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 effect of forest stand characteristics on spider diversity and species composition in deciduous-coniferous mixed forests

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Samu ◽  
Gábor Lengyel ◽  
Éva Szita ◽  
András Bidló ◽  
Péter Ódor
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Mixed Forests ◽  
Stand Characteristics

scholarly journals Structure and development of forest stands on permanent research plots in the Krkonoše Mts.

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 518-530
Author(s):  
S. Vacek ◽  
Z. Vacek ◽  
L. Bílek ◽  
I. Nosková ◽  
O. Schwarz
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Vegetation Zone ◽  
Aggregation Index ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Results Management ◽  
Management Recommendations

The research is focused on structure and development of forest stands from 5th to 8th forest vegetation zone in the Krkonoše Mts. The forest stand diversity according to tree species composition and representation, horizontal and vertical structure was evaluated by using following indices: Clark-Evans aggregation index (Clark, Evans 1954), standardised Arten-profil index (Pretsch 2005) and index of complex diversity after Jaehne, Dohrenbusch (1997). Growth model SIBYLA (Fabrika, Ďurský 2005) was used for visualizations and growth predictions of forest stands on particular plots. Based on research results, management recommendations were evaluated.

scholarly journals How do plant communities and flower visitors relate? A case study of semi-natural xerothermic grasslands

2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Chmura ◽  
Paweł Adamski ◽  
Zygmunt Denisiuk
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Moisture Index ◽  
Rarefaction Analysis ◽  
Flower Visitors

<p>The paper examines the relationships between the species composition of flower visitors and plants in the semi-natural xerothermic grasslands in southern and central Poland. Thirty 10 × 10 m permanent plots were laid out in total, mainly in nature reserves. The vegetation units studied were classified according to the Braun-Blanquet system; these were phytocoenoses of the <em>Festuco-Brometea</em> classes <em>Inuletum ensifoliae</em>, <em>Adonido-Brachypodietum pinnati</em> and the transitional plant community. Entomological research was performed using the Pollard method within the same plots. A particular site was visited only once and different sites were studied between April and August 2008. We applied, among others, co-correspondence-analysis Co-CA, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) to investigate the co-occurrence patterns of plants and flower visitors and their biotopic requirements. We found that the species composition of flower visitors cannot be predicted by floristic composition when the duration of the study is restricted to one day (but under similar weather conditions); however, there is a positive relationship between the species richness of insects and plants and a positive relationship between the number of plant species and the abundance of flower visitors. The Ellenberg moisture index and the cover of meadow species significantly explained the species composition of insects. The three various vegetation units and five dominant xerothermic species, i.e. <em>Adonis vernalis</em>, <em>Anemone sylvestris</em>, <em>Inula ensifolia</em>, <em>Linum hirsutum</em> and <em>Carlina onopordifolia</em> that were studied across time differed in the species richness of insects. Our results demonstrate that possible patterns in the species composition and the assembly rules of flower visitors are not apparent when the Pollard method is applied. Based on the data obtained using this method, the flower visiting assemblages seem not to be driven by competition and they primarily show a tendency to co-occur which can be an artifact. A plant-focused method that included a rarefaction analysis yielded more insightful results and shed more light on the differences between the dominant plants that shape the physiognomy of plant communities in a possible pollination specialization.</p>

scholarly journals Tree Species Composition and Diversity in Oban Forest Reserve, Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humphrey Igbinosa Aigbe ◽  
Godwin Ejakhe Omokhua
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Tree Species Composition

Tree species composition and diversity were assessed in Oban Forest Reserve. Three stage sampling procedure was used to collect data on tree parameters – diameter at breast height (dbh); diameters over bark at the base, middle and top; merchantable height and total height using a minimum dbh limit of ≥10 cm in the tertiary sample plots. A total of 808 trees were measured and 72 species identified in the study area. Stand level parameters were estimated and tree diversity assessed. Results indicate that an average number of stems encountered per hectare were 306. Population densities of individual tree species ranged from 1 to 22 ha-1. Population densities of species were poor. The basal area/ha estimated is 34.67m2 and the species richness index obtained was 10.605, which indicate high species richness. The value of Shannon’s Index (HI) is 3.795 which is quite high.The results show that the forest reserve is a well-stocked tropical rainforest in Nigeria. The relative richness of the forest reserve in terms of individual tree species does not correlate well with the abundance because the abundance of each of the species was quite low and density poor. While there is paucity of most species, Staudtia stipitata was the most abundant (22 tree/ha). The forest has reverted back to the turbulent agrading stage of the forest growth cycle. 

scholarly journals Mikroskopijne grzyby pasożytnicze w zbiorowiskach roślinnych Wyżyny Częstochowskiej [Phytoparasitic micromycetes in plant communities of the Wyżyna Częstochowska Upland]

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 ◽  
pp. 1-144
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Ruszkiewicz-Michalska
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Anamorphic Fungi ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Biotic Factors ◽  
Beech Forests

Mycosociological studies on microfungi parasitising vascular plants were carried out on 21 permanent observation plots in 5 phytocoenoses representing beech forests (<em>Luzulo pilosae-Fagetum</em>, <em>Melico-Fagetum</em>, <em>Dentario enneaphyllidis-Fagetum</em>,  <em>Carici-Fagetum</em>)  and  xerothermic  grassland  (<em>Origano-Brachypodietum  pinnati</em>)  as  well as using route  method in other  plant communities.  The frequency  of host  plants and fungi  occurring on  permanent plots was estimated using 5-degree scale. The observations yielded in 478 fungal species belonging to <em>Peronosporales </em>(<em>Oomycota</em>), <em>Dothideales</em>, <em>Erysiphales</em>, <em>Helotiales</em>, <em>Hypocreales</em>, <em>Mycosphaerellales</em>, <em>Phyllachorales</em>, <em>Pleosporales</em>, <em>Xylariales </em>(<em>Ascomycota</em>), <em>Uredinales</em>, <em>Microbotryales</em>, <em>Urocystales </em>(<em>Basidiomycota</em>) and <em>Hyphomycetes </em>and <em>Coelomycetes </em>(anamorphic fungi), which were hosted by 301 species of vascular plants as well as by 19 taxa of <em>Erysiphales </em>and <em>Uredinales</em>. The predominanting group was anamorphic fungi (65% of species), especially members of <em>Sphaeropsidales </em>(39%). This group was however less dispersed on the study area than <em>Uredinales </em>and <em>Erysiphales</em>, which were represented by relatively small number of species. The results provided data on diversi- fied occurrence of fungi depending on abiotic (humidity, temperature, insolation) and biotic factors (e.g. density of host plant population) provided by plant communities. The differences concern species composition and richness of fungi, their distribution as well as frequency of hosts and parasites. In the case of members of <em>Erysiphales</em>, <em>Moniliales </em>and <em>Peronosporales </em>differences in phenology were also noted. The greatest species richness and distribution of the micromycetes was observed in <em>Origano-Brachypodietum </em>and the poorest were plots of <em>Luzulo pilosae-Fagetum</em>. Most frequently the parasites infected small percentage of the individuals in the population of the hosts (about 1%), which occurred with the lowest coverage (below 10%). This type of relationship between frequency of fungi and density of plants dominated in all of the studied phytocenoses. Sixty two species of fungi observed on Wyżyna Częstochowska Upland are new for Polish biota. They belong to anamorphic fungi, mainly to <em>Phyllosticta </em>(32 species) and <em>Ascochyta </em>(15).

scholarly journals Tree species composition and structure of dry forest in Mutis Timau Protected Forest Management Unit of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 496-503
Author(s):  
AAH AHMAD ALMULQU ◽  
NOULKAMOL ARPORNPONG ◽  
JARUNTORN BOONYANUPHAP
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Management Unit ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Pioneer Species ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

Almulqu AA, Arpornpong N, Boonyanuphap J. 2018. Tree species composition and structure of dry forest in Mutis Timau Protected Forest Management Unit of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 496-503. Plots 10,000 m2 were established in four sites of Mutis Timau Protected Forest Management Unit (Mutis Timau PFMU), in order to determine tree species density, basal area, importance value index, species richness and to identify the relationship betwen species richness and abundance of trees. A total of 94 species belonging to 72 genera and 45 families were recorded. Species richness and forest structure were different between sites. Moraceae was the dominant tree family at most sites, particulary for Eucalyptus urophylla. The results suggest controlling the number of species, level on species distribution pattern, silvicultural interventions to pioneer species through thinning liberation, seeding and planting (pioneer species) could accelerate the tree regeneration of Mutis Timau PFMU in Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.

scholarly journals Plant Phenology Dynamics and Pollination Networks in Summits of the High Tropical Andes: A Baseline for Monitoring Climate Change Impacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxibell C. Pelayo ◽  
Luis D. Llambí ◽  
Luis E. Gámez ◽  
Yeni C. Barrios ◽  
Lirey A. Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Plant Phenology ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Alpine Plant ◽  
Alpine Plant Communities ◽  
Plant Pollinator

Analyzing plant phenology and plant–animal interaction networks can provide sensitive mechanistic indicators to understand the response of alpine plant communities to climate change. However, monitoring data to analyze these processes is scarce in alpine ecosystems, particularly in the highland tropics. The Andean páramos constitute the coldest biodiversity hotspot on Earth, and their species and ecosystems are among the most exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Here, we analyze for the first time baseline data for monitoring plant phenological dynamics and plant–pollinator networks along an elevation gradient between 4,200 and 4,600 m asl in three mountain summits of the Venezuelan Andes, which are part of the GLORIA monitoring network. We estimated the presence and density of plants with flowers in all the summits and in permanent plots, every month for 1 year. Additionally, we identified pollinators. We calculated a phenological overlap index between species. We summarized the plant–pollinator interactions as a bipartite matrix and represented a quantitative plant–pollinator network, calculating structural properties (grade, connectance, nestedness, and specialization). We also evaluated whether the overall network structure was influenced by differences in sampling effort, changes in species composition between summits, and phenology of the plant species. Finally, we characterized the pollination syndrome of all species. Flowering showed a marked seasonality, with a peak toward the end of the wet season. The overall phenological overlap index was low (0.32), suggesting little synchrony in flowering among species. Species richness of both plants and pollinators decreased along the elevation gradient. Flies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds were the most frequent pollinators in the network, while entomophily and anemophily were the prevailing pollination syndromes. The interaction network in all summits showed high connectance values, significant specialization (H2), and low nestedness. We did not find a significant effect of sampling effort, summit plant species composition, or plant phenology on network structure. Our results indicate that these high tropical alpine plant communities and their plant-pollination networks could be particularly vulnerable to the loss of species in climate change scenarios, given their low species richness and functional redundancy coupled with a high degree of specialization and endemism.

scholarly journals Tree Species Composition and Diversity of Ipinu-Igede Sacred Forest in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
E. T. Ikyaagba ◽  
J. I. Amonum ◽  
S. Okwoche
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Species Evenness ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Sacred Forest ◽  
Sacred Forests

The role of sacred forest/sacred groves in the conservation of biodiversity is well recognised and documented. Despite the importance of sacred forests in conservation, data of flora species composition and diversity in many sacred forests still remain scanty.  The study was conducted to provide baseline data on tree species composition and diversity of Ipinu-Igede sacred forest with a view to promote the role of sacred forest in flora conservation in the area. Systematic sampling technique was adopted for the study. A base line transect of 2 km long was established and five (5) other transects 2 km long were laid at regular interval of 500 km apart. On each transect, 4 sampling plots of 50 mx50 m were established at a regular interval of 500m apart. Within the         50 m x50 m plots, trees with diameter at breast height (DBH)≥10 cm were identified and enumerated. Species Important Value Index (IVI), species richness, species evenness and species diversity were estimated. A total number of 50 tree species in 19 families were recorded. Cola gigantea was the most important tree species with IVI of 14.56, this was followed by Harungana madagascariensis with 13.14. Caesalpinioideae was the dominant family with 6 species, 48.15% of the families were represented by only one species. The species richness was D=9.436, Species Evenness was E´=0.7668 and species diversity was H=3.646. Thirty percent (30%) of the tree species were in the DBH class of 1-40cm indicating good regeneration status of the sacred forest. Acknowledgement of the traditional practices by scientists and other actors in natural resources conservation will help in promoting forest conservation.

scholarly journals 17 Years Successional Enrichment Plantation of Tree Recruitment and Restoration in Tropical Forestland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Eromosele Omomoh ◽  
Victor AJ Adekunle
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Result Show ◽  
One Way Anova

Abstract BackgroundWe examine the recruitment drive of overstorey and undergrowth of tropical forested reserve by assessing the tree diversity, species composition, species richness, and growth form of the undergrowth on 17 years of post-disturbance. ResultThe result show an increase in the diversity and even distribution of the species of the overstorey, compared to the undergrowth. Conversely, the overstorey has a lower in species richness as compared to the level of undergrowth. One way ANOVA results shows that there is no significant difference (P = 0.341). However, undergrowth density (individual/ha) is found to be significantly (P = 0.000) higher than the overstorey trees.ConclusionsIt is evident that the forest trees and saplings are dissimilar in species abundance, which implies that sapling recruitment is a key determinant of the tree species composition of the forest. It is then concluded that the method adopted for restoration encouraged species diversity in this successional forest.

scholarly journals BEETLE DIVERSITY ASSOCIATED WITH FOREST STRUCTURE INCLUDING DEADWOOD IN SOFTWOOD AND HARDWOOD STANDS IN NOVA SCOTIA

2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kehler ◽  
Soren Bondrup-Nielsen ◽  
Cristine Corkum
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Structure ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Total Species ◽  
Bois Mort ◽  
Stand Characteristics

Associations between beetles and forest stand characteristics, as well as beetle diversity, were investigated for 41 forest stands in Nova Scotia, Canada. Over 200 morphospecies from 45 Families of beetles were caught using window flight-intercept traps. In both years, correspondence analysis revealed distinct groupings of softwood and hardwood stands based on species assemblages. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine associations between forest variables and total species richness. Analyses were conducted for all stands combined and for hardwood and softwood stands separately. Hardwood stands had greater beetle richness than softwood stands. Within hardwood stands, volume of intermediate-sized deadwood was the best predictor of total species richness. Within softwood stands, volume of well-decayed deadwood was the best predictor of total beetle richness. Deadwood volume was associated with stand age in softwoods, and it appears that over 140 years is required for deadwood volume to reach pre-disturbance levels.On a étudié des associations entre les coléoptères et les caractéristiques des peuplements ainsi que la diversité des coléoptères pour 41 peuplements de la Nouvelle-Écosse, au Canada. Plus de 200 morpho-espèces appartenant à 45 familles de coléoptères ont été capturées à l’aide de pièges-fenêtres. Pour les deux années, des analyses de correspondance ont révélé des regroupements distincts dans les peuplements de résineux et de feuillus, d’après les assemblages d’espèces. On s’est servi d’une analyse de régression multiple pour établir des associations entre des variables des forêts et la richesse totale en espèces. Des analyses ont été effectuées pour l’ensemble des1 peuplements et séparément pour les peuplements de feuillus et pour les peuplements de résineux. La richesse en coléoptères était plus grande dans les peuplements de feuillus, pour lesquels le volume de bois mort de taille moyenne constituait le meilleur indicateur de la richesse totale en espèces. En ce qui concerne les peuplements de résineux, c’était le volume de bois mort bien décomposé qui était le meilleur indicateur de la richesse totale en coléoptères. Dans le cas des résineux, le volume de bois mort était associé à l’âge du peuplement, et il semble qu’il faille plus de 140 ans pour retrouver les niveaux pré-perturbation.

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