Use of a weighing lysimeter system to assess the effects of trampling on evapotranspiration of montane plant communities

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 675-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Scott ◽  
Neil G Bayfield ◽  
Alexander Cernusca ◽  
David A Elston
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Grassland Community ◽  
Montane Vegetation ◽  
Heath Communities ◽  
Contrasting Structure ◽  
Weighing Lysimeter

The aim was to investigate the impacts of trampling on water loss and partitioning in vegetation with contrasting structure and species composition. A new design of weighing lysimeter was used in glasshouse experiments to compare evapotranspiration from intact and trampled blocks of vegetation. The lysimeter system was able to detect differences between treatments after only a few hours. Evapotranspiration was recorded for six communities, representative of cryptogam - vascular plant communities found in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. Vegetation blocks of Racomitrium and Vaccinium/Hylocomium heath communities had the greatest cumulative evapotranspiration and lichen heath the least over 48 h. Blocks from three of the communities (Agrostis/Festuca grassland, Calluna wet heath, and lichen heath) were used in a trampling experiment with five levels of damage. Trampling progressively destroyed the structure of the vegetation of all communities and increased the rates of water loss from the blocks. The grassland community vegetation was the most resilient. These results help to link the massive changes in vegetation structure resulting from trampling to effects on water loss and microclimate.Key words: weighing lysimeter, evapotranspiration, recreation, trampling, cryptogams, montane vegetation.

Plant community evolution in a glacier foreland of the Central European Alps

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Ramskogler ◽  
Svenja Müller ◽  
Bettina Knoflach ◽  
Johann Stötter ◽  
Clemens Geitner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Primary Succession ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Central European ◽  
Vascular Plant Species

<p>Glacier forelands are perfect for analysing the development of plant communities from zero onward. According to Matthews (1992), the chronosequence can act as a spatial representation of the temporal sequence. Therefore, it is ideal to analyse changes in landscape and land cover in time slices. Development of plant communities does not only depend on the age of the deposits, but also on topography, microclimate, soil development, and geomorphological processes as well as on biotic interactions. In the long term, permanent plots represent an adequate method to follow the colonisation on differently aged terrain throughout time.</p><p>The main research question of the study is: Do cryospheric changes influence plant community development in time and space? During the first study year we were focused on the following questions: i) How fast does a plant community evolve? ii) How many species do occur on different moraine stages? iii) How do soil parameters correlate with primary succession stages?</p><p>The study site is located in the southern part of the Central European Alps, Martell Valley (South Tyrol, Italy). We established 12 permanent plot clusters of 2 x 5 m on areas deglaciated between 1985 and 2018, two per retreat area. In each square meter of these clusters, species composition, cover, and number of individuals were sampled. On the ground moraines of the glacier stages 1911 and approximately 1850 we recorded species composition and cover on 10 x 10 m plots (four plots in total). In all plot clusters and plots on the old moraines, soil temperature and soil water potential as well as relevant soil parameters were measured.</p><p>We found up to two vascular plant species per square meter on areas ice free for one year and up to 16 vascular plant species per square meter on areas ice free since 1985.</p><p>On the moraines of 1911 were up to 39 vascular plant species per plot with a mean cover of 52.5 %. On the moraines of 1850 we found up to 43 vascular plant species with a mean cover of 40 %.</p><p>In the next step we will analyse the effects of pioneer, early and late successional species on morphodynamic processes and their response to these processes using functional traits.</p><p>Matthews, J.A. (1992): The ecology of recently-deglaciated terrain: a geoecological approach to glacier forelands and primary succession. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.</p>

Long-term dynamics and destruction of marsh vegetation in the Kolokolkova Bay of the Barents Sea

2012 ◽  
pp. 66-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Lavrinenko ◽  
O. V. Lavrinenko ◽  
D. V. Dobrynin
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Marsh Vegetation ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

The satellite images show that the area of marshes in the Kolokolkova bay was notstable during the period from 1973 up to 2011. Until 2010 it varied from 357 to 636 ha. After a severe storm happened on July 24–25, 2010 the total area of marshes was reduced up to 43–50 ha. The mean value of NDVI for studied marshes, reflecting the green biomass, varied from 0.13 to 0.32 before the storm in 2010, after the storm the NDVI decreased to 0.10, in 2011 — 0.03. A comparative analysis of species composition and structure of plant communities described in 2002 and 2011, allowed to evaluate the vegetation changes of marshes of the different topographic levels. They are fol­lowing: a total destruction of plant communities of the ass. Puccinellietum phryganodis and ass. Caricetum subspathaceae on low and middle marches; increasing role of halophytic species in plant communities of the ass. Caricetum glareosae vic. Calamagrostis deschampsioides subass. typicum on middle marches; some changes in species composition and structure of plant communities of the ass. Caricetum glareosae vic. Calamagrostis deschampsioides subass. festucetosum rubrae on high marches and ass. Parnassio palustris–Salicetum reptantis in transition zone between marches and tundra without changes of their syntaxonomy; a death of moss cover in plant communities of the ass. Caricetum mackenziei var. Warnstorfia exannulata on brackish coastal bogs. The possible reasons of dramatic vegetation dynamics are discussed. The dating of the storm makes it possible to observe the directions and rates of the succession of marches vegetation.

scholarly journals Disentangling the Ecological Determinants of Species and Functional Trait Diversity in Herb-Layer Plant Communities in European Temperate Forests

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 552
Author(s):  
Janez Kermavnar ◽  
Lado Kutnar ◽  
Aleksander Marinšek
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Bud Bank ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Stand Characteristics

Forest herb-layer vegetation responds sensitively to environmental conditions. This paper compares drivers of both taxonomic, i.e., species richness, cover and evenness, and functional herb-layer diversity, i.e., the diversity of clonal, bud bank and leaf-height-seed plant traits. We investigated the dependence of herb-layer diversity on ecological determinants related to soil properties, climatic parameters, forest stand characteristics, and topographic and abiotic and biotic factors associated with forest floor structure. The study was conducted in different forest types in Slovenia, using vegetation and environmental data from 50 monitoring plots (400 m2 each) belonging to the ICP Forests Level I and II network. The main objective was to first identify significant ecological predictors and then quantify their relative importance. Species richness was strongly determined by forest stand characteristics, such as richness of the shrub layer, tree layer shade-casting ability as a proxy for light availability and tree species composition. It showed a clear positive relation to soil pH. Variation in herb-layer cover was also best explained by forest stand characteristics and, to a lesser extent, by structural factors such as moss cover. Species evenness was associated with tree species composition, shrub layer cover and soil pH. Various ecological determinants were decisive for the diversity of below-ground traits, i.e., clonal and bud bank traits. For these two trait groups we observed a substantial climatic signal that was completely absent for taxonomy-based measures of diversity. In contrast, above-ground leaf-height-seed (LHS) traits were driven exclusively by soil reaction and nitrogen availability. In synthesis, local stand characteristics and soil properties acted as the main controlling factors for both species and trait diversity in herb-layer communities across Slovenia, confirming many previous studies. Our findings suggest that the taxonomic and functional facets of herb-layer vegetation are mainly influenced by a similar set of ecological determinants. However, their relative importance varies among individual taxonomy- and functional trait-based diversity measures. Integrating multi-faceted approaches can provide complementary information on patterns of herb-layer diversity in European forest plant communities.

scholarly journals The possibility of reclamation criteria success in Indonesia: soil condition, vegetation structure and species composition

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3201-3210
Author(s):  
Tedi Yunanto ◽  
Farisatul Amanah ◽  
Nabila Putri Wisnu
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Soil Condition ◽  
Mine Reclamation ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Standard Interval ◽  
Chemical Conditions

There are two regulations for mine reclamation success in the forestry area in Indonesia, namely Minister of Forestry Regulation No. P.60/Menhut-II/2009 and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No. 1827.K/30/MEM/2018. Both regulations rule vegetation and soil success. This study aims to analyse criteria parameters from both regulations in the mine reclamation and compare them to the surrounding secondary natural forest (SNF). This study was conducted in 6 six types of mine reclamation stand structures: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11-year-old plantation and SNF using 1 hectare of the circular plot each (total 6 ha). Soil samples were collected from 40 cm depth to analyse physical, biological and chemical conditions. Mine reclamation areas had almost similar physical, biological and chemical soil conditions with SNF. Nevertheless, due to the potential acid-forming (PAF) material from overburden, the 1-year-old plantation had pH = 3.23-3.27. The highest diversity index and the number of species and families in all reclamation areas were H’ = 1.82 (11-year-old); 14 species (9-year-old); and 11 families (9-year-old), comparing with SNF were H’ = 3.48; 67 species, and 31 families. Conversely, vegetation structure parameters in mine reclamation areas were higher than SNF (diameter at height breast (DBH; 1.3 m) = 28.42 cm; tree density = 469/ha; basal area = 35.04 m2/ha; and total height = 16.85 m). Compared to the SNF, vegetation structure and soil conditions are mostly possible for mine reclamation success. Still, species composition needs to be considered further as a standard interval to meet the criteria.

scholarly journals Ground vegetation diversity and geobotanical analysis in dune pine forests in southwest Estonia

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Tilk ◽  
Katri Ots ◽  
Tea Tullus ◽  
Malle Mandre
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Vegetation Species

Abstract To investigate the ecosystems on dunes, five typical dunes were selected in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in southwest Estonia. To study ground vegetation species richness, species composition and horizontal structure, 251 quadrats of 1 m2 in size were established and descriptions of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichen species were provided. Topographical factors, soil horizons, soil pH and electrical conductivity, soil nutrients, soil moisture conditions and light conditions were determined. In total, 42 vascular plant, 43 bryophyte and 48 lichen species were recorded on five dunes. Vascular plant species richness and composition on forested dunes was dependent on the absolute dune height, zone and aspect of the slope, soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content, soil pH and moisture, the cover of the bryophyte-lichen layer and light conditions. Regarding bryophyte and lichen layer species composition, important factors were the aspect of the dune, vascular plant species cover, light conditions, the thickness of the moderately decomposed organic soil horizon, soil pH, electrical conductivity and volumetric water content. Lichen species richness was highest on the slopes of the dunes, while bryophyte species richness was higher at the bottoms and decreased towards the tops of the dunes. Ground vegetation species richness and species’ horizontal and vertical structure on forested dunes were highly dependent on topography-induced differences, aspect, height and zone of the dunes. The most important factors controlling the complex of ground vegetation were light conditions, soil water content, thickness of the moderately decomposed litter layer and soil potassium and calcium content.

Seed banks as a neglected area of biogeographic research: a review of literature and sampling techniques

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Warr ◽  
Ken Thompson ◽  
Martin Kent
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Sample Distribution ◽  
Tropical Environments

The article highlights a comparatively neglected area of biogeographical research - seed banks and the distribution of seeds in the soil. The article reviews some of the relevant literature on seed banks and the methods for their study. Attention is focused on aspects of seed banks of particular relevance to biogeographers, with detailed examples drawn from seed bank studies in both temperate and tropical environments. In the review of the seed bank literature, the topics covered include the seed banks of successional communities and the size of seed banks in different vegetation types. The species composition of seed banks in different plant communities is discussed, particularly the degree of correlation between the species composition of seed banks and associated ground flora. The relationships between seed persistence, depth of burial in the soil and soil properties, such as moisture and pH, are explored. Seed bank heterogeneity is examined and a number of studies which have attempted to describe and measure the spatial variability of seed banks are summarized. Ways of classifying seed banks in terms of seed bank strategies are explained. The role of seed banks in conservation is discussed, for example in restoration projects, where preferred species have been lost from the vegetation but survive in the seed bank. The relevance of seed banks for the conservation of rare species and in landscape management is considered. Lastly, the contribution of seed banks to the recovery of vegetation following disturbance in various plant communities is discussed. In the review of seed bank sampling techniques, the subjects considered include methods of sample collection, the sampling intensity required for reliable estimates of seed density, a consideration of the relative merits of random and systematic sample distribution, as well as the importance of the timing of sampling. Various methods for the estimation of seed numbers in samples are appraised; these either involve extraction of seeds from the soil, followed by seed identification or enumeration by germination and seedling identification. Problems of analysing seed bank data are considered and several useful techniques for data analysis are suggested. Finally, the article draws attention to areas of future seed bank research for biogeographers and plant ecologists.

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