Tomás Quiñones, Marcelo D. Miranda, Pablo Becerra, Francisco J. Meza
Question
Land surface phenology is a key indicator for monitoring the effects of climate change on vegetation, notably droughts and heatwaves. This research characterizes phenological patterns within Mediterranean-type ecosystems in Chile, highlighting their strong associations with vegetation growth forms and dominant species composition.
Location
The study is conducted in Mediterranean-type ecosystems located in central Chile.
Methods
We used remote sensing phenological data derived from MODIS vegetation index time series and applied unsupervised machine learning clustering algorithms to identify ecosystem functional types (EFTs) within the Mediterranean-type ecosystem in Chile. Ordination analyses were employed and indicator species were identified to elucidate the relationships between EFTs, vegetation growth forms, and species composition, using land cover maps and vegetation cadastre data.
Results
We identified nine distinct EFTs that exhibited a strong correlation with vegetation growth forms and composition diversity across the study region. Southern forests, primarily dominated by deciduous tree communities of the Nothofagus genus, displayed the highest productivity values and a delayed productivity season. Meanwhile, early-season onset was observed in areas with sclerophyll-type species like Quillaja saponaria, Cryptocarya alba, and Lithraea caustica. Xerophytic shrub communities, composed of Trevoa trinervis, Colliguaja odorifera, and Baccharis spp., exhibited high variation and early-season onset. These findings contribute to reporting changes within different conservation units present in the study area.
Conclusion
Evaluating greenness-based vegetation phenology provides insights into vegetation growth forms as well as richness and abundance of dominant species. Remote sensing and modern algorithms enable high-resolution monitoring of greenness variability, supporting effective management in a rapidly changing environment. This integrated approach uncovers links among ecosystem attributes and offers a valuable tool to assess environmental impacts, thereby guiding conservation and management decisions.
{"title":"Remote Sensing of Phenological Patterns Across Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Chile","authors":"Tomás Quiñones, Marcelo D. Miranda, Pablo Becerra, Francisco J. Meza","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70105","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Land surface phenology is a key indicator for monitoring the effects of climate change on vegetation, notably droughts and heatwaves. This research characterizes phenological patterns within Mediterranean-type ecosystems in Chile, highlighting their strong associations with vegetation growth forms and dominant species composition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study is conducted in Mediterranean-type ecosystems located in central Chile.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used remote sensing phenological data derived from MODIS vegetation index time series and applied unsupervised machine learning clustering algorithms to identify ecosystem functional types (EFTs) within the Mediterranean-type ecosystem in Chile. Ordination analyses were employed and indicator species were identified to elucidate the relationships between EFTs, vegetation growth forms, and species composition, using land cover maps and vegetation cadastre data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We identified nine distinct EFTs that exhibited a strong correlation with vegetation growth forms and composition diversity across the study region. Southern forests, primarily dominated by deciduous tree communities of the <i>Nothofagus</i> genus, displayed the highest productivity values and a delayed productivity season. Meanwhile, early-season onset was observed in areas with sclerophyll-type species like <i>Quillaja saponaria</i>, <i>Cryptocarya alba</i>, and <i>Lithraea caustica</i>. Xerophytic shrub communities, composed of <i>Trevoa trinervis</i>, <i>Colliguaja odorifera</i>, and <i>Baccharis</i> spp., exhibited high variation and early-season onset. These findings contribute to reporting changes within different conservation units present in the study area.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Evaluating greenness-based vegetation phenology provides insights into vegetation growth forms as well as richness and abundance of dominant species. Remote sensing and modern algorithms enable high-resolution monitoring of greenness variability, supporting effective management in a rapidly changing environment. This integrated approach uncovers links among ecosystem attributes and offers a valuable tool to assess environmental impacts, thereby guiding conservation and management decisions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824964","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}
Given the central role of Sphagnum in peatland function and stability, this study examined how 7 years of experimental field warming affects peatland plant community composition and to understand how productivity-related traits, specifically traits linked to moisture acquisition strategies, drive changes in community composition.
Location
Nutrient-poor Boreal fen near White River, Ontario, Canada.
Methods
We analyzed the percent cover of vascular and nonvascular plants following 7 years of experimental warming and quantified Sphagnum traits for three dominant Sphagnum species in control and experimentally warmed plots.
Results
Shifts in the peatland plant community following experimental warming were driven solely by changes in the abundance of Sphagnum mosses, with the individual response to warming being species-specific and strongly tied to Sphagnum traits related to water acquisition. Sphagnum angustifolium showed significant reductions under warming, with losses in capitulum density and percent cover, as well as having a reduced growth rate. We also observed two trajectories of change under warming scenarios: one characterized by declines in Sphagnum abundance and a greater frequency of bare peat, the other shifting toward Sphagnum taxa adapted to lower water tables, accompanied by an increase in vascular plant abundance and density.
Conclusions
Higher temperatures will have a significant effect on the composition of Sphagnum communities, which are tied to Sphagnum life-history strategies of moisture retention. Warming negatively affects species that require relatively more frequent and prolonged exposure to moisture. Increases in bare peat soil demonstrate there is little recolonization from Sphagnum once it dies back from an area. Larger Sphagnum species may be favored in a warmed world given they store more water. Overall, losses in the cover of Sphagnum mosses have significant implications for hydrology and carbon storage in peatlands.
{"title":"Traits Explain Changes in Sphagnum Moss Composition Under Experimental Warming in a Boreal Peatland","authors":"Samantha Hopkins, Zoë Lindo","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70100","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Given the central role of <i>Sphagnum</i> in peatland function and stability, this study examined how 7 years of experimental field warming affects peatland plant community composition and to understand how productivity-related traits, specifically traits linked to moisture acquisition strategies, drive changes in community composition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nutrient-poor Boreal fen near White River, Ontario, Canada.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed the percent cover of vascular and nonvascular plants following 7 years of experimental warming and quantified <i>Sphagnum</i> traits for three dominant <i>Sphagnum</i> species in control and experimentally warmed plots.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Shifts in the peatland plant community following experimental warming were driven solely by changes in the abundance of <i>Sphagnum</i> mosses, with the individual response to warming being species-specific and strongly tied to <i>Sphagnum</i> traits related to water acquisition. <i>Sphagnum angustifolium</i> showed significant reductions under warming, with losses in capitulum density and percent cover, as well as having a reduced growth rate. We also observed two trajectories of change under warming scenarios: one characterized by declines in <i>Sphagnum</i> abundance and a greater frequency of bare peat, the other shifting toward <i>Sphagnum</i> taxa adapted to lower water tables, accompanied by an increase in vascular plant abundance and density.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher temperatures will have a significant effect on the composition of <i>Sphagnum</i> communities, which are tied to <i>Sphagnum</i> life-history strategies of moisture retention. Warming negatively affects species that require relatively more frequent and prolonged exposure to moisture. Increases in bare peat soil demonstrate there is little recolonization from <i>Sphagnum</i> once it dies back from an area. Larger <i>Sphagnum</i> species may be favored in a warmed world given they store more water. Overall, losses in the cover of <i>Sphagnum</i> mosses have significant implications for hydrology and carbon storage in peatlands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70100","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848101","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}
Vegetation phenology, a key indicator of ecosystem changes, reflects vegetation's adaptation to periodic environmental variations and its response to climate change. Monitoring changes in vegetation phenology enhances our understanding of the impacts of global climate and environmental changes on ecosystems.
Location
This study analyzed the temporal and spatial changes of the start (SOS), end (EOS), and length (LOS) of the growing season in china using the PKU GIMMS NDVI dataset from 1982 to 2022.
Methods
SOS, EOS, and LOS were extracted using a cumulative NDVI logistic fitting curve. Their temporal and spatial variations were assessed across ecological–geographical regions and vegetation types.
Results
(1) The multi-year average SOS occurs between days 90 and 150, EOS between days 270 and 310, and LOS ranges from 122 to 234 days. Overall, the SOS shows an advancing trend with a rate of 0.35 day per year, while EOS is delayed in 67.39% of the pixels at a rate of 0.22 day per year. The LOS trend generally mirrors that of EOS, indicating a lengthening trend; (2) SOS, EOS, and LOS demonstrate overall stability without significant fluctuations. Future projections suggest a possible delay in SOS and an earlier occurrence of EOS, potentially shortening the LOS. Additionally, increasing altitude results in a delayed SOS, earlier EOS, and shortened LOS, highlighting altitude's significant impact on the growing season; (3) SOS and EOS exhibit distinct spatial patterns across different eco-geographical regions. In humid areas, SOS occurs earlier and EOS later compared to arid areas. Temporal trends of vegetation phenology parameters also vary significantly among different vegetation types.
Conclusion
This study reveals the temporal and spatial characteristics of vegetation phenology and its relationship with environmental factors, highlighting the importance of climate change and ecological environments in shaping the growing season. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding global ecosystem response mechanisms.
{"title":"Spatial and Temporal Variation of Vegetation Phenology Across Ecological Zones in China","authors":"Qiang Yang, Wenkai Chen, Yutong Liang, Jinxin Yang, Juncheng Fan, Yuanyuan Chen","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70096","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vegetation phenology, a key indicator of ecosystem changes, reflects vegetation's adaptation to periodic environmental variations and its response to climate change. Monitoring changes in vegetation phenology enhances our understanding of the impacts of global climate and environmental changes on ecosystems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study analyzed the temporal and spatial changes of the start (SOS), end (EOS), and length (LOS) of the growing season in china using the PKU GIMMS NDVI dataset from 1982 to 2022.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SOS, EOS, and LOS were extracted using a cumulative NDVI logistic fitting curve. Their temporal and spatial variations were assessed across ecological–geographical regions and vegetation types.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>(1) The multi-year average SOS occurs between days 90 and 150, EOS between days 270 and 310, and LOS ranges from 122 to 234 days. Overall, the SOS shows an advancing trend with a rate of 0.35 day per year, while EOS is delayed in 67.39% of the pixels at a rate of 0.22 day per year. The LOS trend generally mirrors that of EOS, indicating a lengthening trend; (2) SOS, EOS, and LOS demonstrate overall stability without significant fluctuations. Future projections suggest a possible delay in SOS and an earlier occurrence of EOS, potentially shortening the LOS. Additionally, increasing altitude results in a delayed SOS, earlier EOS, and shortened LOS, highlighting altitude's significant impact on the growing season; (3) SOS and EOS exhibit distinct spatial patterns across different eco-geographical regions. In humid areas, SOS occurs earlier and EOS later compared to arid areas. Temporal trends of vegetation phenology parameters also vary significantly among different vegetation types.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study reveals the temporal and spatial characteristics of vegetation phenology and its relationship with environmental factors, highlighting the importance of climate change and ecological environments in shaping the growing season. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding global ecosystem response mechanisms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824824","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}
Tomonari Matsuo, Masha T. van der Sande, Lucy Amissah, Jonathan Dabo, Salim Mohammed Abdul, Lourens Poorter
<div> <section> <h3> Aims</h3> <p>Widespread land-use change has expanded the area of young secondary forests. Yet, little is known about the drivers and mechanisms underlying their successional pathways, limiting the predictability of succession and its applicability in ecosystem restoration. We therefore assessed how dispersal, management, and environmental filters shape community assembly during tropical forest succession on abandoned agricultural fields.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Ghana.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We established 18 permanent plots on abandoned subsistence fields in Ghana and monitored them over 4 years, yielding 67 plot–census combinations. The seed dispersal filter was quantified using surrounding landscape forest cover as a proxy, and the management filter was quantified on the basis of farmer interviews about land-use history. For environmental filters, soil nutrients were measured at the start, and understory irradiance and soil moisture were recorded during the first 2 years. To assess how these filters affected community assembly, we measured six functional traits for 122 species across seven growth forms and applied a fourth-corner analysis.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Forest structural development proceeded rapidly, particularly on fertile soils. Community assembly was jointly shaped by surrounding forest cover, land-use history, and environmental conditions. Greater quantity and quality (age) of the surrounding forests facilitated the establishment of species with resource-conservative trait values (e.g., high leaf dry matter content). Longer and more extensive previous land-use practices favored short-statured species with low leaf nitrogen concentration. Understory light availability declined with forest structural development, leading to a shift in the community from fast-growing annual herbs to evergreen woody species with resource-conservative trait values.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusion</h3> <p>Dispersal, management, and environmental filters collectively shaped community assembly, each playing distinct roles. Environmental filters strongly drove successional growth-form replacement; dispersal filters modestly influenced the rate of community reassembly, and management filters weakly shaped the initial species composition. Together, these filters shape early tropical forest succession and generate spatial variation in long-term successional trajec
{"title":"Trait-Based Community Assembly in Early Tropical Forest Succession","authors":"Tomonari Matsuo, Masha T. van der Sande, Lucy Amissah, Jonathan Dabo, Salim Mohammed Abdul, Lourens Poorter","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70099","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Widespread land-use change has expanded the area of young secondary forests. Yet, little is known about the drivers and mechanisms underlying their successional pathways, limiting the predictability of succession and its applicability in ecosystem restoration. We therefore assessed how dispersal, management, and environmental filters shape community assembly during tropical forest succession on abandoned agricultural fields.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ghana.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We established 18 permanent plots on abandoned subsistence fields in Ghana and monitored them over 4 years, yielding 67 plot–census combinations. The seed dispersal filter was quantified using surrounding landscape forest cover as a proxy, and the management filter was quantified on the basis of farmer interviews about land-use history. For environmental filters, soil nutrients were measured at the start, and understory irradiance and soil moisture were recorded during the first 2 years. To assess how these filters affected community assembly, we measured six functional traits for 122 species across seven growth forms and applied a fourth-corner analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Forest structural development proceeded rapidly, particularly on fertile soils. Community assembly was jointly shaped by surrounding forest cover, land-use history, and environmental conditions. Greater quantity and quality (age) of the surrounding forests facilitated the establishment of species with resource-conservative trait values (e.g., high leaf dry matter content). Longer and more extensive previous land-use practices favored short-statured species with low leaf nitrogen concentration. Understory light availability declined with forest structural development, leading to a shift in the community from fast-growing annual herbs to evergreen woody species with resource-conservative trait values.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Dispersal, management, and environmental filters collectively shaped community assembly, each playing distinct roles. Environmental filters strongly drove successional growth-form replacement; dispersal filters modestly influenced the rate of community reassembly, and management filters weakly shaped the initial species composition. Together, these filters shape early tropical forest succession and generate spatial variation in long-term successional trajec","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70099","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824534","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}
Catharina Caspara Vloon, Rune Halvorsen, Jørn-Frode Nordbakken, Joachim Paul Töpper, Inger Auestad, Knut Rydgren
Question
How do vascular plant and cryptogam cover, bare peat area and species composition in different microforms on a boreal raised bog change over a 34-year period (1988–2022)? We discuss the observed patterns in the light of ongoing climate change.
Location
Rønnåsmyra Nature Reserve, south-eastern Norway.
Methods
We recorded total vascular plant and cryptogam cover, bare peat area and species composition in 51 permanent 0.5 × 0.5 m plots in 1988, 2004 and 2022. The plots were assigned to microform classes (carpet, lawn, hummock) based on their characteristics in 1988 and 2022. We analysed changes over time and explored the relationship between change in species composition and change in the relative distance from the bog surface to the groundwater table (rDWT) in each microform using linear mixed-effect models and ordination (GNMDS).
Results
No shifts between microforms had occurred during the 34-year period, but the number of observed taxa had decreased from 51 to 38. While the vegetation changed very little between 1988 and 2004, substantial changes occurred from 2004 to 2022. During this period, carpets showed a substantial increase in bare peat at the cost of cryptogam and vascular plant cover. Lawns showed a similar but less strong trend. Hummocks showed no such changes. The species composition of all microforms changed towards vegetation typical of wetter bog surfaces. In hummocks, this implied a shift from dominance by lichens to dominance by strongly peat-producing Sphagnum species of section Acutifolia, coupled with an increase in rDWT.
Conclusion
We demonstrate that bog vegetation can change substantially within two decades. The observed, divergent successions—retrogressive in carpets and lawns and progressive in hummocks—may result from the responses of the cryptogam layer to a combination of increased temperature and increased precipitation. Extreme weather events may have contributed to the increase in bare peat.
{"title":"Vegetation Dynamics on a Boreal Raised Bog: Changes in Carpets, Lawns and Hummocks Towards Wetter Conditions Over a 34-Year Period","authors":"Catharina Caspara Vloon, Rune Halvorsen, Jørn-Frode Nordbakken, Joachim Paul Töpper, Inger Auestad, Knut Rydgren","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70095","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>How do vascular plant and cryptogam cover, bare peat area and species composition in different microforms on a boreal raised bog change over a 34-year period (1988–2022)? We discuss the observed patterns in the light of ongoing climate change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rønnåsmyra Nature Reserve, south-eastern Norway.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We recorded total vascular plant and cryptogam cover, bare peat area and species composition in 51 permanent 0.5 × 0.5 m plots in 1988, 2004 and 2022. The plots were assigned to microform classes (carpet, lawn, hummock) based on their characteristics in 1988 and 2022. We analysed changes over time and explored the relationship between change in species composition and change in the relative distance from the bog surface to the groundwater table (rDWT) in each microform using linear mixed-effect models and ordination (GNMDS).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>No shifts between microforms had occurred during the 34-year period, but the number of observed taxa had decreased from 51 to 38. While the vegetation changed very little between 1988 and 2004, substantial changes occurred from 2004 to 2022. During this period, carpets showed a substantial increase in bare peat at the cost of cryptogam and vascular plant cover. Lawns showed a similar but less strong trend. Hummocks showed no such changes. The species composition of all microforms changed towards vegetation typical of wetter bog surfaces. In hummocks, this implied a shift from dominance by lichens to dominance by strongly peat-producing <i>Sphagnum</i> species of section <i>Acutifolia</i>, coupled with an increase in rDWT.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We demonstrate that bog vegetation can change substantially within two decades. The observed, divergent successions—retrogressive in carpets and lawns and progressive in hummocks—may result from the responses of the cryptogam layer to a combination of increased temperature and increased precipitation. Extreme weather events may have contributed to the increase in bare peat.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751086","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}
Lautaro Nasta, Lucio Biancari, Martin Roberto Aguiar
Aims
Coexistence of woody and herbaceous species in mixed communities has been an ecological conundrum for several decades. The general conclusion is that no single mechanism can explain coexistence. Researchers have proposed a unifying theory predicting that, despite states of equilibrium or domains of attraction, the mixed condition results from buffering mechanisms acting at the species level as the community approaches the limits of its existence (i.e., dominated by a single life-form). Here we experimentally tested, for the first time, these buffering mechanisms in grass and shrub species at the scale of a patch mosaic in a temperate shrub–grass steppe.
Location
Shrub–grass Patagonian steppes, Argentina (45°24′ S, 70°17′ W).
Methods
In six grazed and ungrazed plots large enough to represent accurately the vegetation mosaic of patches (121 m2), we created experimental communities exclusively dominated by grasses or shrubs. In addition, we established two control treatments: one with intact vegetation and another completely cleared. We constructed an integral projection model for populations of grasses and shrubs and evaluated the action of buffering mechanisms using the population growth rate over the transient period (λg).
Results
We highlight three main results. First, we found that λg of the reduced life-form increased when it was experimentally reduced. Second, there were species-specific differences that modulate the population response to dominance and disturbance (i.e., physiognomy and grazing, respectively). Third, fecundity was the vital rate driving the population response of both grasses and shrubs. Moderate grazing did not alter these results.
Conclusions
Buffering mechanisms play a critical role in the persistence of the co-dominated state of the shrub–grass community. We argue that buffering mechanisms act through processes promoting the fecundity of species reduced at the extremes by (i) negative intradominant life-form interactions (competition), (ii) niche partitioning that reduces inter-life-form niche overlap, and (iii) positive inter-life-form interactions (facilitation).
{"title":"Coexistence Beyond Equilibria: Testing the Ecological Buffering Mechanisms Theory in Mixed Communities","authors":"Lautaro Nasta, Lucio Biancari, Martin Roberto Aguiar","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70091","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Coexistence of woody and herbaceous species in mixed communities has been an ecological conundrum for several decades. The general conclusion is that no single mechanism can explain coexistence. Researchers have proposed a unifying theory predicting that, despite states of equilibrium or domains of attraction, the mixed condition results from buffering mechanisms acting at the species level as the community approaches the limits of its existence (i.e., dominated by a single life-form). Here we experimentally tested, for the first time, these buffering mechanisms in grass and shrub species at the scale of a patch mosaic in a temperate shrub–grass steppe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Shrub–grass Patagonian steppes, Argentina (45°24′ S, 70°17′ W).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In six grazed and ungrazed plots large enough to represent accurately the vegetation mosaic of patches (121 m<sup>2</sup>), we created experimental communities exclusively dominated by grasses or shrubs. In addition, we established two control treatments: one with intact vegetation and another completely cleared. We constructed an integral projection model for populations of grasses and shrubs and evaluated the action of buffering mechanisms using the population growth rate over the transient period (<i>λ</i><sub>g</sub>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We highlight three main results. First, we found that <i>λ</i><sub>g</sub> of the reduced life-form increased when it was experimentally reduced. Second, there were species-specific differences that modulate the population response to dominance and disturbance (i.e., physiognomy and grazing, respectively). Third, fecundity was the vital rate driving the population response of both grasses and shrubs. Moderate grazing did not alter these results.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Buffering mechanisms play a critical role in the persistence of the co-dominated state of the shrub–grass community. We argue that buffering mechanisms act through processes promoting the fecundity of species reduced at the extremes by (i) negative intradominant life-form interactions (competition), (ii) niche partitioning that reduces inter-life-form niche overlap, and (iii) positive inter-life-form interactions (facilitation).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145751001","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}
Vojtěch Lanta, Jana Doudová, Tomáš Černý, Lukáš Čížek, Zuzana Chlumská, Miroslav Dvorský, Alena Havrdová, Petr Karlík, Kirill Korznikov, Jiří Doležal, Jan Douda
Aim
Understanding temporal patterns of vegetation change is crucial for assessing the ecological integrity of forest understoreys under shifting management and climate regimes. This study investigates long-term (60-year) and short-term (10-year) changes in species composition, functional traits, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of understorey communities in Central European floodplain forests. The goal is to determine how different temporal scales capture ecological dynamics and to identify trait-based mechanisms underlying community shifts.
Location
The research was conducted in floodplain forests across Central Europe, encompassing oak, ash, hornbeam, and willow-dominated stands distributed along a gradient of soil moisture availability.
Methods
We analyzed repeated vegetation plot records across two temporal scales. Changes in species richness, functional diversity (FD), and PD were quantified. Species-level shifts were linked to plant traits such as height, seed mass, and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with analyses stratified by forest type.
Results
Over 60 years, species richness and PD declined, driven by the loss of phylogenetically distinct light-demanding specialists and an increase in tall woody generalists with conservative strategies. FD remained stable but showed directional trait shifts. In contrast, the 10-year data showed limited changes in diversity indices, despite continued increases in some woody species and temporary gains of specialists in drier hornbeam stands. Trait–abundance correlations indicated that taller species with high LDMC or heavier seeds were favored under conditions of canopy closure and drought. Invasive species also increased in abundance over the 60-year period, whereas short-term trends exhibited weaker signals.
Conclusions
Long-term data revealed compositional and trait-based transformations missed in short-term assessments, emphasizing the value of extended temporal monitoring. Trait–environment interactions varied among forest types, reflecting site-specific drivers such as differences in moisture conditions. These findings highlight the need for temporally informed forest management strategies that promote resilience by addressing both species impoverishment in the forest understorey and trait-based filters.
{"title":"Vegetation Changes in Temperate Floodplain Forests: Temporal Scale Matters","authors":"Vojtěch Lanta, Jana Doudová, Tomáš Černý, Lukáš Čížek, Zuzana Chlumská, Miroslav Dvorský, Alena Havrdová, Petr Karlík, Kirill Korznikov, Jiří Doležal, Jan Douda","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding temporal patterns of vegetation change is crucial for assessing the ecological integrity of forest understoreys under shifting management and climate regimes. This study investigates long-term (60-year) and short-term (10-year) changes in species composition, functional traits, and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of understorey communities in Central European floodplain forests. The goal is to determine how different temporal scales capture ecological dynamics and to identify trait-based mechanisms underlying community shifts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The research was conducted in floodplain forests across Central Europe, encompassing oak, ash, hornbeam, and willow-dominated stands distributed along a gradient of soil moisture availability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed repeated vegetation plot records across two temporal scales. Changes in species richness, functional diversity (FD), and PD were quantified. Species-level shifts were linked to plant traits such as height, seed mass, and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with analyses stratified by forest type.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Over 60 years, species richness and PD declined, driven by the loss of phylogenetically distinct light-demanding specialists and an increase in tall woody generalists with conservative strategies. FD remained stable but showed directional trait shifts. In contrast, the 10-year data showed limited changes in diversity indices, despite continued increases in some woody species and temporary gains of specialists in drier hornbeam stands. Trait–abundance correlations indicated that taller species with high LDMC or heavier seeds were favored under conditions of canopy closure and drought. Invasive species also increased in abundance over the 60-year period, whereas short-term trends exhibited weaker signals.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Long-term data revealed compositional and trait-based transformations missed in short-term assessments, emphasizing the value of extended temporal monitoring. Trait–environment interactions varied among forest types, reflecting site-specific drivers such as differences in moisture conditions. These findings highlight the need for temporally informed forest management strategies that promote resilience by addressing both species impoverishment in the forest understorey and trait-based filters.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145695487","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}
<div> <section> <h3> Aims</h3> <p>Human disturbances and environmental changes significantly influence riparian vegetation composition and dynamics by altering hydrological regimes. In high-altitude river systems, snowmelt-driven water-level fluctuations add further complexity to these processes. However, little is known about how riparian plant functional strategies—competitor (C), stress-tolerator (S), and ruderal (R)—respond to dam-induced water-level fluctuations. This study aimed to assess the effects of water-level fluctuations and climatic factors on riparian vegetation functional strategies along the Nyang River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>This study was conducted along the Nyang River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. A total of 33 sites were surveyed, spanning upstream, reservoir, and downstream zones, which were categorized based on water-level fluctuation gradients.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We classified riparian vegetation functional strategies using Grime's CSR framework based on species trait data. Hydrological and climatic variables, including water-level fluctuations, temperature, precipitation, and snow cover, were derived from the Global Surface Water Mapping Layers and the FLDAS dataset. Soil properties were measured in the field. Redundancy analysis and partial least squares path modeling were applied to identify key drivers of CSR variation across different river zones.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Riparian vegetation exhibited significant differences in stress tolerance and ruderal strategies across the Nyang River. Plants in the reservoir and upstream zones had higher S-strategy values, whereas downstream vegetation was predominantly characterized by high competitiveness. The primary drivers of CSR variation across the catchment were temperature, precipitation, and snow cover. In reservoir zones, water-level fluctuations (e.g., retention time, river width) were the dominant influences, whereas downstream vegetation was mainly governed by climate variables. In upstream zones, precipitation, water-level fluctuations, and snow cover jointly influenced CSR strategies. Water-level fluctuations directly regulated functional strategies, whereas snow cover had both direct effects and indirect effects via soil moisture changes.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>This study highlights the interactive effects of climate change and flow regulation on riparian vegetation functional strategies in high-altitude river systems. The findings provide crit
{"title":"Variation of Riparian Plant CSR Strategies Across the Gradient of the Water Level Fluctuation and Snowmelt Along the Nyang River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau","authors":"Yao Zhang, Janne Alahuhta, Wei Li, Junyao Sun","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Human disturbances and environmental changes significantly influence riparian vegetation composition and dynamics by altering hydrological regimes. In high-altitude river systems, snowmelt-driven water-level fluctuations add further complexity to these processes. However, little is known about how riparian plant functional strategies—competitor (C), stress-tolerator (S), and ruderal (R)—respond to dam-induced water-level fluctuations. This study aimed to assess the effects of water-level fluctuations and climatic factors on riparian vegetation functional strategies along the Nyang River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study was conducted along the Nyang River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. A total of 33 sites were surveyed, spanning upstream, reservoir, and downstream zones, which were categorized based on water-level fluctuation gradients.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We classified riparian vegetation functional strategies using Grime's CSR framework based on species trait data. Hydrological and climatic variables, including water-level fluctuations, temperature, precipitation, and snow cover, were derived from the Global Surface Water Mapping Layers and the FLDAS dataset. Soil properties were measured in the field. Redundancy analysis and partial least squares path modeling were applied to identify key drivers of CSR variation across different river zones.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Riparian vegetation exhibited significant differences in stress tolerance and ruderal strategies across the Nyang River. Plants in the reservoir and upstream zones had higher S-strategy values, whereas downstream vegetation was predominantly characterized by high competitiveness. The primary drivers of CSR variation across the catchment were temperature, precipitation, and snow cover. In reservoir zones, water-level fluctuations (e.g., retention time, river width) were the dominant influences, whereas downstream vegetation was mainly governed by climate variables. In upstream zones, precipitation, water-level fluctuations, and snow cover jointly influenced CSR strategies. Water-level fluctuations directly regulated functional strategies, whereas snow cover had both direct effects and indirect effects via soil moisture changes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study highlights the interactive effects of climate change and flow regulation on riparian vegetation functional strategies in high-altitude river systems. The findings provide crit","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626813","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}
Indira V. Leon-Garcia, Aimée T. Classen, Justyna Giejsztowt, Julie R. Deslippe
<div> <section> <p>Climate change threatens alpine communities as faster warming leads to plant invasions and local extinctions, but effects vary along environmental gradients. Experiments accounting for interactions of warming and species turnover along environmental gradients can clarify mechanisms of community change.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>In a field experiment in grasslands, we tested warming and removal of dominant ericaceous shrubs: <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (invader, low elevation) and <i>Gaultheria colensoi</i> (native, high elevation).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>Species presence and cover were recorded annually to assess community composition, richness and functional diversity, interpreted with respect to the stress gradient hypothesis (SGH). Further, we explored drivers of cover over elevation.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Independent of treatments, cover of the dominant species increased significantly over time. At high elevation, an 8.5% increase in <i>Gaultheria</i> cover was accompanied by a 0.2% increase in rare species, while at low elevation, a 10% increase in invasive <i>Calluna</i> cover coincided with a 0.1% reduction in rare species. Treatment effects on subordinate cover differed between elevations. At high elevation, warming reduced the probability of occurrence of subordinate species by 20% and species richness by 2.3, with forbs most negatively affected. However, <i>Gaultheria</i> removal had a positive effect on functional diversity, increasing species evenness over time. At low elevation, invader removal increased evenness by 10% through a positive effect on forb cover. Diversity marginally increased (5%) in the combined warming and removal treatment, suggesting that invasion may suppress the response of plant functional diversity to warming at this site.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusion</h3> <p>We found support for the SGH only under ambient conditions and mainly for rare, low-cover species. At high elevation, warming weakened positive <i>Gaultheria</i>–subordinate interactions. At low elevation, <i>Calluna</i> cover suppressed rare species under ambient conditions, but warming did not promote invasion, likely due to warming-induced drought. Removal increased subordinate diversity but had little effect on cover, potentially revealing longer-term reductions in productivity. Our study highlights the utility of experimental warming and dominant removals for revealing plant community responses to global change and suggests that the lee side of Mount Ruapehu will be a strategically important
{"title":"Long-Term Warming and Dominant Species Removal Alter Plant Community Composition in Invaded Alpine Tussock Grasslands in New Zealand","authors":"Indira V. Leon-Garcia, Aimée T. Classen, Justyna Giejsztowt, Julie R. Deslippe","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change threatens alpine communities as faster warming leads to plant invasions and local extinctions, but effects vary along environmental gradients. Experiments accounting for interactions of warming and species turnover along environmental gradients can clarify mechanisms of community change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In a field experiment in grasslands, we tested warming and removal of dominant ericaceous shrubs: <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (invader, low elevation) and <i>Gaultheria colensoi</i> (native, high elevation).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species presence and cover were recorded annually to assess community composition, richness and functional diversity, interpreted with respect to the stress gradient hypothesis (SGH). Further, we explored drivers of cover over elevation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Independent of treatments, cover of the dominant species increased significantly over time. At high elevation, an 8.5% increase in <i>Gaultheria</i> cover was accompanied by a 0.2% increase in rare species, while at low elevation, a 10% increase in invasive <i>Calluna</i> cover coincided with a 0.1% reduction in rare species. Treatment effects on subordinate cover differed between elevations. At high elevation, warming reduced the probability of occurrence of subordinate species by 20% and species richness by 2.3, with forbs most negatively affected. However, <i>Gaultheria</i> removal had a positive effect on functional diversity, increasing species evenness over time. At low elevation, invader removal increased evenness by 10% through a positive effect on forb cover. Diversity marginally increased (5%) in the combined warming and removal treatment, suggesting that invasion may suppress the response of plant functional diversity to warming at this site.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found support for the SGH only under ambient conditions and mainly for rare, low-cover species. At high elevation, warming weakened positive <i>Gaultheria</i>–subordinate interactions. At low elevation, <i>Calluna</i> cover suppressed rare species under ambient conditions, but warming did not promote invasion, likely due to warming-induced drought. Removal increased subordinate diversity but had little effect on cover, potentially revealing longer-term reductions in productivity. Our study highlights the utility of experimental warming and dominant removals for revealing plant community responses to global change and suggests that the lee side of Mount Ruapehu will be a strategically important ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626299","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}
Savannas are mixed tree-grass systems maintained by complex interactions and feedbacks between bottom-up (resources) and top-down (e.g., fire and herbivory) forces. Much research in savannas has focused on understanding what enables tree-grass coexistence. In contrast, tree-tree interactions have received limited attention despite being equally important for determining savanna structure. Tree-tree interactions can be facilitative, or competitive, with differential implications for woody cover and savanna structure. Further, these interactions can change across life stages of woody plants. In this study, we assessed patterns of tree spatial distributions to infer the nature of tree-tree interactions (whether facilitative or competitive) across two life stages, saplings and adults, in an Indian savanna.
Location
Mesic savanna in southern India.
Methods
We assessed spatial patterns of trees using point pattern analysis and inferred the nature of tree-tree interactions by examining neighbourhood effects, both conspecific and heterospecific, on plant survival and growth across the two life stages.
Results
We found that saplings were strongly aggregated while adult trees were randomly distributed. Despite being strongly aggregated, sapling growth and survival over 4 years were unaffected by neighbours (adults and saplings). Instead, initial size (basal area at first census) was the single best predictor of both sapling growth and survival. In contrast, adult neighbours negatively affected adult tree growth with effects being more pronounced for conspecific neighbours than heterospecifics. Other factors such as drought and fire, although important for sapling and adult performance, did not occur during our study period.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that tree-tree interactions in this mesic savanna vary from neutral at the sapling stage to negative at the adult stage. Neighbourhood density influenced adult tree growth but not survival. Suppressive effects of neighbours on adult tree growth, although weak, suggest a potential role for competitive tree-tree interactions in constraining tree cover in Indian mesic savannas.
{"title":"Spatial Patterns of Woody Plants and Tree-Tree Interactions in an Indian Mesic Savanna","authors":"Rohit Subhedar, Jayashree Ratnam, Mahesh Sankaran","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70089","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Savannas are mixed tree-grass systems maintained by complex interactions and feedbacks between bottom-up (resources) and top-down (e.g., fire and herbivory) forces. Much research in savannas has focused on understanding what enables tree-grass coexistence. In contrast, tree-tree interactions have received limited attention despite being equally important for determining savanna structure. Tree-tree interactions can be facilitative, or competitive, with differential implications for woody cover and savanna structure. Further, these interactions can change across life stages of woody plants. In this study, we assessed patterns of tree spatial distributions to infer the nature of tree-tree interactions (whether facilitative or competitive) across two life stages, saplings and adults, in an Indian savanna.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mesic savanna in southern India.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed spatial patterns of trees using point pattern analysis and inferred the nature of tree-tree interactions by examining neighbourhood effects, both conspecific and heterospecific, on plant survival and growth across the two life stages.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that saplings were strongly aggregated while adult trees were randomly distributed. Despite being strongly aggregated, sapling growth and survival over 4 years were unaffected by neighbours (adults and saplings). Instead, initial size (basal area at first census) was the single best predictor of both sapling growth and survival. In contrast, adult neighbours negatively affected adult tree growth with effects being more pronounced for conspecific neighbours than heterospecifics. Other factors such as drought and fire, although important for sapling and adult performance, did not occur during our study period.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that tree-tree interactions in this mesic savanna vary from neutral at the sapling stage to negative at the adult stage. Neighbourhood density influenced adult tree growth but not survival. Suppressive effects of neighbours on adult tree growth, although weak, suggest a potential role for competitive tree-tree interactions in constraining tree cover in Indian mesic savannas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145625905","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}
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