The role of in situ species diversification for the evolution of high vascular plant species diversity in the European Alps—A review and interpretation of phylogenetic studies of the endemic flora of the Alps

Author(s):  
Joachim W. Kadereit
1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (15) ◽  
pp. 1465-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Glenn-Lewin

Vascular plant species diversity in the ravines of the southern Finger Lakes followed the ravine-side gradient and vegetation characteristics described by Lewin (1974). Bottom and lower-slope mesophytic communities were very rich in species, middle-to-upper hemlock stands were very poor in species, while the upper oak stands were again somewhat richer. Dominance followed an inverse pattern, being lowest in the low, mesophytic stands and high in the hemlock stands. The amount of hemlock in the canopy appeared to have an effect on diversity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Wrzesień ◽  
Bożena Denisow

Abstract Plant species diversity is threatened in many agricultural landscapes due to the changes it has to undergo. Although the modification of the agricultural landscape pattern is observed across Europe, both extensive and intensive agricultural landscapes still co-exist in Poland. The objective of the study was to examine the flora in field margins in intensively and extensively managed agricultural landscapes, located across three regions in SE Poland. The flora was compared with respect to species richness, diversity, and evenness indices. Detrended correspondence analysis was employed to characterise variation in species composition. Agricultural landscape type made a higher contribution than the topography or geology to species richness and composition in field margins. Field margins function as important habitats for general vascular plant species diversity and are useful for the conservation of rare, threatened, endangered or bee plants. A significant decline in species diversity was observed over a distance of 1000 m from the habitat elements. Plants growing on field margins are mainly perennials; however participation of annuals clearly increases in intensive landscapes. The participation of wind-dispersed species decreased in an open-spaced intensive landscape. Animal-dispersed plants predominated in an extensive landscape with forest islands. Irrespective of landscape type, native species predominated. However, these habitats create the biota and corridors for alien-invasive species as well.


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