Latest Articles from Vegetation Classification and Survey Latest 4 Articles from Vegetation Classification and Survey https://vcs.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:51:36 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://vcs.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Vegetation Classification and Survey https://vcs.pensoft.net/ Fine-grain beta diversity in Palaearctic open vegetation: variability within and between biomes and vegetation types https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/77193/ Vegetation Classification and Survey 2: 293-304

DOI: 10.3897/VCS/2021/77193

Authors: Iwona Dembicz, Jürgen Dengler, François Gillet, Thomas J. Matthews, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Sándor Bartha, Juan Antonio Campos, Pieter De Frenne, Jiri Dolezal, Itziar García-Mijangos, Riccardo Guarino, Behlül Güler, Anna Kuzemko, Alireza Naqinezhad, Jalil Noroozi, Robert K Peet, Massimo Terzi, Idoia Biurrun

Abstract: Aims: To quantify how fine-grain (within-plot) beta diversity differs among biomes and vegetation types. Study area: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database spanning broad geographic and ecological gradients. Next, we calculated the slope parameter (z-value) of the power-law species–area relationship (SAR) to use as a measure of multiplicative beta diversity. We did this separately for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens and for the three groups combined (complete vegetation). We then tested whether z-values differed between biomes, ecological-physiognomic vegetation types at coarse and fine levels and phytosociological classes. Results: We found that z-values varied significantly among biomes and vegetation types. The explanatory power of area for species richness was highest for vascular plants, followed by complete vegetation, bryophytes and lichens. Within each species group, the explained variance increased with typological resolution. In vascular plants, adjusted R2 was 0.14 for biomes, but reached 0.50 for phytosociological classes. Among the biomes, mean z-values were particularly high in the Subtropics with winter rain (Mediterranean biome) and the Dry tropics and subtropics. Natural grasslands had higher z-values than secondary grasslands. Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation types had particularly high z-values whereas managed grasslands with benign soil and climate conditions and saline communities were characterised by particularly low z-values. Conclusions: In this study relating fine-grain beta diversity to typological units, we found distinct patterns. As we explain in a conceptual figure, these can be related to ultimate drivers, such as productivity, stress and disturbance, which can influence z-values via multiple pathways. The provided means, medians and quantiles of z-values for a wide range of typological entities provide benchmarks for local to continental studies, while calling for additional data from under-represented units. Syntaxonomic references: Mucina et al. (2016) for classes occurring in Europe; Ermakov (2012) for classes restricted to Asia. Abbreviations: ANOVA = analysis of variance; EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; SAR = species-area relationship.

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Research Paper Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:09:36 +0200
Global Vegetation Project: An Interactive Online Map of Open-Access Vegetation Photos https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/60575/ Vegetation Classification and Survey 2: 41-45

DOI: 10.3897/VCS/2021/60575

Authors: Jesse R. Fleri, Sienna A. Wessel, David H. Atkins, Nicholas W. Case, Shannon E. Albeke, Daniel C. Laughlin

Abstract: The Global Vegetation Project (http://gveg.wyobiodiversity.org) is a new initiative to host an online database of open-access, georeferenced vegetation photos. The mission of the Global Vegetation Project is ‘to inspire and empower people of all ages to learn about the diversity of vegetation on our planet and to provide educators with a resource for teaching ecology online’. The beta release includes two R-Shiny web applications that allow users to 1) submit photos of plant communities through a user-friendly online portal and 2) explore submissions made by others through an interactive global map. The spatial coordinates of each photo are used to extract information about the location including long-term and recent climate data to create Walter and Leith climate diagrams for each photo. User submitted photos can be filtered by biome, temperature, precipitation, and elevation on the map. The Global Vegetation Project will evolve to match the needs of vegetation scientists and ecology educators. We intend to enhance the educational value of the mapping application by incorporating additional search features, global data layers, and the publication of curricula geared towards primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. We encourage the global community of vegetation scientists to use this resource in their classrooms and to contribute photos of vegetation to grow this valuable resource for the world.

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Report Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:42:51 +0300
Classification of tall-forb vegetation in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Middle Asia) https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/60848/ Vegetation Classification and Survey 1: 191-217

DOI: 10.3897/VCS/2020/60848

Authors: Arkadiusz Nowak, Sebastian Świerszcz, Sylwia Nowak, Marcin Nobis

Abstract: Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic scheme for tall-forb vegetation of the montane and alpine belts in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with some remarks on its environmental predictors. Study area: Middle Asia: Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Methods: A total of 244 relevés were sampled in 2013–2019 using the seven-degree cover-abundance scale of the Braun-Blanquet approach. These were classified with a modified TWINSPAN algorithm with pseudospecies cut-levels 0%, 5% and 25%, and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. NMDS was used to explore the relationships between the distinguished groups. Results: Our classification revealed 19 clusters of tall-forb vegetation in Middle Asia. Among others we found forb communities typical for Tian Shan, western Pamir-Alai, forb-scree vegetation of Pamir-Alai, dry tall-forbs and typical forbs of the alpine belt. A total of eight new tall-forb associations and five communities were distinguished. The forb vegetation of Middle Asia has been assigned to the class Prangetea ulopterae Klein. The main factors differentiating the species composition of the researched vegetation are elevation, mean annual temperature, sum of annual precipitation and inclination of the slope. Conclusions: The paper presents the first insight into the comprehensive classification of the alpine forb vegetation in Middle Asia and fosters progress in explaining the relationship of boreo-temperate and Mediterranean-like (Irano-Turanian) vegetation in western Asian and central Asian subregions of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Taxonomic references: The nomenclature of the vascular plants follows generally Cherepanov (1995) and for Bromus spp. The Plant List (2020) Version 1.1. http://www.theplantlist.org/. Syntaxonomic references: The names of syntaxa are used in accordance with Ermakov (2012), Gadghiev et al. (2002) and Nowak et al. (2018). Abbreviation: NMDS = Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling.

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Research Paper Wed, 30 Dec 2020 13:34:44 +0200
SIVIM Deciduous Forests – Database of deciduous forests from the Iberian Peninsula https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/61776/ Vegetation Classification and Survey 1: 173-174

DOI: 10.3897/VCS/2020/61776

Authors: Juan Antonio Campos, Arnau Mercadé, Xavier Font

Abstract: “SIVIM Deciduous Forests” is a thematic database established in 2015, focused on forest vegetation from the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. It was registered in the Global Index of Vegetation Databases (GIVD ID: EU-00-023) in January 2016. All types of temperate and submediterranean non-riparian deciduous forests of the phytosociological classes Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae, Quercetea pubescentis and Quercetea robori-petraeae (formerly combined in the class Querco-Fagetea) are represented in the database. Currently, it contains 6,642 published vegetation plots of beech, birch, ash, lime and other deciduous mixed forests, as well as forests dominated by different species of deciduous and marcescent oaks, 100% of them classified at association level. Data are stored in TURBOVEG format, and are available upon request from the international vegetation-plot databases EVA and sPlot in semi-restricted regime. The relevés have also been included in SIVIM database, and thus they are freely available online. However, in SIVIM Deciduous Forests geolocation accuracy has been improved and the taxonomy and syntaxonomy unified. Plot size is available for 73% of the relevés, of which 82% are between 100 and 400 m2. Plant taxonomy is standardized to Flora iberica. During the last four years, data of SIVIM Deciduous Forests were requested via EVA and sPlot for different projects, and have been used for several studies with various objectives, from floristic, vegetation and habitat-related topics to macroecological studies, and from local to global scales. Abbreviations: EVA = European Vegetation Archive; GIVD = Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases; SIVIM = Iberian and Macaronesian Vegetation Information System.

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Short Database Report Mon, 21 Dec 2020 12:41:20 +0200