scholarly journals Impact of weather on dynamics of plant functional groups in an abandoned limestone grassland

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Dzwonko ◽  
Stefania Loster
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Abandoned Grassland ◽  
Vegetative Spread ◽  
Natural Grassland

We examined to what extend the rate and direction of changes in unmanaged grassland depend on fluctuations in climatic conditions. Vegetation data from permanent plots in a semi-natural grassland in southern Poland collected over 12 years were used. Relations between weather variables, time, and the cover of 41 more frequent species and 14 plant functional groups were analysed. The greatest effect on the dynamics of species and functional groups had precipitation in spring and/or early summer, particularly in the current year. The majority of plant groups were significantly affected also by the temperature in spring and early summer in one of the three previous years. During 12 years, the cover of annuals and biennials, short plants, and plants with small leaves decreased, while the cover of taller plants, plants with larger leaves, and with vegetative spread increased. The analyses suggest that these successional changes were not directly associated with climatic conditions but were affected by them indirectly through interspecific competition. The fluctuations in climatic conditions, chiefly precipitation, had a significant effect on both the composition and the rate of changes in abandoned grassland. The increase in the cover of tall perennial species with broad leaves hindered succession towards woodland despite of the presence of woods in the closed vicinity. It can be expected that during drier periods colonisation of grassland by later successional species could be easier.

scholarly journals Mid-term changes in the physiognomy of plant communities and functional plant groups define successional pathways of mountain vegetation in the province of Córdoba (Argentina)

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-24
Author(s):  
Marcos Sebastián Karlin ◽  
Sebastián Abel Arnulphi ◽  
Javier Rodolfo Bernasconi Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Plant Groups ◽  
Restoration Strategies ◽  
Mountain Vegetation ◽  
Successional Pathways

Abstract To identify restoration strategies over degraded semi-natural plant communities, successional pathways and their local controls should be identified. The objective of this work is to quantify the changes in the physiognomy and functional groups of plant communities in the Sierras Chicas of Córdoba along seven years. Lyapunov coefficients were calculated and arranged in two-phase diagrams, identifying different successional pathways over two soil categories and six plant communities. Du Rietz`s life forms were identified defining several plant functional groups. Results showed two successional pathways in the field of azonal soils and three in the field of intrazonal soils. Rainfall, extent of human-caused disturbances, and plant interactions are the leading causes explaining the changes in the structure of the plant communities. Fire and overgrazing retract the successions by altering the cover of plant communities and their functional groups.

Problems and practical experiences during refilling of the Kerspe-Talsperre under unfavourable climatic conditions

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Nienhüser ◽  
P. Braches
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Oxygen Deficit ◽  
Light Limitation ◽  
Raw Water ◽  
Artificial Mixing ◽  
Poor Water Quality ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Practical Experiences

Refilling of the Kerspe-Talsperre reservoir after restoration of the dam caused severe problems in water quality and supply due to a long-lasting ice-cover period and minimal precipitation. Unusually short spring overturn, high algal mass in spring and certainly the overflooding of the sediment, which had not been removed, caused a tremendous oxygen deficit in early summer. The whole hypolimnion turned anoxic and even in the metalimnion oxygen declined to a minimum. Manganese and iron reached high concentrations. Despite the poor water quality, raw water was urgently needed for the water supply and was pumped from the epilimnion during the clear water phase and in July when algal biomass was low. In the middle of August holomixis was induced artificially in order to improve water quality. The decline in algal production during and after artificial mixing was probably caused by light limitation of the algae.

Plant community C:N:P stoichiometry is mediated by soil nutrients and plant functional groups during grassland desertification

2021 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 106179
Author(s):  
Zhiying Ning ◽  
Xueyong Zhao ◽  
Yulin Li ◽  
Lilong Wang ◽  
Jie Lian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
C:N:P Stoichiometry

scholarly journals Diurnal and seasonal carbon balance of four tropical tree species differing in successional status

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM. Souza ◽  
RV. Ribeiro ◽  
AM. Sato ◽  
MS. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Carbon Balance ◽  
Dark Respiration ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Pioneer Species ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Gross Photosynthesis ◽  
Tropical Tree Species ◽  
Successional Species

This study addressed some questions about how a suitable leaf carbon balance can be attained for different functional groups of tropical tree species under contrasting forest light environments. The study was carried out in a fragment of semi-deciduous seasonal forest in Narandiba county, São Paulo Estate, Brazil. 10-month-old seedlings of four tropical tree species, Bauhinia forficata Link (Caesalpinioideae) and Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Sterculiaceae) as light-demanding pioneer species, and Hymenaea courbaril L. (Caesalpinioideae) and Esenbeckia leiocarpa Engl. (Rutaceae) as late successional species, were grown under gap and understorey conditions. Diurnal courses of net photosynthesis (Pn) and transpiration were recorded with an open system portable infrared gas analyzer in two different seasons. Dark respiration and photorespiration were also evaluated in the same leaves used for Pn measurements after dark adaptation. Our results showed that diurnal-integrated dark respiration (Rdi) of late successional species were similar to pioneer species. On the other hand, photorespiration rates were often higher in pioneer than in late successional species in the gap. However, the relative contribution of these parameters to leaf carbon balance was similar in all species in both environmental conditions. Considering diurnal-integrated values, gross photosynthesis (Pgi) was dramatically higher in gap than in understorey, regardless of species. In both evaluated months, there were no differences among species of different functional groups under shade conditions. The same was observed in May (dry season) under gap conditions. In such light environment, pioneers were distinguished from late successional species in November (wet season), showing that ecophysiological performance can have a straightforward relation to seasonality.

Social network analysis of sheep grazing different plant functional groups

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D. Yiakoulaki ◽  
Nikolaos D. Hasanagas ◽  
Eleni Michelaki ◽  
Eleni T. Tsiobani ◽  
Ioannis E. Antoniou
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Sheep Grazing

scholarly journals Traditional plant functional groups explain variation in economic but not size‐related traits across the tundra biome

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. D. Thomas ◽  
I. H. Myers‐Smith ◽  
A. D. Bjorkman ◽  
S. C. Elmendorf ◽  
D. Blok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Plant Functional Groups

Dynamics of plant functional groups composition along environmental gradients in the typical area of Yi-Luo River watershed

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (65) ◽  
pp. 14485-14492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liao Bing Hua ◽  
Ding Sheng Yan ◽  
Liang Guo Fu ◽  
Guo Yi Li ◽  
Tian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
River Watershed
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