Ecological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVE) 1.0

Vegetation Classification and Survey, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4, P. 7 - 29

Published: Jan. 13, 2023

Aims : To develop a consistent ecological indicator value system for Europe five of the main plant niche dimensions: soil moisture (M), nitrogen (N), reaction (R), light (L) and temperature (T). Study area (and closely adjacent regions). Methods We identified 31 systems vascular plants in that contained assessments on at least one aforementioned dimensions. rescaled values each dimension to continuous scale, which 0 represents minimum 10 maximum present Europe. Taxon names were harmonised Euro+Med Plantbase. For dimensions, we calculated European position width by combining from individual EIV systems. Using T as an example, externally validated our against median bioclimatic conditions global occurrence data taxa. Results In total, derived 14,835 taxa (14,714 M, 13,748 N, 14,254 R, 14,054 L, 14,496 T). Relating obtained species yielded higher correlation than any original ( r = 0.859). The database newly developed Ecological Indicator Values (EIVE) 1.0, together with all source systems, is available flexible, open access database. Conclusions EIVE most comprehensive date. uniform interval scales provide new possibilities macroecological analyses vegetation patterns. workflow documentation will facilitate future release updated expanded versions EIVE, may example include addition further taxonomic groups, additional external validation or regionalisation. Abbreviations value; Europe; EVA Vegetation Archive; GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility; i index taxa; j systems; L light; M moisture; N availability; R reaction; temperature.

Language: Английский

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Diversity and distribution of Raunkiær's life forms in European vegetation

Journal of Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 35(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Aims The Raunkiær's system classifies vascular plants into life forms based on the position of renewal buds during periods unfavourable for plant growth. Despite importance ecological research, a study exploring diversity and distribution continental scale is missing. We aim to (i) map in European vegetation (ii) test effects bioclimatic variables while controlling habitat‐specific responses. Location Europe. Methods used data 8883 species recorded 546,501 plots different habitats (forest, grassland, scrub wetland). For each plot, we calculated: proportion form richness evenness forms. mapped these plot‐level metrics averaged across 50 km × grid cells modelled their response variables. Results Hemicryptophytes were most widespread form, especially temperate zone Central Conversely, therophyte chamaephyte more common Mediterranean as well dry regions. Moreover, chamaephytes also boreal arctic zones. Higher proportions phanerophytes found Mediterranean. Overall, higher was at lower latitudes showed spatially heterogeneous patterns. Habitat type main discriminator responses analysed, but several moisture‐related predictors still marked effect therophytes chamaephytes. Conclusions Our maps can be tool future biogeographic macro‐ecological research scale. conditions are key regulating forms, with concomitant consequences functional global environmental changes.

Language: Английский

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A generalized framework for drought monitoring across Central European grassland gradients with Sentinel-2 time series

Remote Sensing of Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 286, P. 113449 - 113449

Published: Jan. 9, 2023

Fractional cover time series of photosynthetic vegetation (PV), non-photosynthetic (NPV), and soil from remote sensing provide essential detail to understand how grasslands are affected by recent future drought periods in the 21st century. In this regard, Sentinel-2A/B offer frequent large-area observations, which have not yet been fully exploited for a spatially continuous monitoring highly dynamic Central European grasslands. study, we developed generalized framework linking Sentinel-2 data, field survey information, spectral unmixing. We first implemented consistent repeatable strategy obtain grassland library supported Europe-wide Land Use/Cover Area frame statistical Survey (LUCAS) multitemporal data. Our captured variability PV, NPV, 12 areas distributed along typical environmental land use gradients Europe. trained regression-based unmixing model with synthetic data generated compared fractional estimates reference dataset. were estimated good accuracy, achieving MAEs 6.54%, 13.7%, 12.2%, respectively. Local models on area-specific subsets overall outperformed highlighting value comprehensive Based 2017 2021, calculated grassland-specific Normalized Difference Fraction Index (NDFI) capturing proportions NPV relative PV. Comparison annual growing season metrics derived NDFI meteorological statistics Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration (SPEI) as well Soil Moisture (SMI) revealed widespread impacts during persistent period Europe 2018 2020. While closely followed conditions, regionally varying underline that local regional hydrological conditions shaped response study emphasizes combining enable across series.

Language: Английский

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Photovoltaic power stations: an opportunity to promote European semi-natural grasslands?

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: June 22, 2023

European semi-natural grasslands are particularly species-rich and provide many ecosystem services but depend on extensive land management. Today, these ecosystems highly threatened by abandonment, use intensification habitat destruction. The increasing construction of solar parks may contribute to destruction also an opportunity restore or even create grasslands. We studied ten along a climate gradient in Southern France evaluate the establishment managed grazing. compared plots outside under panels terms plant community composition, soil biodiversity functioning test whether hamper this establishment. different microclimate strongly affected species composition reduced abundance mesofauna biomass fungi gram-negative bacteria. Outside panels, vegetation was shaped climatic gradient, particular variations temperature precipitation whereas were smaller indicating homogenizing effect composition. found more trophic interactions between suggesting protection rows food web. However, showed lowest number demonstrating that strong shading had negative plant-soil Solar therefore reduce disrupt functions. In order improve ecological integration parks, it is thus necessary mitigate effects increase space panels.

Language: Английский

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Prediction of coastal barren plant species richness and functional diversity by environmental variability across scales

Journal of Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 36(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Questions The relationships between environmental heterogeneity and plant diversity may be negative or neutral at fine spatial scales but positive across broader areas. How do the variability mean conditions, species richness functional change scales? Location Coastal barrens landscape in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada. Methods We sampled composition variables nested areas three scales: 0.25 m 2 , 1 50 . At each scale, subsamples of (including elevation, soil moisture depth) were used to calculate average standard deviation; was also determined for sample. Plant traits level dispersion five (specific leaf area, dry matter content, thickness, height canopy width) a combined index total dispersion. Functional predicted scale by using linear mixed models. Results Environmental had low predictive power 0.25‐m unimodally related functional‐diversity 1‐m scale. shape unimodal suggested leveling off higher levels rather than decline (monotonic asymptotic). There strong relationship elevation (topographic) 50‐m most strongly Conclusions Positive non‐linear asymptotic heterogeneity, provide some support niche‐based explanations coexistence neighborhoods. sampling extents, greater topographic allow distinct communities co‐occur within sample, increasing not because are already high community.

Language: Английский

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Unveiling Rainfall's Role in Shaping Woody Plant Functional Traits and Diversity in Northern Namibia

African Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 63(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Changes in precipitation patterns affect tree populations by altering their functional traits, yet diversity is often underestimated ecological studies. This study analysed changes plant species and traits along an increasing rainfall gradient, using systematic sampling at 13 points a 1200‐km transect. Plant fluctuated with no apparent significant effect that could be attributed to was significantly highest sites high rainfall. While there statistical difference the Simpson Diversity Index among sites, beta all sites. Functional varied richness affected annual average The underscores importance of both ecosystems suggests future research should include more sufficient data collection further elucidate complex interactions between populations, patterns.

Language: Английский

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Ellenberg Indicator Values Disclose Complex Environmental Filtering Processes in Plant Communities along an Elevational Gradient

Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 161 - 161

Published: Jan. 19, 2023

Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) express plant preferences for temperature, light, continentality, soil moisture, pH, and nutrients, have been largely used to deduce environmental characteristics from communities. However, EIVs might also be investigate the importance of filtering mechanisms in shaping communities according species ecological preferences, a so far overlooked use EIVs. In this paper, we investigated how community-weighted means (CWM), calculated with EIVs, varied along an elevational gradient small mountain Central Italy. We tested if abundances their preferences. found that prevalence thermophilous declines elevation, being progressively replaced by cold-adapted species. Heliophilous prevail at low high elevations (characterized presence open habitats), whereas middle (occupied beech forest), sciophilous predominate. Variations moisture nutrient followed similar pattern, probably because levels forest soils lot humus. No distinct pattern was detected pH continentality since these factors are subject more local variations. These results highlight possible role gradients shape

Language: Английский

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Response of soil carbon and plant diversity to grazing and precipitation in High Nature Value farmlands

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 555, P. 121734 - 121734

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

Mediterranean oak-dominated agro-silvo-pastoral systems of southwestern Europe (called montado in Portugal and dehesa Spain) are semi-natural, savannah-style High Nature Value farmlands (HNVfs) shaped by centuries anthropogenic (e.g., cultivation, grazing) natural drought) disturbances. Therefore, changes grazing precipitation may alter their vegetation composition ecosystem properties impact upon long-term viability. We quantified the responses soil organic carbon (SOC) plant taxonomic functional trait diversities to cattle inter-annual across three open-woodland sites within landscape Alentejo, southern Portugal. The characterised presence or absence different amounts mean annual (ranging from semiarid dry subhumid). Three periods were used: a shorter autumn-to-spring period longer 12- 18-month before sampling. Specific leaf area, height seed mass used estimate single-trait community weighted means multi-trait measure diversity (Rao's Q). SOC species richness responded negatively but positively increase (and its interaction with grazing), while trait-based measures largely unresponsive (though RLQ analysis revealed strong controls environmental variables on life cycle, growth form, phenology dispersal strategies). was most responsive longer-term (18-month) precipitation, whereas shorter-term (autumn-to-spring) precipitation. These results suggest that components respond differently external drivers HNVfs, response time be than diversity.

Language: Английский

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Exploring Plant Functional Diversity and Redundancy of Mediterranean High-Mountain Habitats in the Apennines

Diversity, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(10), P. 466 - 466

Published: Sept. 26, 2021

We analyzed plant functional diversity (FD) and redundancy (FR) in Mediterranean high-mountain communities to explore patterns assembly rules. focused on three above-ground traits: height (H), a good surrogate of competition for light strategies, specific leaf area (SLA) dry matter content (LDMC), useful indicators resource exploitation schemes. used the georeferenced vegetation plots field-measured traits four widely spread types growing screes, steep slopes, snowbeds ridges, respectively. calculated Rao’s FD FR followed by analysis standardized effect size, compared community values using ANOVA Tukey post hoc test. Assemblage rules varied across traits. The High FRH registered ridges is probably linked climatic filtering processes, while high FDH low FDSLA FDLDMC slopes could be related with underlying mechanisms. absence scree pinpoint random processes which are typical highly unstable or disturbed ecosystems. Improved knowledge about deterministic/stochastic shaping species coexistence mountain ecosystems should help researchers understand predict vulnerability environmental changes.

Language: Английский

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Land-use impacts on plant functional diversity throughout Europe

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Abstract Aim Global biodiversity loss resulting from anthropogenic land-use activities is a pressing concern, requiring precise assessments of impacts at large spatial extents. Existing models mainly focus on species richness and abundance, lacking insights into ecological mechanisms species’ roles in ecosystem functioning. To bridge this gap, we conducted an extensive analysis the impact human land use vascular plant functional diversity, across diverse classes bioregions Europe, comparing it to traditional metrics. Location : Europe Time period 1992-2019 Major taxa studied Vascular plants Methods Integrating databases vegetation plots with data cover, paired areas actively used modified by humans natural habitats under similar environmental conditions. Using occurrences traits, each plot computed three complementary diversity metrics (functional richness, evenness, divergence), abundance. We assessed plots. Results Our findings revealed that, compared habitats, exhibits lower divergence but higher evenness most bioregions. The response was more marked than other two especially pronounced croplands urban northern Functional exhibited pattern that did not fully overlap trend providing useful information. Main conclusions provide large-scale assessment Europe. indicate that: (i) disturbance significantly alters habitats; (ii) alteration goes direction homogenization; complement offering deeper use.

Language: Английский

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