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}
Dario C. Paiva, Daniel Negreiros, Jessica Cunha-Blum, Carla Rago, Vanessa M. Gomes, Irene Gélvez-Zúñiga, G. Wilson Fernandes
Question
Understanding how nutrient availability and soil conditions influence ecosystem functionality is crucial for predicting changes in the plant community and informing ecological restoration programs. Here, we aimed to characterize the ecological strategies of the most abundant species in an ironstone ecosystem, to understand how edaphic parameters drive these strategies, and to investigate how species taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities differ among habitats within the ecosystem.
Location
The study was conducted in three municipalities in the southern portion of the Espinhaço mountain range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We sampled plots in three habitat types with distinct soil characteristics.
Methods
We employed the CSR framework to characterize the ecological strategies of the most common species across 87,100-m2 plots. We also measured 19 edaphic parameters in these plots to evaluate their influence on ecological strategies.
Results
Most of the 46 sampled species displayed a high proportion of stress-tolerant strategies due to their small leaves with high dry matter content. This pattern reflects the preponderance of S-selection at the plot level. Conversely, plots with finer sand and relatively fertile conditions had more competitive strategies, and the species within showed larger leaves with less biomass investment.
Conclusions
This study highlights the role of abiotic filters in shaping CSR strategies in ironstone campo rupestre, emphasizing the trade-off between growth and resource conservation. The low growth rates of species reveal the ecosystem's vulnerability to increased soil removal and disturbances. Additionally, small-scale edaphic variation relates mainly to physical properties, selected species composition, and functionality.
{"title":"Unraveling the Influence of Soil Properties on CSR Strategies in an Ironstone Montane Ecosystem in Southeast Brazil","authors":"Dario C. Paiva, Daniel Negreiros, Jessica Cunha-Blum, Carla Rago, Vanessa M. Gomes, Irene Gélvez-Zúñiga, G. Wilson Fernandes","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70092","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding how nutrient availability and soil conditions influence ecosystem functionality is crucial for predicting changes in the plant community and informing ecological restoration programs. Here, we aimed to characterize the ecological strategies of the most abundant species in an ironstone ecosystem, to understand how edaphic parameters drive these strategies, and to investigate how species taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities differ among habitats within the ecosystem.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was conducted in three municipalities in the southern portion of the Espinhaço mountain range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We sampled plots in three habitat types with distinct soil characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We employed the CSR framework to characterize the ecological strategies of the most common species across 87,100-m<sup>2</sup> plots. We also measured 19 edaphic parameters in these plots to evaluate their influence on ecological strategies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most of the 46 sampled species displayed a high proportion of stress-tolerant strategies due to their small leaves with high dry matter content. This pattern reflects the preponderance of S-selection at the plot level. Conversely, plots with finer sand and relatively fertile conditions had more competitive strategies, and the species within showed larger leaves with less biomass investment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study highlights the role of abiotic filters in shaping CSR strategies in ironstone <i>campo rupestre</i>, emphasizing the trade-off between growth and resource conservation. The low growth rates of species reveal the ecosystem's vulnerability to increased soil removal and disturbances. Additionally, small-scale edaphic variation relates mainly to physical properties, selected species composition, and functionality.</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":"145625904","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}
Climate change and forest management have profoundly altered forest ecosystem dynamics, with impacts on canopy composition and understory vegetation. Forest type affects bryophyte ecosystem processes, particularly related to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Within the boreal-temperate ecotone, the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest harbors a diverse canopy composition with many species at their distributional limit, making it sensitive to climate change and human alterations, with unknown impacts on bryophytes and their functions.
Aims
We aimed to quantify how canopy composition and moisture affect forest-floor bryophyte biomass, and C and N stocks.
Location
We sampled in 49 stands representing six forest types of the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest of New Brunswick (Canada): mesic coniferous, wet coniferous, mesic deciduous, wet deciduous, mixed, and cedar forests.
Methods
First, we developed an allometric model to predict bryophyte bulk density. We then estimated bryophyte biomass and C and N contents for five functional groups at each site using the ground layer indicator method and measured forest and soil characteristics at each site (e.g., forest composition, soil pH, moisture class). Linear models; multivariate, similarity percentages; and indicator species analyses were used for data analysis.
Results
The highest bryophyte biomass and C and N stocks were found in conifer-dominated forests, especially where Sphagnum was abundant, whereas they were low in mixed and deciduous forests which also had a different functional composition. There was a strong negative nonlinear relationship between bryophyte biomass and broadleaf litter.
Conclusions
We provide the first reports of bryophyte biomass and C and N stocks in the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest, which were consistent with its latitudinal location at the southern edge of the boreal forest. Our findings highlight the connections between forest composition and bryophytes in the Acadian Forest and reveal the potential contribution of forest-floor bryophytes to C and N stocks.
{"title":"Forest Composition Drives Bryophyte Biomass, Carbon, and Nitrogen Storage in the Boreal-Temperate Ecotone","authors":"Luana Gonçalves Cemin, Mélanie Jean","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change and forest management have profoundly altered forest ecosystem dynamics, with impacts on canopy composition and understory vegetation. Forest type affects bryophyte ecosystem processes, particularly related to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Within the boreal-temperate ecotone, the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest harbors a diverse canopy composition with many species at their distributional limit, making it sensitive to climate change and human alterations, with unknown impacts on bryophytes and their functions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We aimed to quantify how canopy composition and moisture affect forest-floor bryophyte biomass, and C and N stocks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We sampled in 49 stands representing six forest types of the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest of New Brunswick (Canada): mesic coniferous, wet coniferous, mesic deciduous, wet deciduous, mixed, and cedar forests.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>First, we developed an allometric model to predict bryophyte bulk density. We then estimated bryophyte biomass and C and N contents for five functional groups at each site using the ground layer indicator method and measured forest and soil characteristics at each site (e.g., forest composition, soil pH, moisture class). Linear models; multivariate, similarity percentages; and indicator species analyses were used for data analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The highest bryophyte biomass and C and N stocks were found in conifer-dominated forests, especially where <i>Sphagnum</i> was abundant, whereas they were low in mixed and deciduous forests which also had a different functional composition. There was a strong negative nonlinear relationship between bryophyte biomass and broadleaf litter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We provide the first reports of bryophyte biomass and C and N stocks in the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest, which were consistent with its latitudinal location at the southern edge of the boreal forest. Our findings highlight the connections between forest composition and bryophytes in the Acadian Forest and reveal the potential contribution of forest-floor bryophytes to C and N stocks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70088","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145581375","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}
Do multiple environmental conditions filter plant communities in non-native plantations similarly to the natural forests? Do upper forest layers act as additional filters on understory plant diversity? How do multiple environmental conditions and forest structure affect rewilding?
Location
Trentino region (Italy).
Methods
Using a stratified random sampling design approach encompassing different elevations and aspects in non-native old-established black pine plantations of the eastern European Alps, we sampled 55 plots over 6200 km2 in which we collected data on abiotic conditions and species cover for each forest layer (tree, shrub, herb), and forest regeneration (i.e., woody juvenile species). We adopted structural equation models (SEMs) to investigate the causal relationships between multiple environmental conditions and forest layer interactions on alpha and beta plant diversity. Furthermore, we ran redundancy analysis (RDA) to test for the effect of multiple environmental conditions and forest structural parameters on the ecology of the herbaceous communities.
Results
High- and low-elevation sites had reduced alpha diversity likely because of frost and drought climatic constraints. Shaded conditions due to tree canopy cover directly reduced alpha shrub diversity, and indirectly the herb diversity. Beta diversity of each layer was mainly influenced by slope and elevation. The composition of trees set off a cascading effect, shaping shrub communities and, in turn, the herbaceous and juvenile layers below.
Conclusions
Non-native old-established plantations close to the native range of black pine showed high diversity coupled with scarce regeneration. Our insights are crucial for understanding the rewilding of old-established plantation forests. Future plantation programs should consider both the multiple spatial scales of the environmental conditions of the sites and the interaction among vegetation layers to achieve effective rewilding.
{"title":"Passive Rewilding of Old-Established Plantations Into Native Forests","authors":"Alessandro Bricca, Stefan Zerbe, Hannelore Fellin, Nicola Alessi, Simona Maccherini, Gianmaria Bonari","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70085","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Do multiple environmental conditions filter plant communities in non-native plantations similarly to the natural forests? Do upper forest layers act as additional filters on understory plant diversity? How do multiple environmental conditions and forest structure affect rewilding?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Trentino region (Italy).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using a stratified random sampling design approach encompassing different elevations and aspects in non-native old-established black pine plantations of the eastern European Alps, we sampled 55 plots over 6200 km<sup>2</sup> in which we collected data on abiotic conditions and species cover for each forest layer (tree, shrub, herb), and forest regeneration (i.e., woody juvenile species). We adopted structural equation models (SEMs) to investigate the causal relationships between multiple environmental conditions and forest layer interactions on alpha and beta plant diversity. Furthermore, we ran redundancy analysis (RDA) to test for the effect of multiple environmental conditions and forest structural parameters on the ecology of the herbaceous communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>High- and low-elevation sites had reduced alpha diversity likely because of frost and drought climatic constraints. Shaded conditions due to tree canopy cover directly reduced alpha shrub diversity, and indirectly the herb diversity. Beta diversity of each layer was mainly influenced by slope and elevation. The composition of trees set off a cascading effect, shaping shrub communities and, in turn, the herbaceous and juvenile layers below.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Non-native old-established plantations close to the native range of black pine showed high diversity coupled with scarce regeneration. Our insights are crucial for understanding the rewilding of old-established plantation forests. Future plantation programs should consider both the multiple spatial scales of the environmental conditions of the sites and the interaction among vegetation layers to achieve effective rewilding.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145581376","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}
Guilherme Dubal dos Santos Seger, Sandra Maria Hartz, Leandro da Silva Duarte
Aims
Climate has long been recognized as an important factor shaping plant phenology. Seasonal climatic variables can exert a strong influence on flowering and fruiting timing. Further, if phenological responses to environmental gradients are phylogenetically conserved in plant species, evolutionary history might be a strong determinant of phenological periods. In this study, we evaluated whether closely related species are phenologically similar, whether there is an association between the composition of flowering or fruiting species and environmental gradients, and to what extent such associations are mediated by the phylogenetic relationships among species.
Location
Araucaria forest at São Francisco de Paula, South Brazil.
Methods
We assessed the phylogenetic conservatism of reproductive phenology in a climbing plant community (78 spp.), an understudied life form that highly contributes to ecosystem dynamics. For this, we calculated the phylogenetic signal of species' flowering and fruiting peaks and conducted a phylobetadiversity analysis and model selection considering temporal autocorrelation.
Results
We found a weak phylogenetic signal in flowering and no signal for fruit phenology at the species scale. However, we found a strong influence of shared evolutionary history on the association between phenological patterns and environmental gradients at the assemblage scale, with different phylogenetic lineages influenced by distinct variables. The daylength, a variable that exhibits subtle changes and consistent patterns across years, explained most of both flowering and fruiting of larger clades (rosids vs asterids), while for fruiting lower level clades (families) were influenced by the canopy openness of tree species.
Conclusions
The results highlight the fingerprint of phylogenetic relatedness in the association of plant phenology and environmental gradients, enabling the identification of at which phylogenetic levels these gradients are acting. Our approach and results bring a new perspective, showing that even in the absence of a phylogenetic signal in species phenological peaks, there is a phylogenetic conservatism between plant phenology and environmental gradients.
长期以来，气候一直被认为是影响植物物候的重要因素。季节气候变量对开花和结果的时间有很大的影响。此外，如果植物物种对环境梯度的物候反应在系统发育上是保守的，那么进化史可能是物候期的一个强有力的决定因素。在这项研究中，我们评估了近缘种是否具有物候相似性，开花或结果种的组成是否与环境梯度有关，以及这种联系在多大程度上是由种间的系统发育关系介导的。位置：巴西南部san Francisco de Paula的Araucaria森林。方法对攀缘植物群落（78种）生殖物候学的系统发育保守性进行了评估。为此，我们计算了物种开花和结果峰的系统发育信号，并进行了系统多样性分析和考虑时间自相关的模式选择。结果在开花过程中发现了较弱的系统发育信号，而在种尺度上没有发现果实物候信号。然而，我们发现，在组合尺度上，共同的进化史对物候模式和环境梯度之间的关联有很强的影响，不同的系统发育谱系受到不同变量的影响。日长是一个在不同年份表现出微妙变化和一致模式的变量，它解释了大型进化枝（蔷薇枝与小行星枝）的大部分开花和结果，而低层进化枝（科）的结果则受到树种冠层开度的影响。结论该结果突出了植物物候与环境梯度之间系统发育亲缘关系的指纹图谱，从而能够识别这些梯度在哪些系统发育水平上起作用。我们的方法和结果带来了一个新的视角，表明即使在物种物候峰中没有系统发育信号，植物物候与环境梯度之间也存在系统发育保守性。
{"title":"Contrasting Phylogenetic Signals in Flowering and Fruiting Phenology at Species and Assemblage Scales in a Climbing Plant Community","authors":"Guilherme Dubal dos Santos Seger, Sandra Maria Hartz, Leandro da Silva Duarte","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70087","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate has long been recognized as an important factor shaping plant phenology. Seasonal climatic variables can exert a strong influence on flowering and fruiting timing. Further, if phenological responses to environmental gradients are phylogenetically conserved in plant species, evolutionary history might be a strong determinant of phenological periods. In this study, we evaluated whether closely related species are phenologically similar, whether there is an association between the composition of flowering or fruiting species and environmental gradients, and to what extent such associations are mediated by the phylogenetic relationships among species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Araucaria</i> forest at São Francisco de Paula, South Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed the phylogenetic conservatism of reproductive phenology in a climbing plant community (78 spp.), an understudied life form that highly contributes to ecosystem dynamics. For this, we calculated the phylogenetic signal of species' flowering and fruiting peaks and conducted a phylobetadiversity analysis and model selection considering temporal autocorrelation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found a weak phylogenetic signal in flowering and no signal for fruit phenology at the species scale. However, we found a strong influence of shared evolutionary history on the association between phenological patterns and environmental gradients at the assemblage scale, with different phylogenetic lineages influenced by distinct variables. The daylength, a variable that exhibits subtle changes and consistent patterns across years, explained most of both flowering and fruiting of larger clades (rosids vs asterids), while for fruiting lower level clades (families) were influenced by the canopy openness of tree species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results highlight the fingerprint of phylogenetic relatedness in the association of plant phenology and environmental gradients, enabling the identification of at which phylogenetic levels these gradients are acting. Our approach and results bring a new perspective, showing that even in the absence of a phylogenetic signal in species phenological peaks, there is a phylogenetic conservatism between plant phenology and environmental gradients.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70087","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145581062","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}
Pasi Pouta, Jussi Lampinen, Henry Väre, D. Johan Kotze
<div> <section> <h3> Question</h3> <p>Urban grasslands host important plant diversity. They comprise numerous open habitats varying from species-rich semi-natural grasslands to often species-poor ‘novel’ grasslands. To foster plant diversity in urban grasslands, we need to understand their community assembly. We asked: how do vascular plant communities and their composition of species attributes assemble according to patch- and landscape-scale filters in urban grasslands?</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>The Helsinki Capital region, Finland.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We studied 200 urban grasslands, representing a wide variation of grassland types and landscape contexts. We investigated valuable grasslands, landscape grasslands, lawns and grasslands resulting from biodiversity-oriented actions: lawn grasslands (former lawns with reduced management) and sown grasslands (sown with seed mixtures). We analysed plant communities, the environmental factors driving them (e.g., grassland type, soil and landscape variables) and the relationships between species niches and species attributes (e.g., specific leaf area, life form, seed mass) by using ordination methods and hierarchical modelling.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>We observed numerous statistically supported relationships between species, species attributes and environmental variables. The communities varied according to two main gradients: productivity and disturbance, aligning with Grime's CSR strategies. The productivity gradient arranged sites from rocky to dry and mesic grasslands. The disturbance gradient arranged sites from ruderal to semi-natural and forest-influenced grasslands. The highest total species richness and specialised species occurrence were associated with long-term intermediate disturbance and non-extreme productivity. Biodiversity-oriented actions increased species occurrences compared to lawns, but often failed to support many specialised species (e.g., positive grassland indicators).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>Our results suggest that the wide variation in urban grassland plant communities can be understood through their degree of disturbance and productivity. Moreover, novel grasslands may start resembling semi-natural grasslands under suitable long-term management if productivity is moderate and if dispersal occurs. Thus, long-term extensive maintenance, reducing nutrients and facilitating dispersal,
{"title":"Urban Grassland Plant Communities Assemble According to Productivity and Disturbance Gradients","authors":"Pasi Pouta, Jussi Lampinen, Henry Väre, D. Johan Kotze","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Urban grasslands host important plant diversity. They comprise numerous open habitats varying from species-rich semi-natural grasslands to often species-poor ‘novel’ grasslands. To foster plant diversity in urban grasslands, we need to understand their community assembly. We asked: how do vascular plant communities and their composition of species attributes assemble according to patch- and landscape-scale filters in urban grasslands?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Helsinki Capital region, Finland.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We studied 200 urban grasslands, representing a wide variation of grassland types and landscape contexts. We investigated valuable grasslands, landscape grasslands, lawns and grasslands resulting from biodiversity-oriented actions: lawn grasslands (former lawns with reduced management) and sown grasslands (sown with seed mixtures). We analysed plant communities, the environmental factors driving them (e.g., grassland type, soil and landscape variables) and the relationships between species niches and species attributes (e.g., specific leaf area, life form, seed mass) by using ordination methods and hierarchical modelling.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We observed numerous statistically supported relationships between species, species attributes and environmental variables. The communities varied according to two main gradients: productivity and disturbance, aligning with Grime's CSR strategies. The productivity gradient arranged sites from rocky to dry and mesic grasslands. The disturbance gradient arranged sites from ruderal to semi-natural and forest-influenced grasslands. The highest total species richness and specialised species occurrence were associated with long-term intermediate disturbance and non-extreme productivity. Biodiversity-oriented actions increased species occurrences compared to lawns, but often failed to support many specialised species (e.g., positive grassland indicators).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that the wide variation in urban grassland plant communities can be understood through their degree of disturbance and productivity. Moreover, novel grasslands may start resembling semi-natural grasslands under suitable long-term management if productivity is moderate and if dispersal occurs. Thus, long-term extensive maintenance, reducing nutrients and facilitating dispersal,","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70086","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145522019","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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