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Abstract: Aim: To construct a classification system for Irish aquatic river vegetation that is directly comparable to European aquatic vegetation classification units. Location: A total of 2,415 river vegetation plots with a wide geographic distribution across both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Methods: The plots were recorded from a range of river types from upland streams to wadeable lowland rivers. A total of 1,613 plots were classified using supervised K‐means clustering through the programme JUICE. The Phi co‐efficient for presence/absence data was used to measure fidelity of the vegetation communities. Results: The vegetation communities could be initially sub‐divided in to four main categories: (1) bryophyte‐dominated aquatic vegetation, (2) bryophyte‐dominated marginal vegetation, (3) vascular plant‐dominated aquatic vegetation and (4) vascular plant‐dominated marginal/emergent vegetation. Within these four categories the vegetation was classified into seven classes, 18 alliances and 30 associations. Descriptions are given for each including variants and sub‐associations if found at association level. Conclusions: There is a rich diversity of bryophyte communities within Irish rivers and they are an integral part of the river network, whereas there was less diversity among vascular plant communities. The distinction between some communities was not as sharp as expected for a variety of reasons discussed in this paper, nevertheless, a working classification system was constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on development of settlements in the postglacial period in Europe has contributed to the expansion of numerous plant communities strongly dependent on human activity. It includes , changes caused by human activity have shaped contemporary vegetation on both a local and global scale, due to changes in land use methods and climate and the rise in greenhouse gas emissions and resulting global climate change, the intensity and cope of human impact on the natural environment.

This paper presents a syntaxonomical revision and statistical determination of diagnostic, constant and dominant species of higher syntaxa of Poland based on relevés stored in the Polish Vegetation Database. All the analyses were performed on a data set consisting of 43,686 relevés containing 2,853 species of vascular plants, bryophytes, algae and lichenized fungi. The data set was subjected to formalized and hierarchical classification, which revealed 44 classes and 153 alliances. The vegetation of Poland is divided into the classes: Zosteretea marinae, Charetea, Elyno-Seslerietea, Violetea calaminariae, Stellarietea mediae, Cakiletea maritimae, Salicetea herbaceae, Isoëto-Nano-Juncetea, Oxycocco-Sphagnetea, Ammophiletea arenariae, Potametea, Thero-Salicornietea, Carici- Kobresietea, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Erico-Pinetea, Juncetea trifidi, Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, Lemnetea, Quercetea pubescentis, Littorielletea uniflofae, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Rosopendulinae-Pinetea mugo, Cymbalario-Parietarietea, Bidentetea tripartitae,Alnetea glutinosae, Scheuchzerio-Caricetea, Robinietea, Montio-Cardaminetea, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Festuco-Brometea, Salicetea purpureae, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Mulgedio-Aconitetea, Carpino- Fagetea, Calluno-Ulicetea, Quercetea robori-petraeae, Vaccinio-Piceetea, Polygono arenastri-Poëtea, Asplenietea trichomanis, Phragmito-Magno-Caricetea,Artemisietea vulgaris, Epilobietea angustifolii, Galio-Urticetea, Rhamno- Prunetea. In order to determine a diagnostic species for alliances and classes, statistical measures of fidelity were used. A revised list of vegetation units of Poland is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytosociological database Polish Vegetation Database collects relevés of all vegetation types in Poland. The database was established in 2007 and is located at Department of Biodiversity and Plant Cover Protection, University of Wrocław (http:// synbiot.uni.wroc.pl). On March 2012, the database included 40000 relevés collected between 1927 and 2011. Most of relevés was taken from published papers and represents almost all types of habitats of Poland. Large groups of relevés represent meadows and pastures (Molinio-Arrhnehteretrea), broadleaf forests (Querco-Fagetea), arable land communities (Stellarietea), coniferous forests (Vaccinio-Piceetea) and eutrophic reed communities (Phragmitetea). In comparison to other countries in Central Europe, Polish Vegetation Database currently belongs to medium-sized databases, with full functionality and accessibility. The present article describes its development, basic operational information and how it can be used in analysis of vegetation in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities of purple moor-grass meadows are generally decreasing. Many important problems of classification and phytogeography are connected with them. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate changes in species diversity that took place after mowing of Molinion meadows in Kampinoski National Park was discontinued from 1993 to 2006. Selected Molinion meadows in the park were evaluated in terms of their biological diversity. The data collected represented meadows that were still maintained, as well as meadows that had been abandoned at different times in the past. Biodiversity was evaluated using standard ecological indices and Disturbance Index (Z). In general, the Disturbance Index showed an increase in plant community forms that were abandoned or invaded by alien species. An association that was most like the typical form was seen in well maintained meadows, which suggests that the Disturbance Index continually rises with time after a meadow is abandoned. Ecological strategies and mowing tolerance were determined with the help of the BIOLFLOR database. Numerical classification revealed a highly diverse pattern of variability in the meadows examined. Correlations between ecological indicators and phytocenotic variability in Molinion meadows were also evaluated. Unmanaged meadows were compared to meadows in which meadow conservation management practices were carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittently wet meadows of the Molinion alliance, as with many other grasslands of high-nature value, have become increasingly exposed to abandonment due to their low economic value. The potential consequences of land abandonment are the decrease in species diversity and environmental alterations. The issue of land-use induced changes in plant species composition and soil physico-chemical parameters have been rarely studied in species-rich intermittently wet grasslands. In this study we attempt to i) to identify determinants of plant species composition patterns and ii) to investigate the effect of cessation of mowing on vegetation composition and soil properties. The study was conducted in an area of 36 ha covered with Molinion meadows, comprising of mown sites and sites that were left unmown for 10 years. In total, 120 and 80 vegetation plots were sampled from mown and unmown sites, respectively. In these plots we measured plant community composition and soil physico-chemical parameters. The results have shown that the two groups of variables (soil properties and management) differ considerably in their ability to explain variation in plant species data. Soil variables explained four-fold more variation in plant species composition than management did. The content of soil organic matter, moisture, total nitrogen and exchangeable forms of potassium, calcium and magnesium were significantly higher in mown than in unmown grassland systems. The results revealed that soil organic matter was the component of the soil most strongly affected by management, followed by moisture, magnesium, calcium and potassium in that order. Each of these soil parameters was negatively correlated with the abundances of woody plants and invasive species. We concluded that low-intensity, late time of mowing is suitable grassland management practice to ensure high plant species diversity and sustainability of the grassland ecological system while cessation of mowing not only lead to reduced plant species richness and diversity, but also to reduced nutrient levels in grassland soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence that different sampling methods have on the results and the interpretation of vegetation analysis has been much debated, but little is yet known about how the spatial arrangement of samples affect patterns of species composition and environment-vegetation relationships within the same vegetation type. We compared three data sets of the same sample size obtained by three standard sampling methods: preferential, random and systematic. These different sampling methods were applied to a study area comprising of 36 ha of intermittently wet Molinia meadows. We compared the performance of the three methods under two management categories: managed (extensively mown) and unmanaged (abandoned for 10 years). A total of 285 vegetation-plots were sampled, with 95 plots recorded per sampling method. In preferential sampling, we sampled only patches of vegetation with an abundance of indicator species of the habitat type, while random and systematic plots were positioned independently from the researcher by using GIS. The effect of each sampling method on the patterns of species composition and species-environment relationships was explored by redundancy analysis and the significance of effects was tested by the randomization test. Preferential sampling revealed different patterns of species composition than random and systematic sampling methods. Random and systematic sampling methods have resulted in broader vegetation variability than with preferential sampling method. Preferential sampling revealed different relationship between soil parameters and species composition in contrast to random and systematic sampling methods. Although we have not found significant differences in vegetation-environment relationships between random and systematic sampling methods, random sampling revealed a more robust correlation of species data to soil factors than preferential and systematic sampling methods. Intentional restriction of vegetation variation sampled preferentially may be detrimental to statistical inference in studies of species composition patterns and vegetation-environment relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic management of lignocellulosic biomass from semi-natural grasslands is now a challenge across Europe. The abandonment of mowing these grasslands leads to the gradual degradation of these ecosystems. This study investigates how chemical and biological factors affect the suitability of biomass from abandoned grasslands for biogas production. We sampled 30 mown and 30 abandoned grassland sites in the Sudetes Mountains (Poland and Czechia). The cover contribution of short herbs was found to be significantly higher in mown grasslands (p < 0.001), while that of tall herbs was more prevalent in abandoned grasslands (p < 0.01). The specific biogas yield (SBY, NL kg−1 volatile solids) is negatively affected by an increased percentage of herbs in the biomass of mown and abandoned grasslands. This is due to the inhibitory effect of herbs on biodegradation, the increase in lignin content and the decrease in cellulose. This study highlights the importance of individual plant species in assessing grassland biomass for area biogas yield (ABY, m3 ha−1) and provides new insights into a field that has not yet been extensively investigated. In mown grasslands, ABY was most positively correlated with grass species (Arrhenatherum elatius , Trisetum flavescens and Festuca pratensis). In abandoned grasslands, the ABY was most correlated with herbaceous species (Galium aparine , Urtica dioica and Chaerophyllum aromaticum) and grasses (A. elatius and Elymus repens). Mown grasslands had significantly higher species richness (p < 0.001) compared to abandoned grasslands, but the number of species sampled did not correlate with SBY and ABY. This study contributes to the development of a sustainable bio-economy by highlighting the need for efficient use of grassland biomass. This approach helps protect semi-natural ecosystems and facilitates sustainable management of renewable resources. • Certain grassland plant species significantly impact area biogas yield. • Species richness has no negative effect on specific and area biogas yield. • Grassland management maintains an appropriate ratio of herbs to grasses. • Biogas production from hay can help restore abandoned grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi‐natural lowland and mountain mesic meadows are grasslands rich in species, and their conservation status depends on treatments such as mowing or grazing livestock. In many countries, the condition of grasslands is deteriorating because of their inappropriate use or abandonment. This study aimed to determine the effects of the species composition of plant communities and functional plant groups on the methane yield from biomass harvested from mesic grasslands in the Sudetes Mountains. Biogas potential analysis was performed based on biomass samples collected from Poland and the Czech Republic. The biogas potential was determined in 40 day‐long batch anaerobic digestion tests. The average methane yield obtained from the biomass was 246 ± 16 NL CH4 kg−1 VS, whereas the methane yield per hectare was 870 ± 203 m3 CH4 ha−1. Plant communities comprising different dominant species had no effect on the methane yield but affected the methane yield per hectare. Additionally, the species composition of grasslands with a higher percentage of forbs had lower biomass yield, resulting in lower methane yields per hectare. The continuity of the low‐intensity management of mountain grassland, which can be provided by the utilization of their biomass for bioenergy production, sustains high biodiversity and ensures appropriate meadow conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: River gravel bars are endangered habitats in Europe. However, classification schemes of their vegetation and habitat types differ among European countries, and they are even ignored in some national schemes. This causes problems in conservation planning, monitoring and management. Hence we aimed at building the first unified vegetation classification for river gravel‐bar habitats across European mountain systems. Location: Europe. Methods: In total 4,769 vegetation plot records of river gravel‐bar plant communities were collected from national, regional or private databases, digitized from the literature and newly collected in the field. A hierarchical classification expert system with formal definitions of vegetation types was created. The definitions combined the criteria of presence or cover of groups of species with similar ecology or single species narrowly specialized to a particular gravel‐bar habitat. The TWINSPAN classification was applied to early‐successional vegetation types to check whether the classification based on formal definitions was supported by the results of unsupervised classification. Similarity patterns among vegetation types were visualized using the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination. Results: Early‐successional and scrub gravel‐bar vegetation types were respectively classified into two classes: Thlaspietea rotundifolii and Salicetea purpureae. Eleven associations and four alliances (Calamagrostion pseudophragmitae, Epilobion fleischeri, Salicion cantabricae and Salicion eleagno‐daphnoidis) were defined formally. Based on a critical revision, some associations or alliances defined in the previous literature were merged or discarded. The main gradient in variability within the gravel‐bar vegetation is connected with the altitudinal gradient, biogeographical variation, local hydromorphological processes and various successional changes. Conclusions: The first unified and formalized classification system of the European mountain river gravel‐bar vegetation was created, and species composition, ecology and distribution of these types were characterized. The syntaxonomical nomenclature of these types was checked and revised. This study provides a base for conservation planning of these threatened and rapidly disappearing habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To create a comprehensive, consistent and unequivocal phytosociological classification of European marsh vegetation of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea. Location: Europe. Methods: We applied the Cocktail method to a European data set of 249,800 vegetation plots. We identified the main purposes and attributes on which to base the classification, defined assignment rules for vegetation plots, and prepared formal definitions for all the associations, alliances and orders of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea using formal logic. Each formula consists of the combination of "functional species groups", cover values of individual species, and in the case of high‐rank syntaxa also of "discriminating species groups" created using the Group Improvement (GRIMP) method. Results: The European Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea vegetation was classified into 92 associations grouped in 11 alliances and six orders. New syntaxa (previously invalidly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature) were introduced: Bolboschoeno maritimi‐Schoenoplection tabernaemontani, Glycerio maximae‐Sietum latifolii, Glycerio notatae‐Veronicetum beccabungae, Schoenoplectetum corymbosi and Thelypterido palustris‐Caricetum elongatae. Based on a critical revision, some other syntaxa were rejected or excluded from the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea. Conclusions: This work provides the first consistent classification of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea at the European scale, which is an important tool for nature conservation. Our classification largely respects previously existing concepts of syntaxa, but it also proposes modifications to the recently published EuroVegChecklist. This work also provides a protocol that can be used for extending the current classification to new syntaxa and geographical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: What vegetation types can be distinguished on the basis of plant functional traits using numerical classification? How do they match syntaxonomical units? Location: Poland. Methods: Six thousand nine hundred and eighty‐five vegetation plots representing mesic and wet grasslands (Molinio‐Arrhenatheretea, Polygono‐Poetea) were retrieved from the Polish Vegetation Database. Plant functional trait data were assembled from the LEDA and Clo‐Pla databases for most species occurring in the data set. Community‐weighted mean for five traits were calculated for each plot: specific leaf area, canopy height, seed mass, bud bank index and clonality index. Plots were classified using Ward's method and iterative relocation based on silhouette widths. The clusters were interpreted and characterized on the basis of species and trait composition, functional diversity, functional redundancy, Ellenberg indicator values, and geographical distribution. The similarity between the trait‐based classification and the syntaxonomical assignment of plots is evaluated both statistically and by expert knowledge. Results: Twelve clusters were distinguished. The classification mirrored the main gradients structuring grasslands in Poland, although, some vegetation types with the strong dominance of functionally unique species appeared more distinct than they are treated in syntaxonomy. Clusters did not differ significantly in functional diversity and redundancy. The differences of clusters in species and trait composition and environmental background are discussed. Conclusion: The application of trait data and numerical methods is a promising approach for obtaining vegetation classifications. Such classifications can be in closer relationship with the most important ecosystem processes than floristic classifications because communities comprising different species but similar functional trait distribution are not separated. Trait‐based classifications match phytosociological units to a variable degree. Functional uniqueness and variation of abundance determines how individual species influence the delimitation of vegetation types using our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The former continental‐scale studies modelled coarse‐grained plant species‐richness patterns (gamma diversity). Here we aim to refine this information for European forests by (a) modelling the number of vascular plant species that co‐occur in local communities (alpha diversity) within spatial units of 400 m2; and (b) assessing the factors likely determining the observed spatial patterns in alpha diversity. Location: Europe roughly within 12°W–30°E and 35–60°N. Taxon: Vascular plants. Methods: The numbers of co‐occurring vascular plant species were counted in 73,134 georeferenced vegetation plots. Each plot was classified by an expert system into deciduous broadleaf, coniferous or sclerophyllous forest. Random Forest models were used to map and explain spatial patterns in alpha diversity for each forest type separately using 19 environmental, land‐use and historical variables. Results: Our models explained from 51.0% to 70.9% of the variation in forest alpha diversity. The modelled alpha‐diversity pattern was dominated by a marked gradient from species‐poor north‐western to species‐rich south‐eastern Europe. The most prominent richness hotspots were identified in the Calcareous Alps and adjacent north‐western Dinarides, the Carpathian foothills in Romania and the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. Energy‐related factors, bedrock types and terrain ruggedness were identified as the main variables underlying the observed richness patterns. Alpha diversity increases especially with temperature seasonality in deciduous broadleaf forests, on limestone bedrock in coniferous forests and in areas with low annual actual evapotranspiration in sclerophyllous forests. Main conclusions: We provide the first predictive maps and analyses of environmental factors driving the alpha diversity of vascular plants across European forests. Such information is important for the general understanding of European biodiversity. This study also demonstrates a high potential of vegetation‐plot databases as sources for robust estimation of the number of vascular plant species that co‐occur at fine spatial grains across large areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Species richness (SR) mapping is pivotal for biogeography and nature conservation. • Vegetation plot databases (VPD) are new data sources, but they can give biased SR. • SR assessments using VPD and a species distribution atlas (atlas) were compared. • VPD indicates significantly lower SR than the atlas, however still provides new records. Mapping of species richness (SR) patterns is pivotal for biogeography and nature conservation. Vegetation plot databases serve as a new source of information, but they are inherently affected by the methodological background of data collection. This background could bias the SR assessment. Here, we compared two different data sources: (1) a vegetation-plot database, the Polish Vegetation Database (PVD), and (2) a species distribution atlas, the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland (ATPOL). We calculated species richness recorded by the PVD (PVD SR), the ATPOL (ATPOL SR), and the two harmonized databases (total SR). The sampling bias in the PVD (PVD bias) was assessed by calculating the number of species found in the ATPOL, but not recorded by the PVD. Analogically, the ATPOL bias was calculated. We calculated correlation between the PVD bias and both the number of vegetation plots and the number of vegetation classes. Additionally, the completeness of the PVD dataset was assessed using the species accumulation curve approach. The mean slope of the last 1% of plots number was used as a proxy of inventory completeness and correlated with PVD bias. The results show that the SR documented by the PVD is significantly lower than that recorded by the ATPOL, yet it indicates a significantly increased total SR. The PVD SR increased as more plots and vegetation classes were sampled. However, even with the best sampling, the PVD SR was still significantly lower than that in the ATPOL. Further, although the values for the species accumulation curves suggested high sampling completeness in the PVD, the real bias was still substantial, and no correlation was found between PVD bias and species accumulation curve values. In general, the PVD underestimated SR at a landscape level, yet it augmented information stored in the ATPOL. The underestimations could result from limited sampling effort or from focusing on particular vegetation types, as well as the exclusion of transitional vegetation types and/or disturbed patches of vegetation from sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Central Europe, deciduous forests are the dominant community type and lichen pine forests are restricted to certain areas with extremely nutrient-poor and xeric soil types. In recent decades, a retreat of vegetation of oligotrophic habitats has been observed in Central Europe. In this study, we assessed changes of lichen pine forests in Poland: within the main area of the range in Central Europe. We used two sets of data collected at a local and regional (nation-wide) scale. On the basis of data from semi-permanent plots, we examined changes in the structure and species composition of lichen pine forests over 33 years at the local scale (between 1975 and 2008). To compare trends at the regional scale, we used data collected in the Polish Vegetation Database (PVD). For identification of lichen pine forests we determined a group of co-occurring Cladonia species. We analyzed differences in species richness and vegetation structure at the regional scale in tree time periods (1) between 1951 and 1969, (2) 1970 and 1989, and (3) 1990 and 2011. We found that changes in lichen pine forests are primarily quantitative at both scales. Our results indicate that the abundance of Cladonia species is limited by strong competitors, i.e., vascular plants and bryophytes, which may be explained by eutrophication and climate warming. Only pine forests with a minor abundance of lichens have chances to persist in the vegetation of Central Europe, while the most valuable communities with high abundance of indicators will disappear. Though an assessment of the total decrease in the area of lichen pine forests is not possible with the available regional data, local observations indicate a large decline in the area of lichen pine forests in Central Europe. Their conservation seems to be a serious challenge, because it is difficult to provide optimal conditions for all indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: Although many phytosociological studies have provided detailed local and regional descriptions of coastal dune vegetation, a unified classification of this vegetation in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin has been missing. Our aim is to produce a formalized classification of this vegetation and to identify the main factors driving its plant species composition at a continental scale. Location: Atlantic and Baltic coasts of Europe, Mediterranean Basin and the Black Sea region. Methods: We compiled a database of 30,759 plots of coastal vegetation, which were resampled to reduce unbalanced sampling effort, obtaining a data set of 11,769 plots. We classified these plots with TWINSPAN, interpreted the resulting clusters and used them for developing formal definitions of phytosociological alliances of coastal dune vegetation, which were included in an expert system for automatic vegetation classification. We related the alliances to climatic factors and described their biogeographic features and their position in the coastal vegetation zonation. We examined and visualized the floristic relationships among these alliances by means of DCA ordination. Results: We defined 18 alliances of coastal dune vegetation, including the newly described Centaureo cuneifoliae‐Verbascion pinnatifidi from the Aegean region. The main factors underlying the differentiation of these alliances were biogeographic and macroclimatic contrasts between the Atlantic–Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, along with ecological differences between shifting and stable dunes. The main difference in species composition was between the Atlantic–Baltic and Mediterranean–Black Sea regions. Within the former region, the main difference was driven by the different ecological conditions between shifting and stable dunes, whereas within the latter, the main difference was biogeographic between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Conclusions: The first formal classification of the European coastal dune vegetation was established, accompanied by an expert system containing the formal definitions of alliances, which can be applied to new data sets. The new classification system critically revised the previous concepts and integrated them into a consistent framework, which reflects the main gradients in species composition driven by biogeographic influences, macroclimate and the position of the sites in the coast–inland zonation of the dune systems. A revision of the class concept used in EuroVegChecklist is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: We investigate whether (1) environmental predictors allow to delineate the distribution of discrete community types at the continental scale and (2) how data completeness influences model generalization in relation to the compositional variation of the modelled entities. Location: Europe. Methods: We used comprehensive datasets of two community types of conservation concern in Europe: acidophilous beech forests and base‐rich fens. We computed community distribution models (CDMs) calibrated with environmental predictors to predict the occurrence of both community types, evaluating geographical transferability, interpolation and extrapolation under different scenarios of sampling bias. We used generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM) to assess the role of geographical and environmental drivers in compositional variation within the predicted distributions. Results: For the two community types, CDMs computed for the whole study area provided good performance when evaluated by random cross‐validation and external validation. Geographical transferability provided lower but relatively good performance, while model extrapolation performed poorly when compared with interpolation. Generalized dissimilarity modelling showed a predominant effect of geographical distance on compositional variation, complemented with the environmental predictors that also influenced habitat suitability. Main conclusions: Correlative approaches typically used for modelling the distribution of individual species are also useful for delineating the potential area of occupancy of community types at the continental scale, when using consistent definitions of the modelled entity and high data completeness. The combination of CDMs with GDM further improves the understanding of diversity patterns of plant communities, providing spatially explicit information for mapping vegetation diversity and related habitat types at large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions Which are the main vegetation types of lowland hay meadows and pastures in Western and Central Europe? What are the main environmental gradients that drive patterns of species composition? Is it possible to classify these grasslands to phytosociological alliances that reflect management practices? Location Western and Central Europe (excluding the Alps and Carpathians). Methods A database of 21 400 vegetation plots of mesic grasslands across Western and Central Europe was compiled. After geographically stratified resampling, semi-supervised classification based on the K-means algorithm was applied to assign a subset of plots into 32 a priori association-level vegetation types and to search for new types within the subset of non-assigned plots. The vegetation plots assigned into the final vegetation types were submitted to another K-means classification to show the grouping into higher-level vegetation types. Results A total of 36 associations were distinguished in the resampled subset of 8277 vegetation plots and were grouped into four large groups: (1) eutrophic and intensively managed hay meadows and permanent pastures; (2) nutrient-rich grasslands developed from recently abandoned fields or managed under irregular practices of mowing and manuring; (3) non-eutrophic lowland and submontane hay meadows; (4) extensively managed pastures and Atlantic grazed hay meadows. A PCoA of the associations of these four groups showed that extensively managed pastures were floristically more similar to non-eutrophic hay meadows than to permanent intensively managed pastures, which was more obvious in the Atlantic region than in Central Europe. Species composition of the lowland hay meadows was clearly differentiated according to biogeographic sectors. Other floristic differences were related to climate, altitude, soil base status and topography. Conclusions This analysis challenges the traditional concept of mesic grassland alliances separating hay meadows from pastures. New classification should be based mainly on the differences in management intensity rather than in management practice. Consequently, nutrient-poor extensive pastures, which currently are not considered in the European Habitats Directive, should receive the same conservation attention as low-intensive hay meadows, because both types of vegetation can be equally species-rich and do not differ substantially in floristic composition from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle Asia is one of the most diverse regions on earth with high endemism of vascular plants and remarkable habitat richness, mainly due to the considerable altitudinal range (300-7,500 m a.s.l.). The region is considered as one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots. This paper presents the Vegetation of Middle Asia database (VMA; GIVD ID: AS-00-003; http://www.givd.info/ID/AS-00-003) which is the regional database that covers the area of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The database contains phytosociological relevés collected between the years 2006 and 2016 in different vegetation types with the use of the Braun-Blanquet method. The covered vegetation types include: deciduous forests, rocks, steppes, mires, fens, screes, littoral, segetal and ruderal vegetation. Currently the database contains 2,513 geo-referenced relevés that are already published (approx. 85%) or remain as unpublished data (approx. 15%) with updated nomenclature. Here we present the database structure and descriptive statistics regarding the attributes of the relevés. The VMA is still not fully representative in terms of the geographical distribution of the relevés and habitat diversification. Particularly for Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan, there remains a lack of comprehensive and sufficient phytosociological data. However, we trust that the database will continue to grow in scientific significance via new data addition and cooperation with local researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions What are the main floristic patterns in European beech forests? Which classification at the alliance and suballiance level is the most convincing? Location Europe and Asia Minor. Methods We applied a TWINSPAN classification to a data set of 24 605 relevés covering the whole range of Fagus sylvatica forests and the western part of Fagus orientalis forests. We identified 24 'operational phytosociological units' (OPUs), which were used for further analysis. The position of each OPU along the soil pH and temperature gradient was evaluated using Ellenberg Indicator Values. Fidelity of species to OPUs was calculated using the phi coefficient and constancy ratio. We compared alternative alliance concepts, corresponding to groups of OPUs, in terms of number and frequency of diagnostic species. We also established formal definitions for the various alliance concepts based on comparison of the total cover of the diagnostic species groups, and evaluated alternative geographical subdivisions of beech forests. Results The first and second division levels of TWINSPAN followed the temperature and soil pH gradients, while lower divisions were mainly geographical. We grouped the 22 OPUs of Fagus sylvatica forests into acidophytic, meso-basiphytic and thermo-basiphytic beech forests, and separated two OPUs of F. orientalis forests. However, a solution with only two ecologically defined alliances of F. sylvatica forests (acidophytic vs basiphytic) was clearly superior with regard to number and frequency of diagnostic species. In contrast, when comparing groupings with three to six geographical alliances of basiphytic beech forests, respectively, we did not find a strongly superior solution. Conclusions We propose to classify F. sylvatica forests into 15 suballiances - three acidophytic and 12 basiphytic ones. Separating these two groups at alliance or order level was clearly supported by our results. Concerning the grouping of the 12 basiphytic suballiances into ecological or geographical alliances, as advocated by many authors, we failed to find an optimal solution. Therefore, we propose a multi-dimensional classification of basiphytic beech forests, including both ecological and geographical groups as equally valid concepts which may be used alternatively depending on the purpose and context of the classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions What are the main floristic patterns in the Pannonian and western Pontic steppe grasslands? What are the diagnostic species of the major subdivisions of the class Festuco-Brometea (temperate Euro-Siberian dry and semi-dry grasslands)? Location Carpathian Basin (E Austria, SE Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, N Croatia and N Serbia), Ukraine, S Poland and the Bryansk region of W Russia. Methods We applied a geographically stratified resampling to a large set of relevés containing at least one indicator species of steppe grasslands. The resulting data set of 17 993 relevés was classified using the TWINSPAN algorithm. We identified groups of clusters that corresponded to the class Festuco-Brometea. After excluding relevés not belonging to our target class, we applied a consensus of three fidelity measures, also taking into account external knowledge, to establish the diagnostic species of the orders of the class. The original TWINSPAN divisions were revised on the basis of these diagnostic species. Results The TWINSPAN classification revealed soil moisture as the most important environmental factor. Eight out of 16 TWINSPAN groups corresponded to Festuco-Brometea. A total of 80, 32 and 58 species were accepted as diagnostic for the orders Brometalia erecti, Festucetalia valesiacae and Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis, respectively. In the further subdivision of the orders, soil conditions, geographic distribution and altitude could be identified as factors driving the major floristic patterns. Conclusions We propose the following classification of the Festuco-Brometea in our study area: (1) Brometalia erecti (semi-dry grasslands) with Scabioso ochroleucae-Poion angustifoliae (steppe meadows of the forest zone of E Europe) and Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati (meadow steppes on deep soils in the forest-steppe zone of E Central and E Europe); (2) Festucetalia valesiacae (grass steppes) with Festucion valesiacae (grass steppes on less developed soils in the forest-steppe zone of E Central and E Europe) and Stipion lessingianae (grass steppes in the steppe zone); (3) Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis (rocky steppes) with Asplenio septentrionalis-Festucion pallentis (rocky steppes on siliceous and intermediate soils), Bromo-Festucion pallentis (thermophilous rocky steppes on calcareous soils), Diantho-Seslerion (dealpine Sesleria caerulea grasslands of the Western Carpathians) and Seslerion rigidae (dealpine Sesleria rigida grasslands of the Romanian Carpathians). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Species-specific biomass and community structure in grasslands was studied. • Nearly half of the total aboveground biomass was dependent on non-dominant species. • Infrequent and non-dominant species were the core of the diversity seen in grasslands. • Biomass inequality among species decreased with increasing functional diversity. • Species-specific biomass was mostly influenced by soil pH and management. Semi-natural grasslands are known to provide numerous ecosystem services, of which one of the most important is production of biomass. However, the contribution of individual plant species to the total biomass is much less well understood. This study addressed questions concerning community structure and responses of species-specific biomass (s-AGB) to gradients in soil acidity and fertility, topographical and climatic features, and disturbance regimes in mown and abandoned grasslands in the Sudetes Mountains (Central Europe). It identified pH as the most significant environmental gradient affecting turnover in s-AGB, and mowing cessation, temperature, and precipitation also had significant effects. Further, it showed high inequality in biomass among co-occurring plant species. It also showed that biomass inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) among interacting species decreases with increasing functional diversity (Rao's index). This study highlights that common plant species (in terms of frequency) play a major role in contributing to the total aboveground biomass (t -AGB). However, less frequent species are also significant contributors to the t -AGB. Thus, the combined contribution of infrequent species to the t -AGB should not be neglected. Our findings support the mass ratio hypothesis stating that ecosystem functions such as biomass production depend on dominant species. On the other hand, high niche differentiation ensures the coexistence of less competitive species with the dominants by the variety and complementarity of functional traits. Infrequent and non-dominant species were the core of the diversity seen in the studied grasslands. The maintenance of species diversity in grasslands should be prioritized in nature conservation policies to ensure the sustainability of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species richness and structure of Spergulo-Chrysanthemetum segeti have been assessed on the basis of 25 phytosociological relevés made by the Braun-Blanquet method in the Drawsko Lakeland (Poland). Two variants have been distinguished, Spergulo-Chrysanthemetum segeti chamomilletosum typicum and Spergulo-Chrysanthemetum segeti chamomilletosum with Plantago intermedia. The paper presents the distribution and analytical characteristics of this subatlantic association against the background of habitat conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bryophyte species number, cover and composition depend on environmental variables. • Bryophyte species are indicators of forest types and tend to coexist. • Groups of coexisting species respond to environmental gradients. • Moist forests are hotspots of the diversity of forest floor bryophytes. • Databases of vegetation-plots provide limited data on bryophyte ecology. Bryophytes are good indicators of habitat conditions and show associations with different types of forests. In this study we assessed the diversity and distribution of forest floor bryophytes across a wide gradient of Central European forests using vegetation records from the Polish Vegetation Database (PVD). We identified forest types using the Habitat Classification of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) – the main comprehensive pan-European hierarchical classification of habitats. Based on 9258 plots containing bryophyte species and representing 20 forest types, we assessed the species number and cover, species composition of the bryophyte layer, species tendency for coexistence, and bryophyte diagnostic value for forest types. We explained the observed trends by environmental variables and bryophyte species traits to understand how bryophytes function in forest habitats. Bryophyte species number and cover were high in forest types on moist sites, both with deciduous and coniferous tree stands. The richness and abundance of bryophyte species, as well as the species composition of the bryophyte layer depended mainly on substrate moisture, fertility and pH, as well as on the percentage cover of coniferous and deciduous tree species in the stand. Species traits which responded to environmental factors were, first of all, requirements for substrate moisture, fertility and pH. Bryophytes of closed forests and short-lived shuttle species preferred deciduous stands, while bryophytes occurring in forests as well as on open land and perennial species were associated with coniferous stands. Bryophyte species showed a clear preference for forest types, but their fidelity was usually not high. Based on the fidelity of species, we also identified 10 groups of coexisting species which were also indicators of forest types and were dependent on environmental variables. Forest floor bryophytes respond to environmental gradients by species number, cover and composition, and they play a diagnostic role in forest types. Our research shows the importance of databases in learning about bryophyte ecology. However, the use of vegetation data has some limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrigendum to "Effect of environmental gradients, habitat continuity and spatial structure on vascular plant species richness in semi-natural grasslands" [Agric. Ecosyst. [Extracted from the article]

• Effect of the spatial structure was stronger than the environment and habitat continuity. • Proxies of anthropogenic pressure were among the most important environmental drivers. • Effects of different drivers depend on spatial scale and regional ecological context. European semi-natural grasslands host numerous and diverse living organisms within a relatively small area; therefore, conservation of these habitats is crucial to maintain high biodiversity in agricultural areas. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of environment, habitat continuity and spatial structure on semi-natural grassland species richness (SR) at the regional extent. SR and characteristic SR (CHSR) were calculated in 709 georeferenced vegetation plots obtained from the Polish Vegetation Database. For each vegetation plot, (1) environmental variables representing climate, topography, soil characteristics (e.g. pH and physical soil properties), landscape and anthropogenic pressure; (2) habitat continuity in time and (3) variables reflecting the spatial structure of vegetation plots using principal coordinates of neighbour matrices were measured. Environmental data were measured at four different spatial scales (buffers of 0.05-, 0.5-, 2.5- and 5-km radii surrounding each vegetation plot). Boosted regression trees were generated to explore the relationships of SR and CHSR with predictors. Variables associated with anthropogenic pressure, landscape structure and soil characteristics operating in the 0.5- and 5-km buffers significantly improved SR and CHSR model. However, effects of individual predictors on SR and CHSR were not predominant. Habitat continuity and topographic heterogeneity operating in the 0.05-km buffer exclusively improved CHSR model. The results suggest that neutral processes (dispersion limitation, local management history and/or stochastic events) reflected by spatial variables are strongly related to SR and CHSR. Patterns observed herein may also exist in other agriculture-dominated regions in temperate Europe. This knowledge will contribute to effective conservation of valuable habitats over large spatial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molinia meadows are seminatural habitats of Natura 2000, and their continued existence is heavily dependent on human activities. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the harvest time of meadow biomass originating from Molinia meadows on the methane yield. After 35 days of conducting batch digestion tests, the average methane yield was found to be slightly different over the course of four biomass harvest dates: at the end of May, 221 ± 8 NL CH 4 kg−1 VS; at the beginning of July, 211 ± 21 NL CH 4 kg−1 VS; at the end of July, 200 ± 8 NL CH 4 kg−1 VS and on September 1, 197 ± 2 NL CH 4 kg−1 VS. During the initial stages of batch fermentation, a higher methane yield was obtained from the biomass harvested at the end of May. This biomass was characterised by higher contents of N, P and K, as well as a lower C:N ratio and reduced Ca and cellulose content. Relative to the content of elements and cellulose as well as the C:N ratio observed, significant correlations were found for methane yields from biomass obtained between the fourth and eighth days of batch digestion. It was determined that the average methane yield on a per hectare basis for the harvested biomass differed depending on the harvest date under investigation. The use of biomass from Molinia meadows for biogas production has the potential to become an important factor in the environmental protection of this type of habitat. • Mowing at a later date increased the biomass yield and resulted in higher calculated methane yields per hectare. • The methane yield tended to decrease when the meadows were harvested later in the year. • The biomass with high N, P and K content positively impacted the methane yield during the initial stages of batch digestion. • The use of Molinia meadows for biogas production can become an important element in conservation at this type of habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]