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1. The Kulunda Steppe as Part of the Eurasian Steppe Belt

Author

Wesche, K., Korolyuk, A., Lashchinsky, N., Silantyeva, M. M., Rosche, C., Hensen, I., Müller, Lothar, Series Editor, Frühauf, Manfred, editor, Guggenberger, Georg, editor, Meinel, Tobias, editor, Theesfeld, Insa, editor, and Lentz, Sebastian, editor

Published
2020
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3. 10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science 2024

Author

Thonicke, K., Rahner, E., Arneth, A., Bonn, Aletta, Borchard, N., Chaudhary, A., Darbi, Marianne, Dutta, T., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, N., Farwig, N., Flocco, C.G., Freitag, J., Grobe, P., Grosch, R., Grossart, H.-P., Grosse, A., Grützmacher, K., Hagemann, Nina, Hansjürgens, Bernd, Hartman Scholz, A., Hassenrück, C., Häuser, C., Hickler, T., Hölker, F., Jacob, U., Jähnig, S.C., Jürgens, K., Kramer-Schadt, S., Kretsch, C., Krug, C., Lakner, S., Lindner, J.P., Loft, L., Mann, C., Matzdorf, B., Mehring, M., Meier, R., Meusemann, K., Müller, D., Nieberg, M., Overmann, J., Peters, R.S., Pörtner, L., Pradhan, P., Prochnow, A., Rduch, V., Reyer, C., Roos, C., Scherber, C., Scheunemann, N., Schroer, S., Schuck, A., Sioen, G.B., Sommer, S., Sommerwerk, N., Tanneberger, F., Tockner, K., van der Voort, H., Veenstra, T., Verburg, P., Voss, M., Warner, B., Wende, W., Wesche, K., Thonicke, K., Rahner, E., Arneth, A., Bonn, Aletta, Borchard, N., Chaudhary, A., Darbi, Marianne, Dutta, T., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, N., Farwig, N., Flocco, C.G., Freitag, J., Grobe, P., Grosch, R., Grossart, H.-P., Grosse, A., Grützmacher, K., Hagemann, Nina, Hansjürgens, Bernd, Hartman Scholz, A., Hassenrück, C., Häuser, C., Hickler, T., Hölker, F., Jacob, U., Jähnig, S.C., Jürgens, K., Kramer-Schadt, S., Kretsch, C., Krug, C., Lakner, S., Lindner, J.P., Loft, L., Mann, C., Matzdorf, B., Mehring, M., Meier, R., Meusemann, K., Müller, D., Nieberg, M., Overmann, J., Peters, R.S., Pörtner, L., Pradhan, P., Prochnow, A., Rduch, V., Reyer, C., Roos, C., Scherber, C., Scheunemann, N., Schroer, S., Schuck, A., Sioen, G.B., Sommer, S., Sommerwerk, N., Tanneberger, F., Tockner, K., van der Voort, H., Veenstra, T., Verburg, P., Voss, M., Warner, B., Wende, W., and Wesche, K.

Abstract

"There are no scientifically justified obstacles to protecting biodiversity in all its beauty and diversity. There are only six years left to achieve the biodiversity targets by 2030. We must work together now to get there in time."In the 10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science 2024, 64 scientists have further developed their well-founded and diverse findings and recommendations from the 10MustKnows22. The content of the ten selected key areas of the Earth-human system is supplemented by relevant publications from 2022 and 2023 and linked to the 23 global goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted in December 2022. The authors are aware that the next six years until 2030 are essential for achieving an ecologically sustainable and socially just life on our planet in the medium and long term. With the 10MustKnows24, they want to actively contribute to accelerating the socio-ecological transformation by providing scientifically sound recommendations for politics and society.These are the 10MustKnows24: 1: Achieving climate and biodiversity protection together 2: Enabling a healthy life on a healthy planet 3: Considering undiscovered biodiversity 4: Linking linguistic, cultural and biological diversity 5: Harmonising the diverse use of forest ecosystems and biodiversity conservation 6: Transforming agricultural and food systems 7: Protecting land and resources 8: Releasing transformative change through international collaboration and Education for Sustainable Development 9: Ensuring free access and open use of biodiversity-related data 10: Reducing biodiversity impacts from food consumption

Published
2024

4. 10 Must Knows aus der Biodiversitätsforschung 2024

Author

Thonicke, K., Rahner, E., Arneth, A., Bonn, Aletta, Borchard, N., Chaudhary, A., Darbi, Marianne, Dutta, T., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, N., Farwig, N., Flocco, C.G., Freitag, J., Grobe, P., Grosch, R., Grossart, H.-P., Grosse, A., Grützmacher, K., Hagemann, Nina, Hansjürgens, Bernd, Hartman Scholz, A., Hassenrück, C., Häuser, C., Hickler, T., Hölker, F., Jacob, U., Jähnig, S.C., Jürgens, K., Kramer-Schadt, S., Kretsch, C., Krug, C., Lakner, S., Lindner, J.P., Loft, L., Mann, C., Matzdorf, B., Mehring, M., Meier, R., Meusemann, K., Müller, D., Nieberg, M., Overmann, J., Peters, R.S., Pörtner, L., Pradhan, P., Prochnow, A., Rduch, V., Reyer, C., Roos, C., Scherber, C., Scheunemann, N., Schroer, S., Schuck, A., Sioen, G.B., Sommer, S., Sommerwerk, N., Tanneberger, F., Tockner, K., van der Voort, H., Veenstra, T., Verburg, P., Voss, M., Warner, B., Wende, W., Wesche, K., Thonicke, K., Rahner, E., Arneth, A., Bonn, Aletta, Borchard, N., Chaudhary, A., Darbi, Marianne, Dutta, T., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, N., Farwig, N., Flocco, C.G., Freitag, J., Grobe, P., Grosch, R., Grossart, H.-P., Grosse, A., Grützmacher, K., Hagemann, Nina, Hansjürgens, Bernd, Hartman Scholz, A., Hassenrück, C., Häuser, C., Hickler, T., Hölker, F., Jacob, U., Jähnig, S.C., Jürgens, K., Kramer-Schadt, S., Kretsch, C., Krug, C., Lakner, S., Lindner, J.P., Loft, L., Mann, C., Matzdorf, B., Mehring, M., Meier, R., Meusemann, K., Müller, D., Nieberg, M., Overmann, J., Peters, R.S., Pörtner, L., Pradhan, P., Prochnow, A., Rduch, V., Reyer, C., Roos, C., Scherber, C., Scheunemann, N., Schroer, S., Schuck, A., Sioen, G.B., Sommer, S., Sommerwerk, N., Tanneberger, F., Tockner, K., van der Voort, H., Veenstra, T., Verburg, P., Voss, M., Warner, B., Wende, W., and Wesche, K.

Abstract

"Es gibt wissenschaftlich keine begründeten Hindernisse, die Biodiversität in ihrer Schönheit und Vielfalt zu schützen. Es bleiben nur noch sechs Jahre, um die Biodiversitätsziele bis 2030 zu erreichen. Dafür müssen wir jetzt gemeinsam anpacken."In den 10 Must-Knows aus der Biodiversitätsforschung 2024 haben 64 Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler ihre fundierten und vielseitigen Erkenntnisse und Empfehlungen aus den 10MustKnows22 weiterentwickelt. Die zehn ausgewählten Schlüsselbereiche des Erde-Mensch-Systems werden inhaltlich durch relevante Publikationen von 2022 und 2023 ergänzt und mit den im Dezember 2022 verabschiedeten 23 globalen Zielen des Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) verknüpft. Den Autorinnen und Autoren ist bewusst, dass die kommenden sechs Jahre bis 2030 wesentlich sind, um mittel- und langfristig ein ökologisch nachhaltiges und sozial gerechtes Leben auf unserer Erde zu erreichen. Mit den 10MustKnows24 möchten sie durch wissenschaftlich gesicherte Empfehlungen für Politik und Gesellschaft ihren aktiven Beitrag leisten, um die sozial-ökologische Transformation zu beschleunigen.Das sind die 10MustKnows24: 1. Klima- und Biodiversitätsschutz gemeinsam verwirklichen 2. Ein gesundes Leben auf einem gesunden Planeten ermöglichen 3. Unentdeckte Biodiversität beachten 4. Sprachliche, kulturelle und biologische Vielfalt verknüpfen 5. Vielfältige Nutzung von Waldökosystemen und Biodiversitätsschutz in Einklang bringen 6. Agrar- und Ernährungssysteme transformieren 7. Land und Ressourcen schützen 8. Transformativen Wandel durch internationale Zusammenarbeit und Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung bewirken 9. Freien Zugang und offene Nutzung von biodiversitätsbezogenen Daten sicherstellen 10. Auswirkungen des Lebensmittelkonsums auf die Biodiversität verringern

Published
2024

7. Global patterns of vascular plant alpha diversity

Author

Sabatini, F.M., Jiménez-Alfaro, B., Jandt, U., Chytrý, M., Field, R., Kessler, M., Lenoir, J., Schrodt, F., Wiser, S.K., Arfin Khan, M.A.S., Attorre, F. Cayuela, L., De Sanctis, M., Dengler, J., Haider, S., Hatim, M.Z., Indreica, A., Jansen, F., Pauchard, A., Peet, R.K., Petřik, P., Pillar, V.D., Sandel, B., Schmidt, M., Tang, Z., Bodegom, P.M. van, Vassilev, K., Violle, C., Alvarez-Davilla, E., Davidar, P., Dolezal, J., Hérault, B., Galán-de-Mera, A., Jiménez, J., Kambach, S., Kepfer-Rojas, S., Kreft, H., Lezama, F., Linares-Palomino, R., Mendoza, A.M., N’Dja, J.K., Phillips, O.L., Rivas-Torres, G., Sklenář, P., Speziale, K., Strohbach, B.J., Martínez, R.V., Wang, H., Wesche, K., and Bruelheide, H.

Abstract

Global patterns of regional (gamma) plant diversity are relatively well known, but whether these patterns hold for local communities, and the dependence on spatial grain, remain controversial. Using data on 170,272 georeferenced local plant assemblages, we created global maps of alpha diversity (local species richness) for vascular plants at three different spatial grains, for forests and non-forests. We show that alpha diversity is consistently high across grains in some regions (for example, Andean-Amazonian foothills), but regional ‘scaling anomalies’ (deviations from the positive correlation) exist elsewhere, particularly in Eurasian temperate forests with disproportionally higher fine-grained richness and many African tropical forests with disproportionally higher coarse-grained richness. The influence of different climatic, topographic and biogeographical variables on alpha diversity also varies across grains. Our multi-grain maps return a nuanced understanding of vascular plant biodiversity patterns that complements classic maps of biodiversity hotspots and will improve predictions of global change effects on biodiversity.

Published
2022

9. Sustainable protected areas: Synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development

Author

Gatiso, T., https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0333-225X, Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0533-4304, Bonn, A., Bösch, L., Freytag, A., Heurich, M., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Ordaz-Németh, I., https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6171-7422, Sop, T., Kühl, H., and https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4440-9161

Abstract

Reconciling conservation and socioeconomic development goals is key to sustainability but remains a source of fierce debate. Protected areas (PAs) are believed to play an essential role in achieving these seemingly conflicting goals. Yet, there is limited evidence as to whether PAs are actually achieving the two goals simultaneously.Here, we investigate when and to what extent synergies or trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development occur. To explore these relationships, we collected data across a wide range of socioeconomic settings through face-to-face survey with PA managers from 114 African and European PAs using structured questionnaire.We found synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development for 62% of the PAs, albeit with significant differences between African (55%) and European PAs (75%). Moreover, the sustainability of PAs in conserving biodiversity was strongly correlated with the empowerment of the PA management and the involvement of local communities in PA planning and decision-making processes.Our results demonstrate that for PAs to promote synergies between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development, and to enhance their long-term sustainability, they should invest in the empowerment of their respective management and involvement of local communities in their planning and management activities.Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Published
2022

11. ReSurvey Germany: vegetation-plot resurvey data from Germany [Dataset]

Author

Jandt, U., Bruelheide, B., Berg, C., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Bode, F., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Dierschke, H., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Härdtle, W., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Jansen, F., Kudernatsch, T., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Matesanz, S., Metze, K., Meyer, S., Müller, F., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Stroh, H.-G., Storm, C., Voigt, W., von Heßberg, A., Wagner, E.-R., von Oheimb, G., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., Wulf, M., Jandt, U., Bruelheide, B., Berg, C., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Bode, F., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Dierschke, H., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Härdtle, W., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Jansen, F., Kudernatsch, T., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Matesanz, S., Metze, K., Meyer, S., Müller, F., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Stroh, H.-G., Storm, C., Voigt, W., von Heßberg, A., Wagner, E.-R., von Oheimb, G., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., and Wulf, M.

Abstract

Long-term analyses of biodiversity data highlight a ‘biodiversity conservation paradox’: biological communities show substantial species turnover over the past century1,2, but changes in species richness are marginal1,3,4,5. Most studies, however, have focused only on the incidence of species, and have not considered changes in local abundance. Here we asked whether analysing changes in the cover of plant species could reveal previously unrecognized patterns of biodiversity change and provide insights into the underlying mechanisms. We compiled and analysed a dataset of 7,738 permanent and semi-permanent vegetation plots from Germany that were surveyed between 2 and 54 times from 1927 to 2020, in total comprising 1,794 species of vascular plants. We found that decrements in cover, averaged across all species and plots, occurred more often than increments; that the number of species that decreased in cover was higher than the number of species that increased; and that decrements were more equally distributed among losers than were gains among winners. Null model simulations confirmed that these trends do not emerge by chance, but are the consequence of species-specific negative effects of environmental changes. In the long run, these trends might result in substantial losses of species at both local and regional scales. Summarizing the changes by decade shows that the inequality in the mean change in species cover of losers and winners diverged as early as the 1960s. We conclude that changes in species cover in communities represent an important but understudied dimension of biodiversity change that should more routinely be considered in time-series analyses.

Published
2022

12. Biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development [Data set]

Author

Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta ; orcid:0000-0002-8345-4600, Bösch, L., Freytag, A., Heurich, M., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Ordaz-Németh, I., Sop, T., Kühl, H.S., Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta ; orcid:0000-0002-8345-4600, Bösch, L., Freytag, A., Heurich, M., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Ordaz-Németh, I., Sop, T., and Kühl, H.S.

Abstract

Reconciling conservation and socioeconomic development goals is key to sustainability but remains a source of fierce debate. Protected areas (PAs) are believed to play an essential role in achieving these seemingly conflicting goals. Yet, there is limited evidence as to whether PAs are actually achieving the two goals simultaneously.Here, we investigate when and to what extent synergies or trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development occur. To explore these relationships, we collected data across a wide range of socioeconomic settings through face-to-face survey with PA managers from 114 African and European PAs using structured questionnaire.We found synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development for 62% of the PAs, albeit with significant differences between African (55%) and European PAs (75%). Moreover, the sustainability of PAs in conserving biodiversity was strongly correlated with the empowerment of the PA management and the involvement of local communities in PA planning and decision-making processes.Our results demonstrate that for PAs to promote synergies between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development, and to enhance their long-term sustainability, they should invest in the empowerment of their respective management and involvement of local communities in their planning and management activities.

Published
2022

13. ReSurveyGermany: Vegetation-plot time-series over the past hundred years in Germany

Author

Jandt, U., Bruelheide, H., Berg, C., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Bode, F., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Dierschke, H., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Härdtle, W., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Jansen, F., Kudernatsch, T., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Matesanz, S., Metze, K., Meyer, S., Müller, F., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Stroh, H.-G., Storm, C., Voigt, W., von Heßberg, A., von Oheimb, G., Wagner, E.-R., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., Wulf, M., Jandt, U., Bruelheide, H., Berg, C., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Bode, F., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Dierschke, H., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Härdtle, W., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Jansen, F., Kudernatsch, T., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Matesanz, S., Metze, K., Meyer, S., Müller, F., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Stroh, H.-G., Storm, C., Voigt, W., von Heßberg, A., von Oheimb, G., Wagner, E.-R., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., and Wulf, M.

Abstract

Vegetation-plot resurvey data are a main source of information on terrestrial biodiversity change, with records reaching back more than one century. Although more and more data from re-sampled plots have been published, there is not yet a comprehensive open-access dataset available for analysis. Here, we compiled and harmonised vegetation-plot resurvey data from Germany covering almost 100 years. We show the distribution of the plot data in space, time and across habitat types of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS). In addition, we include metadata on geographic location, plot size and vegetation structure. The data allow temporal biodiversity change to be assessed at the community scale, reaching back further into the past than most comparable data yet available. They also enable tracking changes in the incidence and distribution of individual species across Germany. In summary, the data come at a level of detail that holds promise for broadening our understanding of the mechanisms and drivers behind plant diversity change over the last century.

Published
2022

14. More losses than gains during one century of plant biodiversity change in Germany

Author

Jandt, U., Bruelheide, B., Jansen, F., Bonn, Aletta, Grescho, Volker, Klenke, R.A., Sabatini, F.M., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Metze, K., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Storm, C., Voigt, W., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., Wulf, M., Jandt, U., Bruelheide, B., Jansen, F., Bonn, Aletta, Grescho, Volker, Klenke, R.A., Sabatini, F.M., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Blüml, V., Dengler, J., Diekmann, M., Doerfler, I., Döring, U., Dullinger, S., Haider, S., Heinken, T., Horchler, P., Kuhn, G., Lindner, M., Metze, K., Müller, N., Naaf, T., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Poschlod, P., Roscher, Christiane, Rosenthal, G., Rumpf, S.B., Schmidt, W., Schrautzer, J., Schwabe, A., Schwartze, P., Sperle, T., Stanik, N., Storm, C., Voigt, W., Wegener, U., Wesche, K., Wittig, B., and Wulf, M.

Abstract

Long-term analyses of biodiversity data highlight a ‘biodiversity conservation paradox’: biological communities show substantial species turnover over the past century1,2, but changes in species richness are marginal1,3,4,5. Most studies, however, have focused only on the incidence of species, and have not considered changes in local abundance. Here we asked whether analysing changes in the cover of plant species could reveal previously unrecognized patterns of biodiversity change and provide insights into the underlying mechanisms. We compiled and analysed a dataset of 7,738 permanent and semi-permanent vegetation plots from Germany that were surveyed between 2 and 54 times from 1927 to 2020, in total comprising 1,794 species of vascular plants. We found that decrements in cover, averaged across all species and plots, occurred more often than increments; that the number of species that decreased in cover was higher than the number of species that increased; and that decrements were more equally distributed among losers than were gains among winners. Null model simulations confirmed that these trends do not emerge by chance, but are the consequence of species-specific negative effects of environmental changes. In the long run, these trends might result in substantial losses of species at both local and regional scales. Summarizing the changes by decade shows that the inequality in the mean change in species cover of losers and winners diverged as early as the 1960s. We conclude that changes in species cover in communities represent an important but understudied dimension of biodiversity change that should more routinely be considered in time-series analyses.

Published
2022

15. Effectiveness of protected areas influenced by socio-economic context

Author

Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bösch, L., Eirdosh, D., Freytag, A., Hanisch, S., Heurich, M., Sop, T., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Kühl, H.S., Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bösch, L., Eirdosh, D., Freytag, A., Hanisch, S., Heurich, M., Sop, T., Wesche, K., Winter, M., and Kühl, H.S.

Abstract

Protected area (PA) performance is thought to depend on effective conservation management and favourable socio-economic context. However, increasing evidence of continued biodiversity decline within PAs raises the question of whether fundamental ecological and socio-economic constraints might actually affect PA effectiveness. Here we quantify how threats to biodiversity, socio-economic context and conservation efforts play out across 114 PAs in 25 European and African countries. We found that even in the presence of highly favourable socio-economic context and conservation efforts, it is not possible to completely offset the intensity of threats and prevent biodiversity decline. Projections show that halting biodiversity decline across the studied PA network may require at least a 35% increase in conservation efforts over a decade. However, as PAs approach zero biodiversity loss, even greater efforts and resources would be needed because of the principle of diminishing marginal returns. Our findings point to limited effectiveness of PAs and their management that might not be possible to address by simply increasing resources. Additionally, the adoption of core design principles of sustainable systems that take into account the social–ecological contexts of PAs could help overcome the observed hurdles of limited effectiveness and thus better integrate PAs into sustainable development efforts.

Published
2022

16. Analysis of differences and commonalities in wildlife hunting across the Africa-Europe South-North gradient

Author

Bachmann, M.E., Kulik, L., Gatiso, T., Nielsen, M.R., Haase, Dagmar, Heurich, M., Buchadas, A., Bösch, L., Eirdosh, D., Freytag, A., Geldmann, J., Ghoddousi, A., Hicks, T.C., Ordaz-Németh, I., Qin, S., Sop, T., van Beeck Calkoen, S., Wesche, K., Kühl, H.S., Bachmann, M.E., Kulik, L., Gatiso, T., Nielsen, M.R., Haase, Dagmar, Heurich, M., Buchadas, A., Bösch, L., Eirdosh, D., Freytag, A., Geldmann, J., Ghoddousi, A., Hicks, T.C., Ordaz-Németh, I., Qin, S., Sop, T., van Beeck Calkoen, S., Wesche, K., and Kühl, H.S.

Abstract

Hunting and its impacts on wildlife are typically studied regionally, with a particular focus on the Global South. Hunting can, however, also undermine rewilding efforts or threaten wildlife in the Global North. Little is known about how hunting manifests under varying socioeconomic and ecological contexts across the Global South and North. Herein, we examined differences and commonalities in hunting characteristics across an exemplary Global South-North gradient approximated by the Human Development Index (HDI) using face-to-face interviews with 114 protected area (PA) managers in 25 African and European countries. Generally, we observed that hunting ranges from the illegal, economically motivated, and unsustainable hunting of herbivores in the South to the legal, socially and ecologically motivated hunting of ungulates within parks and the illegal hunting of mainly predators outside parks in the North. Commonalities across this Africa-Europe South-North gradient included increased conflict-related killings in human-dominated landscapes and decreased illegal hunting with beneficial community conditions, such as mutual trust resulting from community involvement in PA management. Nevertheless, local conditions cannot outweigh the strong effect of the HDI on unsustainable hunting. Our findings highlight regional challenges that require collaborative, integrative efforts in wildlife conservation across actors, while identified commonalities may outline universal mechanisms for achieving this goal.

Published
2022

17. Sustainable protected areas: Synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development

Author

Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bösch, L., Freytag, A., Heurich, M., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Ordaz-Németh, I., Sop, T., Kühl, H.S., Gatiso, T.T., Kulik, L., Bachmann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bösch, L., Freytag, A., Heurich, M., Wesche, K., Winter, M., Ordaz-Németh, I., Sop, T., and Kühl, H.S.

Abstract

Reconciling conservation and socioeconomic development goals is key to sustainability but remains a source of fierce debate. Protected areas (PAs) are believed to play an essential role in achieving these seemingly conflicting goals. Yet, there is limited evidence as to whether PAs are actually achieving the two goals simultaneously. Here, we investigate when and to what extent synergies or trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development occur. To explore these relationships, we collected data across a wide range of socioeconomic settings through face-to-face survey with PA managers from 114 African and European PAs using structured questionnaire. We found synergies between biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic development for 62% of the PAs, albeit with significant differences between African (55%) and European PAs (75%). Moreover, the sustainability of PAs in conserving biodiversity was strongly correlated with the empowerment of the PA management and the involvement of local communities in PA planning and decision-making processes. Our results demonstrate that for PAs to promote synergies between biodiversity conservation and local socioeconomic development, and to enhance their long-term sustainability, they should invest in the empowerment of their respective management and involvement of local communities in their planning and management activities.

Published
2022

24. sPlotOpen – An environmentally balanced, open‐access, global dataset of vegetation plots

Author

Sabatini, F.M., Lenoir, J., Hattab, T., Arnst, E., Chytrý, M., Dengler, J., De Ruffray, P., Hennekens, S.M., Jandt, U., Jansen, F., Jimenez‐Alfaro, B., Kattge, J., Levesley, A., Pillar, V.D., Purschke, O., Sandel, B., Sultana, F., Aavik, T., Aćić, S., Acosta, A.T.R., Agrillo, E., Álvarez, M., Apostolova, I., Arfin Khan, M.A.S., Arroyo, L., Attorre, F., Aubin, I., Banerjee, A., Bauters, M., Bergeron, Y., Bergmeier, E., Biurrun, I., Bjorkman, A.D., Bonari, G., Bondareva, V., Brunet, J., Čarni, A., Casella, L., Cayuela, L., Černý, T., Chepinoga, V., Csiky, J., Ćušterevska, R., De Bie, E., Gasper, A.L., De Sanctis, M., Dimopoulos, P., Dolezal, J., Dziuba, T., El‐Sheikh, M.A.El‐R.M., Enquist, B., Ewald, J., Fazayeli, F., Field, R., Finckh, M., Gachet, S., Galán‐de‐Mera, A., Garbolino, E., Gholizadeh, H., Giorgis, M., Golub, V., Alsos, I.G., Grytnes, J‐A, Guerin, G.R., Gutiérrez, A.G., Haider, S., Hatim, M.Z., Hérault, B., Hinojos Mendoza, G., Hölzel, N., Homeier, J., Hubau, W., Indreica, A., Janssen, J.A.M., Jedrzejek, B., Jentsch, A., Jürgens, N., Kącki, Z., Kapfer, J., Karger, D.N., Kavgacı, A., Kearsley, E., Kessler, M., Khanina, L., Killeen, T., Korolyuk, A., Kreft, H., Kühl, H.S., Kuzemko, A., Landucci, F., Lengyel, A., Lens, F., Lingner, D.V., Liu, H., Lysenko, T., Mahecha, M.D., Marcenò, C., Martynenko, V., Moeslund, J.E., Monteagudo Mendoza, A., Mucina, L., Müller, J.V., Munzinger, J., Naqinezhad, A., Noroozi, J., Nowak, A., Onyshchenko, V., Overbeck, G.E., Pärtel, M., Pauchard, A., Peet, R.K., Penuelas, J., Pérez‐Haase, A., Peterka, T., Petřík, P., Peyre, G., Phillips, O.L., Prokhorov, V., Rašomavičius, V., Revermann, R., Rivas‐Torres, G., Rodwell, J.S., Ruprecht, E., Rūsiņa, S., Samimi, C., Schmidt, M., Schrodt, F., Shan, H., Shirokikh, P., Šibík, J., Šilc, U., Sklenář, P., Škvorc, Ž., Sparrow, B., Sperandii, M.G., Stančić, Z., Svenning, J‐C, Tang, Z., Tang, C.Q., Tsiripidis, I., Vanselow, K.A., Vásquez Martínez, R., Vassilev, K., Vélez‐Martin, E., Venanzoni, R., Vibrans, A.C., Violle, C., Virtanen, R., Wehrden, H., Wagner, V., Walker, D.A., Waller, D.M., Wang, H‐F, Wesche, K., Whitfeld, T.J.S., Willner, W., Wiser, S.K., Wohlgemuth, T., Yamalov, S., Zobel, M., Bruelheide, H., Bates, A., Sabatini, F.M., Lenoir, J., Hattab, T., Arnst, E., Chytrý, M., Dengler, J., De Ruffray, P., Hennekens, S.M., Jandt, U., Jansen, F., Jimenez‐Alfaro, B., Kattge, J., Levesley, A., Pillar, V.D., Purschke, O., Sandel, B., Sultana, F., Aavik, T., Aćić, S., Acosta, A.T.R., Agrillo, E., Álvarez, M., Apostolova, I., Arfin Khan, M.A.S., Arroyo, L., Attorre, F., Aubin, I., Banerjee, A., Bauters, M., Bergeron, Y., Bergmeier, E., Biurrun, I., Bjorkman, A.D., Bonari, G., Bondareva, V., Brunet, J., Čarni, A., Casella, L., Cayuela, L., Černý, T., Chepinoga, V., Csiky, J., Ćušterevska, R., De Bie, E., Gasper, A.L., De Sanctis, M., Dimopoulos, P., Dolezal, J., Dziuba, T., El‐Sheikh, M.A.El‐R.M., Enquist, B., Ewald, J., Fazayeli, F., Field, R., Finckh, M., Gachet, S., Galán‐de‐Mera, A., Garbolino, E., Gholizadeh, H., Giorgis, M., Golub, V., Alsos, I.G., Grytnes, J‐A, Guerin, G.R., Gutiérrez, A.G., Haider, S., Hatim, M.Z., Hérault, B., Hinojos Mendoza, G., Hölzel, N., Homeier, J., Hubau, W., Indreica, A., Janssen, J.A.M., Jedrzejek, B., Jentsch, A., Jürgens, N., Kącki, Z., Kapfer, J., Karger, D.N., Kavgacı, A., Kearsley, E., Kessler, M., Khanina, L., Killeen, T., Korolyuk, A., Kreft, H., Kühl, H.S., Kuzemko, A., Landucci, F., Lengyel, A., Lens, F., Lingner, D.V., Liu, H., Lysenko, T., Mahecha, M.D., Marcenò, C., Martynenko, V., Moeslund, J.E., Monteagudo Mendoza, A., Mucina, L., Müller, J.V., Munzinger, J., Naqinezhad, A., Noroozi, J., Nowak, A., Onyshchenko, V., Overbeck, G.E., Pärtel, M., Pauchard, A., Peet, R.K., Penuelas, J., Pérez‐Haase, A., Peterka, T., Petřík, P., Peyre, G., Phillips, O.L., Prokhorov, V., Rašomavičius, V., Revermann, R., Rivas‐Torres, G., Rodwell, J.S., Ruprecht, E., Rūsiņa, S., Samimi, C., Schmidt, M., Schrodt, F., Shan, H., Shirokikh, P., Šibík, J., Šilc, U., Sklenář, P., Škvorc, Ž., Sparrow, B., Sperandii, M.G., Stančić, Z., Svenning, J‐C, Tang, Z., Tang, C.Q., Tsiripidis, I., Vanselow, K.A., Vásquez Martínez, R., Vassilev, K., Vélez‐Martin, E., Venanzoni, R., Vibrans, A.C., Violle, C., Virtanen, R., Wehrden, H., Wagner, V., Walker, D.A., Waller, D.M., Wang, H‐F, Wesche, K., Whitfeld, T.J.S., Willner, W., Wiser, S.K., Wohlgemuth, T., Yamalov, S., Zobel, M., Bruelheide, H., and Bates, A.

Abstract

Assessing biodiversity status and trends in plant communities is critical for understanding, quantifying and predicting the effects of global change on ecosystems. Vegetation plots record the occurrence or abundance of all plant species co-occurring within delimited local areas. This allows species absences to be inferred, information seldom provided by existing global plant datasets. Although many vegetation plots have been recorded, most are not available to the global research community. A recent initiative, called ‘sPlot’, compiled the first global vegetation plot database, and continues to grow and curate it. The sPlot database, however, is extremely unbalanced spatially and environmentally, and is not open-access. Here, we address both these issues by (a) resampling the vegetation plots using several environmental variables as sampling strata and (b) securing permission from data holders of 105 local-to-regional datasets to openly release data. We thus present sPlotOpen, the largest open-access dataset of vegetation plots ever released. sPlotOpen can be used to explore global diversity at the plant community level, as ground truth data in remote sensing applications, or as a baseline for biodiversity monitoring.

Published
2021

25. Benchmarking plant diversity of Palaearctic grasslands and other open habitats

Author

Biurrun, I., Pielech, R., Dembicz, I., Gillet, F., Kozub, Ł., Marcenò, C., Reitalu, T., Van Meerbeek, K., Guarino, R., Chytrý, M., Pakeman, R.J., Preislerová, Z., Axmanová, I., Burrascano, S., Bartha, S., Boch, S., Bruun, H.H., Conradi, T., De Frenne, P., Essl, F., Filibeck, G., Hájek, M., Jiménez-Alfaro, B., Kuzemko, A., Molnár, Z., Pärtel, M., Pätsch, R., Prentice, H.C., Roleček, J., Sutcliffe, L.M.E., Terzi, M., Winkler, M., Wu, J., Aćić, S., Acosta, A.T.R., Afif, E., Akasaka, M., Alatalo, J.M., Aleffi, M., Aleksanyan, A., Ali, A., Apostolova, I., Ashouri, P., Bátori, Z., Baumann, E., Becker, T., Belonovskaya, E., Benito Alonso, J.L., Berastegi, A., Bergamini, A., Bhatta, K.P., Bonini, I., Büchler, M.-O., Budzhak, V., Bueno, Á., Buldrini, F., Campos, J.A., Cancellieri, L., Carboni, M., Ceulemans, T., Chiarucci, A., Chocarro, C., Conti, L., Csergő, A.M., Cykowska-Marzencka, B., Czarniecka-Wiera, M., Czarnocka-Cieciura, M., Czortek, P., Danihelka, J., de Bello, F., Deák, B., Demeter, L., Deng, L., Diekmann, M., Dolezal, J., Dolnik, C., Dřevojan, P., Dupré, C., Ecker, K., Ejtehadi, H., Erschbamer, B., Etayo, J., Etzold, J., Farkas, T., Farzam, M., Fayvush, G., Fernández Calzado, M.R., Finckh, M., Fjellstad, W., Fotiadis, G., García-Magro, D., García-Mijangos, I., Gavilán, R.G., Germany, M., Ghafari, S., Giusso del Galdo, G.P., Grytnes, J.-A., Güler, B., Gutiérrez-Girón, A., Helm, A., Herrera, M., Hüllbusch, E.M., Ingerpuu, N., Jägerbrand, A.K., Jandt, U., Janišová, M., Jeanneret, P., Jeltsch, F., Jensen, K., Jentsch, A., Kącki, Z., Kakinuma, K., Kapfer, J., Kargar, M., Kelemen, A., Kiehl, K., Kirschner, P., Koyama, A., Langer, N., Lazzaro, L., Lepš, J., Li, C.-F., Li, F.Y., Liendo, D., Lindborg, R., Löbel, S., Lomba, A., Lososová, Z., Lustyk, P., Luzuriaga, A.L., Ma, W., Maccherini, S., Magnes, M., Malicki, M., Manthey, M., Mardari, C., May, F., Mayrhofer, H., Meier, E.S., Memariani, F., Merunková, K., Michelsen, O., Molero Mesa, J., Moradi, H., Moysiyenko, I., Mugnai, M., Naqinezhad, A., Natcheva, R., Ninot, J.M., Nobis, M., Noroozi, J., Nowak, A., Onipchenko, V., Palpurina, S., Pauli, H., Pedashenko, H., Pedersen, C., Peet, R.K., Pérez-Haase, A., Peters, J., Pipenbaher, N., Pirini, C., Pladevall-Izard, E., Plesková, Z., Potenza, G., Rahmanian, S., Rodríguez-Rojo, M.P., Ronkin, V., Rosati, L., Ruprecht, E., Rusina, S., Sabovljević, M., Sanaei, A., Sánchez, A.M., Santi, F., Savchenko, G., Sebastià, M.T., Shyriaieva, D., Silva, V., Škornik, S., Šmerdová, E., Sonkoly, J., Sperandii, M.G., Staniaszek-Kik, M., Stevens, C., Stifter, S., Suchrow, S., Swacha, G., Świerszcz, S., Talebi, A., Teleki, B., Tichý, L., Tölgyesi, C., Torca, M., Török, P., Tsarevskaya, N., Tsiripidis, I., Turisová, I., Ushimaru, A., Valkó, O., Van Mechelen, C., Vanneste, T., Vasheniak, I., Vassilev, K., Viciani, D., Villar, L., Virtanen, R., Vitasović-Kosić, I., Vojtkó, A., Vynokurov, D., Waldén, E., Wang, Y., Weiser, F., Wen, L., Wesche, K., White, H., Widmer, S., Wolfrum, S., Wróbel, A., Yuan, Z., Zelený, D., Zhao, L., Dengler, J., Biurrun, I., Pielech, R., Dembicz, I., Gillet, F., Kozub, Ł., Marcenò, C., Reitalu, T., Van Meerbeek, K., Guarino, R., Chytrý, M., Pakeman, R.J., Preislerová, Z., Axmanová, I., Burrascano, S., Bartha, S., Boch, S., Bruun, H.H., Conradi, T., De Frenne, P., Essl, F., Filibeck, G., Hájek, M., Jiménez-Alfaro, B., Kuzemko, A., Molnár, Z., Pärtel, M., Pätsch, R., Prentice, H.C., Roleček, J., Sutcliffe, L.M.E., Terzi, M., Winkler, M., Wu, J., Aćić, S., Acosta, A.T.R., Afif, E., Akasaka, M., Alatalo, J.M., Aleffi, M., Aleksanyan, A., Ali, A., Apostolova, I., Ashouri, P., Bátori, Z., Baumann, E., Becker, T., Belonovskaya, E., Benito Alonso, J.L., Berastegi, A., Bergamini, A., Bhatta, K.P., Bonini, I., Büchler, M.-O., Budzhak, V., Bueno, Á., Buldrini, F., Campos, J.A., Cancellieri, L., Carboni, M., Ceulemans, T., Chiarucci, A., Chocarro, C., Conti, L., Csergő, A.M., Cykowska-Marzencka, B., Czarniecka-Wiera, M., Czarnocka-Cieciura, M., Czortek, P., Danihelka, J., de Bello, F., Deák, B., Demeter, L., Deng, L., Diekmann, M., Dolezal, J., Dolnik, C., Dřevojan, P., Dupré, C., Ecker, K., Ejtehadi, H., Erschbamer, B., Etayo, J., Etzold, J., Farkas, T., Farzam, M., Fayvush, G., Fernández Calzado, M.R., Finckh, M., Fjellstad, W., Fotiadis, G., García-Magro, D., García-Mijangos, I., Gavilán, R.G., Germany, M., Ghafari, S., Giusso del Galdo, G.P., Grytnes, J.-A., Güler, B., Gutiérrez-Girón, A., Helm, A., Herrera, M., Hüllbusch, E.M., Ingerpuu, N., Jägerbrand, A.K., Jandt, U., Janišová, M., Jeanneret, P., Jeltsch, F., Jensen, K., Jentsch, A., Kącki, Z., Kakinuma, K., Kapfer, J., Kargar, M., Kelemen, A., Kiehl, K., Kirschner, P., Koyama, A., Langer, N., Lazzaro, L., Lepš, J., Li, C.-F., Li, F.Y., Liendo, D., Lindborg, R., Löbel, S., Lomba, A., Lososová, Z., Lustyk, P., Luzuriaga, A.L., Ma, W., Maccherini, S., Magnes, M., Malicki, M., Manthey, M., Mardari, C., May, F., Mayrhofer, H., Meier, E.S., Memariani, F., Merunková, K., Michelsen, O., Molero Mesa, J., Moradi, H., Moysiyenko, I., Mugnai, M., Naqinezhad, A., Natcheva, R., Ninot, J.M., Nobis, M., Noroozi, J., Nowak, A., Onipchenko, V., Palpurina, S., Pauli, H., Pedashenko, H., Pedersen, C., Peet, R.K., Pérez-Haase, A., Peters, J., Pipenbaher, N., Pirini, C., Pladevall-Izard, E., Plesková, Z., Potenza, G., Rahmanian, S., Rodríguez-Rojo, M.P., Ronkin, V., Rosati, L., Ruprecht, E., Rusina, S., Sabovljević, M., Sanaei, A., Sánchez, A.M., Santi, F., Savchenko, G., Sebastià, M.T., Shyriaieva, D., Silva, V., Škornik, S., Šmerdová, E., Sonkoly, J., Sperandii, M.G., Staniaszek-Kik, M., Stevens, C., Stifter, S., Suchrow, S., Swacha, G., Świerszcz, S., Talebi, A., Teleki, B., Tichý, L., Tölgyesi, C., Torca, M., Török, P., Tsarevskaya, N., Tsiripidis, I., Turisová, I., Ushimaru, A., Valkó, O., Van Mechelen, C., Vanneste, T., Vasheniak, I., Vassilev, K., Viciani, D., Villar, L., Virtanen, R., Vitasović-Kosić, I., Vojtkó, A., Vynokurov, D., Waldén, E., Wang, Y., Weiser, F., Wen, L., Wesche, K., White, H., Widmer, S., Wolfrum, S., Wróbel, A., Yuan, Z., Zelený, D., Zhao, L., and Dengler, J.

Abstract

Aims: Understanding fine-grain diversity patterns across large spatial extents is fundamental for macroecological research and biodiversity conservation. Using the GrassPlot database, we provide benchmarks of fine-grain richness values of Palaearctic open habitats for vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and complete vegetation (i.e., the sum of the former three groups). Location: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We used 126,524 plots of eight standard grain sizes from the GrassPlot database: 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 m2 and calculated the mean richness and standard deviations, as well as maximum, minimum, median, and first and third quartiles for each combination of grain size, taxonomic group, biome, region, vegetation type and phytosociological class. Results: Patterns of plant diversity in vegetation types and biomes differ across grain sizes and taxonomic groups. Overall, secondary (mostly semi-natural) grasslands and natural grasslands are the richest vegetation type. The open-access file ”GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks” and the web tool “GrassPlot Diversity Explorer” are now available online (https://edgg.org/databases/GrasslandDiversityExplorer) and provide more insights into species richness patterns in the Palaearctic open habitats. Conclusions: The GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks provide high-quality data on species richness in open habitat types across the Palaearctic. These benchmark data can be used in vegetation ecology, macroecology, biodiversity conservation and data quality checking. While the amount of data in the underlying GrassPlot database and their spatial coverage are smaller than in other extensive vegetation-plot databases, species recordings in GrassPlot are on average more complete, making it a valuable complementary data source in macroecology.

Published
2021

26. Benchmarking plant diversity of Palaearctic grasslands and other open habitats

Author

Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Pielech, R. (Remigiusz), Dembicz, I. (Iwona), Gillet, F. (Francois), Kozub, L. (Lukasz), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Reitalu, T. (Triin), Van Meerbeek, K. (Koenraad), Guarino, R. (Riccardo), Chytry, M. (Milan), Pakeman, R. J. (Robin J.), Preislerova, Z. (Zdenka), Axmanova, I. (Irena), Burrascano, S. (Sabina), Bartha, S. (Sandor), Boch, S. (Steffen), Bruun, H. H. (Hans Henrik), Conradi, T. (Timo), De Frenne, P. (Pieter), Essl, F. (Franz), Filibeck, G. (Goffredo), Hajek, M. (Michal), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Molnar, Z. (Zsolt), Partel, M. (Meelis), Patsch, R. (Ricarda), Prentice, H. C. (Honor C.), Rolecek, J. (Jan), Sutcliffe, L. M. (Laura M. E.), Terzi, M. (Massimo), Winkler, M. (Manuela), Wu, J. (Jianshuang), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Acosta, A. T. (Alicia T. R.), Afif, E. (Elias), Akasaka, M. (Munemitsu), Alatalo, J. M. (Juha M.), Aleffi, M. (Michele), Aleksanyan, A. (Alla), Ali, A. (Arshad), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Ashouri, P. (Parvaneh), Batori, Z. (Zoltan), Baumann, E. (Esther), Becker, T. (Thomas), Belonovskaya, E. (Elena), Benito Alonso, J. L. (Jose Luis), Berastegi, A. (Asun), Bergamini, A. (Ariel), Bhatta, K. P. (Kuber Prasad), Bonini, I. (Ilaria), Buchler, M.-O. (Marc-Olivier), Budzhak, V. (Vasyl), Bueno, A. (Alvaro), Buldrini, F. (Fabrizio), Campos, J. A. (Juan Antonio), Cancellieri, L. (Laura), Carboni, M. (Marta), Ceulemans, T. (Tobias), Chiarucci, A. (Alessandro), Chocarro, C. (Cristina), Conti, L. (Luisa), Csergo, A. M. (Anna Maria), Cykowska-Marzencka, B. (Beata), Czarniecka-Wiera, M. (Marta), Czarnocka-Cieciura, M. (Marta), Czortek, P. (Patryk), Danihelka, J. (Jiri), Bello, F. (Francesco), Deak, B. (Balazs), Demeter, L. (Laszlo), Deng, L. (Lei), Diekmann, M. (Martin), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Dolnik, C. (Christian), Drevojan, P. (Pavel), Dupre, C. (Cecilia), Ecker, K. (Klaus), Ejtehadi, H. (Hamid), Erschbamer, B. (Brigitta), Etayo, J. (Javier), Etzold, J. (Jonathan), Farkas, T. (Tunde), Farzam, M. (Mohammad), Fayvush, G. (George), Fernandez Calzado, M. R. (Maria Rosa), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Fjellstad, W. (Wendy), Fotiadis, G. (Georgios), Garcia-Magro, D. (Daniel), Garcia-Mijangos, I. (Itziar), Gavilan, R. G. (Rosario G.), Germany, M. (Markus), Ghafari, S. (Sahar), del Galdo, G. P. (Gian Pietro Giusso), Grytnes, J.-A. (John-Arvid), Guler, B. (Behlul), Gutierrez-Giron, A. (Alba), Helm, A. (Aveliina), Herrera, M. (Mercedes), Hullbusch, E. M. (Elisabeth M.), Ingerpuu, N. (Nele), Jaegerbrand, A. K. (Annika K.), Jandt, U. (Ute), Janisova, M. (Monika), Jeanneret, P. (Philippe), Jeltsch, F. (Florian), Jensen, K. (Kai), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kakinuma, K. (Kaoru), Kapfer, J. (Jutta), Kargar, M. (Mansoureh), Kelemen, A. (Andras), Kiehl, K. (Kathrin), Kirschner, P. (Philipp), Koyama, A. (Asuka), Langer, N. (Nancy), Lazzaro, L. (Lorenzo), Leps, J. (Jan), Li, C.-F. (Ching-Feng), Li, F. Y. (Frank Yonghong), Liendo, D. (Diego), Lindborg, R. (Regina), Loebel, S. (Swantje), Lomba, A. (Angela), Lososova, Z. (Zdenka), Lustyk, P. (Pavel), Luzuriaga, A. L. (Arantzazu L.), Ma, W. (Wenhong), Maccherini, S. (Simona), Magnes, M. (Martin), Malicki, M. (Marek), Manthey, M. (Michael), Mardari, C. (Constantin), May, F. (Felix), Mayrhofer, H. (Helmut), Meier, E. S. (Eliane Seraina), Memariani, F. (Farshid), Merunkova, K. (Kristina), Michelsen, O. (Ottar), Molero Mesa, J. (Joaquin), Moradi, H. (Halime), Moysiyenko, I. (Ivan), Mugnai, M. (Michele), Naqinezhad, A. (Alireza), Natcheva, R. (Rayna), Ninot, J. M. (Josep M.), Nobis, M. (Marcin), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onipchenko, V. (Vladimir), Palpurina, S. (Salza), Pauli, H. (Harald), Pedashenko, H. (Hristo), Pedersen, C. (Christian), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peters, J. (Jan), Pipenbaher, N. (Natasa), Pirini, C. (Chrisoula), Pladevall-Izard, E. (Eulalia), Pleskova, Z. (Zuzana), Potenza, G. (Giovanna), Rahmanian, S. (Soroor), Rodriguez-Rojo, M. P. (Maria Pilar), Ronkin, V. (Vladimir), Rosati, L. (Leonardo), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Sabovljevic, M. (Marko), Sanaei, A. (Anvar), Sanchez, A. M. (Ana M.), Santi, F. (Francesco), Savchenko, G. (Galina), Teresa Sebastia, M. (Maria), Shyriaieva, D. (Dariia), Silva, V. (Vasco), Skornik, S. (Sonja), Smerdova, E. (Eva), Sonkoly, J. (Judit), Sperandii, M. G. (Marta Gaia), Staniaszek-Kik, M. (Monika), Stevens, C. (Carly), Stifter, S. (Simon), Suchrow, S. (Sigrid), Swacha, G. (Grzegorz), Swierszcz, S. (Sebastian), Talebi, A. (Amir), Teleki, B. (Balazs), Tichy, L. (Lubomir), Tolgyesi, C. (Csaba), Torca, M. (Marta), Torok, P. (Peter), Tsarevskaya, N. (Nadezda), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Turisova, I. (Ingrid), Ushimaru, A. (Atushi), Valko, O. (Orsolya), Van Mechelen, C. (Carmen), Vanneste, T. (Thomas), Vasheniak, I. (Iuliia), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Viciani, D. (Daniele), Villar, L. (Luis), Virtanen, R. (Risto), Vitasovic-Kosic, I. (Ivana), Vojtko, A. (Andras), Vynokurov, D. (Denys), Walden, E. (Emelie), Wang, Y. (Yun), Weiser, F. (Frank), Wen, L. (Lu), Wesche, K. (Karsten), White, H. (Hannah), Widmer, S. (Stefan), Wolfrum, S. (Sebastian), Wrobel, A. (Anna), Yuan, Z. (Zuoqiang), Zeleny, D. (David), Zhao, L. (Liqing), Dengler, J. (Jurgen), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Pielech, R. (Remigiusz), Dembicz, I. (Iwona), Gillet, F. (Francois), Kozub, L. (Lukasz), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Reitalu, T. (Triin), Van Meerbeek, K. (Koenraad), Guarino, R. (Riccardo), Chytry, M. (Milan), Pakeman, R. J. (Robin J.), Preislerova, Z. (Zdenka), Axmanova, I. (Irena), Burrascano, S. (Sabina), Bartha, S. (Sandor), Boch, S. (Steffen), Bruun, H. H. (Hans Henrik), Conradi, T. (Timo), De Frenne, P. (Pieter), Essl, F. (Franz), Filibeck, G. (Goffredo), Hajek, M. (Michal), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Molnar, Z. (Zsolt), Partel, M. (Meelis), Patsch, R. (Ricarda), Prentice, H. C. (Honor C.), Rolecek, J. (Jan), Sutcliffe, L. M. (Laura M. E.), Terzi, M. (Massimo), Winkler, M. (Manuela), Wu, J. (Jianshuang), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Acosta, A. T. (Alicia T. R.), Afif, E. (Elias), Akasaka, M. (Munemitsu), Alatalo, J. M. (Juha M.), Aleffi, M. (Michele), Aleksanyan, A. (Alla), Ali, A. (Arshad), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Ashouri, P. (Parvaneh), Batori, Z. (Zoltan), Baumann, E. (Esther), Becker, T. (Thomas), Belonovskaya, E. (Elena), Benito Alonso, J. L. (Jose Luis), Berastegi, A. (Asun), Bergamini, A. (Ariel), Bhatta, K. P. (Kuber Prasad), Bonini, I. (Ilaria), Buchler, M.-O. (Marc-Olivier), Budzhak, V. (Vasyl), Bueno, A. (Alvaro), Buldrini, F. (Fabrizio), Campos, J. A. (Juan Antonio), Cancellieri, L. (Laura), Carboni, M. (Marta), Ceulemans, T. (Tobias), Chiarucci, A. (Alessandro), Chocarro, C. (Cristina), Conti, L. (Luisa), Csergo, A. M. (Anna Maria), Cykowska-Marzencka, B. (Beata), Czarniecka-Wiera, M. (Marta), Czarnocka-Cieciura, M. (Marta), Czortek, P. (Patryk), Danihelka, J. (Jiri), Bello, F. (Francesco), Deak, B. (Balazs), Demeter, L. (Laszlo), Deng, L. (Lei), Diekmann, M. (Martin), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Dolnik, C. (Christian), Drevojan, P. (Pavel), Dupre, C. (Cecilia), Ecker, K. (Klaus), Ejtehadi, H. (Hamid), Erschbamer, B. (Brigitta), Etayo, J. (Javier), Etzold, J. (Jonathan), Farkas, T. (Tunde), Farzam, M. (Mohammad), Fayvush, G. (George), Fernandez Calzado, M. R. (Maria Rosa), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Fjellstad, W. (Wendy), Fotiadis, G. (Georgios), Garcia-Magro, D. (Daniel), Garcia-Mijangos, I. (Itziar), Gavilan, R. G. (Rosario G.), Germany, M. (Markus), Ghafari, S. (Sahar), del Galdo, G. P. (Gian Pietro Giusso), Grytnes, J.-A. (John-Arvid), Guler, B. (Behlul), Gutierrez-Giron, A. (Alba), Helm, A. (Aveliina), Herrera, M. (Mercedes), Hullbusch, E. M. (Elisabeth M.), Ingerpuu, N. (Nele), Jaegerbrand, A. K. (Annika K.), Jandt, U. (Ute), Janisova, M. (Monika), Jeanneret, P. (Philippe), Jeltsch, F. (Florian), Jensen, K. (Kai), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kakinuma, K. (Kaoru), Kapfer, J. (Jutta), Kargar, M. (Mansoureh), Kelemen, A. (Andras), Kiehl, K. (Kathrin), Kirschner, P. (Philipp), Koyama, A. (Asuka), Langer, N. (Nancy), Lazzaro, L. (Lorenzo), Leps, J. (Jan), Li, C.-F. (Ching-Feng), Li, F. Y. (Frank Yonghong), Liendo, D. (Diego), Lindborg, R. (Regina), Loebel, S. (Swantje), Lomba, A. (Angela), Lososova, Z. (Zdenka), Lustyk, P. (Pavel), Luzuriaga, A. L. (Arantzazu L.), Ma, W. (Wenhong), Maccherini, S. (Simona), Magnes, M. (Martin), Malicki, M. (Marek), Manthey, M. (Michael), Mardari, C. (Constantin), May, F. (Felix), Mayrhofer, H. (Helmut), Meier, E. S. (Eliane Seraina), Memariani, F. (Farshid), Merunkova, K. (Kristina), Michelsen, O. (Ottar), Molero Mesa, J. (Joaquin), Moradi, H. (Halime), Moysiyenko, I. (Ivan), Mugnai, M. (Michele), Naqinezhad, A. (Alireza), Natcheva, R. (Rayna), Ninot, J. M. (Josep M.), Nobis, M. (Marcin), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onipchenko, V. (Vladimir), Palpurina, S. (Salza), Pauli, H. (Harald), Pedashenko, H. (Hristo), Pedersen, C. (Christian), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peters, J. (Jan), Pipenbaher, N. (Natasa), Pirini, C. (Chrisoula), Pladevall-Izard, E. (Eulalia), Pleskova, Z. (Zuzana), Potenza, G. (Giovanna), Rahmanian, S. (Soroor), Rodriguez-Rojo, M. P. (Maria Pilar), Ronkin, V. (Vladimir), Rosati, L. (Leonardo), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Sabovljevic, M. (Marko), Sanaei, A. (Anvar), Sanchez, A. M. (Ana M.), Santi, F. (Francesco), Savchenko, G. (Galina), Teresa Sebastia, M. (Maria), Shyriaieva, D. (Dariia), Silva, V. (Vasco), Skornik, S. (Sonja), Smerdova, E. (Eva), Sonkoly, J. (Judit), Sperandii, M. G. (Marta Gaia), Staniaszek-Kik, M. (Monika), Stevens, C. (Carly), Stifter, S. (Simon), Suchrow, S. (Sigrid), Swacha, G. (Grzegorz), Swierszcz, S. (Sebastian), Talebi, A. (Amir), Teleki, B. (Balazs), Tichy, L. (Lubomir), Tolgyesi, C. (Csaba), Torca, M. (Marta), Torok, P. (Peter), Tsarevskaya, N. (Nadezda), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Turisova, I. (Ingrid), Ushimaru, A. (Atushi), Valko, O. (Orsolya), Van Mechelen, C. (Carmen), Vanneste, T. (Thomas), Vasheniak, I. (Iuliia), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Viciani, D. (Daniele), Villar, L. (Luis), Virtanen, R. (Risto), Vitasovic-Kosic, I. (Ivana), Vojtko, A. (Andras), Vynokurov, D. (Denys), Walden, E. (Emelie), Wang, Y. (Yun), Weiser, F. (Frank), Wen, L. (Lu), Wesche, K. (Karsten), White, H. (Hannah), Widmer, S. (Stefan), Wolfrum, S. (Sebastian), Wrobel, A. (Anna), Yuan, Z. (Zuoqiang), Zeleny, D. (David), Zhao, L. (Liqing), and Dengler, J. (Jurgen)

Abstract

Aims: Understanding fine-grain diversity patterns across large spatial extents is fundamental for macroecological research and biodiversity conservation. Using the GrassPlot database, we provide benchmarks of fine-grain richness values of Palaearctic open habitats for vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and complete vegetation (i.e., the sum of the former three groups). Location: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We used 126,524 plots of eight standard grain sizes from the GrassPlot database: 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 m² and calculated the mean richness and standard deviations, as well as maximum, minimum, median, and first and third quartiles for each combination of grain size, taxonomic group, biome, region, vegetation type and phytosociological class. Results: Patterns of plant diversity in vegetation types and biomes differ across grain sizes and taxonomic groups. Overall, secondary (mostly semi-natural) grasslands and natural grasslands are the richest vegetation type. The open-access file ”GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks” and the web tool “GrassPlot Diversity Explorer” are now available online (https://edgg.org/databases/GrasslandDiversityExplorer) and provide more insights into species richness patterns in the Palaearctic open habitats. Conclusions: The GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks provide high-quality data on species richness in open habitat types across the Palaearctic. These benchmark data can be used in vegetation ecology, macroecology, biodiversity conservation and data quality checking. While the amount of data in the underlying GrassPlot database and their spatial coverage are smaller than in other extensive vegetation-plot databases, species recordings in GrassPlot are on average more complete, making it a valuable complementary data source in macroecology.

Published
2021

27. sPlotOpen:an environmentally balanced, open-access, global dataset of vegetation plots

Author

Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Hattab, T. (Tarek), Arnst, E. A. (Elise Aimee), Chytry, M. (Milan), Dengler, J. (Juergen), De Ruffray, P. (Patrice), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Jandt, U. (Ute), Jansen, F. (Florian), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Kattge, J. (Jens), Levesley, A. (Aurora), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Sandel, B. (Brody), Sultana, F. (Fahmida), Aavik, T. (Tsipe), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Acosta, A. T. (Alicia T. R.), Agrillo, E. (Emiliano), Alvarez, M. (Miguel), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Arfin Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S.), Arroyo, L. (Luzmila), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Banerjee, A. (Arindam), Bauters, M. (Marijn), Bergeron, Y. (Yves), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Bonari, G. (Gianmaria), Bondareva, V. (Viktoria), Brunet, J. (Jorg), Carni, A. (Andraz), Casella, L. (Laura), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Chepinoga, V. (Victor), Csiky, J. (Janos), Custerevska, R. (Renata), De Bie, E. (Els), de Gasper, A. L. (Andre Luis), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Dimopoulos, P. (Panayotis), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Dziuba, T. (Tetiana), El-Sheikh, M. A. (Mohamed Abd El-Rouf Mousa), Enquist, B. (Brian), Ewald, J. (Joerg), Fazayeli, F. (Farideh), Field, R. (Richard), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Gachet, S. (Sophie), Galan-de-Mera, A. (Antonio), Garbolino, E. (Emmanuel), Gholizadeh, H. (Hamid), Giorgis, M. (Melisa), Golub, V. (Valentin), Alsos, I. G. (Inger Greve), Grytnes, J.-A. (John-Arvid), Guerin, G. R. (Gregory Richard), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Hatim, M. Z. (Mohamed Z.), Herault, B. (Bruno), Hinojos Mendoza, G. (Guillermo), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Hubau, W. (Wannes), Indreica, A. (Adrian), Janssen, J. A. (John A. M.), Jedrzejek, B. (Birgit), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kapfer, J. (Jutta), Karger, D. N. (Dirk Nikolaus), Kavgaci, A. (Ali), Kearsley, E. (Elizabeth), Kessler, M. (Michael), Khanina, L. (Larisa), Killeen, T. (Timothy), Korolyuk, A. (Andrey), Kreft, H. (Holger), Kuehl, H. S. (Hjalmar S.), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Landucci, F. (Flavia), Lengyel, A. (Attila), Lens, F. (Frederic), Lingner, D. V. (Debora Vanessa), Liu, H. (Hongyan), Lysenko, T. (Tatiana), Mahecha, M. D. (Miguel D.), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Martynenko, V. (Vasiliy), Moeslund, J. E. (Jesper Erenskjold), Monteagudo Mendoza, A. (Abel), Mucina, L. (Ladislav), Muller, J. V. (Jonas V.), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Naqinezhad, A. (Alireza), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onyshchenko, V. (Viktor), Overbeck, G. E. (Gerhard E.), Partel, M. (Meelis), Pauchard, A. (Anibal), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peterka, T. (Tomas), Petrik, P. (Petr), Peyre, G. (Gwendolyn), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Prokhorov, V. (Vadim), Rasomavicius, V. (Valerijus), Revermann, R. (Rasmus), Rivas-Torres, G. (Gonzalo), Rodwell, J. S. (John S.), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Samimi, C. (Cyrus), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Shan, H. (Hanhuai), Shirokikh, P. (Pavel), Sibik, J. (Jozef), Silc, U. (Urban), Sklenar, P. (Petr), Skvorc, Z. (Zeljko), Sparrow, B. (Ben), Sperandii, M. G. (Marta Gaia), Stancic, Z. (Zvjezdana), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Tang, C. Q. (Cindy Q.), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Vanselow, K. A. (Kim Andre), Vasquez Martinez, R. (Rodolfo), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Velez-Martin, E. (Eduardo), Venanzoni, R. (Roberto), Vibrans, A. C. (Alexander Christian), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), von Wehrden, H. (Henrik), Wagner, V. (Viktoria), Walker, D. A. (Donald A.), Waller, D. M. (Donald M.), Wang, H.-F. (Hua-Feng), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Whitfeld, T. J. (Timothy J. S.), Willner, W. (Wolfgang), Wiser, S. K. (Susan K.), Wohlgemuth, T. (Thomas), Yamalov, S. (Sergey), Zobel, M. (Martin), Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Hattab, T. (Tarek), Arnst, E. A. (Elise Aimee), Chytry, M. (Milan), Dengler, J. (Juergen), De Ruffray, P. (Patrice), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Jandt, U. (Ute), Jansen, F. (Florian), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Kattge, J. (Jens), Levesley, A. (Aurora), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Sandel, B. (Brody), Sultana, F. (Fahmida), Aavik, T. (Tsipe), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Acosta, A. T. (Alicia T. R.), Agrillo, E. (Emiliano), Alvarez, M. (Miguel), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Arfin Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S.), Arroyo, L. (Luzmila), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Banerjee, A. (Arindam), Bauters, M. (Marijn), Bergeron, Y. (Yves), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Bonari, G. (Gianmaria), Bondareva, V. (Viktoria), Brunet, J. (Jorg), Carni, A. (Andraz), Casella, L. (Laura), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Chepinoga, V. (Victor), Csiky, J. (Janos), Custerevska, R. (Renata), De Bie, E. (Els), de Gasper, A. L. (Andre Luis), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Dimopoulos, P. (Panayotis), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Dziuba, T. (Tetiana), El-Sheikh, M. A. (Mohamed Abd El-Rouf Mousa), Enquist, B. (Brian), Ewald, J. (Joerg), Fazayeli, F. (Farideh), Field, R. (Richard), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Gachet, S. (Sophie), Galan-de-Mera, A. (Antonio), Garbolino, E. (Emmanuel), Gholizadeh, H. (Hamid), Giorgis, M. (Melisa), Golub, V. (Valentin), Alsos, I. G. (Inger Greve), Grytnes, J.-A. (John-Arvid), Guerin, G. R. (Gregory Richard), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Hatim, M. Z. (Mohamed Z.), Herault, B. (Bruno), Hinojos Mendoza, G. (Guillermo), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Hubau, W. (Wannes), Indreica, A. (Adrian), Janssen, J. A. (John A. M.), Jedrzejek, B. (Birgit), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kapfer, J. (Jutta), Karger, D. N. (Dirk Nikolaus), Kavgaci, A. (Ali), Kearsley, E. (Elizabeth), Kessler, M. (Michael), Khanina, L. (Larisa), Killeen, T. (Timothy), Korolyuk, A. (Andrey), Kreft, H. (Holger), Kuehl, H. S. (Hjalmar S.), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Landucci, F. (Flavia), Lengyel, A. (Attila), Lens, F. (Frederic), Lingner, D. V. (Debora Vanessa), Liu, H. (Hongyan), Lysenko, T. (Tatiana), Mahecha, M. D. (Miguel D.), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Martynenko, V. (Vasiliy), Moeslund, J. E. (Jesper Erenskjold), Monteagudo Mendoza, A. (Abel), Mucina, L. (Ladislav), Muller, J. V. (Jonas V.), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Naqinezhad, A. (Alireza), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onyshchenko, V. (Viktor), Overbeck, G. E. (Gerhard E.), Partel, M. (Meelis), Pauchard, A. (Anibal), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peterka, T. (Tomas), Petrik, P. (Petr), Peyre, G. (Gwendolyn), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Prokhorov, V. (Vadim), Rasomavicius, V. (Valerijus), Revermann, R. (Rasmus), Rivas-Torres, G. (Gonzalo), Rodwell, J. S. (John S.), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Samimi, C. (Cyrus), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Shan, H. (Hanhuai), Shirokikh, P. (Pavel), Sibik, J. (Jozef), Silc, U. (Urban), Sklenar, P. (Petr), Skvorc, Z. (Zeljko), Sparrow, B. (Ben), Sperandii, M. G. (Marta Gaia), Stancic, Z. (Zvjezdana), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Tang, C. Q. (Cindy Q.), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Vanselow, K. A. (Kim Andre), Vasquez Martinez, R. (Rodolfo), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Velez-Martin, E. (Eduardo), Venanzoni, R. (Roberto), Vibrans, A. C. (Alexander Christian), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), von Wehrden, H. (Henrik), Wagner, V. (Viktoria), Walker, D. A. (Donald A.), Waller, D. M. (Donald M.), Wang, H.-F. (Hua-Feng), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Whitfeld, T. J. (Timothy J. S.), Willner, W. (Wolfgang), Wiser, S. K. (Susan K.), Wohlgemuth, T. (Thomas), Yamalov, S. (Sergey), Zobel, M. (Martin), and Bruelheide, H. (Helge)

Abstract

Motivation: Assessing biodiversity status and trends in plant communities is critical for understanding, quantifying and predicting the effects of global change on ecosystems. Vegetation plots record the occurrence or abundance of all plant species co-occurring within delimited local areas. This allows species absences to be inferred, information seldom provided by existing global plant datasets. Although many vegetation plots have been recorded, most are not available to the global research community. A recent initiative, called ‘sPlot’, compiled the first global vegetation plot database, and continues to grow and curate it. The sPlot database, however, is extremely unbalanced spatially and environmentally, and is not open-access. Here, we address both these issues by (a) resampling the vegetation plots using several environmental variables as sampling strata and (b) securing permission from data holders of 105 local-to-regional datasets to openly release data. We thus present sPlotOpen, the largest open-access dataset of vegetation plots ever released. sPlotOpen can be used to explore global diversity at the plant community level, as ground truth data in remote sensing applications, or as a baseline for biodiversity monitoring. Main types of variable contained: Vegetation plots (n = 95,104) recording cover or abundance of naturally co-occurring vascular plant species within delimited areas. sPlotOpen contains three partially overlapping resampled datasets (c. 50,000 plots each), to be used as replicates in global analyses. Besides geographical location, date, plot size, biome, elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation type, naturalness, coverage of various vegetation layers, and source dataset, plot-level data also include community-weighted means and variances of 18 plant functional traits from the TRY Plant Trait Database. Spatial location and grain: Global, 0.01–40,000 m². Time period and grain: 1888–2015, recording dates. Major taxa and level of measuremen

Published
2021

28. A checklist for using Beals’ index with incomplete floristic monitoring data. Reply to Christensen et al. (2021): Problems in using Beals’ index to detect species trends in incomplete floristic monitoring data

Author

Bruelheide, H., Jansen, F., Jandt, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bowler, Diana, Dengler, J., Eichenberg, D., Grescho, Volker, Kellner, S., Klenke, Reinhard, Lütt, S., Lüttgert, L., Sabatini, F.M., Wesche, K., Bruelheide, H., Jansen, F., Jandt, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bowler, Diana, Dengler, J., Eichenberg, D., Grescho, Volker, Kellner, S., Klenke, Reinhard, Lütt, S., Lüttgert, L., Sabatini, F.M., and Wesche, K.

Abstract

Christensen et al. criticized the application of Beals’ index of sociological favourability to adjust for incomplete species lists when comparing repeated surveys. Their main argument was that using Beals’ conditional occurrence probabilities would systematically underestimate biodiversity change compared to using observed frequencies. Although this might be the case for rare species, as we explicitly stated in our original publication, we here use a worked-out example to show that this criticism is unjustified for species that are sufficiently represented in the reference data set. In our opinion, the misconception derives from ignoring one of the key requirements for applying Beal's index, which is the use of a sufficiently large reference data set to derive a reliable co-occurrence matrix. We here show how the predicted probability for the occurrence of a species depends on the size of the reference data set and give recommendations on the premises for applying Beals’ approach for monitoring purposes.

Published
2021

31. Using incomplete floristic monitoring data from habitat mapping programmes to detect species trends

Author

Bruelheide, H., Jansen, F., Jandt, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bowler, Diana, Dengler, J., Eichenberg, D., Grescho, Volker, Harter, D., Jugelt, M., Kellner, S., Ludwig, M., Wesche, K., Lütt, S., Bruelheide, H., Jansen, F., Jandt, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bonn, Aletta, Bowler, Diana, Dengler, J., Eichenberg, D., Grescho, Volker, Harter, D., Jugelt, M., Kellner, S., Ludwig, M., Wesche, K., and Lütt, S.

Abstract

Aim The loss of biodiversity has raised serious concerns about the entailing losses of ecosystem services. Here, we explore the potential of repeated habitat mapping data to identify floristic changes over time. Using one German federal state as a case study, we assessed floristic changes between the 1980s and 2010s. These habitat data have great potential for analysis because of their high spatial coverage while also posing methodological challenges such as incomplete observation data. We developed a modelling approach that accounts for incomplete observations and explored the ability to detect temporal trends. Location The Federal State of Schleswig‐Holstein (Germany) Methods We compiled plant species lists from the earliest (1980s) and most recent (2010s) habitat mapping survey and aligned differing habitat definitions across mapping campaigns. A total of 5,503 mapped polygons, each with a list of species records, intersected the two surveys. We accounted for underrecorded species by assigning occurrence probabilities, based on species co‐occurrence information across all surveys, using Beals' index and tested the robustness of this approach by simulation experiments. For those species with significant increases and decreases in occurrence probability, we linked these trends to the species' functional characteristics. Results We found a systematic loss of species that are moderately threatened. Species that indicate low nitrogen supply and high soil moisture declined, suggesting a shift towards a more eutrophic and drier landscape. Importantly, assessing specific plant traits associated with losses, we also detected a decrease in species with reddish and blueish flowers and species providing nectar, pointing to a decrease of insect‐pollinated taxa. Main conclusions The identified changes raise concerns that plant biodiversity has fundamentally changed over the last three decades, with concomitant consequences for ecosystem services, especially pollination. Given

Published
2020

32. Langfristige Biodiversitätsveränderungen in Deutschland erkennen - mit Hilfe der Vergangenheit in die Zukunft schauen. Recognising long-term changes in biodiversity in Germany - Exploring the future with the help of the past

Author

Eichenberg, David, Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bowler, Diana, Bruelheide, H., Conze, K.-J., Dauber, J., Dengler, J., Engels, D., Fartmann, T., Frank, D., Geske, C., Grescho, Volker, Harter, D., Henle, Klaus, Hofmann, Sylvia, Jandt, U., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Kautzner, A., König-Ries, B., Krämer, Roland, Krüß, A., Kühl, H., Ludwig, M., Lueg, H., May, R., Musche, Martin, Opitz, A., Ronnenberg, K., Schacherer, A., Schäffler, L., Schiffers, K., Schulte, U., Schwarz, J., Sperle, T., Stab, S., Stöck, M., Theves, F., Trockur, B., Wesche, K., Wessel, M., Winter, M., Wirth, C., Bonn, Aletta, Eichenberg, David, Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Bowler, Diana, Bruelheide, H., Conze, K.-J., Dauber, J., Dengler, J., Engels, D., Fartmann, T., Frank, D., Geske, C., Grescho, Volker, Harter, D., Henle, Klaus, Hofmann, Sylvia, Jandt, U., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Kautzner, A., König-Ries, B., Krämer, Roland, Krüß, A., Kühl, H., Ludwig, M., Lueg, H., May, R., Musche, Martin, Opitz, A., Ronnenberg, K., Schacherer, A., Schäffler, L., Schiffers, K., Schulte, U., Schwarz, J., Sperle, T., Stab, S., Stöck, M., Theves, F., Trockur, B., Wesche, K., Wessel, M., Winter, M., Wirth, C., and Bonn, Aletta

Abstract

Im vorliegenden Beitrag identifizieren wir Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer Aufarbeitung bisher noch ungenutzter Datenquellen für raum-zeitliche Biodiversitätsanalysen in Deutschland. Im Rahmen des Syntheseprojekts sMon (https://www.idiv.de/smon) des Deutschen Zentrums für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig erprobt eine Arbeitsgemeinschaft aus Bundes- und Landesbehörden gemeinsam mit Fachgesellschaften, Verbänden und wissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen Methoden, wie heterogene Daten der letzten Jahrzehnte für retrospektive Trendanalysen genutzt werden können. Darauf aufbauend schlagen wir gangbare Wege zur Zukunft des deutschen Biodiversitätsmonitorings vor und illustrieren, wie Daten aus der Vergangenheit helfen können, Monitoring künftig zu gestalten. In this article, we identify possibilities and limits of processing as yet unused data sources for spatio-temporal biodiversity trend analyses inGermany. The sMon synthesis project (https://www.idiv.de/smon) of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzigis a joint working group of federal and state authorities cooperating with natural history societies, nature protection organisations and scientific institutions. In this group, we develop and evaluate methods for using heterogeneous data for retrospective trend analyses over the last decades. Building on this, we propose viable approaches for the future of German biodiversity monitoring and illustrate how data from the past can help to shape monitoring in the future.

Published
2020

34. The Kobresia pygmaea ecosystem of the Tibetan highlands – Origin, functioning and degradation of the world’s largest pastoral alpine ecosystem: Kobresia pastures of Tibet

Author

Miehe, G., Schleuss, P.-M., Seeber, E., Babel, W., Biermann, T., Braendle, M., Chen, F., Coners, H., Foken, T., Gerken, T., Graf, H.-F., Guggenberger, G., Hafner, S., Holzapfel, M., Ingrisch, J., Kuzyakov, Y., Lai, Z., Lehnert, L., Leuschner, C., Li, X., Liu, J., Liu, S., Ma, Y., Miehe, S., Mosbrugger, V., Noltie, H. J., Schmidt, J., Spielvogel, S., Unteregelsbacher, Sebastian, Wang, Y., Willinghöfer, S., Xu, X., Yang, Y., Zhang, S., Opgenoorth, L., and Wesche, K.

Subjects
Earth sciences, ddc:550
Abstract

With 450,000 km

Published
2019

35. sPlot:a new tool for global vegetation analyses

Author

Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Dengler, J. (Juergen), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Chytry, M. (Milan), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Jansen, F. (Florian), Kattge, J. (Jens), Sandel, B. (Brody), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Field, R. (Richard), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Jandt, U. (Ute), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Peyre, G. (Gwendolyn), Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Winter, M. (Marten), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Agrillo, E. (Emiliano), Alvarez, M. (Miguel), Ambarli, D. (Didem), Angelini, P. (Pierangela), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S. Arfin), Arnst, E. (Elise), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Baraloto, C. (Christopher), Beckmann, M. (Michael), Berg, C. (Christian), Bergeron, Y. (Yves), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Bondareva, V. (Viktoria), Borchardt, P. (Peter), Botta-Dukat, Z. (Zoltan), Boyle, B. (Brad), Breen, A. (Amy), Brisse, H. (Henry), Byun, C. (Chaeho), Cabido, M. R. (Marcelo R.), Casella, L. (Laura), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Chepinoga, V. (Victor), Csiky, J. (Janos), Curran, M. (Michael), Custerevska, R. (Renata), Stevanovic, Z. D. (Zora Dajic), De Bie, E. (Els), de Ruffray, P. (Patrice), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Dimopoulos, P. (Panayotis), Dressler, S. (Stefan), Ejrnaes, R. (Rasmus), El-Sheikh, M. A. (Mohamed Abd El-Rouf Mousa), Enquist, B. (Brian), Ewald, J. (Joerg), Fagundez, J. (Jaime), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Font, X. (Xavier), Forey, E. (Estelle), Fotiadis, G. (Georgios), Garcia-Mijangos, I. (Itziar), de Gasper, A. L. (Andre Luis), Golub, V. (Valentin), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Hatim, M. Z. (Mohamed Z.), He, T. (Tianhua), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Holubova, D. (Dana), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Indreica, A. (Adrian), Gursoy, D. I. (Deniz Isik), Jansen, S. (Steven), Janssen, J. (John), Jedrzejek, B. (Birgit), Jirousek, M. (Martin), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kavgaci, A. (Ali), Kearsley, E. (Elizabeth), Kessler, M. (Michael), Knollova, I. (Ilona), Kolomiychuk, V. (Vitaliy), Korolyuk, A. (Andrey), Kozhevnikova, M. (Maria), Kozub, L. (Lukasz), Krstonosic, D. (Daniel), Kuehl, H. (Hjalmar), Kuehn, I. (Ingolf), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Kuzmic, F. (Filip), Landucci, F. (Flavia), Lee, M. T. (Michael T.), Levesley, A. (Aurora), Li, C.-F. (Ching-Feng), Liu, H. (Hongyan), Lopez-Gonzalez, G. (Gabriela), Lysenko, T. (Tatiana), Macanovic, A. (Armin), Mahdavi, P. (Parastoo), Manning, P. (Peter), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Martynenko, V. (Vassiliy), Mencuccini, M. (Maurizio), Minden, V. (Vanessa), Moeslund, J. E. (Jesper Erenskjold), Moretti, M. (Marco), Mueller, J. V. (Jonas V.), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Niinemets, U. (Ulo), Nobis, M. (Marcin), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onyshchenko, V. (Viktor), Overbeck, G. E. (Gerhard E.), Ozinga, W. A. (Wim A.), Pauchard, A. (Anibal), Pedashenko, H. (Hristo), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peterka, T. (Tomas), Petrik, P. (Petr), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Prokhorov, V. (Vadim), Rasomavicius, V. (Valerijus), Revermann, R. (Rasmus), Rodwell, J. (John), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Samimi, C. (Cyrus), Schaminee, J. H. (Joop H. J.), Schmiedel, U. (Ute), Sibik, J. (Jozef), Silc, U. (Urban), Skvorc, Z. (Zeljko), Smyth, A. (Anita), Sop, T. (Tenekwetche), Sopotlieva, D. (Desislava), Sparrow, B. (Ben), Stancic, Z. (Zvjezdana), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Swacha, G. (Grzegorz), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Turtureanu, P. D. (Pavel Dan), Ugurlu, E. (Emin), Uogintas, D. (Domas), Valachovic, M. (Milan), Vanselow, K. A. (Kim Andre), Vashenyak, Y. (Yulia), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Velez-Martin, E. (Eduardo), Venanzoni, R. (Roberto), Vibrans, A. C. (Alexander Christian), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), von Wehrden, H. (Henrik), Wagner, V. (Viktoria), Walker, D. A. (Donald A.), Wana, D. (Desalegn), Weiher, E. (Evan), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Whitfeld, T. (Timothy), Willner, W. (Wolfgang), Wiser, S. (Susan), Wohlgemuth, T. (Thomas), Yamalov, S. (Sergey), Zizka, G. (Georg), Zverev, A. (Andrei), Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Dengler, J. (Juergen), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Chytry, M. (Milan), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Jansen, F. (Florian), Kattge, J. (Jens), Sandel, B. (Brody), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Field, R. (Richard), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Jandt, U. (Ute), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Peyre, G. (Gwendolyn), Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Winter, M. (Marten), Acic, S. (Svetlana), Agrillo, E. (Emiliano), Alvarez, M. (Miguel), Ambarli, D. (Didem), Angelini, P. (Pierangela), Apostolova, I. (Iva), Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S. Arfin), Arnst, E. (Elise), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Baraloto, C. (Christopher), Beckmann, M. (Michael), Berg, C. (Christian), Bergeron, Y. (Yves), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Bondareva, V. (Viktoria), Borchardt, P. (Peter), Botta-Dukat, Z. (Zoltan), Boyle, B. (Brad), Breen, A. (Amy), Brisse, H. (Henry), Byun, C. (Chaeho), Cabido, M. R. (Marcelo R.), Casella, L. (Laura), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Chepinoga, V. (Victor), Csiky, J. (Janos), Curran, M. (Michael), Custerevska, R. (Renata), Stevanovic, Z. D. (Zora Dajic), De Bie, E. (Els), de Ruffray, P. (Patrice), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Dimopoulos, P. (Panayotis), Dressler, S. (Stefan), Ejrnaes, R. (Rasmus), El-Sheikh, M. A. (Mohamed Abd El-Rouf Mousa), Enquist, B. (Brian), Ewald, J. (Joerg), Fagundez, J. (Jaime), Finckh, M. (Manfred), Font, X. (Xavier), Forey, E. (Estelle), Fotiadis, G. (Georgios), Garcia-Mijangos, I. (Itziar), de Gasper, A. L. (Andre Luis), Golub, V. (Valentin), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Hatim, M. Z. (Mohamed Z.), He, T. (Tianhua), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Holubova, D. (Dana), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Indreica, A. (Adrian), Gursoy, D. I. (Deniz Isik), Jansen, S. (Steven), Janssen, J. (John), Jedrzejek, B. (Birgit), Jirousek, M. (Martin), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Kavgaci, A. (Ali), Kearsley, E. (Elizabeth), Kessler, M. (Michael), Knollova, I. (Ilona), Kolomiychuk, V. (Vitaliy), Korolyuk, A. (Andrey), Kozhevnikova, M. (Maria), Kozub, L. (Lukasz), Krstonosic, D. (Daniel), Kuehl, H. (Hjalmar), Kuehn, I. (Ingolf), Kuzemko, A. (Anna), Kuzmic, F. (Filip), Landucci, F. (Flavia), Lee, M. T. (Michael T.), Levesley, A. (Aurora), Li, C.-F. (Ching-Feng), Liu, H. (Hongyan), Lopez-Gonzalez, G. (Gabriela), Lysenko, T. (Tatiana), Macanovic, A. (Armin), Mahdavi, P. (Parastoo), Manning, P. (Peter), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Martynenko, V. (Vassiliy), Mencuccini, M. (Maurizio), Minden, V. (Vanessa), Moeslund, J. E. (Jesper Erenskjold), Moretti, M. (Marco), Mueller, J. V. (Jonas V.), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Niinemets, U. (Ulo), Nobis, M. (Marcin), Noroozi, J. (Jalil), Nowak, A. (Arkadiusz), Onyshchenko, V. (Viktor), Overbeck, G. E. (Gerhard E.), Ozinga, W. A. (Wim A.), Pauchard, A. (Anibal), Pedashenko, H. (Hristo), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Peterka, T. (Tomas), Petrik, P. (Petr), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Prokhorov, V. (Vadim), Rasomavicius, V. (Valerijus), Revermann, R. (Rasmus), Rodwell, J. (John), Ruprecht, E. (Eszter), Rusina, S. (Solvita), Samimi, C. (Cyrus), Schaminee, J. H. (Joop H. J.), Schmiedel, U. (Ute), Sibik, J. (Jozef), Silc, U. (Urban), Skvorc, Z. (Zeljko), Smyth, A. (Anita), Sop, T. (Tenekwetche), Sopotlieva, D. (Desislava), Sparrow, B. (Ben), Stancic, Z. (Zvjezdana), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Swacha, G. (Grzegorz), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Turtureanu, P. D. (Pavel Dan), Ugurlu, E. (Emin), Uogintas, D. (Domas), Valachovic, M. (Milan), Vanselow, K. A. (Kim Andre), Vashenyak, Y. (Yulia), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Velez-Martin, E. (Eduardo), Venanzoni, R. (Roberto), Vibrans, A. C. (Alexander Christian), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), von Wehrden, H. (Henrik), Wagner, V. (Viktoria), Walker, D. A. (Donald A.), Wana, D. (Desalegn), Weiher, E. (Evan), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Whitfeld, T. (Timothy), Willner, W. (Wolfgang), Wiser, S. (Susan), Wohlgemuth, T. (Thomas), Yamalov, S. (Sergey), Zizka, G. (Georg), and Zverev, A. (Andrei)

Abstract

Aims: Vegetation‐plot records provide information on the presence and cover or abundance of plants co‐occurring in the same community. Vegetation‐plot data are spread across research groups, environmental agencies and biodiversity research centers and, thus, are rarely accessible at continental or global scales. Here we present the sPlot database, which collates vegetation plots worldwide to allow for the exploration of global patterns in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity at the plant community level. Results: sPlot version 2.1 contains records from 1,121,244 vegetation plots, which comprise 23,586,216 records of plant species and their relative cover or abundance in plots collected worldwide between 1885 and 2015. We complemented the information for each plot by retrieving climate and soil conditions and the biogeographic context (e.g., biomes) from external sources, and by calculating community‐weighted means and variances of traits using gap‐filled data from the global plant trait database TRY. Moreover, we created a phylogenetic tree for 50,167 out of the 54,519 species identified in the plots. We present the first maps of global patterns of community richness and community‐weighted means of key traits. Conclusions: The availability of vegetation plot data in sPlot offers new avenues for vegetation analysis at the global scale.

Published
2019

36. sPlot – A new tool for global vegetation analyses

Author

Bruelheide, H., Dengler, J., Jiménez Alfaro, Borja, Purschke, Oliver, Hennekens, S.M., Chytrý, M., Pillar, V.D., Jansen, F., Kattge, Jens, Sandel, B., Aubin, I., Beckmann, M., Berg, Christian, Fagúndez, J., Levesley, A., Bergeron, Y., Bergmeier, E., De Bie, E., Nobis, M., Kuzemko, A., Kącki, Z., Marcenò, Corrado, Byun, C., Işık Gürsoy, D., Li, C.-F., Cabido, M.R., Hatim, M.Z., Moeslund, J.E., Casella, L., Cayuela, Luis, Finckh, Manfred, Petřík, P., Martynenko, V., Kozhevnikova, M., Liu, H., Kavgacı, A., Moretti, M., de Ruffray, P., Jansen, S., Pauchard, A., De Sanctis, M., Dimopoulos, P., He, T., Schmiedel, U., Küzmič, F., Müller, J.V., Kozub, Ł., Pedashenko, H., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Kearsley, E., Rodwell, J., Font, X., Forey, E., Janssen, J., Biurrun, Idoia, Peñuelas, Josep, Landucci, F., Ruprecht, E., Munzinger, J., Krstonošić, D., Smyth, A., Higuchi, P., Lysenko, T., Kessler, M., Rūsiņa, S., Mencuccini, Maurizio, Sop, T., Pérez-Haase, A., Lee, M.T., Tsiripidis, I., Jedrzejek, B., Niinemets, Ü., Mahdavi, P., Sopotlieva, D., Turtureanu, P. D., Samimi, C., Minden, V., Vélez-Martin, E., Knollová, I., Peterka, T., Noroozi, J., Uğurlu, E., Venanzoni, R., Sparrow, B., Walker, D.A., Kühl, H., Schaminée, J.H.J., Phillips, Olivier L., Peet, R.K., Wana, D., Uogintas, D., Wiser, S., Manning, Peter, Stančić, Z., Arnst, E., Wohlgemuth, T., Vibrans, A.C., Schmidt, M., Nowak, A., Valachovič, M., Field, R., Onyshchenko, V., Svenning, J.-C., Álvarez, M., Overbeck, G.E., Ozinga, Win A., Šibík, J., Breen, A., Schrodt, F., Weiher, E., Haider, S., Violle, Cyrille, Ambarlı, D., Prokhorov, V., Vanselow, K. A., Bjorkman, Anne D., Rašomavičius, V., Revermann, R., Swacha, G., Dajić-Stevanović, Zora, Yamalov, S., Angelini, Pierangela, Wesche, K., Bondareva, V., Jandt, U., Virtanen, R., Černý, T., Šilc, U., Škvorc, Ž., Vashenyak, Y., Winter, M., Borchardt, P., Zizka, G., Chepinoga, V., Apostolova, I., Whitfeld, T., Dressler, S., Tang, Z., Lenoir, J., von Wehrden, H., Csiky, J., Aćić, Svetlana, Ejrnæs, R., Botta-Dukát, Z., Zverev, A., Fotiadis, Georgios, Vassilev, K., Arfin Khan, Mohammed A. S., Peyre, G., El-Sheikh, M.A.E.-R.M., García-Mijangos, I., Curran, Michael, Agrillo, E., Holubová, D., Wagner, V., Boyle, B., Attorre, Fabio, de Gasper, A.L., Hölzel, N., Enquist, B., Jiroušek, M., Willner, W., Custerevska, Renata, Brisse, H., Homeier, J., Jürgens, N., Golub, V., Kolomiychuk, V., Sabatini, Francesco Maria, Ewald, J., Macanović, A., Korolyuk, A., Indreica, A., Kühn, Ingolf, Baraloto, C., Gutierrez, A.G., Bruelheide, H., Dengler, J., Jiménez Alfaro, Borja, Purschke, Oliver, Hennekens, S.M., Chytrý, M., Pillar, V.D., Jansen, F., Kattge, Jens, Sandel, B., Aubin, I., Beckmann, M., Berg, Christian, Fagúndez, J., Levesley, A., Bergeron, Y., Bergmeier, E., De Bie, E., Nobis, M., Kuzemko, A., Kącki, Z., Marcenò, Corrado, Byun, C., Işık Gürsoy, D., Li, C.-F., Cabido, M.R., Hatim, M.Z., Moeslund, J.E., Casella, L., Cayuela, Luis, Finckh, Manfred, Petřík, P., Martynenko, V., Kozhevnikova, M., Liu, H., Kavgacı, A., Moretti, M., de Ruffray, P., Jansen, S., Pauchard, A., De Sanctis, M., Dimopoulos, P., He, T., Schmiedel, U., Küzmič, F., Müller, J.V., Kozub, Ł., Pedashenko, H., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Kearsley, E., Rodwell, J., Font, X., Forey, E., Janssen, J., Biurrun, Idoia, Peñuelas, Josep, Landucci, F., Ruprecht, E., Munzinger, J., Krstonošić, D., Smyth, A., Higuchi, P., Lysenko, T., Kessler, M., Rūsiņa, S., Mencuccini, Maurizio, Sop, T., Pérez-Haase, A., Lee, M.T., Tsiripidis, I., Jedrzejek, B., Niinemets, Ü., Mahdavi, P., Sopotlieva, D., Turtureanu, P. D., Samimi, C., Minden, V., Vélez-Martin, E., Knollová, I., Peterka, T., Noroozi, J., Uğurlu, E., Venanzoni, R., Sparrow, B., Walker, D.A., Kühl, H., Schaminée, J.H.J., Phillips, Olivier L., Peet, R.K., Wana, D., Uogintas, D., Wiser, S., Manning, Peter, Stančić, Z., Arnst, E., Wohlgemuth, T., Vibrans, A.C., Schmidt, M., Nowak, A., Valachovič, M., Field, R., Onyshchenko, V., Svenning, J.-C., Álvarez, M., Overbeck, G.E., Ozinga, Win A., Šibík, J., Breen, A., Schrodt, F., Weiher, E., Haider, S., Violle, Cyrille, Ambarlı, D., Prokhorov, V., Vanselow, K. A., Bjorkman, Anne D., Rašomavičius, V., Revermann, R., Swacha, G., Dajić-Stevanović, Zora, Yamalov, S., Angelini, Pierangela, Wesche, K., Bondareva, V., Jandt, U., Virtanen, R., Černý, T., Šilc, U., Škvorc, Ž., Vashenyak, Y., Winter, M., Borchardt, P., Zizka, G., Chepinoga, V., Apostolova, I., Whitfeld, T., Dressler, S., Tang, Z., Lenoir, J., von Wehrden, H., Csiky, J., Aćić, Svetlana, Ejrnæs, R., Botta-Dukát, Z., Zverev, A., Fotiadis, Georgios, Vassilev, K., Arfin Khan, Mohammed A. S., Peyre, G., El-Sheikh, M.A.E.-R.M., García-Mijangos, I., Curran, Michael, Agrillo, E., Holubová, D., Wagner, V., Boyle, B., Attorre, Fabio, de Gasper, A.L., Hölzel, N., Enquist, B., Jiroušek, M., Willner, W., Custerevska, Renata, Brisse, H., Homeier, J., Jürgens, N., Golub, V., Kolomiychuk, V., Sabatini, Francesco Maria, Ewald, J., Macanović, A., Korolyuk, A., Indreica, A., Kühn, Ingolf, Baraloto, C., and Gutierrez, A.G.

Abstract

Aims: Vegetation-plot records provide information on the presence and cover or abundance of plants co-occurring in the same community. Vegetation-plot data are spread across research groups, environmental agencies and biodiversity research centers and, thus, are rarely accessible at continental or global scales. Here we present the sPlot database, which collates vegetation plots worldwide to allow for the exploration of global patterns in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity at the plant community level. Results: sPlot version 2.1 contains records from 1,121,244 vegetation plots, which comprise 23,586,216 records of plant species and their relative cover or abundance in plots collected worldwide between 1885 and 2015. We complemented the information for each plot by retrieving climate and soil conditions and the biogeographic context (e.g., biomes) from external sources, and by calculating community-weighted means and variances of traits using gap-filled data from the global plant trait database TRY. Moreover, we created a phylogenetic tree for 50,167 out of the 54,519 species identified in the plots. We present the first maps of global patterns of community richness and community-weighted means of key traits. Conclusions: The availability of vegetation plot data in sPlot offers new avenues for vegetation analysis at the global scale.

Published
2019

37. Global trait:environment relationships of plant communities

Author

Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Dengler, J. (Juergen), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Botta-Dukat, Z. (Zoltan), Chytry, M. (Milan), Field, R. (Richard), Jansen, F. (Florian), Kattge, J. (Jens), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Mahecha, M. D. (Miguel D.), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Sandel, B. (Brody), van Bodegom, P. (Peter), Altman, J. (Jan), Alvarez-Davila, E. (Esteban), Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S. Arfin), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Baraloto, C. (Christopher), Barroso, J. G. (Jorcely G.), Bauters, M. (Marijn), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Blonder, B. (Benjamin), Carni, A. (Andraz), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Cornelissen, J. H. (J. Hans C.), Craven, D. (Dylan), Dainese, M. (Matteo), Derroire, G. (Geraldine), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Diaz, S. (Sandra), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Farfan-Rios, W. (William), Feldpausch, T. R. (Ted R.), Fenton, N. J. (Nicole J.), Garnier, E. (Eric), Guerin, G. R. (Greg R.), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Hattab, T. (Tarek), Henry, G. (Greg), Herault, B. (Bruno), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Karger, D. N. (Dirk N.), Kessler, M. (Michael), Kleyer, M. (Michael), Knollova, I. (Ilona), Korolyuk, A. Y. (Andrey Y.), Kuehn, I. (Ingolf), Laughlin, D. C. (Daniel C.), Lens, F. (Frederic), Loos, J. (Jacqueline), Louault, F. (Frederique), Lyubenova, M. I. (Mariyana, I), Malhi, Y. (Yadvinder), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Mencuccini, M. (Maurizio), Mueller, J. V. (Jonas, V), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Myers-Smith, I. H. (Isla H.), Neill, D. A. (David A.), Niinemets, U. (Ulo), Orwin, K. H. (Kate H.), Ozinga, W. A. (Wim A.), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Petrik, P. (Petr), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Partel, M. (Meelis), Reich, P. B. (Peter B.), Roemermann, C. (Christine), Rodrigues, A. V. (Arthur, V), Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Sardans, J. (Jordi), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Seidler, G. (Gunnar), Silva Espejo, J. E. (Javier Eduardo), Silveira, M. (Marcos), Smyth, A. (Anita), Sporbert, M. (Maria), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Thomas, R. (Raquel), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), Weiher, E. (Evan), Welk, E. (Erik), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Winter, M. (Marten), Wirth, C. (Christian), Jandt, U. (Ute), Bruelheide, H. (Helge), Dengler, J. (Juergen), Purschke, O. (Oliver), Lenoir, J. (Jonathan), Jimenez-Alfaro, B. (Borja), Hennekens, S. M. (Stephan M.), Botta-Dukat, Z. (Zoltan), Chytry, M. (Milan), Field, R. (Richard), Jansen, F. (Florian), Kattge, J. (Jens), Pillar, V. D. (Valerio D.), Schrodt, F. (Franziska), Mahecha, M. D. (Miguel D.), Peet, R. K. (Robert K.), Sandel, B. (Brody), van Bodegom, P. (Peter), Altman, J. (Jan), Alvarez-Davila, E. (Esteban), Khan, M. A. (Mohammed A. S. Arfin), Attorre, F. (Fabio), Aubin, I. (Isabelle), Baraloto, C. (Christopher), Barroso, J. G. (Jorcely G.), Bauters, M. (Marijn), Bergmeier, E. (Erwin), Biurrun, I. (Idoia), Bjorkman, A. D. (Anne D.), Blonder, B. (Benjamin), Carni, A. (Andraz), Cayuela, L. (Luis), Cerny, T. (Tomas), Cornelissen, J. H. (J. Hans C.), Craven, D. (Dylan), Dainese, M. (Matteo), Derroire, G. (Geraldine), De Sanctis, M. (Michele), Diaz, S. (Sandra), Dolezal, J. (Jiri), Farfan-Rios, W. (William), Feldpausch, T. R. (Ted R.), Fenton, N. J. (Nicole J.), Garnier, E. (Eric), Guerin, G. R. (Greg R.), Gutierrez, A. G. (Alvaro G.), Haider, S. (Sylvia), Hattab, T. (Tarek), Henry, G. (Greg), Herault, B. (Bruno), Higuchi, P. (Pedro), Hoelzel, N. (Norbert), Homeier, J. (Juergen), Jentsch, A. (Anke), Juergens, N. (Norbert), Kacki, Z. (Zygmunt), Karger, D. N. (Dirk N.), Kessler, M. (Michael), Kleyer, M. (Michael), Knollova, I. (Ilona), Korolyuk, A. Y. (Andrey Y.), Kuehn, I. (Ingolf), Laughlin, D. C. (Daniel C.), Lens, F. (Frederic), Loos, J. (Jacqueline), Louault, F. (Frederique), Lyubenova, M. I. (Mariyana, I), Malhi, Y. (Yadvinder), Marceno, C. (Corrado), Mencuccini, M. (Maurizio), Mueller, J. V. (Jonas, V), Munzinger, J. (Jerome), Myers-Smith, I. H. (Isla H.), Neill, D. A. (David A.), Niinemets, U. (Ulo), Orwin, K. H. (Kate H.), Ozinga, W. A. (Wim A.), Penuelas, J. (Josep), Perez-Haase, A. (Aaron), Petrik, P. (Petr), Phillips, O. L. (Oliver L.), Partel, M. (Meelis), Reich, P. B. (Peter B.), Roemermann, C. (Christine), Rodrigues, A. V. (Arthur, V), Sabatini, F. M. (Francesco Maria), Sardans, J. (Jordi), Schmidt, M. (Marco), Seidler, G. (Gunnar), Silva Espejo, J. E. (Javier Eduardo), Silveira, M. (Marcos), Smyth, A. (Anita), Sporbert, M. (Maria), Svenning, J.-C. (Jens-Christian), Tang, Z. (Zhiyao), Thomas, R. (Raquel), Tsiripidis, I. (Ioannis), Vassilev, K. (Kiril), Violle, C. (Cyrille), Virtanen, R. (Risto), Weiher, E. (Evan), Welk, E. (Erik), Wesche, K. (Karsten), Winter, M. (Marten), Wirth, C. (Christian), and Jandt, U. (Ute)

Abstract

Plant functional traits directly affect ecosystem functions. At the species level, trait combinations depend on trade-offs representing different ecological strategies, but at the community level trait combinations are expected to be decoupled from these trade-offs because different strategies can facilitate co-existence within communities. A key question is to what extent community-level trait composition is globally filtered and how well it is related to global versus local environmental drivers. Here, we perform a global, plot-level analysis of trait–environment relationships, using a database with more than 1.1 million vegetation plots and 26,632 plant species with trait information. Although we found a strong filtering of 17 functional traits, similar climate and soil conditions support communities differing greatly in mean trait values. The two main community trait axes that capture half of the global trait variation (plant stature and resource acquisitiveness) reflect the trade-offs at the species level but are weakly associated with climate and soil conditions at the global scale. Similarly, within-plot trait variation does not vary systematically with macro-environment. Our results indicate that, at fine spatial grain, macro-environmental drivers are much less important for functional trait composition than has been assumed from floristic analyses restricted to co-occurrence in large grid cells. Instead, trait combinations seem to be predominantly filtered by local-scale factors such as disturbance, fine-scale soil conditions, niche partitioning and biotic interactions.

Published
2018

39. Climate variability rather than overstocking causes recent large scale cover changes of Tibetan pastures

Author

Lehnert, L. W., Wesche, K., Trachte, K., Reudenbach, C., and Bendix, J.

Subjects
sense organs, Article
Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a globally important "water tower" that provides water for nearly 40% of the world's population. This supply function is claimed to be threatened by pasture degradation on the TP and the associated loss of water regulation functions. However, neither potential large scale degradation changes nor their drivers are known. Here, we analyse trends in a high-resolution dataset of grassland cover to determine the interactions among vegetation dynamics, climate change and human impacts on the TP. The results reveal that vegetation changes have regionally different triggers: While the vegetation cover has increased since the year 2000 in the north-eastern part of the TP due to an increase in precipitation, it has declined in the central and western parts of the TP due to rising air temperature and declining precipitation. Increasing livestock numbers as a result of land use changes exacerbated the negative trends but were not their exclusive driver. Thus, we conclude that climate variability instead of overgrazing has been the primary cause for large scale vegetation cover changes on the TP since the new millennium. Since areas of positive and negative changes are almost equal in extent, pasture degradation is not generally proceeding.

Published
2016
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40. Baustoffe

Author

Pilny, F., Wesche, K., Kottas, H., Flatten, H., Boes, A., Holzapfel, F., Sasse, H. R., Jäniche, W., Krämer, W., Manns, W., Wissenschaftlichen Ausschuß des Akademischen Vereins Hütte e.V., Jung, F. R., editor, Drees, G., editor, Bernet, O., editor, and Pilny, F., editor

Published
1974
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41. Plant communities of the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia

Author

von Wehrden, Henrik, Wesche, K., and Tungalag, Radnaakhand

Subjects
phytosociology, conservation, habitat, Mongolia, Gobi, plant communities, Dzungaria, Ecosystems Research, lcsh:Biology (General), Dzungaraia, Biology, lcsh:QH301-705.5
Abstract

This paper presents the fi rst syntaxonomical overview of plant communities of the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area. Within Mongolia this region represents the south-westernmost protected area and preserves several species listed in the IUCN Red List. Therefore the region is of high importance to the country and moreover for the whole Central Asian eco-zone. Knowledge of the main habitat types is a precondition for nature conservation. Based on 211 vegetation samples collected during the summer of 2003 we derived 16 vegetation units. There are two mountainous communities; eight zonal semi-desert units, and the extra-zonal vegetation is assigned to six communities. The described vegetation units are compared with available descriptions from other Gobi regions.

Published
2006
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42. KULUNDA: How to prevent the next global dust bowl? Ecological and economic strategies for sustainable land management in the Russian steppes - A potential solution to climate change

Author

Liniger, H.P., Mekdaschi Studer, R., Moll, P., Zander, U., Bavorova, M., Bischoff, N., Bondarovich, A.A., Frühauf, M., Galcova, T., Grunwald, L.-C., Guggenberger, G., Hensen, I., Herzfeld, T., Hiller, K., Illiger, P., Imamverdiyev, N., Jelinek, L., Kasarjyan, M., Liebelt, P., Meinel, T., Meissner, Ralph, Müller, C., Rosche, C., Schmidt, G., Shibistova, O., Silyanteva, M., Stephan, E., Wesche, K., Wust, A., Liniger, H.P., Mekdaschi Studer, R., Moll, P., Zander, U., Bavorova, M., Bischoff, N., Bondarovich, A.A., Frühauf, M., Galcova, T., Grunwald, L.-C., Guggenberger, G., Hensen, I., Herzfeld, T., Hiller, K., Illiger, P., Imamverdiyev, N., Jelinek, L., Kasarjyan, M., Liebelt, P., Meinel, T., Meissner, Ralph, Müller, C., Rosche, C., Schmidt, G., Shibistova, O., Silyanteva, M., Stephan, E., Wesche, K., and Wust, A.

Published
2017

43. Delineating probabilistic species pools in ecology and biogeography

Author

Karger, D.N., Cord, Anna, Kessler, M., Kreft, H., Kühn, Ingolf, Pompe, Sven, Sandel, B., Cabral, J.S., Smith, A.B., Svenning, J.-C., Tuomisto, H., Weigelt, P., Wesche, K., Karger, D.N., Cord, Anna, Kessler, M., Kreft, H., Kühn, Ingolf, Pompe, Sven, Sandel, B., Cabral, J.S., Smith, A.B., Svenning, J.-C., Tuomisto, H., Weigelt, P., and Wesche, K.

Abstract

AimTo provide a mechanistic and probabilistic framework for defining the species pool based on species-specific probabilities of dispersal, environmental suitability and biotic interactions within a specific temporal extent, and to show how probabilistic species pools can help disentangle the geographical structure of different community assembly processes.InnovationProbabilistic species pools provide an improved species pool definition based on probabilities in conjunction with the associated species list, which explicitly recognize the indeterminate nature of species pool membership for a given focal unit of interest and better capture real-world complexity. Probabilistic species pools provide a quantitative assessment of how dispersal, environmental or biotic factors influence estimates of species pool composition and size for a given temporal extent.ConclusionsBased on one simulated and two empirical examples we demonstrate that probabilistic species pools allow us to disentangle the geographical variation in dispersal, environmental and biotic assembly processes for species assemblages in focal units. We also show that probabilistic species pools are fully compatible with traditional definitions of species pools and are applicable over a wide range of spatial and temporal extents. Additionally they are robust to missing data and provide a quantified and transparent approach to estimating the size and composition of species pools in a mechanistic way, providing a valuable tool for studies from community ecology to macroecology.

Published
2016

48. Historic and recent fragmentation coupled with altitude affect the genetic population structure of one of the world's highest tropical tree line species

Author

Hensen, I, Cierjacks, A, Hirsch, H, Kessler, M, Romoleroux, K, Renison, D, Wesche, K, University of Zurich, and Hensen, I

Subjects
GENETIC STRUCTURE, AFLPs, Otras Ciencias Biológicas, CENTRAL ANDES, 2306 Global and Planetary Change, 580 Plants (Botany), HIGH-MOUNTAIN FORESTS, LIFE STAGES, POLYLEPIS INCANA, Ciencias Biológicas, 10121 Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, ECUADOR, ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT, 2303 Ecology, CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS
Abstract

Aim. To assess the effects of altitude and historic and recent forest fragmentation on the genetic diversity and structure of the wind-pollinated tropical tree line species Polylepis incana. Location. One of the highest mountain forest regions of the world, located in the Eastern Cordillera of the Ecuadorian Andes. Methods. We compared genetic diversity and structure of adult trees with those of seedlings (n = 118 in both cases) in nine forest stands spanning an altitudinal gradient from 3500 to 4100 m a.s.l. using amplified fragment length polymorphisms(AFLPs). Genetic diversity was calculated as percentage of polymorphic bands (P) and Nei?s expected heterozygosity (He); genetic differentiation was assessed using analysis of molecular variance, FST statistics and Bayesian cluster analysis. Results. Estimates of genetic diversity at the population level were significantly lower in seedlings than in adults. Genetic diversity (He-value) was, in both cases, negatively correlated to altitude and positively correlated to population size in the seedlings. Genetic differentiation of the seedlings was approximately as high (fST = 0.298) as that of the adults (fST = 0.307), and geographical differentiation was clearly reflected in both AFLP profiles, with mountain ridges acting as barriers to gene flow. Main conclusions Our study provides evidence of a historic upslope migration of P. incana in central Ecuador. In addition, it highlights the detrimental effects of unexpectedly strong genetic isolation, both recent and historical, particularly for our wind-pollinated species where the distance between forest stands was less than 25 km. We therefore additionally propose that in habitats with pronounced highmountain landscape structures, gene flow may be hampered to such an extent that species have a more pronounced sensitivity to habitat fragmentation, even among populations of wind-pollinated trees. Fil: Hensen, Isabell. Martin Luther University of Halle‐Wittenberg; Alemania Fil: Cierjacks, Arne. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania Fil: Hirsch, Heidi. Martin Luther University of Halle‐Wittenberg; Alemania Fil: Kessler, Michael. Universitat Zurich; Suiza Fil: Romoleroux, Katya. Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador; Ecuador Fil: Renison, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina Fil: Wesche, Karsten. Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz; Alemania

Published
2012
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49. Surveying Southern Mongolia:Application of multivariate classification methods in drylands with low diversity and long floristic gradients

Author

Wesche, K. and Von Wehrden, H.

Subjects
Cluster analysis, Vegetation, Ecosystems Research, Steppes, Validation, Temperate deserts, Multivariate statistics
Abstract

Question: How do standard multivariate classification algorithms perform for Mongolian dryland vegetation characterized by low diversity and very long floristic gradients? Location: Southern Mongolian Gobi. Methods: We compared several widely used classification methods based on 1231 relevés obtained with a similar sampling method. We applied agglomerative cluster algorithms (flexible beta/FLEX, average linkage/UPGMA, weighted linkage/WPGMA, complete linkage, Ward's clustering) and a divisive classification technique (TWINSPAN); data were reduced to presence/absence. We compared results against a published phytosociological classification (PHYTO), against environmental background data, and with respect to the presence of significant indicator species. Results: Complete linkage was inferior to other methods. TWINSPAN, UPGMA, flexible beta and WPGMA gave partly similar clusters, with FLEX and WARD showing the highest pair-wise similarity. Classifications of all methods except CL partly agreed with PHYTO classification. Clusters of all methods had significant indicator species, but Ward's method had the highest number of indicator species, followed by the PHYTO classification and FLEX, TWINSPAN, UPGMA and WPGMA. The latter four methods all yielded clusters that differed in terms of precipitation, but TWINSPAN, FLEX and Ward's method performed best under this criterion. PHYTO and CL ranked last in partitioning the precipitation gradient. Comparisons with ordinations indicated that classification algorithms capture the main floristic gradient but were less successful than the phytosociological approach to elucidate the finer structures. Conclusion: Performance of classification methods differed depending on the applied validation approach and we thus caution against uncritically adopting a single evaluation/validation criterion. Most numerical approaches can aid sorting of large data sets, while details of manual syntaxonomic classifications are not easily reproduced. Choice of the most appropriate classification and validation method thus clearly depends on the overall aim of a given study. Question: How do standard multivariate classification algorithms perform for Mongolian dryland vegetation characterized by low diversity and very long floristic gradients? Location: Southern Mongolian Gobi. Methods: We compared several widely used classification methods based on 1231 relevés obtained with a similar sampling method. We applied agglomerative cluster algorithms (flexible beta/FLEX, average linkage/UPGMA, weighted linkage/WPGMA, complete linkage, Ward's clustering) and a divisive classification technique (TWINSPAN); data were reduced to presence/absence. We compared results against a published phytosociological classification (PHYTO), against environmental background data, and with respect to the presence of significant indicator species. Results: Complete linkage was inferior to other methods. TWINSPAN, UPGMA, flexible beta and WPGMA gave partly similar clusters, with FLEX and WARD showing the highest pair-wise similarity. Classifications of all methods except CL partly agreed with PHYTO classification. Clusters of all methods had significant indicator species, but Ward's method had the highest number of indicator species, followed by the PHYTO classification and FLEX, TWINSPAN, UPGMA and WPGMA. The latter four methods all yielded clusters that differed in terms of precipitation, but TWINSPAN, FLEX and Ward's method performed best under this criterion. PHYTO and CL ranked last in partitioning the precipitation gradient. Comparisons with ordinations indicated that classification algorithms capture the main floristic gradient but were less successful than the phytosociological approach to elucidate the finer structures. Conclusion: Performance of classification methods differed depending on the applied validation approach and we thus caution against uncritically adopting a single evaluation/validation criterion. Most numerical approaches can aid sorting of large data sets, while details of manual syntaxonomic classifications are not easily reproduced. Choice of the most appropriate classification and validation method thus clearly depends on the overall aim of a given study.

Published
2011
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