Alba Anadon-Rosell, Melanie Dombrowsky, Jürgen Kreyling, Irmgard Blindow, Sven Dahlke, Tobias Dahms, Felix Räder, Leonie Vogelsang, Tobias Scharnweber
Aims
Central and northern Europe experienced extremely dry conditions in 2018, which caused dieback events in many ecosystems, including coastal heathlands. Our aim was to determine the causes of the varying drought responses observed in Calluna vulgaris on the Baltic island of Hiddensee after this extreme drought.
Location
Island of Hiddensee, Baltic Sea, NE Germany.
Methods
We assessed heathland community damage in autumn 2018 and 2019 with drone-based remote sensing. In addition, we measured water table depths and excavated root samples of C. vulgaris. In 2019, we sampled neighboring C. vulgaris individuals showing contrasting vitality statuses (dead, weakened or healthy), measured their height and canopy width, and prepared cross-sections of the main stem at the root collar or soil surface level to count and measure their xylem rings. We also assessed climate-growth correlations in these individuals.
Results
An 8.0% of all heathland plants showed damage in 2018, while this value decreased to 6.6% in 2019. Only 18% of the plants showing damage in 2018 recovered in 2019. Plant damage was positively related to elevation. Groundwater measurements showed that water table depth dropped below C. vulgaris rooting depth during 2018 and 2019. Healthy plants were taller and had a larger crown area than neighboring weakened and dead individuals, but they did not differ in age nor in previous years' growth. C. vulgaris growth was positively correlated with June and July precipitation.
Conclusions
Our study evidences the negative impacts of extreme droughts on C. vulgaris in coastal heathlands, especially in individuals growing in elevated areas and/or relatively small-sized a, and emphasizes the need for adapting heathland management planning accordingly.
{"title":"Dieback of Calluna vulgaris in a Coastal Heathland After the 2018 Extreme Drought","authors":"Alba Anadon-Rosell, Melanie Dombrowsky, Jürgen Kreyling, Irmgard Blindow, Sven Dahlke, Tobias Dahms, Felix Räder, Leonie Vogelsang, Tobias Scharnweber","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Central and northern Europe experienced extremely dry conditions in 2018, which caused dieback events in many ecosystems, including coastal heathlands. Our aim was to determine the causes of the varying drought responses observed in <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> on the Baltic island of Hiddensee after this extreme drought.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Island of Hiddensee, Baltic Sea, NE Germany.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed heathland community damage in autumn 2018 and 2019 with drone-based remote sensing. In addition, we measured water table depths and excavated root samples of <i>C. vulgaris</i>. In 2019, we sampled neighboring <i>C. vulgaris</i> individuals showing contrasting vitality statuses (dead, weakened or healthy), measured their height and canopy width, and prepared cross-sections of the main stem at the root collar or soil surface level to count and measure their xylem rings. We also assessed climate-growth correlations in these individuals.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An 8.0% of all heathland plants showed damage in 2018, while this value decreased to 6.6% in 2019. Only 18% of the plants showing damage in 2018 recovered in 2019. Plant damage was positively related to elevation. Groundwater measurements showed that water table depth dropped below <i>C. vulgaris</i> rooting depth during 2018 and 2019. Healthy plants were taller and had a larger crown area than neighboring weakened and dead individuals, but they did not differ in age nor in previous years' growth. <i>C. vulgaris</i> growth was positively correlated with June and July precipitation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study evidences the negative impacts of extreme droughts on <i>C. vulgaris</i> in coastal heathlands, especially in individuals growing in elevated areas and/or relatively small-sized a, and emphasizes the need for adapting heathland management planning accordingly.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143622701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patricia Elizabeth Díaz Cando, Annamária Fenesi, Judit Sonkoly, Peliyagodage Chathura Dineth Perera, Péter Török
<div> <section> <h3> Aims</h3> <p>Climate change is expected to bolster opportunities for alien species' establishment and spread. In Europe, alien C4 grass species have the potential to benefit from a changing climate, being better adapted to higher temperatures and heat stress. Our aim was to compile an up-to-date inventory of alien C4 grass species in Europe, to find information about their distribution and country- and region-wise statuses, to identify the most widespread and high-risk species, and the most invaded habitat types, and to draw the temporal trends of their European establishment.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Europe.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We used the standard systematic literature review methodology to identify relevant publications and online plant distribution databases to get an up-to-date list of alien C4 grass species in Europe. We aimed also to gather information on (1) their current country- and region-wise distribution; (2) alien status in each country (casual, naturalised, invasive); (3) the most widespread and high-risk species; (4) native climatic zones and habitat preferences of each species in European countries; and (5) temporal distribution patterns of the identified species.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>We detected 133 alien C4 grass species across Europe, with the highest number of species in western European countries (103 species) and the lowest in northern Europe (69 species), with considerable overlap amongst regions. Southern Europe stands out with the highest number of naturalised (55) and invasive (21) species compared to other regions, while northern Europe has the highest number of casual species (53). We identified the most widespread and high-risk species, including those from tropical and subtropical climatic zones, which pose the highest invasion risks. These species predominantly occur in ruderal and anthropogenic habitat types, but also in natural habitat types, especially in grasslands. Regarding temporal trends, we detected an alarming increase in the establishment of tropical C4 grasses in Europe in recent decades.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>Many European countries already harbour a high number of C4 grass species, but with different alien statuses. Besides climate and invasion potential, human activities are also important factors in the ongoing invasion process of alien C4 grass species. Collective actions are requ
{"title":"Enemy Behind the Gates? Predicted Climate Change and Land-Use Intensification Likely Speed Up C4 Grass Invasions in Europe","authors":"Patricia Elizabeth Díaz Cando, Annamária Fenesi, Judit Sonkoly, Peliyagodage Chathura Dineth Perera, Péter Török","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70023","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change is expected to bolster opportunities for alien species' establishment and spread. In Europe, alien C4 grass species have the potential to benefit from a changing climate, being better adapted to higher temperatures and heat stress. Our aim was to compile an up-to-date inventory of alien C4 grass species in Europe, to find information about their distribution and country- and region-wise statuses, to identify the most widespread and high-risk species, and the most invaded habitat types, and to draw the temporal trends of their European establishment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Europe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used the standard systematic literature review methodology to identify relevant publications and online plant distribution databases to get an up-to-date list of alien C4 grass species in Europe. We aimed also to gather information on (1) their current country- and region-wise distribution; (2) alien status in each country (casual, naturalised, invasive); (3) the most widespread and high-risk species; (4) native climatic zones and habitat preferences of each species in European countries; and (5) temporal distribution patterns of the identified species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We detected 133 alien C4 grass species across Europe, with the highest number of species in western European countries (103 species) and the lowest in northern Europe (69 species), with considerable overlap amongst regions. Southern Europe stands out with the highest number of naturalised (55) and invasive (21) species compared to other regions, while northern Europe has the highest number of casual species (53). We identified the most widespread and high-risk species, including those from tropical and subtropical climatic zones, which pose the highest invasion risks. These species predominantly occur in ruderal and anthropogenic habitat types, but also in natural habitat types, especially in grasslands. Regarding temporal trends, we detected an alarming increase in the establishment of tropical C4 grasses in Europe in recent decades.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Many European countries already harbour a high number of C4 grass species, but with different alien statuses. Besides climate and invasion potential, human activities are also important factors in the ongoing invasion process of alien C4 grass species. Collective actions are requ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70023","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143602455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dario La Montagna, Michele De Sanctis, Petr Maděra, Kay Van Damme, Salem Hamdiah, Fabio Attorre, Luca Malatesta
<div> <section> <h3> Question</h3> <p>Plant–plant facilitation is a critical ecological mechanism in arid environments, influencing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience globally. Shrubs often serve as nurse species, enhancing tree regeneration and sheltering plant communities, particularly in overgrazed or degraded habitats. In this study, we examine the role of shrubs as nurse species in the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen), a biodiversity hotspot in which several endemic tree species, including the iconic frankincense (<i>Boswellia</i> spp.), myrrh (<i>Commiphora</i> spp.), and Socotran dragon's blood (<i>Dracaena cinnabari</i>) trees, are threatened. This is largely due to a lack of natural regeneration caused by the combined effects of overgrazing by goats, sheep, and climatic events such as extreme droughts and cyclones. To aid conservation of threatened trees in arid regions, nature-based solutions are urgently needed to help tree regeneration. Effective nurse plants have this potential, particularly in arid environments. We therefore examined the role of thorny, poisonous, and/or unpalatable shrubs as nurse plants in sheltering threatened plant communities, with a focus on woody species in an arid insular context.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Study Area</h3> <p>The Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) situated in the western Indian Ocean, east of the Horn of Africa. It is a biodiversity sanctuary and a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>Vegetation surveys were conducted in 144 paired plots under six common shrub species and adjacent open areas. Community data, environmental variables, and functional traits were analysed using RLQ and fourth-corner analyses, while Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) evaluated the effects of environmental variables and nurse species on key functional traits based on Community Weighted Means (CWMs). Facilitation effects were quantified using the Relative Interaction Index (RII).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Our analysis revealed significant variations in species composition and functional traits between under-canopy and open-area plots. Certain shrubs, such as <i>Cebatha balfourii</i>, facilitated significantly higher species richness under its canopy compared to open areas. Elevation and grazing pressure influenced these interactions, with notable effects on functional traits like the occurrence of legumes and tree growth forms. <i>Buxus hildebrandtii</i> was less effective in supporting species richness, while <i>C. balfourii, Lycium sokotranum</i>, and two <i>Cissus
{"title":"Shrubs as Nurse Species for Plant Communities in Arid Environments: A Case Study From Socotra Island (Yemen)","authors":"Dario La Montagna, Michele De Sanctis, Petr Maděra, Kay Van Damme, Salem Hamdiah, Fabio Attorre, Luca Malatesta","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70020","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plant–plant facilitation is a critical ecological mechanism in arid environments, influencing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience globally. Shrubs often serve as nurse species, enhancing tree regeneration and sheltering plant communities, particularly in overgrazed or degraded habitats. In this study, we examine the role of shrubs as nurse species in the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen), a biodiversity hotspot in which several endemic tree species, including the iconic frankincense (<i>Boswellia</i> spp.), myrrh (<i>Commiphora</i> spp.), and Socotran dragon's blood (<i>Dracaena cinnabari</i>) trees, are threatened. This is largely due to a lack of natural regeneration caused by the combined effects of overgrazing by goats, sheep, and climatic events such as extreme droughts and cyclones. To aid conservation of threatened trees in arid regions, nature-based solutions are urgently needed to help tree regeneration. Effective nurse plants have this potential, particularly in arid environments. We therefore examined the role of thorny, poisonous, and/or unpalatable shrubs as nurse plants in sheltering threatened plant communities, with a focus on woody species in an arid insular context.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Study Area</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) situated in the western Indian Ocean, east of the Horn of Africa. It is a biodiversity sanctuary and a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vegetation surveys were conducted in 144 paired plots under six common shrub species and adjacent open areas. Community data, environmental variables, and functional traits were analysed using RLQ and fourth-corner analyses, while Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) evaluated the effects of environmental variables and nurse species on key functional traits based on Community Weighted Means (CWMs). Facilitation effects were quantified using the Relative Interaction Index (RII).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our analysis revealed significant variations in species composition and functional traits between under-canopy and open-area plots. Certain shrubs, such as <i>Cebatha balfourii</i>, facilitated significantly higher species richness under its canopy compared to open areas. Elevation and grazing pressure influenced these interactions, with notable effects on functional traits like the occurrence of legumes and tree growth forms. <i>Buxus hildebrandtii</i> was less effective in supporting species richness, while <i>C. balfourii, Lycium sokotranum</i>, and two <i>Cissus","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70020","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Victoria Larrosa, Diana I. Montemayor, Eugenia Fanjul, Juan Alberti, Carlos Martín Bruschetti, Paulina Martinetto, Jesús Pascual, Oscar Iribarne, Pedro Daleo
Questions
Salt marshes are highly productive coastal ecosystems that, like other coastal wetlands, play a key role in climate change mitigation due to their efficiency in sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon (C). This ability is partly explained by the low decomposition rates of organic matter that is buried in their sediments. However, given that decomposition dynamics are temperature-dependent, escalating temperatures potentially threaten salt marsh C sequestration capacity. The question addressed in this study is whether increasing temperature affects salt marsh detritus decomposition rates not only directly but also indirectly by affecting plant community composition.
Location
We performed a field manipulative experiment in a Southwestern Atlantic salt marsh in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina.
Methods
We increased temperature using open-top chambers (OTCs). At the end of a 3-year experiment, we estimated plant species cover at each plot and estimated litter decomposition rates with a litterbag approach using a standardized substrate (i.e., Spartina litter) and a community-based substrate.
Results
Results show that the use of OTCs raised the temperature in warming treatments by 1.05°C on average. After 3 years of experiment, the plant community structure under warming was characterized by increased dominance of Spartina densiflora, which produces a less labile detritus. Warming reduced the decomposition of community-based litter by 50% to levels similar to those of the standardized Spartina litter.
Conclusions
Our results show that warming is likely to have significant consequences on salt marsh plant community structure, increasing the biomass of the dominant species and driving more recalcitrant litter production, which could slow decomposition dynamics. Despite only covering 0.3% of the land surface, salt marshes are important C reservoirs; thus, the contrasting dynamics of warming on salt marsh decomposition should be considered when assessing the broader effects of global change.
{"title":"Experimental Warming Affects Salt Marsh Litter Decomposition Through Changes in Plant Species Assemblage","authors":"Maria Victoria Larrosa, Diana I. Montemayor, Eugenia Fanjul, Juan Alberti, Carlos Martín Bruschetti, Paulina Martinetto, Jesús Pascual, Oscar Iribarne, Pedro Daleo","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70022","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Salt marshes are highly productive coastal ecosystems that, like other coastal wetlands, play a key role in climate change mitigation due to their efficiency in sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon (C). This ability is partly explained by the low decomposition rates of organic matter that is buried in their sediments. However, given that decomposition dynamics are temperature-dependent, escalating temperatures potentially threaten salt marsh C sequestration capacity. The question addressed in this study is whether increasing temperature affects salt marsh detritus decomposition rates not only directly but also indirectly by affecting plant community composition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We performed a field manipulative experiment in a Southwestern Atlantic salt marsh in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We increased temperature using open-top chambers (OTCs). At the end of a 3-year experiment, we estimated plant species cover at each plot and estimated litter decomposition rates with a litterbag approach using a standardized substrate (i.e., <i>Spartina</i> litter) and a community-based substrate.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Results show that the use of OTCs raised the temperature in warming treatments by 1.05°C on average. After 3 years of experiment, the plant community structure under warming was characterized by increased dominance of <i>Spartina densiflora</i>, which produces a less labile detritus. Warming reduced the decomposition of community-based litter by 50% to levels similar to those of the standardized <i>Spartina</i> litter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results show that warming is likely to have significant consequences on salt marsh plant community structure, increasing the biomass of the dominant species and driving more recalcitrant litter production, which could slow decomposition dynamics. Despite only covering 0.3% of the land surface, salt marshes are important C reservoirs; thus, the contrasting dynamics of warming on salt marsh decomposition should be considered when assessing the broader effects of global change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joshua Tsamba, Peter C. le Roux, Luis R. Pertierra, Bongekile S. N. Kuhlase, Michelle Greve
Aims
Cold environments, such as polar systems, are highly vulnerable to global change drivers such as climate change and invasive species. Therefore, it is essential to assess what drives the diversity of native and invasive species in these systems.
Location
We investigated what drives native and alien plant species richness on sub-Antarctic Marion Island and determined the scale-dependence of these drivers.
Methods
Native and alien plant species richness was surveyed at “small” (1 m2) and “large” (9 m2) sampling grains. Difference in richness between the two sampling grains was calculated to assess how local turnover contributes to species assemblage. The factors driving richness at both grains, and the differences in richness between the two grains, were analysed using simultaneous auto-regressive models. Drivers related to energy and environmental heterogeneity were correlated with native richness, whilst drivers related to productivity were related to alien richness.
Results
Biotic interactions with a cushion plant facilitated native richness, but restricted alien richness at low elevations. Further, some drivers of richness depended on spatial grain. Native richness was positively related to northness at large, but not small grain size, suggesting that higher northness increases local turnover at a grain size > 1 m2. On the other hand, topographical wetness index (TWI) boosted native richness at small but not large grains, implying that competition for water limits coexistence at low TWI (i.e., low moisture availability) only at small grain. Differences in native species richness between large and small grain sizes were more pronounced at low elevations, suggesting higher compositional heterogeneity at low altitudes.
Conclusions
Our study highlights that drivers of plant species richness in a polar ecosystem differ between native and alien plant species. Additionally, the effects of some drivers on richness differ between sampling grains, and considering these differences provides insight into drivers of local patterns of species assemblage.
{"title":"Fine Scale Patterns and Drivers of Plant Species Richness on a Sub-Antarctic Island","authors":"Joshua Tsamba, Peter C. le Roux, Luis R. Pertierra, Bongekile S. N. Kuhlase, Michelle Greve","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cold environments, such as polar systems, are highly vulnerable to global change drivers such as climate change and invasive species. Therefore, it is essential to assess what drives the diversity of native and invasive species in these systems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated what drives native and alien plant species richness on sub-Antarctic Marion Island and determined the scale-dependence of these drivers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Native and alien plant species richness was surveyed at “small” (1 m<sup>2</sup>) and “large” (9 m<sup>2</sup>) sampling grains. Difference in richness between the two sampling grains was calculated to assess how local turnover contributes to species assemblage. The factors driving richness at both grains, and the differences in richness between the two grains, were analysed using simultaneous auto-regressive models. Drivers related to energy and environmental heterogeneity were correlated with native richness, whilst drivers related to productivity were related to alien richness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Biotic interactions with a cushion plant facilitated native richness, but restricted alien richness at low elevations. Further, some drivers of richness depended on spatial grain. Native richness was positively related to northness at large, but not small grain size, suggesting that higher northness increases local turnover at a grain size > 1 m<sup>2</sup>. On the other hand, topographical wetness index (TWI) boosted native richness at small but not large grains, implying that competition for water limits coexistence at low TWI (i.e., low moisture availability) only at small grain. Differences in native species richness between large and small grain sizes were more pronounced at low elevations, suggesting higher compositional heterogeneity at low altitudes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study highlights that drivers of plant species richness in a polar ecosystem differ between native and alien plant species. Additionally, the effects of some drivers on richness differ between sampling grains, and considering these differences provides insight into drivers of local patterns of species assemblage.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<div> <section> <h3> Question</h3> <p>Scattered trees are easily discernible in landscapes worldwide. They are integral to “wooded grassland” ecosystems, characterized by grazed and/or mowed open areas. In the Mediterranean basin, these dynamic systems are threatened by the abandonment of traditional management of marginal areas. Despite the ecological relevance of wooded grasslands and the importance of scattered trees for biodiversity, few holistic studies consider multiple ecosystem components simultaneously, and none focus on the Apennine area. This study aims to investigate the ecological impact of large scattered <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> trees on seminatural grasslands.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Central Apennines, Italy.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>Following a distance gradient from the tree trunk towards the open grassland, we established four distinct sampling positions. At each position, we conducted an analysis encompassing a range of ecosystem components. This included vegetation composition and productivity, soil chemistry, root density, hydrological properties, light availability, and soil fungal diversity.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Plant species richness, aboveground live biomass, and ground light availability exhibited a positive correlation with increasing distance from the trunk, signifying a gradual transition towards a more diverse and open grassland community. Conversely, litter and root biomass exhibited a negative correlation, decreasing with distance from the beech trees. Soil pH and nitrogen content increased with distance from the trunk, suggesting spatial heterogeneity in nutrient availability driven by the influence of the beech. Finally, four distinct plant communities were recorded with different abundances of all fungal taxa communities related to the plot from the trunk towards grassland. By examining the soil fungal abundance and diversity, we highlighted differences among soil plots correlated with different fungal functional guilds, highlighting a clear zonation effect mediated by the scattered beech trees.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>At a landscape scale, the coexistence of isolated trees and grasslands increases biodiversity, while the abandonment of traditional practices with forest recolonization leads to homogenization. Regional and local policies should identify management practices to protect this valuable ecosystem.</p>
{"title":"Under the Crown of Scattered Beech (Fagus sylvatica): Impact on Plant Community, Soil Resources, and Fungal Diversity","authors":"Giulio Tesei, Giuliano Bonanomi, Paride D'Ottavio, Matteo Francioni, Demetra Giovagnoli, Lucia Landi, Sergio Murolo, Laura Trozzo, Marina Allegrezza","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Scattered trees are easily discernible in landscapes worldwide. They are integral to “wooded grassland” ecosystems, characterized by grazed and/or mowed open areas. In the Mediterranean basin, these dynamic systems are threatened by the abandonment of traditional management of marginal areas. Despite the ecological relevance of wooded grasslands and the importance of scattered trees for biodiversity, few holistic studies consider multiple ecosystem components simultaneously, and none focus on the Apennine area. This study aims to investigate the ecological impact of large scattered <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> trees on seminatural grasslands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Central Apennines, Italy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Following a distance gradient from the tree trunk towards the open grassland, we established four distinct sampling positions. At each position, we conducted an analysis encompassing a range of ecosystem components. This included vegetation composition and productivity, soil chemistry, root density, hydrological properties, light availability, and soil fungal diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Plant species richness, aboveground live biomass, and ground light availability exhibited a positive correlation with increasing distance from the trunk, signifying a gradual transition towards a more diverse and open grassland community. Conversely, litter and root biomass exhibited a negative correlation, decreasing with distance from the beech trees. Soil pH and nitrogen content increased with distance from the trunk, suggesting spatial heterogeneity in nutrient availability driven by the influence of the beech. Finally, four distinct plant communities were recorded with different abundances of all fungal taxa communities related to the plot from the trunk towards grassland. By examining the soil fungal abundance and diversity, we highlighted differences among soil plots correlated with different fungal functional guilds, highlighting a clear zonation effect mediated by the scattered beech trees.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At a landscape scale, the coexistence of isolated trees and grasslands increases biodiversity, while the abandonment of traditional practices with forest recolonization leads to homogenization. Regional and local policies should identify management practices to protect this valuable ecosystem.</p>\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70021","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143564944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jorge González Le Barbier, Jose V. Roces-Díaz, Borja Jiménez-Alfaro
Questions
Forest timberlines are globally influenced by climatic and anthropogenic factors, with regional differences in species composition, spatial patterns, and temporal dynamics. We studied mountain forests in a climatically heterogeneous region to analyze (I) the distribution and structure of the timberline across local climatic and topographic gradients, and (II) the temporal dynamics of regional timberlines over the last 70 years and their drivers.
Location
Cantabrian Mountains, Northwestern Spain.
Methods
We used local vegetation maps describing habitat distributions with high spatial and thematic resolution to characterize montane forest types forming natural timberlines. We assessed the elevation distribution of the timberline for each forest type and fitted generalized linear models to analyze their main environmental and anthropogenic drivers at the regional scale. We also examined current and historical aerial imagery to explore timberline changes since the 1950s and fitted generalized linear mixed models to evaluate their driving factors.
Results
The elevation of regional timberlines varied from 1700 to 2000 m, with the highest elevations found in Betula celtiberica and Quercus orocantabrica forests. Regional variation of timberline was primarily influenced by mean annual temperature and solar radiation, and secondarily by the distance to roads. We detected upward shifts of timberlines dominated by Betula celtiberica (10.9 ± 11.6 m), Quercus petraea (7.7 ± 8.5 m), and Fagus sylvatica on acid (6.4 ± 9.2 m) and non-acid (3.0 ± 3.9 m) soils, while Quercus orocantabrica forests largely remained unchanged. Beyond the forest type, elevation shifts were mainly explained by northness, eastness, and slope.
Conclusions
Our study indicates that within-regional variation in spatial patterns and dynamics of timberlines is primarily determined by the forest type and its relationships with climate and topography. We also provide evidence of the continentality–oceanity gradient in determining the elevation of the natural timberline in middle latitudes. Although higher timberline elevations are reached under continental conditions, stronger upward shifts of regional timberlines under oceanic conditions may be explained by the dispersal abilities of Betula species.
{"title":"Timberline Patterns and Dynamics Depend on Forest Type, Regional Climate, and Topography in the Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)","authors":"Jorge González Le Barbier, Jose V. Roces-Díaz, Borja Jiménez-Alfaro","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Forest timberlines are globally influenced by climatic and anthropogenic factors, with regional differences in species composition, spatial patterns, and temporal dynamics. We studied mountain forests in a climatically heterogeneous region to analyze (I) the distribution and structure of the timberline across local climatic and topographic gradients, and (II) the temporal dynamics of regional timberlines over the last 70 years and their drivers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cantabrian Mountains, Northwestern Spain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used local vegetation maps describing habitat distributions with high spatial and thematic resolution to characterize montane forest types forming natural timberlines. We assessed the elevation distribution of the timberline for each forest type and fitted generalized linear models to analyze their main environmental and anthropogenic drivers at the regional scale. We also examined current and historical aerial imagery to explore timberline changes since the 1950s and fitted generalized linear mixed models to evaluate their driving factors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The elevation of regional timberlines varied from 1700 to 2000 m, with the highest elevations found in <i>Betula celtiberica</i> and <i>Quercus orocantabrica</i> forests. Regional variation of timberline was primarily influenced by mean annual temperature and solar radiation, and secondarily by the distance to roads. We detected upward shifts of timberlines dominated by <i>Betula celtiberica</i> (10.9 ± 11.6 m), <i>Quercus petraea</i> (7.7 ± 8.5 m), and <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> on acid (6.4 ± 9.2 m) and non-acid (3.0 ± 3.9 m) soils, while <i>Quercus orocantabrica</i> forests largely remained unchanged. Beyond the forest type, elevation shifts were mainly explained by northness, eastness, and slope.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study indicates that within-regional variation in spatial patterns and dynamics of timberlines is primarily determined by the forest type and its relationships with climate and topography. We also provide evidence of the continentality–oceanity gradient in determining the elevation of the natural timberline in middle latitudes. Although higher timberline elevations are reached under continental conditions, stronger upward shifts of regional timberlines under oceanic conditions may be explained by the dispersal abilities of <i>Betula</i> species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143513743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Miroslav Zeidler, Jan Šipoš, Marek Banaš, Tomáš Václavík
Aims
Snow plays a crucial role in the distribution of alpine plant species and the dynamics of alpine communities. However, we have only a limited understanding of the snow cover's impact on vegetation in middle-height mountains at a meso-topographic scale close to the treeline.
Location
The High Sudetes Mts., Czech Republic.
Methods
We examined the association of snow cover duration and the spatial pattern of four dominant vegetation types in the subalpine region. We used a novel approach to create maps of snow cover duration by combining time-series photographic data on snow distribution and vegetation patterns. Key explanatory factors included snow cover duration, snow melting time, elevation, and proximity to ski slopes.
Results
We found the influence of snow cover duration, which was positively correlated with subalpine tall-fern vegetation and negatively correlated with Vaccinium vegetation. However, elevation and ski slope played an important role as co-determinants. Subalpine tall grasslands showed a discernible response to snow cover in the highest part of the study area, while wind-swept grasslands were positively influenced by the body of the ski timeslope at higher altitudes.
Conclusions
The complex relationship between snow cover duration and the subalpine vegetation pattern is contingent upon the life-history characteristics of the dominant plant species and is influenced by various environmental factors. These factors encompass snow attributes, the influence of human activities, land-use patterns, and the overarching impact of climate change. Snow cover emerges as a crucial, multifaceted factor in shaping vegetation boundaries. Recognizing its complexity is imperative for effective planning of conservation measures.
{"title":"Response of Subalpine Plant Vegetation to Snow Cover Duration Quantified by In Situ Repeat Photography","authors":"Miroslav Zeidler, Jan Šipoš, Marek Banaš, Tomáš Václavík","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Snow plays a crucial role in the distribution of alpine plant species and the dynamics of alpine communities. However, we have only a limited understanding of the snow cover's impact on vegetation in middle-height mountains at a meso-topographic scale close to the treeline.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The High Sudetes Mts., Czech Republic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined the association of snow cover duration and the spatial pattern of four dominant vegetation types in the subalpine region. We used a novel approach to create maps of snow cover duration by combining time-series photographic data on snow distribution and vegetation patterns. Key explanatory factors included snow cover duration, snow melting time, elevation, and proximity to ski slopes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found the influence of snow cover duration, which was positively correlated with subalpine tall-fern vegetation and negatively correlated with <i>Vaccinium vegetation</i>. However, elevation and ski slope played an important role as co-determinants. Subalpine tall grasslands showed a discernible response to snow cover in the highest part of the study area, while wind-swept grasslands were positively influenced by the body of the ski timeslope at higher altitudes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The complex relationship between snow cover duration and the subalpine vegetation pattern is contingent upon the life-history characteristics of the dominant plant species and is influenced by various environmental factors. These factors encompass snow attributes, the influence of human activities, land-use patterns, and the overarching impact of climate change. Snow cover emerges as a crucial, multifaceted factor in shaping vegetation boundaries. Recognizing its complexity is imperative for effective planning of conservation measures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70016","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143497195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia Jimeno-Alda, Jose Antonio Navarro-Cano, Marta Goberna, Miguel Verdú
Question
The outcome of plant interactions depends on the physiological, morphological, and reproductive traits harbored by the interacting species. The outcomes of plant interactions depend on: (a) trait dissimilarity mechanisms, whereby species with similar traits compete more intensely due to niche overlap, and (b) trait hierarchy mechanisms, whereby species with higher relative fitness outcompete species with less efficient traits under specific environmental conditions. We hypothesized that the functional distance between interacting species affects the outcome of plant interactions simultaneously through both mechanisms.
Location
We collected 10 Mediterranean herb and shrub species in two locations in central Spain.
Methods
We established a manipulative experiment including 10 species growing in pairs. We estimated neighbor effects by measuring the relative change in values of 13 above- and belowground traits of a focal species caused by the presence of a heterospecific (compared to a conspecific) neighbor. We explored (i) which traits were more affected by neighbors, (ii) which species were more affected by an interacting species, either as focal or neighbor and (iii) how the neighbor effect varied with the functional distance between pairs.
Results
Ten out of thirteen traits varied in the presence of a heterospecific (compared to a conspecific) neighbor, six of them increasing (e.g., total photosynthetic area, number of root nodules, root weight) and four decreasing their values (e.g., leaf and root C content). The relative change of trait values in heterospecific pairs significantly increased as functional distance decreased for most plant-performance traits. Only root biomass showed the opposite trend.
Conclusion
Trait hierarchy mechanisms prevailed but trait dissimilarity mechanisms operated on specific root traits, indicating that both simultaneously determine the outcome of interactions. The heterogeneity of neighbor effects responded mainly to differences between above- and belowground traits, reinforcing the need to consider them both for a mechanistic comprehension of community dynamics.
{"title":"Functional Distance Mediates Plant Interactions","authors":"Julia Jimeno-Alda, Jose Antonio Navarro-Cano, Marta Goberna, Miguel Verdú","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The outcome of plant interactions depends on the physiological, morphological, and reproductive traits harbored by the interacting species. The outcomes of plant interactions depend on: (a) trait dissimilarity mechanisms, whereby species with similar traits compete more intensely due to niche overlap, and (b) trait hierarchy mechanisms, whereby species with higher relative fitness outcompete species with less efficient traits under specific environmental conditions. We hypothesized that the functional distance between interacting species affects the outcome of plant interactions simultaneously through both mechanisms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We collected 10 Mediterranean herb and shrub species in two locations in central Spain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We established a manipulative experiment including 10 species growing in pairs. We estimated neighbor effects by measuring the relative change in values of 13 above- and belowground traits of a focal species caused by the presence of a heterospecific (compared to a conspecific) neighbor. We explored (i) which traits were more affected by neighbors, (ii) which species were more affected by an interacting species, either as focal or neighbor and (iii) how the neighbor effect varied with the functional distance between pairs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ten out of thirteen traits varied in the presence of a heterospecific (compared to a conspecific) neighbor, six of them increasing (e.g., total photosynthetic area, number of root nodules, root weight) and four decreasing their values (e.g., leaf and root C content). The relative change of trait values in heterospecific pairs significantly increased as functional distance decreased for most plant-performance traits. Only root biomass showed the opposite trend.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Trait hierarchy mechanisms prevailed but trait dissimilarity mechanisms operated on specific root traits, indicating that both simultaneously determine the outcome of interactions. The heterogeneity of neighbor effects responded mainly to differences between above- and belowground traits, reinforcing the need to consider them both for a mechanistic comprehension of community dynamics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dounia Dhaou, Tan Dao Van, Stéphane Greff, Deepalakshmi Sundaravaradarajan, Hien Khong Thu, Raphaël Gros, Virginie Baldy, Catherine Fernandez, Anne Bousquet-Mélou
Aims
Dominant or pioneer species litter decomposition was found to be involved in the recruitment of following species during succession in terrestrial plant communities, while knowledge remains scarce in wetland forests such as mangroves. Our study evaluated the influence of pioneer species leaf litter decomposition on (i) the settlement success of species following them or not in the natural succession and (ii) on soil characteristics.
Location
Red River Delta, Vietnam.
Methods
We set up an in situ experiment in mesocosms that followed the survival and growth of three species (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Rhizophora stylosa) planted in soils of Avicennia marina or Sonneratia caseolaris, with or without leaf litter addition for 203 days. Soil nutrient contents were determined at the beginning and end of the experiment, and their metabolic fingerprints were compared using an untargeted metabolomic approach to highlight potential allelochemicals when a phytotoxic effect was observed.
Results
Seedling response to litter addition was species-specific, which can be linked to their successional status. K. obovata was most affected by litter addition, showing better growth with both litter types. Meanwhile, A. marina litter substantially decreased survival rates by 50% for K. obovata and 33% for R. stylosa, suggesting a strategy to delay its replacement by these species through the release of phytotoxic decomposition by-products. Metabolic fingerprints of A. marina soils planted with K. obovata showed no shift in global chemical composition, but 12 features were found significantly more abundant in the presence of litter. Putative annotations revealed sulfur-containing metabolites, which are probable products of organic matter sulfurization, a frequently occurring process in mangrove sediments. These unusual compounds may act as allelochemicals and should be further assessed.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that allelopathic processes through litter decomposition may be at play in mangrove community assembly and could be a tool for restoration purposes.
{"title":"Interaction Between Plants Through Litter Input in Mangrove Succession in the Red River Delta","authors":"Dounia Dhaou, Tan Dao Van, Stéphane Greff, Deepalakshmi Sundaravaradarajan, Hien Khong Thu, Raphaël Gros, Virginie Baldy, Catherine Fernandez, Anne Bousquet-Mélou","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Dominant or pioneer species litter decomposition was found to be involved in the recruitment of following species during succession in terrestrial plant communities, while knowledge remains scarce in wetland forests such as mangroves. Our study evaluated the influence of pioneer species leaf litter decomposition on (i) the settlement success of species following them or not in the natural succession and (ii) on soil characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Red River Delta, Vietnam.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We set up an in situ experiment in mesocosms that followed the survival and growth of three species (<i>Kandelia obovata</i>, <i>Aegiceras corniculatum</i>, and <i>Rhizophora stylosa</i>) planted in soils of <i>Avicennia marina</i> or <i>Sonneratia caseolaris</i>, with or without leaf litter addition for 203 days. Soil nutrient contents were determined at the beginning and end of the experiment, and their metabolic fingerprints were compared using an untargeted metabolomic approach to highlight potential allelochemicals when a phytotoxic effect was observed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seedling response to litter addition was species-specific, which can be linked to their successional status. <i>K. obovata</i> was most affected by litter addition, showing better growth with both litter types. Meanwhile, <i>A. marina</i> litter substantially decreased survival rates by 50% for <i>K. obovata</i> and 33% for <i>R. stylosa,</i> suggesting a strategy to delay its replacement by these species through the release of phytotoxic decomposition by-products. Metabolic fingerprints of <i>A. marina</i> soils planted with <i>K. obovata</i> showed no shift in global chemical composition, but 12 features were found significantly more abundant in the presence of litter. Putative annotations revealed sulfur-containing metabolites, which are probable products of organic matter sulfurization, a frequently occurring process in mangrove sediments. These unusual compounds may act as allelochemicals and should be further assessed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings suggest that allelopathic processes through litter decomposition may be at play in mangrove community assembly and could be a tool for restoration purposes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143110436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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