analysis. Passive explanatory variables, including environmental parameters as well as indicator values, were used to support the ecological interpretation. Four plant communities were distinguished in the area, namely Artemisia campestris-Dasypyrum villosum, Chrysopogon gryllus-Bothriochloa ischaemum, Satureja montana-Artemisia alba and Stipa capillata-Koeleria macrantha. All communities were classified within the Festuco-Brometea class and the Astragalo-Potentilletalia order. Soil properties (soil reaction, moisture and nutrient content) and meso-climate factors (temperature variation along topographic gradients) were identified as the main factors determining the floristic differentiation among the four communities. The dry grasslands harbor a number of species associated with steppic habitats. We discuss the relict character of the steppe-like vegetation.

Richness of ancient forest plant species indicates suitable habitats for macrofungi

Macrofungal species richness generally increases with forest continuity as does the richness of so-called ancient forest plant species (AFS). Based on this assumption, we examined the ability of AFS to indicate macrofungal diversity in six study areas covering a range of elevations and environments in the Czech Republic. In total, we used data from 106 sampling plots (2,500 m2 each) distributed over six types of forest stands reflecting different intensities and temporal stages of forest management. Species composition of vascular plants and macrofungi was recorded by a single inventory and regular 2-year monitoring, respectively. In total, we found 71 AFS and 1,413 macrofungal species, of which 150 were red-listed macrofungal species. We documented that AFS show potential for being used in the prediction of macrofungi species richness, including endangered species, at the local scale (α-diversity). Additionally, we found significant differences in macrofungal species richness depending on study area and type of forest management, which did not, however, derogate the effect of AFS. Spatial congruence between species composition of AFS and macrofungi communities (β-diversity) increased with forest age and decreased with intensity of forest management. If we consider the simplicity of monitoring AFS in comparison to regular monitoring of macrofungi, we found a widely usable tool for estimating macrofungal diversity in all dominant types of managed forest in central Europe. However, we should be aware of the limited ability of AFS to capture macrofungal diversity across a broader spatial context (γ-diversity), especially in areas with a low diversity of AFS.

Cessation effects of grazing and burning on species composition in humid temperate semi-natural grasslands through environmental modifications

To elucidate the cessation impacts of agricultural management on a semi-natural grassland ecosystem, effects of grazing and burning on species composition of vascular plants were investigated in Mt. Aso, Japan. Species richness was significantly increased by both grazing and burning at the plot scale (1 m2), and a negative interaction between grazing and burning was recognized by two-way analysis of variance. No significant effect existed at the transect (10 m2) or the site (20 m2) scales. Most of the environmental factors measured in this study (e.g. soil physical properties) were significantly, although differently, modified by grazing and/or burning. According to logistic regression analyses, 32 of 77 species recorded at the study sites were significantly correlated with the environmental variables, yet each species appeared to respond to the environmental factors in different ways. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that both grazing and burning are important factors in determining species composition; that cessation of grazing changes shortgrass communities to tallgrass ones; and that cessation of burning changes communities composed of colorful-flowering species to shrubby communities. This study concludes that within several years of the cessation of grazing and burning, species richness could be lowered in semi-natural grasslands at such small scales as 1-m2 plots. Grazing and burning would modify some environmental factors, especially hydraulic conditions, in semi-natural grasslands, and would create various habitat types for plants, thus allowing species diversity to be maintained over time.

Substantial compositional turnover of fungal communities in an alpine ridge‐to‐snowbed gradient

The main gradient in vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen species composition in alpine areas, structured by the topographic gradient from wind-exposed ridges to snowbeds, has been extensively studied. Tolerance to environmental stress, resulting from wind abrasion and desiccation towards windswept ridges or reduced growing season due to prolonged snow cover towards snowbeds, is an important ecological mechanism in this gradient. The extent to which belowground fungal communities are structured by the same topographic gradient and the eventual mechanisms involved are less well known. In this study, we analysed variation in fungal diversity and community composition associated with roots of the ectomycorrhizal plant Bistorta vivipara along the ridge-to-snowbed gradient. We collected root samples from fifty B.vivipara plants in ten plots in an alpine area in central Norway. The fungal communities were analysed using 454 pyrosequencing analyses of tag-encoded ITS1 amplicons. A distinct gradient in the fungal community composition was found that coincided with variation from ridge to snowbeds. This gradient was paralleled by change in soil content of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. A large proportion (66%) of the detected 801 nonsingleton operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were ascomycetes, while basidiomycetes dominated quantitatively (i.e. with respect to number of reads). Numerous fungal OTUs, many with taxonomic affinity to Sebacinales, Cortinarius and Meliniomyces, showed distinct affinities either to ridge or to snowbed plots, indicating habitat specialization. The compositional turnover of fungal communities along the gradient was not paralleled by a gradient in species richness.

Nitrogen deposition is negatively related to species richness and species composition of vascular plants and bryophytes in Swiss mountain grassland

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a major threat to biodiversity of many habitats in the lowlands. In mountain habitats, however, the effect of N deposition on biodiversity is not well understood. Here, data from the biodiversity monitoring of Switzerland were used to investigate whether high N deposition is negatively related to species richness and community uniqueness of vascular plants and bryophytes in mountain grassland. The total species diversity, as well as the diversity of three subsets of species (i.e. oligotrophic species, eutrophic species and targeted grassland species according to conservation objectives of the Swiss authorities) were analyzed. Overall, the empirical data from the present study indicate that the currently expert-based range of the critical load of N deposition below which harmful effects on sensitive ecosystems should not occur (upper bound is currently at 20kg Nha−1yr−1) is set too large for mountain hay meadows. Negative relations between N deposition and species richness and community uniqueness in mountain grassland were found already at 10–15kg Nha−1yr−1. The results suggest that the negative effect of N deposition on plant diversity is mainly due to a decrease of oligotrophic plant species and to a lesser extent to an increase in eutrophic plant species. While for bryophytes, the decrease of community uniqueness is related to changes in both oligotrophic and eutrophic species. Furthermore, because plant species richness of target species for conservation was negatively related to N deposition, airborne N deposition is likely to defeat conservation efforts in mountain grassland.

Long‐term and contemporary environmental conditions as determinants of the species composition of bog organisms

Summary Environmental change alters ecosystem processes, minding biogeochemical cycles. These changes are accompanied by shifts in species composition. We predicted that long‐term averages of environmental variables would explain more of the variability in species composition than short‐term assessments, but that this difference would be weaker for short‐lived organisms. We further predicted that short‐lived organisms with rapid dispersal would reflect recent environmental change. In 51 plots of ombrotrophic summit bogs in two mountain ranges of Central Europe, we sampled the contemporary species composition of vascular plants, bryophytes, diatoms and testate amoebae. In the same plots, water chemistry (pH, conductivity, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al, Fe, Pb, Hg, Zn, humic acids, ammonium, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, sulphates and chlorides) and water level were monitored three times per year for 15 years. We tested species–environmental relationships using Mantel tests and canonical correspondence analyses with Monte Carlo permutation tests for overall, within‐bog and between‐bog effects. The species composition of all four taxa changed along a natural gradient of water level. Diatoms and testate amoebae also changed along a pH/calcium gradient, which has appeared recently in one of the study regions because of aerial liming of forests. Only diatoms reflected variations in humic acid concentration. Spot measurements of environmental factors were sufficient to describe the general pattern while significant effects of phosphates for diatoms and bryophytes, nitrites for vascular plants, potassium for vascular plants and testate amoebae, sodium for all groups except diatoms and sulphates for bryophytes and testate amoebae were evident only by using medium‐ or long‐term averages. Although only long‐term averages of some environmental variables were sufficient to explain species compositions, major patterns were revealed by single (spot) samples. The explanatory power of long‐ and short‐term environmental conditions did not differ substantially between micro‐ and macroorganisms, although short‐lived and well‐dispersed microorganisms reflected the new pH/calcium gradient.

Restoration potential of native forests after removal of Picea abies plantations

Coniferous plantations may reduce biodiversity and homogenise environmental conditions but there is a lack of knowledge on the restoration potential of such sites. We assess whether first generation plantation impacts on soil and biodiversity are reversible. The study was carried out in western Norway and we compared species composition, alpha and beta diversity of vascular plants and bryophytes, and soil conditions on five sites of 4-year old wind-felled clearings and adjacent, remnant Norway spruce (Picea abies) plantations. Local native birch (Betula pubescens) forests provided a reference point for assessing the restoration potential of the Norway spruce plantations. We found that species composition in the wind-felled clearings quickly developed similarities to the local birch forests. A rise in humus pH, calcium concentrations and available nitrogen (total N in percentage of loss on ignition), indicates that one rotation of Norway spruce plantations has not imposed long-term impairment of soil conditions. After removal of the plantation tree layer, mean species number per plot (alpha diversity) increased for vascular plants but remained unchanged for bryophytes. Heterogeneity, in terms of beta diversity, and the variance of some soil elements (calcium and magnesium) increased, and beta diversity trends were similar for both vascular plants and bryophytes. During the course of succession, we predict that species composition and vascular plant alpha and beta diversity in wind-felled clearings of Norway spruce plantations may stabilise at levels similar to native birch forests.