Sergio de Tomás-Marín, Francesco de Bello, Javier Galán Díaz, Francisco J. Muñoz-Gálvez, Iván Prieto, Enrique G. de la Riva
Question
How do tree canopy cover and soil nutrients shape the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of sub-Mediterranean grasslands?
Location
Valdebezana's valley (Burgos, Northern Spain).
Methods
We measured 10 above- and belowground plant functional raits related to resource acquisition strategies and dispersal ability from four sub-Mediterranean grasslands dominated by species with different biogeographic origins (Eurosiberian vs. Mediterranean). Then, we estimated patterns in taxonomic composition and compared the levels of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity indices among communities and estimated their phylogenetic and functional assembly patterns, together with the decoupled functional diversity. Additionally, we estimated the influence of tree canopy and soil nutrients in shaping such patterns.
Results
Communities segregated according to their biogeographic origin (Eurosiberian vs. Mediterranean) along a soil resource gradient, matching the economics spectrum expectation. Taxonomic diversity differed significantly between biogeographic origins, but phylogenetic or functional diversity did not. Assembly patterns showed phylogenetic over-dispersion accompanied by functional clustering, with a significant effect of decoupling. Differences in taxonomic diversity were driven by edaphic factors, while canopy closure mainly influenced phylogenetic and functional patterns.
Conclusions
Sub-Mediterranean grasslands are highly rich in all facets of biodiversity (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) and in assembly processes. In these habitats, local conditions may influence the structure and composition of herbaceous plant communities, highlighting the fragility of ecotones to environmental variations. Our results underline the need to develop proper management actions to preserve ecotone grassland communities; for instance, the creation of heterogeneous environments combining forest patches with open areas to maximize their biodiversity and functionality.
{"title":"How Do Tree Canopy and Soil Nutrients Drive Distinct Facets of Diversity and Community Assembly in Sub-Mediterranean Grasslands?","authors":"Sergio de Tomás-Marín, Francesco de Bello, Javier Galán Díaz, Francisco J. Muñoz-Gálvez, Iván Prieto, Enrique G. de la Riva","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70064","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>How do tree canopy cover and soil nutrients shape the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of sub-Mediterranean grasslands?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Valdebezana's valley (Burgos, Northern Spain).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We measured 10 above- and belowground plant functional raits related to resource acquisition strategies and dispersal ability from four sub-Mediterranean grasslands dominated by species with different biogeographic origins (Eurosiberian vs. Mediterranean). Then, we estimated patterns in taxonomic composition and compared the levels of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity indices among communities and estimated their phylogenetic and functional assembly patterns, together with the decoupled functional diversity. Additionally, we estimated the influence of tree canopy and soil nutrients in shaping such patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Communities segregated according to their biogeographic origin (Eurosiberian vs. Mediterranean) along a soil resource gradient, matching the economics spectrum expectation. Taxonomic diversity differed significantly between biogeographic origins, but phylogenetic or functional diversity did not. Assembly patterns showed phylogenetic over-dispersion accompanied by functional clustering, with a significant effect of decoupling. Differences in taxonomic diversity were driven by edaphic factors, while canopy closure mainly influenced phylogenetic and functional patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sub-Mediterranean grasslands are highly rich in all facets of biodiversity (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) and in assembly processes. In these habitats, local conditions may influence the structure and composition of herbaceous plant communities, highlighting the fragility of ecotones to environmental variations. Our results underline the need to develop proper management actions to preserve ecotone grassland communities; for instance, the creation of heterogeneous environments combining forest patches with open areas to maximize their biodiversity and functionality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145038193","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}
Aud H. Halbritter, Joe Atkinson, Celesté Maré, Sam J. Ahler, Emil A. S. Andersen, Pia M. Bradler, Marta Correia, Alexander Elsy, Susan E. Eshelman, Sonya R. Geange, Meghan Hayden, Dickson Mauki, Julia Eckberg, Joshua Erkelenz, Coskun Guclu, Cora Ena Löwenstein, Brian S. Maitner, Marta Baumane, Hilary Rose Dawson, Brian Enquist, Josef C. Garen, Mukhlish Jamal Musa Holle, Julia Chacon Labella, Kai Lepley, Sean T. Michaletz, Bernard Olivier, Courtenay A. Ray, Jonathan von Oppen, Richard J. Telford, Vigdis Vandvik
Questions
Alpine grasslands are affected by a range of global change drivers, including land-use change, climate warming and pollution. How these drivers interact and affect plant functional communities is poorly understood. We used plant functional traits to test the single and interactive effects of warming, nitrogen addition and grazing on alpine grassland communities and assessed the importance of intraspecific trait variation.
Location
Alpine and sub-alpine grasslands in western Norway.
Methods
For three years, we applied global change treatments to test the effects of warming with nitrogen addition, and warming with grazing at an alpine and sub-alpine plant community. We measured six plant functional traits related to plant size and leaf economics, including intraspecific trait variation.
Results
Our results show that warming and nitrogen addition shifted size-related traits in plant communities towards taller plants with larger leaves, and more strongly in the alpine than in the sub-alpine plant community. Warming also affected leaf economic traits, promoting faster traits in the alpine and slower traits in the sub-alpine plant community. Grazing shifted communities to faster leaves (grazing tolerant) in the sub-alpine community and slower leaves (grazing avoidance) in the alpine community. There were no interactive effects between the global change drivers. The relative contributions of species turnover and intraspecific trait variation to overall trait variation differed between origins of the two plant communities.
Conclusions
We show that these global change drivers shift alpine and sub-alpine plant communities in different directions, likely due to differences in resource availability. Our results support the need for site-specific management strategies in these systems.
{"title":"Effects of Warming, Nitrogen and Grazing on Plant Functional Traits Differ Between Alpine and Sub-Alpine Grasslands","authors":"Aud H. Halbritter, Joe Atkinson, Celesté Maré, Sam J. Ahler, Emil A. S. Andersen, Pia M. Bradler, Marta Correia, Alexander Elsy, Susan E. Eshelman, Sonya R. Geange, Meghan Hayden, Dickson Mauki, Julia Eckberg, Joshua Erkelenz, Coskun Guclu, Cora Ena Löwenstein, Brian S. Maitner, Marta Baumane, Hilary Rose Dawson, Brian Enquist, Josef C. Garen, Mukhlish Jamal Musa Holle, Julia Chacon Labella, Kai Lepley, Sean T. Michaletz, Bernard Olivier, Courtenay A. Ray, Jonathan von Oppen, Richard J. Telford, Vigdis Vandvik","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70061","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alpine grasslands are affected by a range of global change drivers, including land-use change, climate warming and pollution. How these drivers interact and affect plant functional communities is poorly understood. We used plant functional traits to test the single and interactive effects of warming, nitrogen addition and grazing on alpine grassland communities and assessed the importance of intraspecific trait variation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alpine and sub-alpine grasslands in western Norway.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>For three years, we applied global change treatments to test the effects of warming with nitrogen addition, and warming with grazing at an alpine and sub-alpine plant community. We measured six plant functional traits related to plant size and leaf economics, including intraspecific trait variation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results show that warming and nitrogen addition shifted size-related traits in plant communities towards taller plants with larger leaves, and more strongly in the alpine than in the sub-alpine plant community. Warming also affected leaf economic traits, promoting faster traits in the alpine and slower traits in the sub-alpine plant community. Grazing shifted communities to faster leaves (grazing <i>tolerant</i>) in the sub-alpine community and slower leaves (grazing <i>avoidance</i>) in the alpine community. There were no interactive effects between the global change drivers. The relative contributions of species turnover and intraspecific trait variation to overall trait variation differed between origins of the two plant communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We show that these global change drivers shift alpine and sub-alpine plant communities in different directions, likely due to differences in resource availability. Our results support the need for site-specific management strategies in these systems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145022042","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}
Raphael S. von Büren, Michael Zehnder, Jonathan von Oppen, Christian Rossi, Sonja Wipf, Sabine Rumpf
Aim
The role of microclimate in influencing range limits and vegetation shifts, especially in topographically heterogeneous mountain ecosystems, has gained attention in recent years. However, disturbance by large animals and snow pressure complicate reliable year-round time series of microclimatic measurements near the soil surface, calling for more robust logger setups.
Location
Swiss Alps.
Methods
We presented a novel, low-cost, and effective method to monitor above- and belowground microclimate in mountain environments year-round that withstands large animals and snow pressure and is suitable for remote areas. Specifically, we customized the widely used TOMST TMS-4 data loggers and tested their functionality and reliability in a factorial field experiment as well as in a regional-scale field study in heterogeneous mountain terrain.
Results
We found that standard TMS-4 loggers were frequently destroyed by snow creep or snow pressure over winter, but customized loggers remained intact. In addition, camera-trap footage demonstrated that only customized loggers were efficiently protected against large mammals, such as wolves, foxes, red deer, and chamois. The customization of loggers had ecologically negligible effects on the recorded above- and belowground microclimate.
Conclusions
With this method, we enable combined monitoring of air, surface, and soil temperatures as well as soil moisture in alpine environments throughout the year, and thus the collection of crucial microclimatic variables for research in mountain ecosystems.
{"title":"A Novel Method for Monitoring Above- and Belowground Microclimates in Mountain Ecosystems Year-Round","authors":"Raphael S. von Büren, Michael Zehnder, Jonathan von Oppen, Christian Rossi, Sonja Wipf, Sabine Rumpf","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70063","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The role of microclimate in influencing range limits and vegetation shifts, especially in topographically heterogeneous mountain ecosystems, has gained attention in recent years. However, disturbance by large animals and snow pressure complicate reliable year-round time series of microclimatic measurements near the soil surface, calling for more robust logger setups.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Swiss Alps.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We presented a novel, low-cost, and effective method to monitor above- and belowground microclimate in mountain environments year-round that withstands large animals and snow pressure and is suitable for remote areas. Specifically, we customized the widely used TOMST TMS-4 data loggers and tested their functionality and reliability in a factorial field experiment as well as in a regional-scale field study in heterogeneous mountain terrain.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that standard TMS-4 loggers were frequently destroyed by snow creep or snow pressure over winter, but customized loggers remained intact. In addition, camera-trap footage demonstrated that only customized loggers were efficiently protected against large mammals, such as wolves, foxes, red deer, and chamois. The customization of loggers had ecologically negligible effects on the recorded above- and belowground microclimate.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>With this method, we enable combined monitoring of air, surface, and soil temperatures as well as soil moisture in alpine environments throughout the year, and thus the collection of crucial microclimatic variables for research in mountain ecosystems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70063","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145007906","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}
Fabio Mologni, Peter J. Bellingham, Ewen K. Cameron, Anthony E. Wright, Yanping Wang
<div> <section> <h3> Questions</h3> <p>Understanding the composition and structure of island floras is crucial for making informed conservation decisions, especially in the context of biological invasions. Island floras are often nested, that is, species-poor assemblages are frequently subsets of species-rich ones. However, the circumstances under which this occurs on islands are often unclear. To gain insight into the processes that shape the composition and structure of island floras, we incorporated taxonomic and trait categories to investigate the relationships between the degree of nestedness of native and non-native plant species and island characteristics. We hypothesise that the degree of nestedness (1) declines with island area (non-random local extinctions), increases with isolation (non-random colonisation), declines with exposure to ocean-borne disturbances (non-random local extinction of specialists with their habitat) and is higher on volcanic compared to sedimentary islands (assembly rules). We also hypothesise that (2) plant invasions will reduce overall nestedness and (3) plant assemblages will be more nested if smaller in size (e.g., grasses, forbs) and not adapted to long-distance dispersal (e.g., wind-dispersed, ferns).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Two hundred and sixty-four islands offshore from northern Aotearoa New Zealand.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We combined field surveys and published data for 1543 native and non-native plant species across 264 islands. We compiled information about taxonomy at the fine (species) and coarse level (i.e., ferns and allies, conifers, monocots and dicots) and categorised each species by its growth form (i.e., graminoids, forbs, woody species, climbers and lianas and epiphytes) and dispersal mode (i.e., water-dispersed, unspecialised, short-distance, animal-dispersed and wind-dispersed). We quantified nestedness by organising species incidence matrices using the NODF (i.e., nestedness metric based on overlap and decreasing fill) and fixed-fixed null models. Finally, we related island nestedness ranks with four island characteristics (area, isolation, exposure to ocean-borne disturbances and geological origin).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Nearly all plant categories were nested, with a few exceptions. However, non-native species reduced the overall degree of nestedness. Nestedness ranks were consistently related to island area and largely to exposure to ocean-borne disturbances, but rarely to isolation and geological origin. These results
{"title":"Plant Invasions Reduce the Degree of Nestedness on Warm Temperate Islands","authors":"Fabio Mologni, Peter J. Bellingham, Ewen K. Cameron, Anthony E. Wright, Yanping Wang","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding the composition and structure of island floras is crucial for making informed conservation decisions, especially in the context of biological invasions. Island floras are often nested, that is, species-poor assemblages are frequently subsets of species-rich ones. However, the circumstances under which this occurs on islands are often unclear. To gain insight into the processes that shape the composition and structure of island floras, we incorporated taxonomic and trait categories to investigate the relationships between the degree of nestedness of native and non-native plant species and island characteristics. We hypothesise that the degree of nestedness (1) declines with island area (non-random local extinctions), increases with isolation (non-random colonisation), declines with exposure to ocean-borne disturbances (non-random local extinction of specialists with their habitat) and is higher on volcanic compared to sedimentary islands (assembly rules). We also hypothesise that (2) plant invasions will reduce overall nestedness and (3) plant assemblages will be more nested if smaller in size (e.g., grasses, forbs) and not adapted to long-distance dispersal (e.g., wind-dispersed, ferns).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Two hundred and sixty-four islands offshore from northern Aotearoa New Zealand.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We combined field surveys and published data for 1543 native and non-native plant species across 264 islands. We compiled information about taxonomy at the fine (species) and coarse level (i.e., ferns and allies, conifers, monocots and dicots) and categorised each species by its growth form (i.e., graminoids, forbs, woody species, climbers and lianas and epiphytes) and dispersal mode (i.e., water-dispersed, unspecialised, short-distance, animal-dispersed and wind-dispersed). We quantified nestedness by organising species incidence matrices using the NODF (i.e., nestedness metric based on overlap and decreasing fill) and fixed-fixed null models. Finally, we related island nestedness ranks with four island characteristics (area, isolation, exposure to ocean-borne disturbances and geological origin).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Nearly all plant categories were nested, with a few exceptions. However, non-native species reduced the overall degree of nestedness. Nestedness ranks were consistently related to island area and largely to exposure to ocean-borne disturbances, but rarely to isolation and geological origin. These results ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144918795","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}
Mara Paneghel, Judith Solé, Gil Torné, Teresa Valor, Aitor Ameztegui, Josu G. Alday, Lluís Coll
Aims
Rapid revegetation of burnt forest is essential for recovering ecosystem functioning, especially in the context of climate change–driven shifts in fire regime. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how abiotic factors (topography, fire behaviour) and biotic factors (pre-fire forest characteristics, plant reproductive strategies, land-use trajectories) influence the recovery of Pinus halepensis forests, identifying regeneration vulnerabilities that could inform management practices.
Location
A P. halepensis forest burnt in 2019 (4000 ha) in NE Iberian Peninsula.
Methods
We established 72 sampling sites within the burnt forest, covering gradients of pre-fire canopy cover (PCC), topography, fire severity and land-use history. At each site, we recorded the abundance of P. halepensis seedlings within a 100-m2 plot. We also conducted a floristic inventory of all associated woody species along two parallel 20-m transects to assess woody species cover, richness and distribution. Woody species were classified based on their post-fire reproductive strategies (obligate seeding, facultative resprouting and resprouting) to explore the relationship between functional characteristics and plant distribution along the studied gradients.
Results
Northern exposures enhanced the abundance of P. halepensis, whereas coexisting woody species cover was higher on southern ones, probably due to the contribution of obligate seeders, as fire-responsive reproductive traits vary along the north–south gradient. PCC boosted pine regeneration and species richness, while high fire severity reduced both cover and richness of woody species, likely due to damage to reproductive structures.
Conclusions
We show that the drivers of post-fire regeneration influence in different and even divergent ways the vegetation components considered (canopy and shrub layer), as in the case of aspect. From a management perspective, post-fire forest interventions should be tailored to restoration objectives and to the post-fire vegetation communities that better respond to them.
{"title":"Key Factors Influencing Post-Fire Vegetation Recovery in Pinus halepensis Forests: Divergent Effects for Canopy and Shrub Species","authors":"Mara Paneghel, Judith Solé, Gil Torné, Teresa Valor, Aitor Ameztegui, Josu G. Alday, Lluís Coll","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rapid revegetation of burnt forest is essential for recovering ecosystem functioning, especially in the context of climate change–driven shifts in fire regime. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how abiotic factors (topography, fire behaviour) and biotic factors (pre-fire forest characteristics, plant reproductive strategies, land-use trajectories) influence the recovery of <i>Pinus halepensis</i> forests, identifying regeneration vulnerabilities that could inform management practices.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A <i>P. halepensis</i> forest burnt in 2019 (4000 ha) in NE Iberian Peninsula.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We established 72 sampling sites within the burnt forest, covering gradients of pre-fire canopy cover (PCC), topography, fire severity and land-use history. At each site, we recorded the abundance of <i>P. halepensis</i> seedlings within a 100-m<sup>2</sup> plot. We also conducted a floristic inventory of all associated woody species along two parallel 20-m transects to assess woody species cover, richness and distribution. Woody species were classified based on their post-fire reproductive strategies (obligate seeding, facultative resprouting and resprouting) to explore the relationship between functional characteristics and plant distribution along the studied gradients.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Northern exposures enhanced the abundance of <i>P. halepensis</i>, whereas coexisting woody species cover was higher on southern ones, probably due to the contribution of obligate seeders, as fire-responsive reproductive traits vary along the north–south gradient. PCC boosted pine regeneration and species richness, while high fire severity reduced both cover and richness of woody species, likely due to damage to reproductive structures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We show that the drivers of post-fire regeneration influence in different and even divergent ways the vegetation components considered (canopy and shrub layer), as in the case of aspect. From a management perspective, post-fire forest interventions should be tailored to restoration objectives and to the post-fire vegetation communities that better respond to them.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70062","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144910442","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}
Lukas Bärmann, Stefan Kaufmann, Sara Klingenfuss, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Markus Hauck
Questions
The diversity and composition of functional traits within plant communities have repeatedly been shown to be important predictors of overall ecosystem stability and the provision of basic ecosystem services. Admixing alternative tree species to monodominant European beech forests, a common measure of silvicultural climate change adaptation, is known to affect species diversity and composition of forest floor vegetation. Here we studied whether this adaptation measure also affects the functional diversity and composition of understorey plant communities.
Location
The study was carried out in temperate beech forests of southwest Germany in Central Europe.
Methods
We used the four key plant traits seed mass (SDM), plant height (PHV), leaf dry-matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA) to calculate the distance-based functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve), functional divergence (FDiv) and the community-weighted mean (CWM) plant traits of herb layer plant communities. Generalised mixed models were built to test the effects of gradually admixed Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), silver fir (Abies alba), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), red oak (Quercus rubra) and various mixtures of native broadleaves on functional diversity and composition.
Results
The presence of Douglas fir and silver fir was associated with increased FRic of the understorey, silver fir and sessile oak (on base-rich soils only) with increased FDiv, whereas mixed broadleaves were associated with slightly decreased FEve. Regarding CWM trait values, the presence of silver fir (only acidic soils) and sessile oak (only base-rich soils) was linked with increased SDM, Douglas fir, red oak and mixed broadleaves with decreased LDMC. PHV was increased at higher proportions of Douglas fir but lowered in the presence of mixed broadleaves, and SLA was negatively affected by sessile oak presence on acidic soils.
Conclusion
Our results show that herb layer functional diversity and composition are distinctively affected by the diversification of beech forest canopies, which is indicative of environmental changes and might ultimately affect ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and litter decomposition. Regarding t
{"title":"The Presence of Alternative Tree Species in European Beech Forests Drives Change in Functional Diversity and Composition of Forest Floor Plant Communities","authors":"Lukas Bärmann, Stefan Kaufmann, Sara Klingenfuss, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Markus Hauck","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The diversity and composition of functional traits within plant communities have repeatedly been shown to be important predictors of overall ecosystem stability and the provision of basic ecosystem services. Admixing alternative tree species to monodominant European beech forests, a common measure of silvicultural climate change adaptation, is known to affect species diversity and composition of forest floor vegetation. Here we studied whether this adaptation measure also affects the functional diversity and composition of understorey plant communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was carried out in temperate beech forests of southwest Germany in Central Europe.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used the four key plant traits seed mass (SDM), plant height (PHV), leaf dry-matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA) to calculate the distance-based functional richness (<i>FRic</i>), functional evenness (<i>FEve</i>), functional divergence (<i>FDiv</i>) and the community-weighted mean (CWM) plant traits of herb layer plant communities. Generalised mixed models were built to test the effects of gradually admixed Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>), silver fir (<i>Abies alba</i>), sessile oak (<i>Quercus petraea</i>), red oak (<i>Quercus rubra</i>) and various mixtures of native broadleaves on functional diversity and composition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The presence of Douglas fir and silver fir was associated with increased <i>FRic</i> of the understorey, silver fir and sessile oak (on base-rich soils only) with increased <i>FDiv</i>, whereas mixed broadleaves were associated with slightly decreased <i>FEve</i>. Regarding CWM trait values, the presence of silver fir (only acidic soils) and sessile oak (only base-rich soils) was linked with increased SDM, Douglas fir, red oak and mixed broadleaves with decreased LDMC. PHV was increased at higher proportions of Douglas fir but lowered in the presence of mixed broadleaves, and SLA was negatively affected by sessile oak presence on acidic soils.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results show that herb layer functional diversity and composition are distinctively affected by the diversification of beech forest canopies, which is indicative of environmental changes and might ultimately affect ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and litter decomposition. Regarding t","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144869861","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}
Ole R. Vetaas, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Benjamin Robson, Richard Field, Severin D. H. Irl, Michele Di Musciano, Alessandro Chiarucci
Aims
Geographic variation in species richness along elevational and latitudinal gradients may be controlled by energy, water, and productivity; however, spatial factors such as area and geometric constraints may also contribute. We use large mountainous oceanic islands, which exhibit considerable range in all proposed driver variables, to test established plant diversity models, such as the mid-domain effect (MDE), actual evapotranspiration (AET, energy), water–energy dynamics (WED: precipitation + potential evapotranspiration), and net primary production (NPP).
Location
We used published data comprising complete floras with elevation-specific occurrence information for seven mountainous oceanic islands (> 2000 m asl) in tropical and subtropical zones.
Methods
For each of the seven islands, plant richness was estimated within each 100 m elevation band (interpolated from maximum and minimum elevation). We used generalized linear models to evaluate the effects of area, MDE, AET, NPP (MODIS), and WED on each island and all islands simultaneously. The general WED model used in this study is a two-term model that includes a second-order polynomial function of PET and a linear function of precipitation. We use AIC and the proportion of explained deviance to identify the best model for explaining variation in plant richness along elevational gradients on mountainous islands.
Results
We found remarkably consistent patterns in which AET and MDE failed to offer a good explanation for species richness. WED was the best model when all islands were analyzed simultaneously; however, analyses on separate islands revealed that the precipitation term was not significant or negatively related to richness on five of the seven islands. The second-best model was NPP, whereas the best single predictor of richness was the polynomial expression of PET. The spatial variables, area, and the autocorrelated masl were strongly correlated with the residuals of the weak models.
Conclusions
Based on these observations, WED and NPP are superior in explaining richness on mountainous islands, whereas MDE and AET have low explanatory power. Precipitation has a negative correlation with species richness in five out of seven islands.
{"title":"Testing of Drivers for Plant Species Diversity Along Elevational Gradients on Seven Mountainous Islands in the Subtropics","authors":"Ole R. Vetaas, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Benjamin Robson, Richard Field, Severin D. H. Irl, Michele Di Musciano, Alessandro Chiarucci","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Geographic variation in species richness along elevational and latitudinal gradients may be controlled by energy, water, and productivity; however, spatial factors such as area and geometric constraints may also contribute. We use large mountainous oceanic islands, which exhibit considerable range in all proposed driver variables, to test established plant diversity models, such as the mid-domain effect (MDE), actual evapotranspiration (AET, energy), water–energy dynamics (WED: precipitation + potential evapotranspiration), and net primary production (NPP).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used published data comprising complete floras with elevation-specific occurrence information for seven mountainous oceanic islands (> 2000 m asl) in tropical and subtropical zones.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>For each of the seven islands, plant richness was estimated within each 100 m elevation band (interpolated from maximum and minimum elevation). We used generalized linear models to evaluate the effects of area, MDE, AET, NPP (MODIS), and WED on each island and all islands simultaneously. The general WED model used in this study is a two-term model that includes a second-order polynomial function of PET and a linear function of precipitation. We use AIC and the proportion of explained deviance to identify the best model for explaining variation in plant richness along elevational gradients on mountainous islands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found remarkably consistent patterns in which AET and MDE failed to offer a good explanation for species richness. WED was the best model when all islands were analyzed simultaneously; however, analyses on separate islands revealed that the precipitation term was not significant or negatively related to richness on five of the seven islands. The second-best model was NPP, whereas the best single predictor of richness was the polynomial expression of PET. The spatial variables, area, and the autocorrelated masl were strongly correlated with the residuals of the weak models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Based on these observations, WED and NPP are superior in explaining richness on mountainous islands, whereas MDE and AET have low explanatory power. Precipitation has a negative correlation with species richness in five out of seven islands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144832528","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}
Do the effects of an understory shrub on woody seedlings explain the distributions of relict conifer trees at a regional scale?
Location
Three natural Cedrus libani reserves from Lebanon.
Methods
Using an observational approach, we quantified associations of recruits of woody species at the center and periphery of the spiny shrub Juniperus oxycedrus in forests and gaps along a north–south climatic gradient of both winter rainfall continentality and summer drought. We quantified the associations of woody seedlings with shrubs using the Relative Interactions Index (RII) calculated for recruits of all species together (community scale) and for four groups of functionally different species. We then analyzed the variation of RIIs along different treatments. Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) was quantified in each treatment combination, and its relationship with species-group RIIs and abundance was evaluated.
Results
At the community-scale, shrubs showed likely higher negative effects on woody seedlings at their center than at their periphery. In contrast, there were contrasting responses at the species-group level, with overall negative associations for Cedrus, positive associations for a group including Abies cilicica, and intermediate responses for two other groups. Positive associations strongly varied along the drought gradient and with the canopy treatment, while negative associations only slightly increased from forests to gaps. Positive associations varied together with VPD, peaking at an intermediate position along the drought gradient coinciding with the southernmost limit of Abies and declining at the dry extreme of the gradient where Cedrus is still present.
Main Conclusions
VPD appeared as a crucial driver of tree species occurrence and likely facilitation. Although manipulative experiments are needed to confirm the real occurrence of facilitative and competitive effects of the shrub, our study highlights the potential role of facilitation in explaining tree species distribution at regional scales.
{"title":"Changes in the Strength of Associations Between Tree Seedlings and Understory Shrubs Along a Regional Drought Gradient in Lebanese Coniferous Forests","authors":"Andrea Maamary, Florian Delerue, Richard Michalet","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Do the effects of an understory shrub on woody seedlings explain the distributions of relict conifer trees at a regional scale?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Three natural <i>Cedrus libani</i> reserves from Lebanon.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using an observational approach, we quantified associations of recruits of woody species at the center and periphery of the spiny shrub <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> in forests and gaps along a north–south climatic gradient of both winter rainfall continentality and summer drought. We quantified the associations of woody seedlings with shrubs using the Relative Interactions Index (RII) calculated for recruits of all species together (community scale) and for four groups of functionally different species. We then analyzed the variation of RIIs along different treatments. Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) was quantified in each treatment combination, and its relationship with species-group RIIs and abundance was evaluated.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At the community-scale, shrubs showed likely higher negative effects on woody seedlings at their center than at their periphery. In contrast, there were contrasting responses at the species-group level, with overall negative associations for <i>Cedrus</i>, positive associations for a group including <i>Abies cilicica</i>, and intermediate responses for two other groups. Positive associations strongly varied along the drought gradient and with the canopy treatment, while negative associations only slightly increased from forests to gaps. Positive associations varied together with VPD, peaking at an intermediate position along the drought gradient coinciding with the southernmost limit of <i>Abies</i> and declining at the dry extreme of the gradient where <i>Cedrus</i> is still present.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>VPD appeared as a crucial driver of tree species occurrence and likely facilitation. Although manipulative experiments are needed to confirm the real occurrence of facilitative and competitive effects of the shrub, our study highlights the potential role of facilitation in explaining tree species distribution at regional scales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70054","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144767892","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}
Although communities may be differentially susceptible to establishment of exotics, broad predictions of community invasibility remain elusive. Here we have addressed which abiotic and biotic site characteristics were most strongly related to exotic plant cover in plant communities of the southeastern U.S. Piedmont and how effective these site characteristics were in distinguishing communities with successful persistence of exotic plant species from those without exotic plant species.
Location
Piedmont physiographic region, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, USA.
Methods
We analyzed 28 unique biotic and abiotic variables potentially associated with exotic species establishment using a dataset of 1363 vegetation plots. We developed logistic and binomial regressions to analyze exotic species cover as a function of predictor variables and a classification and regression tree to determine the relationship between exotic species establishment and community characteristics.
Results
Many soil characteristics (pH, exchange capacity, base saturation, and multiple nutrient variables) were positively and significantly related to exotic species establishment, while elevation and soil iron were negatively related. Many other variables were inconsistently related to exotic cover in these communities. Finally, the classification and regression tree analysis indicated that environmental and community conditions can be better used to explain where establishment was unlikely than where it was likely to occur. However, various combinations of wetland species cover, calcium, phosphorus, stem density, slope, and soil iron were most effective in predicting sites with establishment.
Conclusions
The significant positive relationship between exotic species cover and soil nutrients suggests that exotic species often succeed in fertile sites, and the relationship with wetland species suggests the importance of soil moisture, nutrient deposition, and propagule dissemination by water. Although many clues exist as to the potential for exotic species persistence, these factors do not fully explain the complex community interactions driving, and being driven by, plant invasions, including the potential lag in invasion timelines.
{"title":"Relationship of Exotic Species Establishment to Environmental Site Characteristics in Plant Communities of the Piedmont of Southeastern USA","authors":"Dennis D. Tarasi, Robert K. Peet","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although communities may be differentially susceptible to establishment of exotics, broad predictions of community invasibility remain elusive. Here we have addressed which abiotic and biotic site characteristics were most strongly related to exotic plant cover in plant communities of the southeastern U.S. Piedmont and how effective these site characteristics were in distinguishing communities with successful persistence of exotic plant species from those without exotic plant species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Piedmont physiographic region, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analyzed 28 unique biotic and abiotic variables potentially associated with exotic species establishment using a dataset of 1363 vegetation plots. We developed logistic and binomial regressions to analyze exotic species cover as a function of predictor variables and a classification and regression tree to determine the relationship between exotic species establishment and community characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Many soil characteristics (pH, exchange capacity, base saturation, and multiple nutrient variables) were positively and significantly related to exotic species establishment, while elevation and soil iron were negatively related. Many other variables were inconsistently related to exotic cover in these communities. Finally, the classification and regression tree analysis indicated that environmental and community conditions can be better used to explain where establishment was unlikely than where it was likely to occur. However, various combinations of wetland species cover, calcium, phosphorus, stem density, slope, and soil iron were most effective in predicting sites with establishment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The significant positive relationship between exotic species cover and soil nutrients suggests that exotic species often succeed in fertile sites, and the relationship with wetland species suggests the importance of soil moisture, nutrient deposition, and propagule dissemination by water. Although many clues exist as to the potential for exotic species persistence, these factors do not fully explain the complex community interactions driving, and being driven by, plant invasions, including the potential lag in invasion timelines.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716900","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}
Francesco Maria Sabatini, Michele Di Musciano, Alessandro Chiarucci
Questions
Change in species composition over time is the result of both interannual variability, that is, year-to-year fluctuations due to weather patterns or demographic processes, and directional change, following succession or changing climatic conditions. Quantifying each component is difficult due to the confounding effects of pseudoturnover (i.e., apparent turnover due to observer error). Can yearly-resolved vegetation plot time series be used to quantify the relative contribution of these components of change, while controlling for pseudoturnover?
Location
A European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest in Central Apennines, Italy.
Methods
We developed an approach based on matrix decomposition and PERMANOVA to disentangle the effect of pseudoturnover, directional change, and interannual variability across nine permanent vegetation plots resurveyed for thirteen consecutive years, comparing the herb layer in a newly formed canopy gap, at the gap margins, and in the forest interior. We used helical graphs, generalized linear models, and non-metric multidimensional scaling to compare the timing and pace of vegetation change.
Results
Interannual variability and directional change accounted for similar shares of overall variation (26.7% and 28.9%, respectively). While pseudoturnover accounted for a modest 0.4%, ignoring it would result in a substantial overestimation of interannual variability. Overall, the herb layer reacted vigorously to disturbance-triggered changes in light conditions. Species richness increased from 11 to 23.3 in canopy gaps but remained stable at the gap margin and in the forest interior. The rate of change was 3.0 species/year immediately after disturbance and slowed down to 0.3 species/year after 11 years.
Conclusions
The composition of the herb layer varied substantially in the study period and showed a marked year-to-year variation even in the forest interior, where light conditions were relatively stable. A proper estimation of the interannual variability of vegetation, while crucial to benchmark the effects of disturbance in forests, should account for the confounding effect of pseudoturnover.
{"title":"Using Yearly-Resolved Time Series to Disentangle Interannual Variability, Directional Change, and Pseudoturnover in Plant Community Composition","authors":"Francesco Maria Sabatini, Michele Di Musciano, Alessandro Chiarucci","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Change in species composition over time is the result of both interannual variability, that is, year-to-year fluctuations due to weather patterns or demographic processes, and directional change, following succession or changing climatic conditions. Quantifying each component is difficult due to the confounding effects of pseudoturnover (i.e., apparent turnover due to observer error). Can yearly-resolved vegetation plot time series be used to quantify the relative contribution of these components of change, while controlling for pseudoturnover?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A European beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) forest in Central Apennines, Italy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We developed an approach based on matrix decomposition and PERMANOVA to disentangle the effect of pseudoturnover, directional change, and interannual variability across nine permanent vegetation plots resurveyed for thirteen consecutive years, comparing the herb layer in a newly formed canopy gap, at the gap margins, and in the forest interior. We used helical graphs, generalized linear models, and non-metric multidimensional scaling to compare the timing and pace of vegetation change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Interannual variability and directional change accounted for similar shares of overall variation (26.7% and 28.9%, respectively). While pseudoturnover accounted for a modest 0.4%, ignoring it would result in a substantial overestimation of interannual variability. Overall, the herb layer reacted vigorously to disturbance-triggered changes in light conditions. Species richness increased from 11 to 23.3 in canopy gaps but remained stable at the gap margin and in the forest interior. The rate of change was 3.0 species/year immediately after disturbance and slowed down to 0.3 species/year after 11 years.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The composition of the herb layer varied substantially in the study period and showed a marked year-to-year variation even in the forest interior, where light conditions were relatively stable. A proper estimation of the interannual variability of vegetation, while crucial to benchmark the effects of disturbance in forests, should account for the confounding effect of pseudoturnover.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70052","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716901","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号