scholarly journals Topographic attributes and ecological indicator values in assessing the ground-floor vegetation patterns

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Bożenna Czarnecka ◽  
Anna Rysiak ◽  
Łukasz Chabudziński
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Topographic Wetness Index ◽  
Model Object ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Topographic Attributes ◽  
Ecological Indicator Values

Abstract The paper discusses the question whether geographical information systems (GIS) and digital elevation models (DEM) are useful tools for studying correlations between topographic attributes of a given area, and vascular flora requirements reflected by ecological indicator values (EIVs). The model object was a 4-km-long gorge section of the Sopot river valley (80.5 ha), the Central Roztocze Highlands, South-East Poland. Species lists for 40 ca. 200-m-long and 100-350-m-wide sections, according to the river course, separately for the left and right riverbanks, were made. The analysis of the area was based on a 3-meter resolution DEM. We applied primary topographic attributes: slope, and planar, vertical, and total curvatures and also secondary topographic attributes: solar radiation (SRAD) and topographic wetness index (TWI), as well as other terrain characters: denivelation, total, flat and upslope area of each section. Using the multivariate analyses, we analysed relationships between weighted averages of EIVs for each species and topographic attributes. The GIS and DEM became useful tools for the detection of patterns of species with different habitat requirements. The species number correlated positively with the total and flat area of a section and the TWI, while the denivelation, mean slope and upslope area had a reverse vector. Among the most frequent and abundant herb species, we found several spatial patterns of distribution, namely those of: Maianthemum bifolium, Carex remota, C. acutiformis, Filipendula ulmaria, Dryopteris filixmas, and Urtica dioica. The rarest species represented Ajuga genevensis, Scorzonera humilis, and Stachys palustris patterns.

scholarly journals The Illyrian mesic forests of the Villány Mts: phytosociology and conservation importance

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
László Erdős ◽  
Zoltán Bátori ◽  
Csaba Tölgyesi ◽  
Balázs Kevey
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Protected Species ◽  
Diagnostic Species ◽  
Protected Plants ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Regional Conservation ◽  
Ecological Indicator Values

AbstractSituated at the interface of Central European and Illyrian vegetation, the mesic forests of southwestern Hungary occupy a special position. Despite their importance in vegetation science and conservation, a comprehensive study of the Illyrian mesic forests of the Villány Mts, the southernmost mountain region in Hungary, has not been provided yet. In this study 60 phytocoenological relevés were prepared in the beech, oak-hornbeam, ravine and scree forests of the Villány Mts. To compare the individual associations, we performed a PCoA-ordination, calculated the per plot species number and the per plot protected species number, computed the percentage constancy values of the protected species, identified significant diagnostic species, and prepared the spectra of the coenological preference groups. We used relative ecological indicator values to assess habitat conditions. The PCoA-ordination, the coenological preference group spectra, and to a certain extent the ecological indicator values suggested that the different mesic forests of the Villány Mts show certain similarities. This is probably due to the fact that beech forests and ravine forests are confined to small and atypical stands by the suboptimal environmental conditions. Nonetheless, the number of diagnostic species and the constancy values of protected plants indicated that significant differences do exist between the four associations, the scree forest being the most distinct. We conclude that oak-hornbeam forests and scree forests of the Villány Mts have a regional conservation importance, while the beech and ravine forests are locally important, enhancing the structural, floristical and habitat diversity of the Villány Mts.

scholarly journals How a river course influences the species richness and ecological requirements on two opposite riverbanks in a forest area

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Bożenna Czarnecka ◽  
Anna Rysiak ◽  
Łukasz Chabudziński
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Ground Floor ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Topographic Attributes ◽  
Ground Floor Vegetation

The goal of the present research was to find correlations between the topographic attributes of a river valley and local ground-floor vegetation and its habitat requirements expressed by ecological indicator values (EIV), using the geographical information systems (GIS), digital elevation model (DEM), and multivariate statistical analysis. We paid special attention to the river course, which determines the differentiation in slope aspects and the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground surface. The model object was an almost latitudinal, ca. 4-km-long break section of the Sopot river, crossing the escarpment zone of the Central Roztocze Highlands, southeastern Poland. The main material comprised species lists (with estimated abundance) for each ca. 200-m-long section, according to the river valley course, separately for the left and right riverbanks, 40 sections altogether, ca. 15 000 vegetation records, and physical and chemical soil measurements. A 3-meter resolution DEM was derived from a 1:10 000 topographic map. We calculated the correlations between the topographic attributes of the valley, species richness, and the EIVs for all the species recognized in each section of the valley. We found 241 herb plant species in the ground-floor vegetation of the study area. We did not find significant differences between the two riversides (61 ±13 species per one section for the left and 63 ±17 for the right side). Thus, the parallel course of the river valley does not change the species richness on a more “sunny” and more “shiny” riverbank. However, this factor “cooperating” with other topographic attributes of the valley significantly differentiates the shape of species showing various requirements for basic habitat resources: light, moisture, soil trophy, reaction, dispersion, and organic-matter content.

Assessment of flora diversity in a minor river valley using ecological indicator values, Geographical Information Systems and Digital Elevation Models

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bożenna Czarnecka ◽  
Łukasz Chabudziński
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Digital Elevation Models ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Vascular Flora ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
A Minor

AbstractEllenberg indicator values (EIV) have been widely used to estimate habitat variables from floristic data and to predict vegetation composition based on habitat properties. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Digital Elevation Models (DEM) are valuable tools for studying the relationships between topographic and ecological characters of river systems. A 3-meter resolution DEM was derived for a. 3-km-long break section of the Szum River (SE Poland) from a 1:10,000 topographic map. Data on the diversity and ecological requirements of the local vascular flora were obtained while making floristic charts for 32 sections of the river valley (each 200 m long) and physical and chemical soil measurements; next, the data were translated into EIV. The correlations of the primary and secondary topographic attributes of the valley, species richness, and EIV (adapted for the Polish vascular flora) were assessed for all species recognized in each valley section. The total area and proportion of a flat area, mean slope, slope curvature, solar radiation (SRAD), and topographic wetness index (TWI) are the most important factors influencing local flora richness and diversity. The highest correlations were found for three ecological indicators, namely light, soil moisture, and soil organic content. The DEM seems to be useful in determination of correlations between topographic and ecological attributes along a minor river valley.

scholarly journals Critical multi-stranded approach for determining the ecological values of diatoms in unique aquatic ecosystems of anthropogenic origin

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał M. Olszyński ◽  
Ewelina Szczepocka ◽  
Joanna Żelazna-Wieczorek
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Chemical Parameters ◽  
Physical And Chemical Parameters ◽  
Characteristic Species ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Ecological Indicator Values

Background. The ecological state of surface waters is typically assessed by a multi-aspect approach based on a determination of its chemical and physical parameters, by hydromorphology and the use of indicator organisms such as benthic diatoms. By assigning ecological indicator values, it is possible to create diatom indices which serve as the basic tool in assessing the ecological status of surface waters. These ecological indicator values are set according to classification systems, such as the Van Dam et al. 1994 system, which classifies species of diatoms according to seven different ecological factors. However, recent studies on the autecology of diatoms have shown the need to verify and establish new ecological indicator values. To this end, aquatic ecosystems are good environments to observe the range of tolerance of benthic diatoms to environmental conditions due to their unique physical and chemical parameters. The aim of the present study was to propose the establishment of new, or altered, ecological indicator values, according to Van Dam et al. classification, of species of diatoms characteristic of three post-mining aquatic ecosystems. Methods. In total, 36 species were identified that were characteristic of three waterbodies: a salt aquatic complex (water outflow, a drainage ditch and a pond), a mined iron ore reservoir and a mined lignite reservoir. Their ecological indicator values were calculated using OMNIDIA software, and the environmental conditions prevailing in the studied ecosystems were determined. Of the 36 characteristic species, 16 lacking at least one assigned ecological indicator value were analysed further. The analysis identified three groups of selected characteristic species which showed a correlation, or lack of such, to the tested physical and chemical parameters. Results. Based on this multistage study of the autecology of characteristic diatoms, comprising an analysis of environmental conditions, literature analysis and reference ecological indicator values of other species, it is proposed that 32 ecological indicator values be established or adjusted for 16 species, and that Planothidium frequentissimum be excluded from water quality assessments.

Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

Biologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarína Hegedüšová ◽  
Iveta Škodová ◽  
Monika Janišová ◽  
Judita Kochjarová
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés ◽  
Ecological Indicator Values

AbstractThe phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological relevés with its occurrence were set for light — 6, temperature — 5, continentality — 4, moisture — 5, soil reaction — 6 and nutrients — 5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.

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