Search

Recognition of species richness spatial patterns is important for nature conservation and theoretical studies. Inventorying species richness, especially at a larger spatial extent is challenging, thus different data sources are joined and harmonized to obtain a comprehensive data set. Here we present a new data set showing vascular plant species richness in Poland based on a grid of 10 × 10 km squares. The data set was created using data from two sources: the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland and the Polish Vegetation Database. Using this data set, we analysed 2,160 species with taxonomical nomenclature according to the Euro + Med PlantBase checklist in 3,283 squares covering the entire territory of Poland (ca. 312,000 km2). The species were divided into groups according to their status and frequency of distribution, and the statistics for each square were obtained. For purposes of analysis, sampling bias was assessed. The data set promotes theoretical analysis on species richness and reinforces the planning of nature conservations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to characterize the genetic diversity of species, early hybrids, and cultivars using microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, as well as analyze and identify the origin of Hemerocallis spp. early hybrids. For this research, samples were collected from different types of daylily species, early hybrids (known or hypothetically first-generation hybrids from Hemerocallis species), foreign, and Lithuanian varieties. An initial screening of SSR primers developed for Hemerocallis citrina was performed, and their suitability for testing other daylily species and hybrids was evaluated. The genetic diversity was assessed with the selected eight-primer set, and molecular SSR profiles were created. Primer SAU00097 is the most informative according to heterozygosity (0.95) and polymorphism information content (PIC) (0.17). The highest heterozygosity was observed in Lithuanian cultivars (0.713), the lowest in species (0.583). Genetic relationships between species show that only fulvous daylilies are separated into a different cluster. The highest variation among genotypes was observed in the species group (18%), while modern cultivars had the slightest variation among genotypes (1%). The putative origin of early hybrids was analyzed using a likelihood heatmap of all genotypes. Results show what species might be used in breeding for early hybrids. Several modern diploid and tetraploid daylily cultivars have triploid species as ancestors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing dominance of competitive plant species may reduce species richness of plant communities. Yet, species richness may depend on spatial scale and the alien versus native status of the dominant species. To explore the dominance effects of alien versus native species on species richness, we sampled semi-natural grasslands in southwestern Poland. We established 100 m2 squares at different grassland sites, and in two opposite corners we placed two series of five nested plots (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 m2), in which we recorded all vascular plant species. Next, we selected squares with a strongly dominant plant in one corner (high-dominance series) and with no strong dominant in the opposite corner (low-dominance series). The number of species per plot and the slopes of the species–area curves fitted to each nested-plot series were used to assess whether the alien vs. native status of the dominant species influences species-richness pattern across scales. We found a significantly lower number of species in the high-dominance series than in the low-dominance series, regardless of the alien versus native status of the dominant species. The slopes of the species–area curves indicated that the rate of species accumulation with increasing area was faster in the high-dominance series than in the low-dominance series; however, this pattern did not depend on the alien vs. native status of the dominants. Our study confirms that increasing dominance is linked to a decline in species richness, but reveals that alien dominants do not have a stronger impact than native dominants. [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]

Continuity of forest habitats is evaluated by using the indicator value of plants considered as ancient forest species or closed forest species. This is a subjectively defined group, which includes species that prefer old-growth forests. Until now, the fidelity between ancient forest species and its relation to species richness has not been assessed. Analyses were performed using resources of the Polish Vegetation Database, from which we selected relevés containing at least one species from the group of ancient forest species. Subsequently, we examined whether these species demonstrate a tendency to coexist. We established these relations using the phi coefficient of fidelity. We have distinguished eleven groups of coexisting ancient forest species (CAFS groups). Fairly common taxa in the data set constituted the majority of species forming these groups (frequency of >10%). Only one CAFS group found in the dataset was strongly localised geographically. The other groups did not demonstrate specific patterns of distribution and were recorded in relevés throughout the country. The average species richness of forests, in which at least one CAFS group was present, was significantly higher than the average in the forests, where there were no groups of CAFS found. These forests also differed significantly in the total number of ancient forest species and the number of closed forest species. We found that the coexistence of ancient forest species was an indicator of forest communities characterized by a high diversity. In all types of forests identified in the data set, at least one group of coexisting ancient forest species was identified. However, the occurrence of the CAFS groups was not equally frequent in all types of forests. CAFS groups occurred most often in the oak-hornbeam forests, species-rich beech forests and ravine forests, which are zonal types of vegetation. On the other hand, the CAFS groups were rarely found in bog Scots pine woodlands, acidophilous spruce forests, alder carrs and willow-poplar forests of lowland rivers, and these are mostly azonal vegetation types with a limited range. CAFS groups can be used as a trans-regional indicators of forests with a high diversity of species, however, their usefulness may be limited in relation to forests found in oligotrophic habitats or azonal forest systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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]

The ecology and species diversity of ephemeral wetland vegetation have been fairly well studied, but the biology of its characteristic species has rarely been investigated holistically. Here we combine previous results on the genetic diversity of a suitable model species (the diploid Cyperus fuscus) with new data on its historical and recent occurrence, its ecological and climatic niche, and the associated vegetation. Analysis of phytosociological relevés from Central Europe revealed a broad ecological niche of C. fuscus with an optimum in the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class, extending to several other vegetation types. Overall species composition in the relevés highlight C. fuscus as a potential indicator of habitat conditions suitable for a range of other threatened taxa. Analysis of historical records of C. fuscus from the Czech Republic showed an increasing trend in the number of localities since the 1990s. It seems that recent climate warming allows the thermophilous C. fuscus to expand its range into colder regions. Isoëto-Nanojuncetea and Bidentetea species are well represented in the soil seed bank in both riverine and anthropogenic habitats of C. fuscus. Vegetation diversity has a weak negative effect and anthropogenic (compared to riverine) habitats have a strong negative effect on genetic diversity in this species. [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]

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]