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]

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]

Formalized classification of the class Isoëto-Nanojuncetea has not been performed in Poland. We used 69,562 relevés stored in Polish Vegetation Database. Based on the literature and expert knowledge we selected 63 diagnostic species for the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class. Unequivocal classification was applied in this work according to Cocktail method. A set of formal definitions was established using a combination of logical operators of total cover of species in case of high-rank syntaxa while sociological species groups and cover of particular species were used for logical formulas describing class, alliances and associations. An Expert System was prepared and applied to classify the whole data set of PVD and 1,340 relevés were organized at the class level. We stratifies the data and finally we used data set of 903 relevés to prepare synoptic tables, distribution maps and descriptions of the syntaxa. Twelve associations and two plant communities were identified. Vegetation of the Isoëto- Nanojuncetea class occur in Poland’s central and southern part, with scattered stands in northern region. We described two new plant communities within Eleocharition and Radiolion alliance. The first formal classification of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class revealed a high diversity of ephemeral vegetation wetland found in Poland in the eastern boundary of their geographical distribution in Europe. [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]

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]

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]

• 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]