Fernanda Garcia, António Alves da Silva, Susana Rodríguez-Echeverría, Helena Freitas, José Paulo Sousa, Joana Alves
Aim
Herbivory has pronounced effects on ecosystems, altering plant community composition and structure while shaping functional traits, highlighting the need for a comprehensive analysis of its impacts, alongside the effects of abiotic factors known to affect plant communities. This study aimed to assess whether red deer herbivory pressure (measured by population density and feeding time), tree cover, altitude, and northness influence plant communities and their functional traits and diversity.
Location
The study was conducted in the Lousã Mountain, central Portugal.
Methods
We evaluated the influence of herbivory and environmental variables on plant communities by analysing ten plant traits: specific leaf area, plant height, leaf length and width, leaf perimeter and roundness, fresh and dry leaf weight, chlorophyll fluorescence, and quantum yield.
Results
Contrary to our predictions, herbivory did not significantly affect plant functional diversity, although it influenced some plant traits. In contrast, tree cover, altitude, and north-facing slopes strongly affected several traits, including plant height, leaf dimensions, SLA, and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that environmental factors predominantly shape plant trait patterns, potentially conferring resilience against intermediate levels of herbivory in Mediterranean mountain communities. This functional resistance highlights the importance of environmental filters in maintaining ecosystem stability and suggests that future changes in climate or land use may have stronger impacts on plant trait dynamics than moderate herbivore pressures.
{"title":"Leaf It Alone: Environmental Factors Outweigh Herbivory as Determinants of Plant Traits in a Mediterranean Mountain","authors":"Fernanda Garcia, António Alves da Silva, Susana Rodríguez-Echeverría, Helena Freitas, José Paulo Sousa, Joana Alves","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70078","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Herbivory has pronounced effects on ecosystems, altering plant community composition and structure while shaping functional traits, highlighting the need for a comprehensive analysis of its impacts, alongside the effects of abiotic factors known to affect plant communities. This study aimed to assess whether red deer herbivory pressure (measured by population density and feeding time), tree cover, altitude, and northness influence plant communities and their functional traits and diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was conducted in the Lousã Mountain, central Portugal.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We evaluated the influence of herbivory and environmental variables on plant communities by analysing ten plant traits: specific leaf area, plant height, leaf length and width, leaf perimeter and roundness, fresh and dry leaf weight, chlorophyll fluorescence, and quantum yield.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Contrary to our predictions, herbivory did not significantly affect plant functional diversity, although it influenced some plant traits. In contrast, tree cover, altitude, and north-facing slopes strongly affected several traits, including plant height, leaf dimensions, SLA, and chlorophyll fluorescence.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings suggest that environmental factors predominantly shape plant trait patterns, potentially conferring resilience against intermediate levels of herbivory in Mediterranean mountain communities. This functional resistance highlights the importance of environmental filters in maintaining ecosystem stability and suggests that future changes in climate or land use may have stronger impacts on plant trait dynamics than moderate herbivore pressures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70078","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366624","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}
While human activity, resource opportunity, and biotic resistance are recognized as key drivers of plant invasions, their relative importance in agricultural landscapes, particularly arid and semiarid regions, remains poorly understood. This study assessed how the relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants respond to these factors.
Location
Ili River Basin, China.
Methods
Based on plant community surveys conducted across 78 sites, we used beta regression to examine the relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants in relation to human activities (including the time required to reach the nearest city center [Time to City], population density, and cropland proportion), abiotic factors (including macroclimates and soil nutrients), and vegetation properties (e.g., native herbaceous plant richness, total basal area [TBA] of trees, and functional traits). Variance partitioning and random forest analyses were used to evaluate the relative importance of different predictors.
Results
Multiple regressions showed that both relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants significantly decreased with Time to City and increased with population density. Both metrics also decreased significantly with native herbaceous plant richness and TBA. The effects of climate and soil variables related to resource availability were quite weak on both relative richness and relative coverage. Relative richness was mainly influenced by biotic resistance factors, such as native herbaceous plant richness and TBA, whereas relative coverage was primarily driven by variables associated with human activity, that is, time to city. Relative richness is also modulated by functional traits, such as the proportion of native perennials.
Main Conclusions
Our study suggests that human activities have facilitated plant invasion in the arid and semiarid regions, but complex vegetation properties can lessen their impact. Our results highlight that effective prevention and control of invasive plants require targeted monitoring in areas of intense human activity, especially around transportation hubs and corridors. Concurrently, enhancing native community resistance is crucial to limiting invasions.
{"title":"Human Activities and Native Vegetation Properties Drive Plant Invasion in Arid Agricultural Regions of Northwest China","authors":"Liulu Xu, Yining Zhu, Wenxin Cao, Shan Lan, Yiwei Zhang, Yufan Xu, Hengrui Zhang, Wenliang Wu, Qinggang Wang","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70077","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While human activity, resource opportunity, and biotic resistance are recognized as key drivers of plant invasions, their relative importance in agricultural landscapes, particularly arid and semiarid regions, remains poorly understood. This study assessed how the relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants respond to these factors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ili River Basin, China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Based on plant community surveys conducted across 78 sites, we used beta regression to examine the relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants in relation to human activities (including the time required to reach the nearest city center [Time to City], population density, and cropland proportion), abiotic factors (including macroclimates and soil nutrients), and vegetation properties (e.g., native herbaceous plant richness, total basal area [TBA] of trees, and functional traits). Variance partitioning and random forest analyses were used to evaluate the relative importance of different predictors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Multiple regressions showed that both relative richness and relative coverage of invasive plants significantly decreased with Time to City and increased with population density. Both metrics also decreased significantly with native herbaceous plant richness and TBA. The effects of climate and soil variables related to resource availability were quite weak on both relative richness and relative coverage. Relative richness was mainly influenced by biotic resistance factors, such as native herbaceous plant richness and TBA, whereas relative coverage was primarily driven by variables associated with human activity, that is, time to city. Relative richness is also modulated by functional traits, such as the proportion of native perennials.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study suggests that human activities have facilitated plant invasion in the arid and semiarid regions, but complex vegetation properties can lessen their impact. Our results highlight that effective prevention and control of invasive plants require targeted monitoring in areas of intense human activity, especially around transportation hubs and corridors. Concurrently, enhancing native community resistance is crucial to limiting invasions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145366625","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}
Michael Mulroy, Jason Dart, Cameron B. Williams, Rikke Reese Næsborg, Alan Fryday, Scott Johnston, Ken Kellman, Nishanta Rajakaruna
Aims
Lichens and bryophytes are an often overlooked, yet dominant biotic component of rock outcrops and other lithic habitats. Saxicolous lichen and bryophyte communities are frequently species-rich and play important ecological roles, including rock weathering, soil formation, and vascular plant recruitment. In this study, we test whether saxicolous communities differ between two substrate types along a coastal to inland spatial gradient.
Location
Ultramafic and sandstone rock outcrops in central California in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Kern counties.
Methods
We sampled saxicolous communities of eight ultramafic and eight sandstone outcrop sites along a 70 km maritime influence gradient using 20 × 20 cm quadrats stratified between north- and south-facing rock aspects. For each quadrat, species composition, distance above the ground, and rock microtopography characteristics were recorded. For each site, rock elemental composition and climate parameters including rainfall, temperature, and fog were documented.
Results
We recorded 132 lichen and seven bryophyte taxa across 128 quadrats. Saxicolous communities were significantly different between ultramafic rock and sandstone, as well as between coastal, intermediate, and inland sites. Ultramafic rocks hosted fewer species overall but had a higher abundance and diversity of cyanolichens. The effect of rock type on species composition was mediated by maritime influence, with coastal samples showing greater cross-substrate differentiation than intermediate and inland samples.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate the interactive roles of substrate, climate, and microtopography in shaping saxicolous communities. The role of substrate in structuring saxicolous communities is mediated by climate and accentuated by the different microtopography profiles of the ultramafic and sandstone rocks. Improving our understanding of how saxicolous communities vary across the landscape is an important step in identifying conservation priorities for these highly diverse and ecologically significant communities.
{"title":"A Comparative Study of Lichen and Bryophyte Communities on Sandstone and Ultramafic Bedrocks Along a Maritime Gradient in Central California","authors":"Michael Mulroy, Jason Dart, Cameron B. Williams, Rikke Reese Næsborg, Alan Fryday, Scott Johnston, Ken Kellman, Nishanta Rajakaruna","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Lichens and bryophytes are an often overlooked, yet dominant biotic component of rock outcrops and other lithic habitats. Saxicolous lichen and bryophyte communities are frequently species-rich and play important ecological roles, including rock weathering, soil formation, and vascular plant recruitment. In this study, we test whether saxicolous communities differ between two substrate types along a coastal to inland spatial gradient.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ultramafic and sandstone rock outcrops in central California in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Kern counties.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We sampled saxicolous communities of eight ultramafic and eight sandstone outcrop sites along a 70 km maritime influence gradient using 20 × 20 cm quadrats stratified between north- and south-facing rock aspects. For each quadrat, species composition, distance above the ground, and rock microtopography characteristics were recorded. For each site, rock elemental composition and climate parameters including rainfall, temperature, and fog were documented.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We recorded 132 lichen and seven bryophyte taxa across 128 quadrats. Saxicolous communities were significantly different between ultramafic rock and sandstone, as well as between coastal, intermediate, and inland sites. Ultramafic rocks hosted fewer species overall but had a higher abundance and diversity of cyanolichens. The effect of rock type on species composition was mediated by maritime influence, with coastal samples showing greater cross-substrate differentiation than intermediate and inland samples.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results demonstrate the interactive roles of substrate, climate, and microtopography in shaping saxicolous communities. The role of substrate in structuring saxicolous communities is mediated by climate and accentuated by the different microtopography profiles of the ultramafic and sandstone rocks. Improving our understanding of how saxicolous communities vary across the landscape is an important step in identifying conservation priorities for these highly diverse and ecologically significant communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145316792","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}
Ondřej Mudrák, Marie Konečná, Markéta Applová, Petr Blažek, Eva Janíková, Aleš Lisner, Szilvia Neumann, Jules Segrestin, Tereza Švancárová, Anna E-Vojtkó, Lars Götzenberger, Jan Lepš
Questions
Despite advances made in disentangling interspecific and intraspecific trait variability, little is known about their coordination. We explored intraspecific trait variability (ITV) of closely related species (to reduce phylogenetic effects) of the Carex genus growing over a broad environmental gradient. We asked whether (i) trait values of Carex species correlate with the community-weighted mean (CWM) of the same trait, (ii) to what extent Carex species turnover between localities and their ITV is responsible for this relationship, and (iii) the ITV of Carex species increases or decreases similarly to CWM, promoting either pattern of trait divergence or convergence.
Location
South Bohemia, Czech Republic.
Methods
We measured three key functional traits (height, specific leaf area—SLA, and leaf dry matter content—LDMC) on populations of 15 Carex species at 72 various localities. We also recorded species composition at each locality to compare Carex species traits with the respective CWMs of the rest of the community.
Results
SLA was the only trait showing significant correlation between Carex species and CWM. This relationship was largely driven by a turnover of Carex species along the gradient of CWM, but ITV strengthened this relationship and increased similarity to CWM. Plant height of Carex species did not correlate with CWM, and LDMC did not show a consistent pattern among Carex species.
Conclusion
ITV of SLA appears to be driven by trait convergence, which indicates environmental filtering for this trait. SLA is a highly variable trait, which was filtered toward optimal SLA values. This allows a more efficient capture of the energy from light and enables species to occupy a broader range of environmental conditions. The extension of conditions which species tolerate due to ITV is, however, limited compared to species turnover, which allows for a substantially broader spectrum of interspecific trait variability.
{"title":"Disentangling Interspecific and Intraspecific Trait Variability of Carex Species Across Different Habitats","authors":"Ondřej Mudrák, Marie Konečná, Markéta Applová, Petr Blažek, Eva Janíková, Aleš Lisner, Szilvia Neumann, Jules Segrestin, Tereza Švancárová, Anna E-Vojtkó, Lars Götzenberger, Jan Lepš","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70071","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite advances made in disentangling interspecific and intraspecific trait variability, little is known about their coordination. We explored intraspecific trait variability (ITV) of closely related species (to reduce phylogenetic effects) of the <i>Carex</i> genus growing over a broad environmental gradient. We asked whether (i) trait values of <i>Carex</i> species correlate with the community-weighted mean (CWM) of the same trait, (ii) to what extent <i>Carex</i> species turnover between localities and their ITV is responsible for this relationship, and (iii) the ITV of <i>Carex</i> species increases or decreases similarly to CWM, promoting either pattern of trait divergence or convergence.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>South Bohemia, Czech Republic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We measured three key functional traits (height, specific leaf area—SLA, and leaf dry matter content—LDMC) on populations of 15 <i>Carex</i> species at 72 various localities. We also recorded species composition at each locality to compare <i>Carex</i> species traits with the respective CWMs of the rest of the community.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SLA was the only trait showing significant correlation between <i>Carex</i> species and CWM. This relationship was largely driven by a turnover of <i>Carex</i> species along the gradient of CWM, but ITV strengthened this relationship and increased similarity to CWM. Plant height of <i>Carex</i> species did not correlate with CWM, and LDMC did not show a consistent pattern among <i>Carex</i> species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>ITV of SLA appears to be driven by trait convergence, which indicates environmental filtering for this trait. SLA is a highly variable trait, which was filtered toward optimal SLA values. This allows a more efficient capture of the energy from light and enables species to occupy a broader range of environmental conditions. The extension of conditions which species tolerate due to ITV is, however, limited compared to species turnover, which allows for a substantially broader spectrum of interspecific trait variability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70071","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272304","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}
Wesley Jonatar Alves da Cruz, Beatriz Schwantes Marimon, Ben Hur Marimon Junior, Paulo S. Morandi, Silvio Gonçalves Longhi, Nayane Cristina Candida dos Santos Prestes, Norberto Gomes Ribeiro Júnior, Simone Matias Reis, Marina Corrêa Scalon, Edmar Almeida de Oliveira, Aurora Levesley, Oliver L. Phillips
Question
We asked how community functional traits differ among vegetation types at the transition zone between the Amazon forest and Cerrado savanna biogeographic domains, and which environmental variables best predict these changes in functional structure.
Location
The large transition zone between the Amazon and Cerrado biogeographic domains.
Methods
We field-collected and analyzed an extensive new database of 182 tree species from six vegetation types, resulting in 55,895 records of functional traits. We selected 15 traits that affect different aspects of ecosystem processes and ecological strategies of trees. Then we compared the distribution of functional traits among vegetation types and assessed their association with edaphic and macroclimatic variables.
Results
We recorded a functional continuum between the extremes of Cerrado (Typical Cerrado) and the Amazon (Open Ombrophilous Forest), with most traits forming a gradient along the vegetation types. Our data also indicate that tree-dominated Cerrado formations (Cerradão) are functionally intermediate between savannas and forests, reinforcing the importance of accounting for the full floristic and structural variation of neighboring biogeographic domains. Our work revealed that CEC, soil pH, mean temperature, maximum temperature, total precipitation, and climatic water deficit are consistently related to key functional traits across the Amazon–Cerrado transition.
Conclusions
Functional traits can be used to efficiently characterize and distinguish multiple communities where South America's two largest biogeographic domains meet. We were able to delimit morpho-physiological requirements that ensure tree species' maintenance in different vegetation types and to characterize the transition zone in terms of ecosystem functioning. Woody vegetation can vary greatly in terms of ecological strategies. Hence, to understand the rules of assembly, boundaries, and full complexity of transitions, it is essential to account for functional differences.
{"title":"Functional Biogeography and Ecological Strategies of Trees Across the Amazon–Cerrado Transition","authors":"Wesley Jonatar Alves da Cruz, Beatriz Schwantes Marimon, Ben Hur Marimon Junior, Paulo S. Morandi, Silvio Gonçalves Longhi, Nayane Cristina Candida dos Santos Prestes, Norberto Gomes Ribeiro Júnior, Simone Matias Reis, Marina Corrêa Scalon, Edmar Almeida de Oliveira, Aurora Levesley, Oliver L. Phillips","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70076","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We asked how community functional traits differ among vegetation types at the transition zone between the Amazon forest and Cerrado savanna biogeographic domains, and which environmental variables best predict these changes in functional structure.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The large transition zone between the Amazon and Cerrado biogeographic domains.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We field-collected and analyzed an extensive new database of 182 tree species from six vegetation types, resulting in 55,895 records of functional traits. We selected 15 traits that affect different aspects of ecosystem processes and ecological strategies of trees. Then we compared the distribution of functional traits among vegetation types and assessed their association with edaphic and macroclimatic variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We recorded a functional continuum between the extremes of Cerrado (Typical Cerrado) and the Amazon (Open Ombrophilous Forest), with most traits forming a gradient along the vegetation types. Our data also indicate that tree-dominated Cerrado formations (Cerradão) are functionally intermediate between savannas and forests, reinforcing the importance of accounting for the full floristic and structural variation of neighboring biogeographic domains. Our work revealed that CEC, soil pH, mean temperature, maximum temperature, total precipitation, and climatic water deficit are consistently related to key functional traits across the Amazon–Cerrado transition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Functional traits can be used to efficiently characterize and distinguish multiple communities where South America's two largest biogeographic domains meet. We were able to delimit morpho-physiological requirements that ensure tree species' maintenance in different vegetation types and to characterize the transition zone in terms of ecosystem functioning. Woody vegetation can vary greatly in terms of ecological strategies. Hence, to understand the rules of assembly, boundaries, and full complexity of transitions, it is essential to account for functional differences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70076","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272305","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}
Bruna Helena Campos, Natashi Pilon, Clayton Alcarde Alvares, Giselda Durigan
Aim
Open ecosystems are variable, and there is no consensus regarding the relative contributions of edaphic, climatic, or disturbance factors in shaping their plant communities. We investigated the relative influences of environmental factors and fire history on the composition, diversity, and structure of Cerrado grassland plant communities.
Location
Cerrado grasslands, Brazil.
Methods
We sampled 14 Cerrado grassland sites. Within each site, we established 30 1-m2 plots to assess floristic composition, diversity, and structure (aboveground biomass; ground-cover ratio of non-grasses:grasses). We assessed fire history (35 years), climate descriptors, and soil properties as determinants of community attributes.
Results
We found minimum temperature and fire frequency significantly correlated with the floristic similarity between sites. Richness per m2 and total richness (species in 30 plots) were positively associated with fire frequency and maximum temperature, respectively. We also found no relationship between richness per m2 and total richness with the remnant size. Non-grasses:grasses cover increased with the maximum temperature and decreased with the effective cation-exchange capacity and fire frequency. Additionally, by impairing grass cover, drought conditions and low nutrient availability were indirectly related to low aboveground biomass, high non-grasses:grasses, and high plant diversity.
Conclusion
Despite global expectations regarding the negative effects of fire and rising temperatures on plant diversity, Cerrado grasslands appear to benefit from both factors. However, their conservation has been threatened by land conversion for agricultural and forestry purposes. The unique diversity of each grassland suggests the need for a tailored approach to conservation, prioritizing several and widely distributed protected areas, including small and frequently burned patches, instead of creating large reserves in a few places. This strategy is crucial for preserving these ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
{"title":"Climate and Fire Outweigh the Role of Soil as Drivers of Plant Community Assembly in Tropical Grasslands","authors":"Bruna Helena Campos, Natashi Pilon, Clayton Alcarde Alvares, Giselda Durigan","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70075","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Open ecosystems are variable, and there is no consensus regarding the relative contributions of edaphic, climatic, or disturbance factors in shaping their plant communities. We investigated the relative influences of environmental factors and fire history on the composition, diversity, and structure of Cerrado grassland plant communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cerrado grasslands, Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We sampled 14 Cerrado grassland sites. Within each site, we established 30 1-m<sup>2</sup> plots to assess floristic composition, diversity, and structure (aboveground biomass; ground-cover ratio of non-grasses:grasses). We assessed fire history (35 years), climate descriptors, and soil properties as determinants of community attributes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found minimum temperature and fire frequency significantly correlated with the floristic similarity between sites. Richness per m<sup>2</sup> and total richness (species in 30 plots) were positively associated with fire frequency and maximum temperature, respectively. We also found no relationship between richness per m<sup>2</sup> and total richness with the remnant size. Non-grasses:grasses cover increased with the maximum temperature and decreased with the effective cation-exchange capacity and fire frequency. Additionally, by impairing grass cover, drought conditions and low nutrient availability were indirectly related to low aboveground biomass, high non-grasses:grasses, and high plant diversity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite global expectations regarding the negative effects of fire and rising temperatures on plant diversity, Cerrado grasslands appear to benefit from both factors. However, their conservation has been threatened by land conversion for agricultural and forestry purposes. The unique diversity of each grassland suggests the need for a tailored approach to conservation, prioritizing several and widely distributed protected areas, including small and frequently burned patches, instead of creating large reserves in a few places. This strategy is crucial for preserving these ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental changes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70075","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272365","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}
The relative importance of abiotic versus biotic factors on structuring plant communities is debated, especially in the Arctic tundra where the harsh environment is limiting together with the effects of grazing by reindeer. To understand the relative and interactive effect of abiotic (bottom-up) and biotic (top-down) factors on vegetation in the Swedish mountain tundra, we ask how do bottom-up factors and their interaction affect reindeer grazing activity and vegetation composition?
Location
Summer pastures of Gran reindeer herding district, in Vindelfjällen mountain tundra (northern Sweden).
Methods
We surveyed the composition of vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens across 34 sites (17 north-facing and 17 south-facing) along a grazing duration gradient based on data collected from accelerometers collared on reindeer. Data on the bottom-up factors slope, soil wetness, soil depth, primary productivity and the top-down factor grazing duration were extracted for each of our sampled plots (n = 102). The additive and interactive relation between all factors and vegetation composition and species richness was analyzed using generalized linear models.
Results
Reindeer grazed for a longer time in drier than wetter sites, indicating an important interaction between grazing and soil wetness. Bottom-up factors prevailed as the dominant driver of local vegetation patterns, while grazing duration had weak effects on the vegetation. Wetter sites with longer grazing duration had more graminoid species, whereas drier sites with shorter grazing duration had more shrub and lichen species.
Conclusions
The study shows that species richness of vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes is related to soil wetness but is also influenced by reindeer grazing intensity. Based on these results, we stress the importance of further investigating the interaction between grazing and soil wetness in order to foresee changes in the tundra vegetation, especially as plant communities might change under altered grazing regimes and future hydrological conditions as an effect of predicted climate change.
{"title":"Reindeer Grazing and Soil Wetness Interact to Drive Tundra Plant Community Structure in Northern Sweden","authors":"Emma L. Gemal, Marianne Stoessel, Regina Lindborg","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70073","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The relative importance of abiotic versus biotic factors on structuring plant communities is debated, especially in the Arctic tundra where the harsh environment is limiting together with the effects of grazing by reindeer. To understand the relative and interactive effect of abiotic (bottom-up) and biotic (top-down) factors on vegetation in the Swedish mountain tundra, we ask how do bottom-up factors and their interaction affect reindeer grazing activity and vegetation composition?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Summer pastures of Gran reindeer herding district, in Vindelfjällen mountain tundra (northern Sweden).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We surveyed the composition of vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens across 34 sites (17 north-facing and 17 south-facing) along a grazing duration gradient based on data collected from accelerometers collared on reindeer. Data on the bottom-up factors slope, soil wetness, soil depth, primary productivity and the top-down factor grazing duration were extracted for each of our sampled plots (<i>n</i> = 102). The additive and interactive relation between all factors and vegetation composition and species richness was analyzed using generalized linear models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Reindeer grazed for a longer time in drier than wetter sites, indicating an important interaction between grazing and soil wetness. Bottom-up factors prevailed as the dominant driver of local vegetation patterns, while grazing duration had weak effects on the vegetation. Wetter sites with longer grazing duration had more graminoid species, whereas drier sites with shorter grazing duration had more shrub and lichen species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study shows that species richness of vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes is related to soil wetness but is also influenced by reindeer grazing intensity. Based on these results, we stress the importance of further investigating the interaction between grazing and soil wetness in order to foresee changes in the tundra vegetation, especially as plant communities might change under altered grazing regimes and future hydrological conditions as an effect of predicted climate change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70073","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145272078","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}
Carolina S. Oliveira, João V. S. Messeder, Tatiana Cornelissen, Fernando A. O. Silveira
Question
Understanding the interplay between plant functional traits and abiotic factors in shaping observed differences in herbivory across broad environmental gradients remains a central challenge in plant community ecology. We assessed the relative contributions of environmental factors, such as soil properties and nutrient availability, and leaf functional traits in governing insect herbivory levels across a tropical grassland-savanna-forest gradient.
Location
Espinhaço Range, southeastern Brazil.
Methods
We sampled soils and leaf functional traits in 72 species from 30 families in campo rupestre grassland, cerrado, and gallery forests during the end of the rainy season. Our design provides a useful model to study herbivory along environmental gradients because it accounts for and corrects for variations in climate, latitude, and elevation. In each site, 2500 sampled leaves were collected, pressed, oven-dried at 70°C for 72 h, and scanned to obtain the percentage of leaf area removed by chewing insects.
Results
Grassland species showed the lowest SLA values, followed by the cerrado, while forest plants had the highest values. SLA correlated positively with soil fertility (PC1: high soil N, P, organic matter, and cation-exchange capacity) and negatively with PC2 (associated with lower Ca and base saturation). Consistently, forest plants showed higher insect herbivory compared to those from the cerrado and the grassland, and herbivory levels were also correlated with soil characteristics.
Conclusions
Among-habitat differences highlight the influence of soil fertility on plant functional traits and herbivory levels, indicating that plants on more fertile soils, such as in forests, are more likely to grow fast but also experience higher levels of herbivory compared to those in less fertile environments. This relationship underscores the importance of considering soil fertility in studies of plant–herbivore interactions and highlights the role of environmental gradients in shaping these dynamics.
{"title":"Soil Fertility and Leaf Traits Drive Insect Herbivory Variation Across a Tropical Grassland-Savanna-Forest Gradient","authors":"Carolina S. Oliveira, João V. S. Messeder, Tatiana Cornelissen, Fernando A. O. Silveira","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70074","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Question</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding the interplay between plant functional traits and abiotic factors in shaping observed differences in herbivory across broad environmental gradients remains a central challenge in plant community ecology. We assessed the relative contributions of environmental factors, such as soil properties and nutrient availability, and leaf functional traits in governing insect herbivory levels across a tropical grassland-savanna-forest gradient.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Espinhaço Range, southeastern Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We sampled soils and leaf functional traits in 72 species from 30 families in <i>campo rupestre</i> grassland, cerrado, and gallery forests during the end of the rainy season. Our design provides a useful model to study herbivory along environmental gradients because it accounts for and corrects for variations in climate, latitude, and elevation. In each site, 2500 sampled leaves were collected, pressed, oven-dried at 70°C for 72 h, and scanned to obtain the percentage of leaf area removed by chewing insects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Grassland species showed the lowest SLA values, followed by the cerrado, while forest plants had the highest values. SLA correlated positively with soil fertility (PC1: high soil N, P, organic matter, and cation-exchange capacity) and negatively with PC2 (associated with lower Ca and base saturation). Consistently, forest plants showed higher insect herbivory compared to those from the cerrado and the grassland, and herbivory levels were also correlated with soil characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Among-habitat differences highlight the influence of soil fertility on plant functional traits and herbivory levels, indicating that plants on more fertile soils, such as in forests, are more likely to grow fast but also experience higher levels of herbivory compared to those in less fertile environments. This relationship underscores the importance of considering soil fertility in studies of plant–herbivore interactions and highlights the role of environmental gradients in shaping these dynamics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70074","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224105","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}
Maira Soares de Lima, Luis López-Mársico, Micaela Abrigo, Anaclara Guido
Aim
Under climate change scenarios, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in some regions, influencing the likelihood of successful biological invasion in ecosystems. We evaluate the effect of water stress on the invasibility of different Uruguayan grassland communities, focusing on the potential invasion of Eragrostis plana.
Location
Eastern Uruguay grasslands, Campos of Río de la Plata grasslands.
Methods
Monoliths from three grassland communities (sparsely, densely, and tall densely vegetated communities), which differ in soil characteristics and species diversity, were collected in the field. These monoliths were transported to a growth chamber, where they were subjected to a water stress experiment consisting of two treatments: with and without water stress. Water stress involved the suspension of irrigation for 20 days. Subsequently, each monolith was sown with seeds of E. plana. Community characteristics and seedling emergence were assessed. Seedling emergence and survival of E. plana were compared across water stress treatments and communities, and relationships with functional groups cover, standing dead biomass, bare soil, and species richness were analyzed.
Results
Differences in E. plana germination and survival were primarily associated with grassland community type rather than the effect of water stress. The sparsely vegetated community exhibited the highest levels of invasion, regardless of water stress, compared with densely and tall densely vegetated communities. The invasion of E. plana was negatively associated with the cover of erect grasses (its own functional group) and with species richness, both variables that decreased with water stress.
Conclusions
The germination of E. plana was mainly limited by biotic factors that varied among grassland communities, particularly the cover of erect grasses and species richness, both of which can decline under water stress. Management of E. plana should consider the heterogeneity of grassland communities in eastern Uruguay, especially the high invasibility of the sparsely vegetated community.
{"title":"Does Water Stress Affect Community Invasibility in a SubHumid Temperate Grassland?","authors":"Maira Soares de Lima, Luis López-Mársico, Micaela Abrigo, Anaclara Guido","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70067","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Under climate change scenarios, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in some regions, influencing the likelihood of successful biological invasion in ecosystems. We evaluate the effect of water stress on the invasibility of different Uruguayan grassland communities, focusing on the potential invasion of <i>Eragrostis plana</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Eastern Uruguay grasslands, <i>Campos</i> of Río de la Plata grasslands.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Monoliths from three grassland communities (sparsely, densely, and tall densely vegetated communities), which differ in soil characteristics and species diversity, were collected in the field. These monoliths were transported to a growth chamber, where they were subjected to a water stress experiment consisting of two treatments: with and without water stress. Water stress involved the suspension of irrigation for 20 days. Subsequently, each monolith was sown with seeds of <i>E. plana</i>. Community characteristics and seedling emergence were assessed. Seedling emergence and survival of <i>E. plana</i> were compared across water stress treatments and communities, and relationships with functional groups cover, standing dead biomass, bare soil, and species richness were analyzed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Differences in <i>E. plana</i> germination and survival were primarily associated with grassland community type rather than the effect of water stress. The sparsely vegetated community exhibited the highest levels of invasion, regardless of water stress, compared with densely and tall densely vegetated communities. The invasion of <i>E. plana</i> was negatively associated with the cover of erect grasses (its own functional group) and with species richness, both variables that decreased with water stress.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The germination of <i>E. plana</i> was mainly limited by biotic factors that varied among grassland communities, particularly the cover of erect grasses and species richness, both of which can decline under water stress. Management of <i>E. plana</i> should consider the heterogeneity of grassland communities in eastern Uruguay, especially the high invasibility of the sparsely vegetated community.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146451","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> Questions</h3> <p>Structurally dominant species can be especially influential in plant community assembly and ecosystem function as Species of Unusual Effect (SUEs). For example, indigenous bunchgrasses function as foundation species and ecosystem engineers in the naturally high-diversity groundcover of longleaf pine savannas. Other species structurally dominate relatively small, discrete patches across the savanna landscape, for example, the fern <i>Pteridium aquilinum</i> and the shrub <i>Ilex glabra</i>. Do patch-level species richness or composition of assemblages of groundcover plants, or of arthropods, differ between bunchgrass-dominated groundcover and groundcover dominated by <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i>?</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>We conducted our study in a restored longleaf pine savanna in southeastern Louisiana.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We compared the groundcover plant and arthropod assemblages within discrete patches structurally dominated by <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i> to adjacent areas dominated by indigenous bunchgrasses. We compared local plant species richness and composition, stem density, aboveground dry biomass, and litter dry biomass, as well as arthropod species richness and composition, abundance, and dry biomass.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Species richness and stem density of nondominant groundcover plants were significantly lower in patches of <i>P. aquilinum</i> and <i>I. glabra</i> than within bunchgrass-dominated areas. Species composition of nondominant groundcover plants was more variable within <i>I. glabra</i> patches compared to bunchgrass areas. Arthropod species richness and abundance were also significantly lower in patches of <i>P. aquilinum</i> compared to bunchgrass areas, and species composition of arthropods differed significantly between <i>P. aquilinum</i> patches and bunchgrass areas.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusions</h3> <p>At the local scale of groundcover plant patches—along with their attendant arthropods—indigenous bunchgrasses are associated with higher species richness compared to either of the alternative foundation species <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i>. Removal experiments, community-assembly experiments, or reciprocal replacement experiments should be conducted to test the hypothesis that these species differentially influence the groundcover as, respectively, diversity-en
{"title":"Contrasting Species Richness in Patches of Alternative Foundation Species Suggests a Framework for Understanding Species of Unusual Effect","authors":"Carrie A. Barker, Kyle E. Harms","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Structurally dominant species can be especially influential in plant community assembly and ecosystem function as Species of Unusual Effect (SUEs). For example, indigenous bunchgrasses function as foundation species and ecosystem engineers in the naturally high-diversity groundcover of longleaf pine savannas. Other species structurally dominate relatively small, discrete patches across the savanna landscape, for example, the fern <i>Pteridium aquilinum</i> and the shrub <i>Ilex glabra</i>. Do patch-level species richness or composition of assemblages of groundcover plants, or of arthropods, differ between bunchgrass-dominated groundcover and groundcover dominated by <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i>?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted our study in a restored longleaf pine savanna in southeastern Louisiana.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We compared the groundcover plant and arthropod assemblages within discrete patches structurally dominated by <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i> to adjacent areas dominated by indigenous bunchgrasses. We compared local plant species richness and composition, stem density, aboveground dry biomass, and litter dry biomass, as well as arthropod species richness and composition, abundance, and dry biomass.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species richness and stem density of nondominant groundcover plants were significantly lower in patches of <i>P. aquilinum</i> and <i>I. glabra</i> than within bunchgrass-dominated areas. Species composition of nondominant groundcover plants was more variable within <i>I. glabra</i> patches compared to bunchgrass areas. Arthropod species richness and abundance were also significantly lower in patches of <i>P. aquilinum</i> compared to bunchgrass areas, and species composition of arthropods differed significantly between <i>P. aquilinum</i> patches and bunchgrass areas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At the local scale of groundcover plant patches—along with their attendant arthropods—indigenous bunchgrasses are associated with higher species richness compared to either of the alternative foundation species <i>P. aquilinum</i> or <i>I. glabra</i>. Removal experiments, community-assembly experiments, or reciprocal replacement experiments should be conducted to test the hypothesis that these species differentially influence the groundcover as, respectively, diversity-en","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"36 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145146450","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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