scholarly journals Changes in plant species composition in abandoned and restored limestone grassiands - the effects of tree and shrub cutting

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Dzwonko ◽  
Stefania Loster
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Tree Cutting ◽  
Vegetative Spread ◽  
Trees And Shrubs ◽  
Meadow Species

Abandoned semi-natural limestone grasslands are often overgrown by shrubs and trees. Little is know if and to what extant xerothermic limestone grasslands can be restored by tree cutting. This was tested in a 12-year experiment after the clearing of a 35-year-old secondary pine wood developed on unmanaged grassland in the close proximity of not overgrown old grassland. After 12 years, there were no significant differences in the number of field layer species on the plots in the old and restored grasslands. But over this period the number of meadow species increased in all sites, while the number of xerothermic calcareous species increased significantly only in the old grassland plots. The developing shrub layer negatively influenced the number of nitrophilous and ruderal species in grasslands restored in the former close and open woods, and the number of all species, including the number of non-tufted perennials and perennials with vegetative spread, in the former open wood. The number of meadow species increased in years with higher precipitation in late spring and early summer. The obtained results suggest that in overgrowing grasslands shrubs and trees should be cut every few years, before their covers increase to about 30%. However, this treatment alone will not stop the changes to communities with dominance of tall and vegetatively spreading grasses and forbs. Cutting trees and shrubs in sites where most grassland species have already vanished, without additional managements supporting their dispersal, seedling recruitment and development, is not sufficient to restore limestone grasslands rich in xerothermic species.

scholarly journals Summer‐flowering trees and shrubs in landscaping for the south‐eastern coast of the Crimea

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-16
Author(s):  
N. I. Klimenko ◽  
I. L. Potapenko ◽  
О. Е. Klimenko
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
The South ◽  
Albizia Julibrissin ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The Crimea ◽  
Ornamental Trees ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Aim.  To  study  the  species  composition,  form  diversity,  bioecological  features of summer‐ flowering trees and shrubs in green spaces of the  south‐eastern coast of the Crimea and suggest ways to expand the range.  Materials and Methods. The green spaces of Feodosia, Sudak and the  localities of Semidvorye, Solnechnogorskoye, Malorechenskoye, Rybachye,  Morskoye,  Novy  Svet,  Solnechnaya  Dolina,  Shchebetovka,  Kurortnoye,  Koktebel and Primorskiy were investigated. Bioecological and phenological  studies of ornamental trees and shrubs were undertaken according to  generally accepted methods.  Results. The species composition and shape diversity of summer‐flowering  trees and shrubs in green plantings of Crimea’s south‐eastern coast were  identified. It was found that summer‐ flowering plants make up almost half  of the species composition (48.6%) used in landscaping. However, only 23  species are widespread throughout the region, such as Ailanthus altissima  (Mill.) Swingle, Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Buddleja davidii Franch., Campsis  radicans (L.) Seem., Elaeagnus angustifolia L. etc. The greatest number of  species and forms of arboreal plants bloom in early summer, their number  decreasing significantly from the second decade of June.  Conclusion. An assortment is proposed for increasing the number of trees  and shrubs which flower during the summer, taking into account both their  decorative visual appeal and their environmental requirements, especially  drought and frost resistance. Of great interest are species that bloom from  June onwards, especially those which are highly decorative and have a long  flowering period, such as Albizia julibrissin, Buddleja davidi and forms,  Hydrangea arborescens L., Campsis radicans, Kerria japonica f. plena C.K.  Schneid, Robinia viscosа Vent., Vitex angus‐castus L. 

Drivers of plant species composition of ecotonal vegetation in two fishpond management types

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Francová ◽  
Kateřina Šumberová ◽  
Andrea Kučerová ◽  
Michal Šorf ◽  
Stanislav Grill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Fishpond Management

Effect of the Gabčíkovo Waterworks (Slovakia) on riparian floodplain forest ecosystems in the Danube inland delta: vegetation dynamics and trends

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Petrášová-Šibíková ◽  
Igor Matečný ◽  
Eva Uherčíková ◽  
Peter Pišút ◽  
Silvia Kubalová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Supply System ◽  
Floodplain Forest ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rare Opportunity

AbstractHuman alteration of watercourses is global phenomenon that has had significant impacts on local ecosystems and the services they provide. Monitoring of abiotic and biotic changes is essential to mitigating long-lasting effects, and the 23-year dataset from the Gabčíkovo Waterworks provided a rare opportunity to assess the impact of groundwater regimes on vegetation. The main aim of this study was to describe the effect of the Gabčíkovo Waterworks on vegetation structure and species composition of the adjacent riparian floodplain forests over the past 23 years. The results are based on studies of three permanent monitoring plots (PMPs) located in the Danube inland delta – two outside (PMP 1 and 3) and one (PMP 2) fully under the influence of the artificial supply system. Our results demonstrate that the Danube inland delta was negatively affected by the Gabčíkovo construction, particularly for sites outside of the artificial supply system. There was a significant decrease in soil moisture and increase in nitrogen at both external PMPs (1 and 3). Alter soil conditions were accompanied by negative changes in plant species composition demonstrated by decreases in the number of typical floodplain forest species that are characteristic for the alliance

scholarly journals Artificial Perches for Birds in Deforested Areas Favour a Seed Rain Similar to Woodland Remnants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Yamile Guidetti ◽  
Sebastian Dardanelli ◽  
Fátima María Lourdes Miño ◽  
Guillermo César Amico
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Ecosystem Resilience ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Plant Seeds ◽  
Recovery Mechanisms ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Abstract The lack of seeds represents one of the highest difficulties to overcome for the ecological restoration of areas that have been deforested. This study evaluates the effectiveness of artificial perches in increasing the abundance and species richness of bird-dispersed seeds and the similitude of seed rain composition (origin and habit of plant seeds), of deforested areas with and without artificial perches in relation to woodland remnants that serve as seeds source. The experiment took place in two sites of the Espinal ecoregion, Argentina. We found that in deforested areas, perches increased seed abundance and species richness in the seed rain in comparison with deforested areas without artificial perches. The species composition under artificial perches was similar to the seed rain dispersed in the woodland. However, a decrease in the richness of native species was significant in the deforested area, probably due to behavioral differences between opportunistic and obligate frugivorous. Seed of trees and shrubs species were well represented in the seed rain under artificial perches. Results from this study contribute to the understanding of nucleation and recovery mechanisms used by nature that reflect ecosystem resilience. We recommend using artificial perches in deforested areas with potential for recovery because it is an efficient technique to promote the entry of birds and increase seed rain, preserving features of the original environment. However, using artificial perches should be avoided in sites with potentially invasive non-native species.

Effects of disturbance and rabbit grazing on seedling recruitment of six mesic grassland species

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant R. Edwards ◽  
Michael J. Crawley
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Rabbit Grazing ◽  
Plant Densities ◽  
Seed Sowing

AbstractSeeds of two grass (Arrhenatherum elatius and Festuca rubra), two herb (Plantago lanceolata and Rumex acetosa) and two legume (Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium repens) species were sown in summer 1995 at four densities (no seed, 1000, 10 000 and 50 000 seeds m−2) into an established rabbit-grazed grassland given factorial combinations of rabbit fencing (with and without fences) and soil disturbance (with and without cultivation). On plots where no seeds were sown, only the species with persistent seed banks (P. lanceolata, L. corniculatus and T. repens) showed enhanced seedling emergence in response to disturbance. In disturbed soil, seedling densities of all species increased with increasing density of sown seeds, the effects of which were still evident for plant cover 2 years after seed sowing. In undisturbed vegetation, A. elatius, F. rubra, P. lanceolata and R. acetosa showed increased seedling densities following seed sowing; but in each case, there was an upper asymptote to seedling recruitment, presumably due to microsite limitation. Rabbit grazing reduced seedling densities, with this reduction being more pronounced with disturbance than without. However, the effect of rabbit grazing did not persist for some species; seedling mortality of R. acetosa, P. lanceolata, L. corniculatus and T. repens was higher on plots without rabbit grazing, so that plant densities of these species in summer 1996 and plant cover in summer 1997 were greater on grazed plots. The results indicate interactions between soil disturbance, propagule availability and herbivory, rather than disturbance alone, will play an important role in controlling seedling recruitment and species habitat distributions in grasslands.

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