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Classification of continental halophytic grassland vegetation of Southeastern Europe
Abstract
Aims: A syntaxonomic revision of saline grassland vegetation according to floristic, ecological and biogeographical characteristics. Study area: Southeastern Europe with special emphasis to the Southeastern Balkan. Methods: The set of 2,362 relevés from published and unpublished sources originally classified into the classes Thero-Salicornietea, Festuco-Puccinellietea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea was analysed. Cluster analysis and ordination of the dataset were performed to assess particular vegetation patterns. Diagnostic species of each cluster were determined using the phi-coefficient as a fidelity measure. Results: The analysed dataset could be arranged into four main groups reflecting soil salinity as a key factor for the differentiation of halophytic vegetation. The first group comprised communities of extremely saline and wet soils (Thero-Salicornietea), the second group included highly saline Pannonian grasslands (Puccinellietalia), whereas the third group was rather heterogeneous, grouping different types of saline and alkaline vegetation, mostly on solonetz soil, including vegetation developed on wet saline places, steppe grasslands (Artemisio-Festucetalia) and halophytic vegetation from southern Serbia and R. Macedonia (Puccinellion convolutae). The fourth group comprised sub-Mediterranean grasslands from Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class occurring in habitats of a low salinity level. Conclusions: Variation in different types of halophytic vegetation corresponds to the salinity and moisture gradients. This is an additional attempt of large-scale analysis of the halophytic vegetation focusing on the Southeastern Europe and Balkan in particular. The occurrence of the alliance Puccinelion convolutae was confirmed within saline habitats in southern Serbia. There is an urgent need for conservation of the studied halophytic flora and vegetation.
... They develop on extremely salty and humid soils. The communities of this class are missing in Slovakia and Croatia within the Pannonian Basin (Borhidi et al. 2012;Dajić-Stevanović et al. 2016); they are extinct in SW Moravia (Chytrý 2012). ...
... The first one probably represents only the ecotone between the communities of Suaedetum pannonicae and Crypsietum aculeatae, and it was not found during detailed analysis of salt lake beds vegetation (Dítě et al. 2017). Three other above communities belong to the class Festuco-Puccinellietea (Mucina 1993;Dajić-Stevanović et al. 2016;Dítě et al. 2017). Salicornietum prostratae Soó 1947Corr. ...
... In addition, Puccinellia distans agg. is relatively more common here, while several other species as Crypsis aculeata, Chenopodium chenopodioides, and Salsola soda are rare. The stands are developed on soils of Solonchak type, flooded in spring, heavily dried up, and cracked in summer, with the highest values of salinity in general (Dajić-Stevanović et al. 2016;Dítě et al. 2017). ...
After the Pannonian Sea has dried up, the Pannonian Basin has become a major depression in Central Europe. The continental climate and intensive groundwater evaporation from the upper layers of the soil caused the accumulation of salts and the formation of Solonchak and Solonetz soil. A mosaic of very specific halophytic vegetation has developed on these soils. Pioneer, species-poor vegetation of annual succulents of the Therosalicornietea class occupy the exposed bottoms of salt marshes and inland salt lakes. Very similar vegetation of the class Crypsietea aculeatae is developed in periodically flooded bare shores and bottoms of salt lakes, dead oxbows, ponds, and terrain depressions. Typical vegetation of inland salt steppes is included in the class Festuco-Puccinellietea, while the class Scorzonero-Juncetea gerardii associates subhalophytic grassland vegetation of wet meadows and pastures. The extreme character of these habitats not allowed human to use them for agricultural purposes for hundreds of years; they have traditionally been managed as pastures for sheep or cattle. A significant human impact on these habitats began only in connection with land drainage and flood control measures about 150 years ago. After World War II, there were attempts to intensify agriculture in stands of halophytic vegetation (plowing, amelioration, fertilization) but caused only the destruction or severe damage to these habitats. Recently, however, it has begun to pay more attention to protection and recovery supporting their conservation for the future.
... There are many indirect data proving the existence of some subhalophytic communities in other literature sources from Bulgaria and abroad (Yordanov 1931;Stoyanoff 1948;Vicherek 1973;Kochev and Yordanov 1981), which discuss other vegetation types. The studies from neighboring countries, like Serbia (Luković 2019;Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016), North Macedonia (Micevski 1965), Greece (Babalonas and Papastergiadou 1990), and Romania (Şerbănescu 1965;Pop 2002), also provide some indirect data for possible distribution of halophytic and subhalophytic syntaxa in Bulgaria. ...
... According to Eliáš et al. (2013), some communities with high dominance of Beckmannia eruciformis have been described (unpublished releves) from Bulgaria. They could belong to Beckmannion eruciforme, which is well known from Serbia (Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016). However, Eliáš et al. (2013) conclude that as the syntaxonomy of wet subhalophytic grasslands such as Beckmannion eruciforme is generally not clear in Europe, resolving the syntaxomic position of Balkan releves will require further studies. ...
... Subhalophytic vegetation is not well investigated in Bulgaria ). For example, in the neighboring Serbia (Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016;Luković 2019), six associations from Trifolion resupinati and five associations from Trifolio-Ranunculion pedati alliance, as well as from Trifolio-Hordeetalia, are known. The last one can also be found in Bulgaria, but more studies shall be made. ...
The study provides summarized information for the halophytic vegetation in Bulgaria. This vegetation is traditionally split into two main ecological groups – euhalophytic or typical halophytic (Therosalicornietea, Juncetea maritimi, Crypsidetea aculeatae, Festuco-Puccinellietea) and subhalophytic (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea) communities. Totally, 19 halophytic and subhalophytic associations are found in Bulgaria until now. However, someimportant questions about their syntaxonomic positions on the association and on the higher level, as well as their phytogeographic relationships, are still not resolved. There are many halophytic and especially subhalophytic vegetation types which are only fragmentarily known or even not completely studied. This research has summarized the existing information for this vegetation type and has also identified some gaps and probable future efforts for improving the knowledge of this vegetation type.
... There are different views on the syntaxonomic position of the Bolboschoenus-dominated communities, which makes its interpretation difficult. Differences in syntaxonomy are the consequences of different ecological conditions in which the stands with Bolboschoenus dominance develop (Dubyna and Neuhäuslova 2000;Valachovič 2001;Hrivnák et al. 2001;Hroudová et al. 2007Hroudová et al. , 2009Chytrý 2011;Š umberová et al. 2011;Eliáš et al. 2013;Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016;Mucina et al. 2016). Bolboschoenus-dominated communities in saline habitats, which include both coastal habitats and inland saline habitats of the Pannonian Basin of Central Europe, differ in their floristic composition from freshwater Bolboschoenus-dominated communities (Hroudová et al. 2009). ...
... Many factors have led to the disappearance of this halophyte wetland community, including changes in water regime, land reclamation, conversion to arable land, various uses (mowing, burning, grazing), and invasive and forest species spreading (Hroudová et al. 2007(Hroudová et al. , 2011(Hroudová et al. , 2014. Consequently, the community currently occurs as highly fragmented (Hroudová et al. 2007(Hroudová et al. , 2011Stančić 2010;Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016). In addition, because the community contains many rare and endangered plant species it is highly important for the conservation of regional biological diversity (Jasprica and Carić 2002;Espírito Santo and Arsénio 2005;Woch and Trzcińska-Tacik 2014). ...
... According to the accepted sintaxonomy by Soó (1980), the community is characterized as Bolboschoenetum maritime continentale Soó (1927Soó ( , 1957. In Serbia, this community was detected in humid, saline and non-saline habitats, along the banks of lowland stagnant and slow-flowing freshwaters, shallow parts of lakes and in habitats exposed to strong zoogenic influence (Knežević 1981;Kojić et al. 1998;Lakušić et al. 2005;Nikolić 2005;Dajić Stevanović et al. 2016). ...
Continental inland saline wetlands are among the most endangered habitats in Europe. In the Danube-Tisza-Danube canal network (Serbia, Southeastern Europe), which is one of the largest canal networks on the continent, the rare and endangered inland saline wetland Bolboschoenus maritimus community (BMC) has been found at only two locations. Two vegetation types of the community have been identified: (i) with Bolboschoenus maritimus and Marsilea quadrifolia (BMC-M) dominance and (ii) with Bolboschoenus maritimus and Butomus umbellatus (BMC-B) dominance. The aim of the study was to compare the habitats of the ascertained vegetation types in terms of 55 water and soil properties that influence their development, floristic composition and differentiation. The main properties influencing the community development and differentiation were water alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand, CO32−, water pH, soil conductivity, K+ and Ca2+ content in the soil. Both vegetation types grow in non-saline, slightly alkaline, nutrient-rich habitats with eutrophic water. When compared to BMC-B, BMC-M was found on heavy clay soils with higher conductivity, CaCO3, humus, nutrients, macroelements, and Na+ content, in shallower water with higher suspended solids and oxygen content, lower contents of nutrients, dissolved salts, HCO3−, macroelements, conductivity, and alkalinity. The study provides new data on the BMC distribution in this part of Europe and the first detailed information on its habitat conditions. Thirty-one species from the European Red List of Threatened Species were found in the stands. These results may be useful when deciding on the appropriate preservation measures aimed to rehabilitate other wetland habitats and biodiversity.
... Recent studies on the inland halophytic vegetation of central and southern Europe are focused on alkaline wetlands and salt marshes (Wanner et al., 2014), dry alkaline grasslands (Willner et al., 2013;Kelemen et al., 2013;Valkó et al., 2014;Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016), saline meadows (Dítě et al., 2009) and the management of various types of vegetation of salt-affected soils (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2008). Communities of continental halophytic vegetation mainly appear within complexes consisting of several different plant associations. ...
... Traditional phytosociological classification of halophytic vegetation is very inconsistent among specific smaller regions, such as for countries of central and south-eastern Europe (e.g. Kojić et al., 1998;Sanda et al., 2008;Tzonev et al., 2008;Chytrý, 2010, Borhidi et al., 2012Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016), as well within largescale analyses (Golub et al., 2005;Eliáš et al., 2013). Halophytic vegetation is most commonly classified into two main classes: ...
... This vegetation includes open, species-poor communities of annual succulent halophytes of the genera Salicornia and Suaeda in both maritime and inland salt marshes (Fig. 4.1). This type of vegetation is distributed on extreme salt-rich wet soils (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016). The soils are periodically flooded -or at least wet -in spring, and dry out in summer. ...
This book contains 22 chapters covering topics on the ecophysiology, mechanisms of adaptation to climate change and practical uses of halophytes.
... The coexistence of such diverse groups in the salinity gradient is known as zonation of salt marsh vegetation and it is formed not only by vegetation form Therosalicornietea and Festuco-Puccinellietea classes (Piernik et al., 1996;Piernik, 2006). It has been demonstrated also for continental halophytic grassland vegetation of Southeastern Europe (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016). Moreover, zonation is also known for other organisms in saline areas, e.g., arthropods (Finch et al., 2007). ...
... The Therosalicornietea class is widespread in Europe. Apart from the sites considered in our study, which partially correspond to the areas analyzed by Dítě et al. (2022), research was carried out also, e.g., in Romania (Dítě et al., 2021), Croatia (Dítě et al., 2019), Italy (Tomaselli et al., 2020) and generally in Southeastern Europe (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016). The class is also listed outside our continent, e.g., in Central Asia, near the salty lakes and at the dry bottoms of intermountain depressions of eastern Siberia (Korolyuk et al., 2017). ...
Inland salt marshes are recognized as habitats of unique and valuable vegetation at the European scale. There is still a lack of generalization regarding its vegetation syntaxonomy and environmental requirements, which is needed for its effective protection. To falsify our hypothesis about vegetation dependence on environmental requirements we aimed at description of the syntaxonomical units present in temperate European inland salt marshes and identification of their main environmental drivers. In our work we focused on the vegetation from the northern part of temperate salt marshes to limit confusion related to the geographical ranges of species. We collected the database of 968 vegetation plots from different European countries and applied the Cocktail method to analyze the data. Based on results, expert knowledge, existing syntaxonomical classifications and information from the literature, we identified diagnostic, constant and dominant species for individual syntaxonomical units. Then, we compiled maps of the vegetation unit distribution, and identified the most important environmental factors for the analyzed vegetation using statistical and multivariate methods, including canonical variate analysis. We classified the analyzed vegetation into nine classes, including two typical for salt-marsh vegetation – the Therosalicornietea and Festuco-Puccinellietea. Within these two classes, we distinguished two alliances and a total of five associations. The classes differs the most in terms of species preferences to salinity, soil moisture, light availability and soil nitrogen content. In addition salt marsh associations differ also by soil reaction and soil organic matter content. This provides direct implications for salt marsh sustainable management.
... This Special Issue includes four classification studies on natural and semi-natural grasslands. Two of the studies (Zajac et al. 2016 andDajić et al. 2016) are supra-national syntaxonomic revisions, one (Kuzemko 2016) is a national revision, while the final study (Nowak et al. 2016) describes grass steppes of a still under-investigated region (Pamir Alai Mts. in Tajikistan), thus filling an important knowledge gap on the grassland vegetation of Middle Asia. The included studies deal with phytosociological material from ten countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Ukraine), ordered to six phytosociological classes (Astragalo-Brometea, Cleistogenetea squarrosi, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Nardetea strictae, Thero-Salicornietea). Two studies (Dajić et al. 2016 andNowak et al. 2016) use unsupervised hierarchical clustering, while the other two (Kuzemko 2016 andZajac et al. 2016) use supervised classification by expert systems developed on the Cocktail definitions (Bruelheide 2000). ...
... Two of the studies (Zajac et al. 2016 andDajić et al. 2016) are supra-national syntaxonomic revisions, one (Kuzemko 2016) is a national revision, while the final study (Nowak et al. 2016) describes grass steppes of a still under-investigated region (Pamir Alai Mts. in Tajikistan), thus filling an important knowledge gap on the grassland vegetation of Middle Asia. The included studies deal with phytosociological material from ten countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Ukraine), ordered to six phytosociological classes (Astragalo-Brometea, Cleistogenetea squarrosi, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Nardetea strictae, Thero-Salicornietea). Two studies (Dajić et al. 2016 andNowak et al. 2016) use unsupervised hierarchical clustering, while the other two (Kuzemko 2016 andZajac et al. 2016) use supervised classification by expert systems developed on the Cocktail definitions (Bruelheide 2000). A semi-supervised classification (Tichý et al. 2014) by K-means algorithm was used by Zajac et al. (2016) to apply the classification system developed in one country (Slovakia) for identification of syntaxa in less explored areas of a neighbouring country (Ukraine). ...
Along with a brief introduction to the four research articles of the Special Issue “Classification of Palaearctic grasslands”, we present a bibliometric analysis of publication trends regarding classification of Palaearctic grasslands in journals included in the Web of Science database. Regional studies (covering only a part of a country’s territory) prevailed (51%), but supra-national studies were more numerous (34%) than national overviews (15%). Four European countries (Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia) were included in the highest number of grassland classification studies (12 each). The publication of grassland classification studies in Web of Science journals continuously increased during the last 15 years. Festuco-Brometea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea were the most frequently studied grassland classes. Phytocoenologia and Tuexenia were the most popular outlets for original grassland classification studies, while Journal of Vegetation Science had a leading position in publishing methodological articles with relation to grassland vegetation. Methods of unsupervised hierarchical classification were most common in grassland classification studies. Publications outside the Web of Science were not analysed although they represent an important source of knowledge in grassland classification.
... This species is present in the Mediterranean area (Hasanuzzaman, Shabala, Fujita, 2019). It occurs as a dominant species in the community of Camphorosmetum monspeliaceae (Goryaev, Korablev, 2020), but also as a part of the Puccinellion convolutae in the southern Balkans (southern Serbia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria) (Eliáš et al., 2013;Stevanović et al., 2016). ...
Abstract The family Amaranthaceae contains a large number of halophytic species. The aim of this paper is to present a review of biologically significant halophytes in the flora of Serbia belonging to this family. This review includes a description of the following 18 species: Atriplex littoralis L., A. rosea L., A. halimus L., Bassia sedoides Pall., B. scoparia (L.) A.J.Scott., B. prostrata (L.) Beck., Beta trigyna W. et K., Camphorosma annua Pall., C. monspeliaca L., Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Ch. polyspermum L., Ch. vulvaria L., Ch. hybridum L., Ch. album L., Ch. rubrum L., Salicornia europaea L., Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum., Salsola soda L. These species are sources of biologically active substances and have a good potential for multi-purpose applications. Most extracts of these species have been found to exhibit biological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory and others. The aim of this review is to describe these species including their morphology, distribution, phytochemistry, as well as their use for medicinal and food purposes.
... The halophytic vegetation of the Central Balkans comprises 35 plant communities within the two classes Therosalicornietea and Festuco-Puccinellietea occurring in the Pannonian Plain and central Balkan (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016;Lukovic, 2019). These communities develop within different types of saline habitats, from saline salt marshes to wet/moderately wet salines following a moisture gradient. ...
Continental halophytic grasslands are known for performing of range of ecosystem services especially remarkable in the regions where they are much distributed – in arid and semi-arid areas. Continental halophytic grasslands of the Central and South-East Europe are not considered as favourable for arable farming, however, traditional animal husbandry plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and preserving these natural habitats. The particular interest of this study is the assessment of the chemical composition of biomass and the quality of insufficiently studied halophytic grassland communities of the central Balkans. In addition, the differences in pastoral value were monitored along the geographical gradient, i.e., between grasslands situated in the Pannonian plain (grasslands of Alliance Puccinellion limosae) and those distributed on the south Serbia (Alliance Festucion pseudovinae). The study was carried out at 18 representative sites, focusing on the saline grasslands of the two distinct regions – on the north and on the south of Serbia. The obtained results show that the halophytic grasslands have satisfying quality characteristics (average values: dry matter - 93.67%, crude protein - 8.66%, cellulose - 30.36%, crude fat - 2.27%) compared with other studied grasslands of saline habitats. There were no significant differences in quality and chemical composition of grasslands of the two regions, despite differences in floristic composition, indicating that salinity is the key determinant for pastoral value of the halophytic vegetation. The certain variations were attributed to the specific floristic composition related to ecological conditions and halophytic community characteristics.
... R. pedatus is actually mentioned in this vegetation, e.g. from Hungary [Borhidi et al. 2012; associations Matricario-Plantaginetum tenuiflorae (Soó 1933) Borhidi 1996 and Limonio-Artemisietum santonici (Soó 1927) Topa 1939], but, we did not record the species in such stands in Slovakia. Futák (1982) also mentioned the occurrence of R. pedatus in stands of the alliance Trifolio-Ranunculion pedati Slavnić 1948, but this vegetation is not present in our territory, because this is typical for saline habitats with variable moisture and slight soil salinity in the Balkans (Šilc et al. 2014;Dajić-Stevanović et al. 2016). Within the halophytic vegetation, R. pedatus is also reported from alliance Peucedano officinalis-Asterion sedifolii Borhidi 1996and Beckmannion eruciformis Soó 1933in adjacent Hungary (Molnár & Borhidi 2003Borhidi et al. 2012). ...
Ranunculus pedatus is a Eurasian species with a northern distribution edge in southern Slovakia. In the nineties of the 20 th century, it was assumed that the species probably occurs only near Štúrovo. Occurrence in the Hron and Ipeľ basins and several localities in the Podunajská nížina lowland between Komárno and Štúrovo was considered historical. Our research was conducted in the field and herbarium collections of 15 herbaria in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. Except for the well-known occurrence on salt habitats north of Štúrovo, we confirmed the recent occurrence of R. pedatus in Štúrovo town, around Chľaba village and in Ipeľ Basin (Pastovce, Tupá). The new, easternmost Slovak locality was found near the village of Koláre. Recently, 30% of all known sites were confirmed, so we propose reclassifying the species in Slovak Red List from the category critically endangered (CR) to the category endangered (EN). It occurs in salty meadows of the alliance Festucion pseudovinae (class Festuco-Puccinellietea) and in mesic meadows of alliance Arrhenatherion elatioris and Deschampsion cespitosae (class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea).
... The soil -plant relationship is extraordinarily significant and based on the microrelief conditions clear vegetation units (alliances and associations) can be described (Bodrogközy 1965, Tóth 2011, Borhidi et al. 2012. Recently, the species composition of alkalic grasslands has also been studied on a larger geographical scale in a South-East European context (Eliáš et al. 2013, Stevanović et al. 2016. The distribution of typical halophytes is mainly determined by the soil type. ...
A new locality of the halophyte Lepidium cartilagineum (J. C. Mayer) Thell. (Brassicaceae) was recorded at the eastern margin of the Hortobágy region, at Nagyhegyes. Despite the fact that the species is not rare in saline steppes in Hungary, it occurs exclusively on solonchak soils. The soil of the one previously documented location at Hortobágy region is not typical solonetz, with transitional solonchak characteristics. The locality found at ‘Sirály-rét’ (Elep, Nagyhegyes) is in a typical alkaline grassland, where the species grows in Puccinellietum limosae and transitional Camphorosmetum annuae communities. This contribution also includes 14 phytocoenological relevés taken at the locality and a comparison of the two, so far documented locations in the region. The author takes the position that this occurrence is to be regarded as native, mostly based on the habitat specifications (such as developed berm formations), vegetation structure and species composition. The continuity of the grassland patch is also proved by available historical maps and aerial photographs.
... Artemisia santonicum, also known as "saline wormwood" is the perennial bushy herb able to form its own saline steppe vegetation type (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016) (Figure 1). The species grows on dry and alkaline places and deserts, with preference of conditions of increased soil salinity. ...
This study represents a continuation of exploring of the biological activities of the Artemisia santonicum essential oil. The previous investigation was focused on the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antiquorum activities of A. santonicum essential oil and isogeranic acid as the main antibacterial constituent. The present study describes its antifungal activity. The antifungal activity of the A. santonicum essential oil was tested against eight fungi isolates, whereas antifungal effects of isogeranic acid were studied using four fungi species, because of the limited quantities of the isolated compound. The results were compared to the commercial antimycotics, bifonazole and ketoconazole. Antifungal activity of isogeranic acid against all tested fungi was significantly higher in comparison to the essential oil and the both controls.
... Alkalinity also shapes the plant communities in the European part of the Eurasian steppe (Eliáš et al., 2013;Stevanović et al., 2016). ...
Globally, grasslands are shaped by fire and herbivory, and grassland plants are adapted to these disturbances. However, temperate grasslands have been hotspots of land-use change, and how such changes affect interrelations between herbivory, fire and vegetation are poorly understood. Such land-use changes are widespread on the Eurasian steppe, where the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered the abandonment of cropland and pasture on globally relevant scales. Thus, to determine how relationships between plant functional composition, fire and grazing patterns changed after the Soviet Union dissolved, we studied a 358,000 km² region in the dry steppe of Kazakhstan, combining a large field dataset on plant functional traits with multi-scale satellite data. We found that increases in burned area corresponded to decreases in livestock grazing across large areas. Further, fires occurred more often with high cover of grasses with high leaf dry matter content and thus higher flammability, whereas higher grazing pressure favoured grazing-tolerant woody forbs and ruderal plants with high specific leaf area. The current situation of low grazing pressure represents a historically exceptional, potentially non-analogue state. We suggest that the dissolution of the Soviet Union caused the disturbance regime to shift from grazer to fire control. As grazing and fire each result in different plant functional compositions, we propose this led to widespread increases in grasses and associated changes in steppe plant community structure. These changes have potentially occurred across an area of more than 2 million km², representing much of the world's largest temperate grassland area, with globally relevant, yet poorly understood implications for biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as carbon cycling. Additionally, future steppe management must also consider positive implications of abandonment ('rewilding'), because reverting the regime shift in disturbance and associated changes in vegetation would require grazing animals to be reintroduced across vast areas.
... Stančić, 2008;Šilc et al., 2014). However, at the order level, to Arrhenatheretalia and is quite different from Trifolio-Ranunculion pedati (Figure 4), as the latter one grows in more salted habitats (Dajić Stevanović et al., 2016). ...
Questions
Which are the main wet and mesic grassland vegetation types along the climatic gradient on the southern margin of the Pannonian basin? Which are the most important environmental gradients that determine their distribution and species composition?
Location
Southern margin of the Pannonian plain (N and E Slovenia, N Croatia, N Serbia).
Methods
A database of 2575 vegetation plots originally assigned to the Molinio‐Arrhenatheretea was compiled. Semi‐supervised classification based on the K‐means algorithm was applied to assign plots into 12 a priori alliances and to search for new alliances. NMDS ordination with Ellenberg’s indicator values and biolimatic variables were applied to show the influence of ecological conditions on species composition. The plots within each alliance were further classified into associations using the beta flexible method.
Results
Classification resulted in 12 alliances recognized in EuroVegChecklist, and two new groups appeared. The first group occurs in the eastern part of the research area, where many ruderal species appear. This group was threated as a new alliance, Salvio nemorosae‐Arrhenatherion forming a vicariant syntaxon of the alliance Arrhenatherion. The second group occurs in the western part. It is a transitional group between mesic (Arrhenatherion) and wet meadows (Deschampsion) and can be treated as Alopecurion. Besides, two new associations and six new subassociations were described, together with the typification of seven associations and of three subassociations. Numerical analyses revealed floristic, ecological and geographical differentiation among analyzed vegetation types.
Conclusions
The communities showed typical Central European features in the western part, but their floristic and ecological conditions changed towards the eastern part, where the continental influence was more pronounced. The vegetation structure and plant species composition in the studied area were influenced by soil moisture and soil nutrient availability as well as by strong biogeographical and climatic gradients.
... Artemisia maritima (L.), Aster tripolium (L.), Inula britannica (L.), Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort., and Salicornia europaea (L.) whereas the vast majority of vegetation surrounding investigated saline lakes comprised non-halophilic species (or 'glycophytes'). The listed halophytic species are typicalcomponents of vegetation associated with wet and highly saline (i.e., Puccinellietea) or extremely saline (i.e., Salicornietea) soils in Central and South-Eastern Europe, respectively(Piernik, 2005;Eliá) et al., 2013;Stevanovi* et al., 2016). ...
In the present work, we review the current knowledge on genesis, limnology and biodiversity of salt lakes distributed around the inner contour of Eastern Carpathian arc (Transylvanian Basin, Central Romania). Transylvanian salt lakes formed on ancient halite (NaCl) deposits following natural processes or quarrying activities. Most of these lakes are located in eastern (Sovata area), southern (Ocna Sibiului), and western (Turda-Cojocna) parts of the Transylvanian Basin, have small surfaces (0.1-4 ha), variable depths (2-100 m), are hypersaline (>10%, w/v, total salts, mainly NaCl) and permanently stratified. As consequence of steady salinity/density gradient, heat entrapment below surface layer (i.e., heliothermy) develops in several Transylvanian lakes. The physical and chemical water stratification is mirrored in the partition of plankton diversity. Lakes with less saline (2-10% salinity) water layers appear to harbor halotolerant representatives of phyto- (e.g., marine native Picochlorum spp. and Synechococcus spp.), zoo- (e.g., Moina salina), and bacterioplankton (e.g., Actinobacteria, Verrucomicobia), whereas halophilic plankton communities (e.g., green algae Dunaliella sp., brine shrimp Artemia sp., and members of Halobacteria class) dominate in the oxic surface of hypersaline (>10% salinity) lakes. Molecular approaches (e.g., PCR-DGGE, 16S rRNA gene-based clone libraries, and DNA metabarcoding) showed that the O2-depleted bottom brines of deep meromictic Transylvanian lakes are inhabited by known extremely halophilic anaerobes (e.g. sulfate-reducing Delta-Proteobacteria, fermenting Clostridia, methanogenic and polymer-degrading archaea) in addition to representatives of uncultured/unclassified prokaryotic lineages. Overall, the plankton communities thriving in saline Transylvanian lakes seem to drive full biogeochemical cycling of main elements. However, the trophic interactions (i.e., food web structure and energy flow) as well as impact of human activities and predicted climate changes are yet to be assessed in these unique ecosystems with little or no match to analogous salt lakes worldwide.
... Our survey demonstrated that wetland vegetation in the Eastern Pamir share some floristic similarities with halophytic communities known from temperate and Mediterranean climatic zones of Europe (e.g. [74][75][76][77][78][79]), assigned (according to various approaches) to the classes Juncetea maritimi (or Asteretea tripolium) and Festuco-Puccinellietea (or Puccinellio-Salicornietea). The similarities mentioned include the dominance of grasses from the genus Puccinellia, as well as species like Blysmus rufus, Glaux maritima and Triglochin maritima. ...
The eastern part of the Pamir Mountains, located in Central Asia, is characterized by great climatic continentality and aridity. Wetlands developed in this hostile region are restricted to spring areas, terraces of shallow lakes or floodplains along rivers, and provide diversified ecosystem services e.g. as water reservoirs, refugia for rare species and pastures for domestic cattle. These ecosystems are particularly susceptible to climate changes, that in the Pamir Mountains result in increased temperatures, intense permafrost/glacial melt and alterations of precipitation patterns. Climatic changes affect pasture management in the mountains, causing overutilization of sites located at lower elevations. Thus, both climate and man-induced disturbances may violate the existing ecological equilibrium in high-mountain wetlands of the Eastern Pamir, posing a serious risk to their biodiversity and to food security of the local population. In this context, we sought to assess how environmental drivers (with special focus on soil features and potential water sources) shape the distribution and diversity of halophytic plant communities developed in valleys in the Eastern Pamir. This task was completed by means of a vegetation survey and comprehensive analyses of habitat conditions. The lake terraces and floodplains studied were covered by a repetitive mosaic of plant communities determined by differences in soil moisture and salinity. On lower, wetter sites, this patchwork was formed by Blysmus rufus dominated salt marshes, saline small sedge meadows and saline meadows with Kobresia royleana and Primula pamirica; and on drier, elevated sites, by endemic grasslands with Hordeum brevisubulatum and Puccinellia species and patches of xerohalophytic vegetation. Continuous instability of water sources and summer droughts occurring in the Pamir Mountains may lead to significant structural and functional transformations of described wetland ecosystems. Species more tolerant to decreased soil moisture and/or increased soil salinity will expand, leading to alterations of ecosystem services provided by the Pamirs’ wetlands. The described research will help to assess the current state of the wetlands and to predict directions of their future changes.
Halophytic plants are a fascinating group of plants that also serve as dietary feed for livestock. Their utilization is essential for sustainable agriculture and maintaining ecological balance. This book explains the nature of halophytic plants through an in-depth presentation of their botanical and nutritional characteristics. Chapters of the book highlight different aspects of halophytes on a botanical, histological, ecological and nutritional basis when utilized as animal feed components. The issues of the histo-chemical aspects of halophytes are addressed with regard to their impact on nutrient compositions and availability to animals, while the important nutrient contents of halophytes are considered in relation to their value to animals.
Key Features: - 10 organized chapters on halophytic plants - Explains the relationship between botanical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes when utilized as animal feed components - Covers information about important nutrient contents and secondary metabolites in halophytes - Includes information on nutritional and feeding values for animals - Includes informative diagram and tables - Includes references for further reading
This book fills a notable gap in available literature on the subject, and will stimulate researchers to pursue the many unanswered questions in the field of biosaline agriculture. This text serves as reading material for undergraduate and graduate level courses and specializations in agriculture, animal nutrition, animal physiology, botany and plant physiology. It also serves as supplementary reading for students of taxonomy, ecology, and environmental science courses. Professional and apprentice livestock farmers will also benefit from the information presented by the book.
Saline habitats as primary type of ecologically valuable ecosystems play an important role in the range of ecosystem services from supporting and regulating to provisioning and cultural. The aim of this chapter is to overview the main groups of ecosystem services relevant to saline ecosystems. Main characteristics of saline habitats include the presence of salt-tolerant plants and halophytic vegetation occurring on different salt-affected soils. Halophytes have certain commercial use and value, as food, fodder, and source of fiber, highly nutritious oilseeds, biomass, etc. Of particular interest is potential of halophytes to producebioactive metabolites, which can be used in production of pharmaceuticals andfood additives and natural herbal remedies and similar products. Although some other types of ecosystems (forests, meadows, etc.) may have a larger range of services, saline ecosystems are not a negligible resource in terms of services they can provide, especially in areas where they form primary vegetation. Saline habitats, as rare and specific ecosystems, have value as home for halophytic species and their communities, in addition to role in providing regulatory and support functions. Saline habitats have cultural, educational, and aesthetic value sand considerable relevance for eco-tourism activities.
Saline habitats are primarily lined to arid and semi-arid areas, but today, it is noted an increasing percentage of salt affected soils in the world. Inland (continental) saline habitats, as a type of intrazonal and very rare ecosystems, represent a real challenge in utilization in terms of systematic ecological research and applicative aspects of sustainable agriculture activities, nature-based tourism, educational tours and special gastronomy offer. In the Republic of Serbia, saline habitats are primarily distributed in the northern part of the country, in Vojvodina’s Pannonian Plain, but they are also found south of the Sava and Danube rivers, where they occur sporadically in the form of fragments or smaller localities in the central and southern Serbia. The main aim of this study is to present rare and untypical ecosystems, such as the saline habitats in light of their possible sustainable utilization through a socio-economic-ecological system for utilization in nature-based tourism and to raise the options for economic diversification in local communities.
This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from mid-2016 through to the end of 2017. During this period, the 13th Eurasian Grassland Conference took place in Sighişoara, Romania, and the 14th conference was held in Riga, Latvia. The 10th EDGG Field Workshop on Biodiversity patterns across a precipitation gradient in the Central Apennine mountains was conducted in the Central Apennines, Italy, this time in addition to multi-scale sampling of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens also including one animal group (leaf hoppers). Apart from the quarterly issues of its own electronic journal (Bulletin of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group), EDGG also finalised five grassland-related Special Features/Issues during the past 1.5 years in the following international journals: Applied Vegetation Science, Biodiversity and Conservation, Phytocoenologia, Tuexenia and Hacquetia. Beyond that, EDGG facilitated various national and supra-national vegetation-plot databases of grasslands and established its own specialised database for standardised multi-scale plot data of Palaearctic grasslands (GrassPlot).
As an introduction to the Special Issue " Halophytic vegetation " , which includes four research studies and one review article, this Editorial briefly touches on problems, challenges and solution approaches related to the classification of vegetation associated with coastal and inland saline habitats. Three central issues, addressed in this introduction, are: (i) Extreme habitat conditions generate species-poor vegetation. Samples of such vegetation shaped by dominant plants may be difficult to classify at and beyond the level of association. (ii) Halophytic vegetation is phenologically heterogeneous, often with late-flowering and late-fruiting matrix species of the chenopod family. Multiple sampling is recommendable for fieldwork, moreover critical re-assessment of historical saltmarsh plot data, especially if collected early in the year. (iii) Vegetation classification and ecology make use of, and depend on, the results of plant taxonomic and phylogenetic research. Yet in turn, vegetation classification may be supportive of plant taxonomy if cryptic and newly described or circumscribed taxa prove to be ecologically, phytosociologically, phytogeographically or phenologically distinct, and likewise if they are not.
Aims: Syntaxonomic classification is widely used for vegetation survey in Europe. The long history of its use has produced many concepts and names of vegetation units that need to be revised and integrated into a single classification system. Here we (1) present a new, global hierarchical syntaxonomic systems of alliances, orders, classes of the Braun-Blanquet syntaxonomy for vascular plant, bryophyte, lichen and algal communities; (2) characterize all accepted syntaxonomic concepts in ecological and geographical terms, (3) link all available synonyms to these concepts, and (4) provide a list of diagnostic species for all classes of European vegetation.
Location: Europe, Greenland, Arctic archipelagos, Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cyprus.
Methods: We reviewed about 10 000 bibliographic sources to compile the syntaxonomic systems of classes, orders and alliances, and species lists characterizing all classes. All known syntaxonomic concepts were critically evaluated by experts and their names revised according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature.
Results: The newly compiled EuroVegChecklist is a syntaxonomic conspectus consists of systems of classes, orders, and alliances for the communities dominated by vascular plants (EVC1), bryophytes and lichens (EVC2), and algae (EVC3). EVC1 comprises 110 classes, 300 orders and 1088 alliances (with 4067 synonyms for all ranks); EVC2 27 classes, 53 orders and 137 alliances (with 410 synonyms for all ranks); EVC3 13 classes, 24 orders and 53 alliances (with 188 synonyms for all ranks). 13 289 diagnostic taxa were assigned to classes of EVC1, 2099 to classes of EVC2 and 346 to classes of EVC3. Information on each accepted syntaxonomic concept was made accessible through the software tool EuroVegBrowser. An expert system for an automatic identification of class membership based on the proportion of character species was also developed.
Conclusions: The Conspectus is the first comprehensive and critical account of syntaxa synthesizing more than 100 years of classification effort of European phytosociologists. It aims at stabilizing the nomenclature of the syntaxa and of classification concepts for practical uses such as calibration of habitat classification used by the European Union, standardization of terminology for environmental assessment studies, management and conservation of nature areas, landscape planning and education.
Since the appearance in 1934 of the book Studii fitocenologice în Munții Retezatului (Phytocoenological studies in the Retezat Mountains), in which the author Alexandru Borza defined plant associations as being “characterized by a combination of certain constant characteristic species, conditioned by the presence of the same stationary factors” and until the more recent monographs (e.g. Pop I. et al. 2002, Chifu T. et al. 2006), during over 70 years of research several vegetation groups were described within the geographical territory of Romania.
The present book ‐ The Plant Communities from Romania – Syntaxonomy, Structure, Dynamics and Evolution ‐ aims to bring together the plant communities identified in Romania into a coenotic
system integrated with the one used in Central Europe, and in the same time to justify with floristic arguments the differences that result from the specificity and numerous particularities of several
communities in which the endemic, rare or endangered species have a major organizational role.
The large palette of site conditions, from the sea level and up to the alpine systems, has led to the differentiation of a well‐structured vegetation cover in Romania, with several characteristic and unique elements. The botanical arguments regarding the presence or absence of certain regional species from the recorded plant communities represented the basis of the adoption and inclusion into the Romanian coenotic system of several specific alliances, such as Festuco‐Mollugion, Scabiosion argenteae, Elymion gigantei, Micromerion pulegii, Papavero‐Thymion pulcherrimi, Veronicion baumgartenii, Festuco saxatilis‐Seslerion bielzii, Tussilaginion, Artemisio scopariae‐Tamaricion, Quercion pedunculiflorae (Sanda V. et al. 2005‐2007. Breviar fitocenologic, I‐IV), and in which several plant communities with strong local particularities are listed.
After a short overview of the history of phytocoenological studies in Romania we present an insight into the methodological background of common vegetation sampling, together with some of the references we consider essential for vegetation cover studies in our country.
Following the syntaxonomic conspectus of associations we go further with the analysis of individual classes, orders, alliances and plant communities. For each analyzed community we present information on the ecology, coenotic structure, evolution and syndynamics in natural or perturbation conditions.
In order to ease the orientation, at the end of the book we provide an alphabetical index of all vegetation groups, together with the ones we consider as synonyms.
We hope that this volume will be of general help for scientists, university lecturers and their students, and for people involved in territorial development and nature conservation activities. An additional goal was to prepare a book that is of use also in the field, both for initiated people and for naturalists, for the better understanding of the vegetation encountered in their excursions. In this idea we also provide a few photographs with plant communities from different areas of Romania.
The Pannonian part of Austria is a diverse landscape situated in the transition zone between the Alps, the Bohemian Massif and the Carpathian Basin. Although the grasslands of this region have been investigated in many botanical and vegetation studies, their phytosociological classification has re-mained confusing. With this paper, we start a series aiming at a developement of a revised, consistent system of the Austrian Pannonian grasslands. Here we present a general overview focusing on the higher syntaxonomic units. We define grasslands as all types of meadows, pastures, fens and primary steppes. We selected all available relevés of Pannonian grasslands from the Austrian Vegetation Database. Additional unpub-lished data were included from the Danube National Park and the Biosphere Reserve Vienna Woods. To account for the comparatively low number of relevés from the northern part of the Pannonian region of Austria (Weinviertel), we included also data from southern Moravia (Czech Republic). This set of 3384 relevés was classified using TWINSPAN. Relevés that were considered as misclassified at the alliance level according to the summarised cover of diagnostic species were manually re-arranged, and the data-set specific fidelity of species to alliances was calculated using the phi coefficient. The first TWINSPAN division largely corresponded to the traditional border between the classes Festuco-Brometea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. The conventional alliance concepts were generally well supported. As an exception, the distinction between Diantho-Seslerion and Bromo-Festucion pallentis was not reproduced at all. Therefore, we unite all rocky grasslands on calcareous soils in a single alliance Seslerio-Festucion pallentis. We also advocate the inclusion of all basiphilous semi-dry grasslands of the study area within a single alliance Cirsio-Brachypodion. Each of the corresponding TWINSPAN clusters showed a clear prevalence of Cirsio-Brachypodion species. Moreover, two sepa-rate alliances of semi-dry grasslands would have almost no regional character species.
The understanding of some plant communities can often be ambiguous if studies from multiple countries are considered, because goals and methods in each country may differ. The presented work is based on a detailed review of historic and recent literature about the association Heleochlo¨etum alopecuroidis in the Pannonian Basin and tangentially the adjacent regions within Central and SE Europe compared to authors’ field data. The named community was generally reported in moderately saline and marshy habitats in lowland areas, nevertheless it is not documented by phytosociological relevés to be part of the halophytic alliance of Cypero-Spergularion salinae. We performed a critical assessment of stands with the species Heleochloa alopecuroides in halophytic vegetation where we added our own data from field research between 2003 and 2013 (1044 phytosociological relevés) and 354 unpublished and published relevés taken from the three National Phytosociological Databases (Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia). We conclude that association Heleochlo¨etum alopecuroidis cannot be properly described as being part of the Pannonian halophytic vegetation group. It should be therefore deleted from the vegetation surveys.
The paper presents a country-wide trend analysis in seasonal air temperature, precipitation, sunshine hours and wind speed, over the 1961-2013 period. Changes in annual temperature and precipitation extremes are also investigated by means of 14 indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). The air temperature and the number of sunshine hours present significant increasing trends in winter, spring and summer; the precipitation amount is rather stable, with increasing trends in autumn and decreasing trends in the other seasons, at few locations. The wind speed shows downward trends in all seasons, in agreement with the tendency of the terrestrial stilling. The annual thermal extremes show decreasing trends for the cold-related indices, and increasing trends for the warm- related ones, with the warming signal being consistent over the region. The most striking results concern the number of summer days which is increasing at 95% of the stations, and the duration of warm spells, increasing at 83% of the stations. The annual precipitation extremes show mixed signals in all eight indices, with the majority of the stations presenting no significant trends. Our findings are in good agreement with recent studies on climatic variability in the region.
The physical, chemical and biological properties of saline soils are mainly determined by their water-so-luble salts. Saline and sodic soils type and morphology change according to the quality and quantity of their salt-specific ions (Szabolcs, 1998). The macrobiota (halophytes) and microbiota (soil-and rhizosphere Abstract Soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of dominant halophytes (Artemisia santonicum, Aster tripolium, Festuca pseudovina, Lepidium crassifolium, Plantago maritima and Puccinellia limosa) at four locations with saline soils in Hungary. The correlations-between arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungal colonisation parameters (% colonisation, % arbuscules) and soil physical, chemical and biological parameters were determined Endomycorrhiza colonisation was found to be negatively correlated with the electric conductivity of the soil paste, the salt-specific ion concentrations and the cation exchange capacity, showing the sensitivity of AM fungi at increasing salt concentrations, independently of the types of salt-specific anions. A positive correlation was detected between the mycorrhiza colonisation and the abundance of oligotroph bacteria known to be the less variable and more stable (k-strategist) group. This fact and the negative correlation found with the humus content underlines the importance of nutrient availability and the limitations of the symbiotic interactions in stressed saline or sodic soils.
The fifth volume of the edition of Plant communities of Slovakia
summarizes the results of the syntaxonomical revision of dry
grasslands (Festuco-Brometea), fringe communities (Trifolio-
Geranietea), lowland and mountain hay meadows and pastures
(Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Nardo-Agrostion tenuis, Violion caninae),
acidophilous heathlands (Calluno-Ulicetea) and saline vegetation
(Crypsietea aculeatae, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Scorzonero-Juncetea
gerardii). The present publication comprises a total of 118 associations,
belonging to 26 alliances, 16 orders and 8 classes. The dataset used in
the syntaxonomical revision contained 48 432 relevés; 13 064 of which
were classified by the original authors in the studied alliances of nonforest
vegetation. The text on unit description includes information
on species composition and structure, phenology, dynamics, ecology,
syntaxonomy, distribution in Slovakia and level of endangerment.
Formal definition with precise criteria which relevé must fulfil is
given for each association. Completed Electronic expert system for
identification of grassland, fringe and heathland vegetation of Slovak
republic is available on the webpage of Institute of Botany SAS http://
ibot.sav.sk/.
Alkali marshes and wetlands are among the few natural open ecosystems in Central- Europe. Inland alkali marshes of the European steppe zone are typical only for the Pannonian biogeographical region. They are characterized by shallow water cover, high seasonal fluctuations in water availability and by considerable alt-content in water and soil. Even small changes in the above parameters can result in significant differences in habitat structure and species composition. Alkali marshes are usually characterised by a species-poor vegetation, characterised by a few bulrush species (Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and S. littoralis). As indicators of the alkali character of these wetlands several halophytes and salt-tolerant species are present in the vegetation, like Aster tripolium ssp. pannonicus, Atriplex littoralis,
Chenopodium chenopodioides and Plantago maritima. In sites with moderate salinity Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus lacustris and Typha spp. can reach high cover scores. Several Pannonian endemic species are also present in alkali wetlands, like Cirsium brachycephalum, Acorellus pannonicus and Puccinellia limosa. Due to the uneven pattern of the soil salt-content and dynamic changes in water regime different types of alkali marshes compose a diverse mosaic pattern even in the small scale. This natural mosaic structure contributes to the maintenance of landscape-scale biodiversity, and also provides favourable habitats for several animal taxa, especially for breeding and migrating birds. These wetlands are also important as green corridors and stepping stones in fragmented agricultural landscapes. Alkali marshes are especially important in European nature conservation; they are included in the Natura 2000 system as priority habitats "Pannonic salt steppes and marshes". Reintroduction of traditional land use, like cattle grazing is essential to maintain the structure and species diversity of these alkali habitats. Alkali marshes are threatened by land-use changes, amelioration, eutrophication and fragmentation. Improper management, as regular reed harvesting also decreases the spatial diversity of these habitats.
The national threat status of 898 species of vascular plants from the Bulgarian flora has been evaluated using Version 3.1 of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The resulting Red List of the Bulgarian vascular plants (threat categories) comprises 801 species (20.5 % of the total flora), of which one Extinct (EX), 12 Regionally Extinct (RE), 208 Critically Endangered (CR), 297 Endangered (EN), 204 Vulnerable (VU), and 79 Near Threatened (NT). The list of other evaluated species comprises 96 taxa, of which, 53 Data Deficient (DD) and 43 Least Concern (LC).
The Halophytic Vegetation in South-East Bulgaria and Along the Black Sea Coast
The paper presents results of a syntaxonomic analysis of the herbaceous phytocoenoses on the salt steppes, meadows and marshes in Southeastern Bulgaria, and along the Southern Black Sea Coast. The halophytic vegetation is distributed mostly in the Tundzha Lowland and the large salt lakes along the Black Sea Coast, where the saline soils occupy large territories. Most syntaxa identified in the paper are well-known and wide-spread in Central and Eastern Europe ( Salicornietum prostratae, Suaedetum maritimae, Juncetum maritimae etc.), but there are also some specific vegetation types, which are presented by endemic associations as Petrosimonio brachiatae-Puccinellietum convolutae, Bupleuro tenuissimae-Camphorosmetum monspeliacae. The most widespread one is Diantho pallidiflori-Puccinellietum convolutae. It demonstrates a big variation in the appearance and the dominant structure of the described phytocoenoses. The comparision of the Bulgarian halophytic vegetation with other places in Europe shows its similarities with these vegetation types distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe.
The classification was best interpreted at the level of 15 clusters. The vegetation changed along the salinity gradient from sub-halophytic grasslands (including Trifolion resupinati alliance of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretalia class and Beckmannion eruciformis and Festucion pseudovinae p. p. alliances of the Festuco-Puccinellietea class) and reed beds (Bolboschoenion maritimi p. p. alliance; the Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class), through steppe and wet inland halophytic vegetation (Festucion pseudovinae p. p., Puccinellion limosae, Pucinellion convolutae, Bolboschoenion maritimi p. p. and Juncion gerardii of the Festuco-Puccinellietea class) towards the extreme halophytic vegetation of the Thero-Salicornietea, Crypsietea and Juncetea maritimi classes. This gradient was longer in the Balkan region, where it spanned from the sub-mediterranean salt-rich grasslands to the extremely halophytic vegetation at the Black Sea coast. The second most important
gradient coincided with the water regime. Some vegetation types appeared to
be confined to either the Pannonian or the Balkan region (especially within
dry sub-halophytic and steppe halophytic grasslands), while others were distributed
across the entire study area. The above-mentioned pattern did not
always correspond with current classification systems.
Historical and current occurrence of halophytic-ruderal species Hordeum geniculatum was studied in Slovakia during 2003 - 2010. The species occurred only in the Podunajská nížina Lowland, where 16 sites were found in total including historical and recent locations. Recently, the number of sites decreased markedly and we confirmed only four localities. Due to the sharp decrease in the number of sites and proper habitats, Hordeum geniculatum is re-evaluated as endangered (EN) plant of Slovak flora.
Community Puccinellietum limosae, characteristic by dominant occurrence of Puccinellia species, has developed on flat plots of alkali soils. Twelve localities with this community were documented by phytosociological relevés in Slovakia until 1970s. During field survey of Slovak saline habitats in 2003 - 2008 we found no typical vegetation of this association. Plants of Puccinellia distans agg. occur frequently on all remains of saline habitats, but they are fixed on different plant communities, which are also often modified and degraded. Vegetation most similar to association Puccinellietum limosae was found on damaged (tilth and subsequently abandoned) salt meadows on two localities near the villages of Králová nad Váhom and Nová Stráž. Management to preserve or improve these saline habitats is lacking, therefore the habitats are changing gradually and ruderal species are invading there from surrounding agricultural fields. We may conclude that association Puccinellietum limosae is critically endangered in Slovakia now.
The historical and recent distribution, ecology and phytosociology of perennial grass Beckmannia eruciformis was studied in Slovakia between 2002 and 2010. Altogether 22 natural and two secondary sites with presence of the species were found from published sources, herbaria and field research. Localities of its native occurrence have been concentrated in Eastern Slovakia (Východoslovenská nížina Lowland from the settlement of Streda nad Bodrogom to the villages of Pribeník and Biel). Secondary sites were found in Western Slovakia (Podunajská nížina Lowland; the surroundings of Sládkovičovo town and Jaslovské Bohunice village). The relatively massive reduction of Beckmannia eruciformis localities was recorded in the seventies and eighties of the last century; it was related to massive land reclamation and alterations in the water regime of river alluvia. Recently only seven localities were found. Permanent occurrence was confirmed only in two localities (Malý Horeš, Strážne). In those cases Beckmannia eruciformis has created relatively large populations including some thousands of individuals. All other recent occurrences were temporary (Streda nad Bodrogom, Keresztúr farmstead, Horešské lúky Nature Reserve, Veľký Horeš, Pribeník). Moreover, they were relatively poor in the number in individuals and are acutely threatened by anthropogenic changes of environmental conditions. According to our results and by applying the IUCN criteria, we propose to modify the threat category of the species from critically endangered (CR) to endangered (EN) in Slovakia. Occurrence of the association Beckmannietum eruciformis and the alliance
Beckmannion eruciformis , was also not confirmed for Slovakia during our research. We believe that the association was not present in the past either. Recently, Beckmannia eruciformis was found in the stands of
Oenanthion aquaticae (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea) and Potentillion anserinae (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea) in two localities (Malý Horeš, Strážne) during our study. The species composition of the mentioned alliances is fundamentally influenced by the ecological conditions of sites, mainly by water regime during the vegetation period. According to our knowledge, the most favourable conditions for Beckmannia eruciformis are the following: short-term and low floods in the spring, decrease of the water table at the beginning of summer and relatively high level of groundwater during next part of vegetation period. On the contrary, the species may not appear on the site in case of unfavourable weather conditions (dry years).
Vegetation with the presence of Beckmannia eruciformis (L.) HOST (PoaceaePoeae) was studied using both published and authors' field data for the territory of the Pannonian Basin (Slovakia, Hungary and Romania). The analysis of the total of 95 phytosociological relevés enabled distinguishing seven different B. eruciformis vegetation types, belonging to four vegetation classes: the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea (Cluster 1), Phragmito-Magnocaricetea (Clusters 2-3), Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (Cluster 4) and Festuco-Puccinellietea (Clusters 5-7). The results indicate that the ecological optimum of B. eruciformis has been found for slightly saline and periodically flooded soils in stands of the class Festuco-Puccinellietea, alliance Beckmannion eruciformis Soó 1933 (Cluster 5), where the species exhibited the highest values of the coverage (cover value 3). Based on the Borhidi indicator values, it was found that moisture was the most significant ecological factor influencing the variability of B. eruciformis vegetation (Spearman correlation coefficient with the first DCA axis was -0.811, P < 0.001), followed by the nutrient content in the soil (-0.559, P < 0.001). In addition to the relevance and review of use in the botanical literature of the syntaxa, the Agrostio stoloniferae-Beckmannietum eruciformis RAPAICS ex Soó 1930 was discussed. Short comments concerning Beckmannia eruci/ormts-dominated stands in other parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe are also provided.
Central European inland vegetation dominated by Bolboschoenus species was newly classified, based on current knowledge of taxonomic differentiation within the Bolboschoenus maritimus-complex. Altogether 225 phytosociological relevés from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany and Austria were analysed. Bolboschoenus-dominated vegetation is found in a broad range of both freshwater and saline habitats. Individual Bolboschoenus species grow in different habitats with different species composition. The freshwater vegetation, dominated by B. yagara, B. laticarpus and B. planiculmis, reflects ecological differentiation of these species from base-poor to alkaline substrates, and from littoral habitats to temporarily flooded depressions. The following freshwater associations were distinguished: Phalarido arundinaceae-Bolboschoenetum laticarpi Passarge 1999 corr. Krumbiegel 2006, concentrated in large river floodplains, Bolboschoenetum yagarae Eggler 1933 corr. Hroudová et al. 2009, typical of the littoral zone of fishponds on base-poor bedrocks, and Tripleurospermo inodori-Bolboschoenetum planiculmis Hroudová et al. 2009, occurring mainly in temporarily flooded depressions on arable land. Saline vegetation is dominated by Bolboschoenus maritimus s. str. The alliance Cirsio brachycephali-Bolboschoenion compacti (Passarge 1978) Mucina in Balátová-Tuláčková et al. 1993, previously interpreted as vegetation of inland saline marshes, actually relates to freshwater Bolboschoenus vegetation. Therefore a new alliance, Meliloto dentati-Bolboschoenion maritimi Hroudová et al. 2009, is proposed here to include saline reed vegetation of continental areas.
Statistical measures of fidelity, i.e. the concentration of species occurrences in vegetation units, are reviewed and compared. The focus is on measures suitable for categorical data which are based on observed species frequencies within a vegetation unit compared with the frequencies expected under random distribution. Particular attention is paid to Bruelheide's u value. It is shown that its original form, based on binomial distribution, is an asymmetric measure of fidelity of a species to a vegetation unit which tends to assign comparatively high fidelity values to rare species. Here, a hypergeometric form of u is introduced which is a symmetric measure of the joint fidelity of species to a vegetation unit and vice versa. It is also shown that another form of the binomial u value may be defined which measures the asymmetric fidelity of a vegetation unit to a species. These u values are compared with phi coefficient, chi-square, G statistic and Fisher's exact test. Contrary to the other measures, phi coefficient is independent of the number of relevés in the data set, and like the hypergeometric form of u and the chi-square it is little affected by the relative size of the vegetation unit. It is therefore particularly useful when comparing species fidelity values among differently sized data sets and vegetation units. However, unlike the other measures it does not measure any statistical significance and may produce unreliable results for small vegetation units and small data sets. The above measures, all based on the comparison of observed/expected frequencies, are compared with the categorical form of the Dufrêne-Legendre Indicator Value Index, an index strongly underweighting the fidelity of rare species.
Vegetation classification is a useful tool for basic and applied research as well as for environmental management. As classification of vegetation serves many different purposes, there is no single approach to defining vegetation types. Establishing formalized standard procedures is desirable, however, because the purposes and uses of vegetation classifications are similar in different countries and regions. With the aim of promoting methodological standardization in classification across countries and vegetation scientists, this manuscript is centered on two ideas: (1) the need to explicitly distinguish between the conceptual activities involved in the definition of vegetation types (membership determination, characterization, validation and naming); and (2) the need to perform assignments of new vegetation observations to previously defined vegetation types in accordance with how these types were originally defined, a concept that we refer to as consistency in assignment. We demonstrate that our conceptual framework provides a useful tool to better understand what classification methods do. In order to manage and use classifications in a better way, vegetation scientists should produce, store and report the rules that provide consistent assignments to vegetation types.
The five species of Bolboschoenus — B. glaucus, B. laticarpus, B. maritimus, B. planiculmis and B. yagara — occurring in Europe were studied. A detailed taxonomic and nomenclatural account is provided for these taxa, together with an identification key, distribution data and maps based on a revision of herbarium specimens from 36 herbaria and on field observations. Because ecological differentiation influences the distribution of the taxa concerned, detailed information on their ecology is also pro-vided.
A survey and revision of the highest syntaxa of the class Festuco-Puccinellietea with the exception of plant communities attributed to the class Scorzonero—Juncetea gerardii are submitted. Communities of the Festuco-Puccinellietea are inland intrazonal stands of Eurasia on solonetz soils, most common in flat lowlands as well on the rivers and lakes terraces that are briefly flooded in spring-time, and dry for the most part of the growing season. The diagnostic species combination of the class is heterogeneous. It includes Artemisia dwarf semi-shrubs of the Seriphidium section that are widely spread in the Iran-Turan subregion of the Sahara-Gobi area. These are also Limonium species that are mostly diverse in the Mediterranean region where from these taxa could move into inland areas with solonetz soils. The Festuca taxa of the section Festuca together with Poa bulbosa have probably moved on solonetz soils from adjoining steppes. The halophytic Puccinellia taxa of Xeratropis and Puccinellia sections could penetrate into Festuco-Puccinellietea communities from the banks saline pools. The floristic composition of the class in question gives the bright example of the net-shaped evolution of plant communities according to Whittaker (1980). The distribution area of Festuco-Puccinellietea communities lies within the Black Sea-Kazakhstan subregion of the Eurasian Steppe region according to the subdivision of the Ancient Mediterranean by Lavrenko (1962, 1970а). There are no communities that could be placed in Festuco-Puccinellietea in Central Asia, at least the authors were not lucky to find any signs of these in references. The closest to this class are the communities of Achnatheretea splendentis, however their floristic composition and ecology are significantly different. Within the whole area of their distribution the Festuco-Puccinellietea communities are neighboring with those of Scorzonero—Juncetea gerardii occupying shallow depressions, while in the steppe zone they occur close to zonal phytocenoses on placor belonging to Festuco-Brometea. There is no idea what kinds of semidesert zonal vegetation are contiguous with Festuco-Puccinellietea communities because it is still been poorly studied from the point of view of the Braun-Blanquet approach. Syntaxa that belong to Festuco-Puccinellietea are so far poorly studied on the vast area of Ukraine, as well as Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, the Don River basin, the territory between the Don and Volga rivers of Russia, and Northern Kazakhstan.
This chapter deals with anticipated climatic changes and their impact on flora and vegetation in the following period (2025-2100) in the Republic of Macedonia. The general characteristics of the country, such as geology, relief, and climate, are first presented. The flora of the country is then described and the beginnings of research into flora and vegetation are given. The vegetation of the country is elaborated according to climatic/vegetation regions, with special attention to vegetation of high altitudes. Information on botanically important plant areas (IPA) in the country is given. Climate change in the recent past and various models of anticipated climate change are presented and expected changes in flora and vegetation are presented and discussed.
The phytosociology and ecology of Scorzonera parviflora stands were studied in the Pannonian Basin and Western Balkans. In total, we used 60 relevés (46 collected for this study and 14 from the literature) for the ordination analysis. Optimal conditions for S. parviflora are species-poor coastal habitats in regions with hot summers and with high soil salinity and nutrient-richness. The species reached high cover values in most cases (25–50%) and it often dominated the stand. The classification of phytosociological data shows four floristically and ecologicaly well characterized clusters. Cluster 1 was identified as the rare association Junco maritimi-Scorzoneretum parviflorae, sampled only in coastal Croatia (on the island of Pag) and inland Hungary (Fertőszéplak). Cluster 2 groups meadow-like salt marsh vegetation in transition between two vegetation types, Limonio narbonensis-Puccinellietum festuciformis and Trifolio-Hordeetum secalini. Cluster 3 represents the typical variant of the Scorzonero parviflorae-Juncetum gerardii, while cluster 4 was determined as a variant with Tripolium pannonicum of the Scorzonero parviflorae-Juncetum gerardii characterized by a higher presence of obligate halophytes (Tripolium pannonicum, Puccinellia distans agg. and Plantago maritima) than in cluster 3. Our study shows that vegetation with Scorzonera parviflora in inland Central and SE Europe belongs to the Juncion gerardii and stands of coastal Croatia are related to the Juncion maritimi alliance. The species composition and the classification of the examined stands in the Pannonian and Transylvanian basins were influenced more by abiotic environmental factors than by current management.
A survey on the presence of the halophytic grass Puccinellia limosa in numerous plant communities distributed on salt affected soils in Serbia indicated a general preference of this halophyte for moderately to highly salinized and very alkalinized soils, mainly of solonetz and sodic solonchak type. Responses to the salinity in P. limosa were studied by soil-plant relations, estimated through alterations in ions concentration, bothin soil saturation extract and in root and shoot of plants collected in their typical community, the ass. Puccinellietum limosae (Rapes.) Wend., found in the salt marsh situated in the middle Banat (Vojvodina, Serbia). Soil salt content gradually increased during thevegetation season of the plant, reaching a maximum of 0.64%, corresponding to ECe of 25.1 mmhos/cm. Concentration of ions in root and shoot off! limosa (umol/g DW) significantly differed, whereas in the root the highest values had sodium (172.83 ± 94.86), potassium (147.26 ± 25.65) and calcium (139.66 ± 20.05), and in theshoot chlorides (186.68 ± 57.51), potassium (158.74 ± 50.2) and sodium (130.09 ± 58.84). The root/shoot ratio gradually increased during the investigated period, and was correlated with Na/K of the root, suggesting a significance of salt exclusionand control of transport of salts towards the shoot, operating at the root level. Statistical processing of data showed that factors assigned as age of the plant, corresponding to increasing soil salinity, and plant part (root and shoot), individually and mutually, had a significant effect on salt accumulation and related ions allocation in P. limosa.
AimsMost vegetation classification systems developed for large areas include various inconsistencies. Therefore, we (1) propose a new consistent Cocktail-based approach to redefine the traditional phytosociological classification of species-poor vegetation; (2) apply it to create a classification protocol for aquatic vegetation; (3) implement this protocol in a computer expert system; and (4) test it with a data set previously classified using an older version of the Cocktail method. Methods
The new approach uses formal logic to provide formal definitions of vegetation units. In the classification protocol for aquatic vegetation we defined consistent criteria for delimitation of associations according to the concepts that are predominantly used in phytosociology, based on species cover, dominance patterns and functional species groups. We applied these criteria in a computer expert system running in the JUICE 7.0 program, and applied them to a test data set of 12171 vegetation plots from the Czech Republic containing at least one aquatic species. The new classification was compared with (1) the previous national Cocktail classification based on species cover values and in few cases on sociological species groups, and (2) a non-formalized expert-based classification. ResultsThirteen functional species groups were created to build logical formulas of 64 aquatic associations and 5297 (44% of the total data set) vegetation plots were assigned to these associations, i.e. by 4% and 12% more than in the previous Cocktail and expert-based classifications, respectively. There was 94% and 83% classification agreement with the previous Cocktail and expert-based classification. Conclusions
The new approach produces a formal, consistent and unequivocal classification of species-poor vegetation with several advantages over similar approaches. It provides not only a set of formal definitions of vegetation units, but also a set of rules for building such definitions. All associations with common characteristics are defined by structurally identical formulas, ensuring consistency of the classification. While similar approaches for species-rich vegetation use sociological species groups, which are not applicable to species-poor vegetation, the new approach introduces the use of functional species groups, which reflect vegetation physiognomy and spatial structure and, in combination with species dominance, enable the classification of species-poor vegetation in a similar manner as in traditional phytosociology.
This study aims to present and analyse, from phytosociologic perspective, the phytocoenoses preferred by Vipera ursinii individuals, of the Sărăturile levee (Danube Delta). Our field investigations showed that most of vipers have been observed in the plant communities with relatively tall grasses and high cover and in the ecotonal areas that are appropriate for thermoregulation. The analysis of the relevés allowed the identification of three phytosociological associations: Juncetum maritimi (Rübel 1930) Pignatti 1953, Juncetum littoralis Popescu et Sanda 1976 (Cl. Juncetea maritimi Br.-Bl. 1931) and Agropyretum elongati I. Şerbănescu 1965 (Cl. Festuco-Puccinelietea Soó 1968).
Wet meadows are transitional habitats between wetlands and dry-mesophilous grasslands; thus, they are vital in sustaining biodiversity as sources, stepping stones and green corridors of species dispersal. It is especially valid for inland alkali vegetation, where high landscape-scale patchiness is typical and rapid shifts between vegetation types occur frequently. Solonetz meadows (Beckmannion eruciformis) are among the best-preserved open habitats in Europe harbouring a unique flora including several endemics. Besides their importance, studies on the vegetation of solonetz meadows are scarce even though this knowledge would be vital for their effective conservation and management. Using own records and literature data, we provide a synthesis of the alliance Beckmannion eruciformis to charac-terise its associations floristically and ecologically in five regions along the river Tisza, East Hungary. We studied three associations of the alliance: (i) Agrostio stoloniferae-Alopecuretum pratensis, (ii) Agrostio stoloniferae-Beckmannietum eruciformis and (iii) Agrostio stoloniferae-Glycerietum pedi-cellatae. We found that solonetz meadow associations were separated along a moisture gradient with Agrostio stoloniferae-Alopecuretum pratensis at the drier end and Agrostio stoloniferae-Glycerietum pedicellateae at the wet end. This gradient was also justified by the distribution of the phytosociological groups. The proportion of species of Festuco-Brometea division was the highest in Agrostio stolonifer-ae-Alopecuretum pratensis, while the proportion of Cypero-Phragmitetea species was the highest in Agrostio stoloniferae-Glycerietum pedicellateae. Species of Puccinellio-Salicornetea had the highest proportion in Agrostio stoloniferae-Beckmannietum eruciformis, indicating the high soil salinity of this association. Our results suggest that Agrostio stoloniferae-Alopecuretum pratensis association plays an important role in preserving the continental flora elements of the surrounding dry grasslands. The ecological indicator values for soil moisture and salinity suggest that in case of the studied solonetz meadow associations, humidity increases with decreasing elevation, while salinity is highest at medium elevations. Our results suggest that Agrostio stoloniferae-Beckmannietum eruciformis is a transition towards salt marsh associations, while Agrostio stoloniferae-Glycerietum pedicellatae is a transition towards freshwater marshes. Our results show that preserving solonetz meadows is an important task for nature conservation as they have a crucial role in maintaining landscape-scale species and habitat diversity and act as buffer zones around wetlands.
. The computer software package TURBOVEG (for Microsoft® Windows®) was developed in The Netherlands for the processing of phytosociological data. This package comprises an easy-to-use data base management system. The data bank to be managed can be divided into several data bases which may consist of up to 100 000 relevés each. The program provides methods for input, import, selection, and export of relevés. In 1994, TURBOVEG was accepted as the standard computer package for the European Vegetation Survey. Currently it has been installed in more than 25 countries throughout Europe and overseas.
QuestionsHow does the floristic composition of plant species of meadows and mesic pastures vary along a broad geographical gradient in the NW Balkans? How does the current phytosociological classification of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea vegetation differ among the NW Balkan countries?LocationNW Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia).Methods3635 relevés originally assigned to the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea were classified with a beta flexible method, and the crispness of classification was checked. DCA ordination with Pignatti indicator values and climate data were applied to show the influence of site conditions on species composition.ResultsThe classification was best interpreted at the level of 13 clusters, but could also be interpreted at the level of three groups of clusters. The first division was according to geography and climate: the first and third groups were concentrated in the NW part, while the second was restricted to the eastern part of the study area. The most important variable was site moisture, followed by nutrients and altitude, which corresponded with a west-east direction. The first group was very diverse and included communities on the wettest and most nutrient-rich sites (Potentillion anserinae, Cynosurion cristati, Calthion palustris, Molinion caeruleae, Molinio-Hordeion). The second group comprised mesophilous continental grasslands (Trifolio-Ranunculion pedati, Trifolion pallidi, Trifolion resupinati), while the third group consisted of grasslands from regions with abundant precipitation (Arrhenatherion elatioris, Deschampsion cespitosae, Pancicion serbicae, Triseto flavescentis-Polygonion bistortae).Conclusions
Our analysis can be used to unify different phytosociological classifications in different countries, also showing the transitional forms of well-known Central European vegetation types that have a different floristic composition and ecology in the Balkans. This knowledge will enable classification of the same vegetation types in neighbouring Balkan countries that are less studied.
After foundation of the Wadden Sea National Park, grazing and artificial drainage was ceased or reduced on large areas of the salt marshes at the Schleswig-Holstein mainland coast (Northern Germany). The effect of grazing cessation versus intensive and moderate grazing on vegetation diversity was studied on small (plant species richness on plots between 0.01 and 100 m2) and large scale (vegetation type richness per hectare) over 18 to 20 years by analysing data from long-term monitoring programs. Plant species richness and vegetation type richness increased strongly over time in all management regimes, because grazing-sensitive species increased first in ungrazed marshes and later dispersed to and established in intensively grazed marshes. Dominance of the tall, late-successional grass Elymus athericus on 7% to 52% of all moderately and ungrazed (primarily high marsh) plots led to a decrease in species richness. After 18 to 20 years, species richness was highest in moderately and intensively grazed high marshes. Differences were significant only on small plots of up to 4 m2. On the large scale, vegetation type richness in the low marsh was higher without grazing, while no differences were found in the high marsh. Our results indicate that grazing effects differ between spatial scales and that different spatial scales have to be considered for monitoring and evaluation of vegetation diversity in salt marshes. To conserve vegetation diversity on all scales, a large-scale mosaic of different management regimes should be maintained.
The article analyzes communities of saline habitats identified and described using the approach of J. Braun-Blanquet on the southeastern border of Europe. The morphological, ecological, and geographical features of these communities characteristic of this region are summarized on the level of higher syntaxa (classes). The value of the community is considered from an environmental perspective.
Halophytes of the lower coastal salt Marsh show increased salt tolerance, and under high salinity they grow faster than upper marsh species. We could not show reduced growth rate of halophytes compared with glycophytes when grown under non-saline conditions. This indicates limited energy costs associated with high-salt tolerance in plants of genera such as Salicornia, providing a good perspective of saline agriculture cultivating Salicornia as a vegetable crop. We show that halophytes do not occur on non-saline or inland sites because of a reduced growth rate at low soil salinity, but probably due to other ecological traits of glycophytic upper marsh species. These traits provide competitive advantage over lower salt marsh halophytes, such as earlier germination and increased growing season length. Some halophytic Amaranthaceae (Salicornioideae, Chenopodioideae and Suaedoideae) are not just highly salt tolerant, their growth rate is stimulated at a salinity range of 150-300 mM NaCl. Alternatively this may be described as depressed growth at low salinity. Selective pressure for such high-salt tolerance and salt stimulated growth likely occurred with prevailing arid climate and saline soil conditions. Under such conditions highly-salt tolerant succulent Salicornioideae, Chenopodioidea and Suaedoideae may have evolved about 65 Mya. In the context of evolution and diversication of land plants this origin of highly-salt tolerant succulent plants is relatively recent. Such high-salt tolerance might be characterized as constitutive in comparison with inducible (lower) salt tolerance of other dicotyledonae and monocotyledonae (Poaceae) species. Levels of salt tolerance of the latter type span a large range of low, intermediate to high-salt tolerance, but do not include salt stimulated growth. Salt tolerant traits of the latter inducible type appear to have evolved repeatedly and independently. Early highly-salt tolerant succulent Salicornioideae, Chenopodioidea and Suaedoideae were perennial and frost sensitive and occurred in warm temperate and Mediterranean regions. A shift from the perennial Sarcocornia to an annual life form has been phylogenetically dated circa 9.4-4.2 Mya and enabled evolution of annual hygrohalophytes in more northern coastal locations up to boreal and subarctic coastal sites avoiding damage of winter frost. Diversification of such hygrohalophytes was facilitated by polyploidization (e.g. occurrence of tetraploid and diploid Salicornia species), and a high degree of inbreeding allowing sympatric occurrence of Salicornia species in coastal salt marshes. High-level salt tolerance is probably a very complex polygenic trait. It is unlikely that glycophytes would accommodate the appropriate allelic variants at all the loci involved in halophyte salt tolerance. This might explain why attempts to improve crop salt tolerance through conventional breeding and selection have been unsuccessful to date. Genetic engineering provides a viable alternative, but the choice for the appropriate transgenes is hampered by a fundamental lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of salt tolerance in halophytes. The chances to identify the determinant genes through QTL analyses, or comparisons among near isogenic lines (NILS) are limited. Salt-tolerance is usually a species-wide trait in halophytes, and intra-specific divergence in salt tolerance in facultative halophytes seems to be often associated with chromosomal incompatibility. A variety of candidate salt tolerance genes been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, among which genes encoding Na+ and K+ transporters, and genes involved in the general stress or anti-oxidant response, or in compatible solute metabolism. Many of these genes have been over-expressed in different glycophytic hosts, which usually appeared to alleviate, to some degree, the response to high salinity levels. However, with few exceptions, there are no indications that the same genes would be responsible for the superior salt tolerance in (eu)halophytes. Comparisons of gene expression and gene promoter activity patterns between halophytes and glycophytes are, with few exceptions, virtually lacking, which is a major omission in current day salt tolerance research. Full-genome transcriptomic comparisons between halophytes and related glycophytes through deep sequencing seem to be the most promising strategy to identify candidate genetic determinants of the difference in salt tolerance between halophytes and glycophytes. The most reliable validation of any candidate gene is through silencing the gene in the halophytic genetic background, preferably down to the level at which it is expressed in the glycophyte reference species. This requires genetically accessible halophyte models, which are not available to date, with the exception of Thellungiella halophila. However, more models are required, particularly because T. halophila is not a typical halophyte. Eventually, the pyramiding of validated salt tolerance genes under suitable promoters may be expected to be a viable strategy for crop salt tolerance improvement.
Soil and water salinity substantially constrain crop and biomass production. Research over the last two plus decades, facilitated by advances in molecular genetics and biotechnology, and with genetic model systems, has identified genes involved in salt acclimation or adaptation and linked these to critical mechanisms and processes. A case in point is present understanding of critical transport determinants that facilitate intra- and intercellular Na+ homeostasis of plants in saline environments predominated by NaCl. Pumps in the plasma membrane (H+-ATPase), and the tonoplast (H+-ATPase) and H+ pyrophosphatases (AVP1) generate proton electrochemical gradients necessary to energize Na+ efflux to the apoplast and influx into vacuoles, respectively. The plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter SOS1 is responsible for apoplastic efflux, and NHX type Na+/H+ antiporters for vacuolar and endosomal compartmentalization. Ca2+ext reduces passive intracellular Na+ influx cells by decreasing Na+ transport through high affinity K+ uptake systems and what are presumed to be nonselective cation channels, and activating, through the SOS signal pathway, the SOS1 plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter. Moreover, there is greater understanding about how cellular transport systems functionally integrate to facilitate tissue and organismal Na+ homeostasis. Notable in this process are HKT1 Na+ transporters, which regulate Na+ loading into the root xylem, limiting flux to and accumulation in the shoot. This review will summarize ion transport systems that facilitate plant Na+ homeostasis. Halophyte and glycophyte salinity responses and transport determinant function are compared and contrasted. The potential of halophytes as genetic resources for unique alleles or loci of transport protein genes and transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of transport protein function are discussed in the context of crop salt tolerance.
Explaining the biomass–species richness relationship is key to understanding vegetation dynamics. Several possible mechanisms have been suggested, but complex analysis of plant strategies, major biomass and species richness components along a long productivity gradient is still lacking. We provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between major biomass components (total above-ground biomass, green biomass and litter), plant strategies and species richness along a long gradient of alkali and loess grasslands in a steppe landscape in Central Europe.
Abstract For an effective conservation and management in grasslands it is essential to understand mechanisms sustaining biodiversity. To gain knowledge is especially crucial in stressed grasslands harbouring a unique flora and fauna, like alkali grasslands. Aboveground vegetation, seed bank and environmental factors were studied in three stands of the following alkali grassland types: (i) Artemisia dry alkali grasslands at highest elevations; (ii) Puccinellia high and (iii) Puccinellia low grasslands at medium to low elevations, and (iv) Juncus wet alkali grasslands at the lowest elevations. We tested the following hypotheses: (i) Seed bank species diversity and density are the highest in the most stressed grassland types, where regeneration by seeds could have a major importance in sustaining vegetation diversity. (ii) Seed bank density of hygrophytes increases with decreasing elevation, because the cover of hygrophytes in the vegetation increases with decreasing elevation. The mean seed bank density ranged from 30,104 up to 51,410 seeds/m2, which is higher than in most dry grasslands. Both the lowest seed bank density and diversity were detected in the most stressed Puccinellia high grasslands; Spergularia salina was the only abundant seed bank species (possessing at least 1000 seeds/m2). These results not supported our first hypothesis. We detected the highest seed densities of almost all hygrophyte species in the lowest-elevated Juncus grasslands. But, we did not find a significant monotonous correlation between elevation and the overall hygrophyte seed bank density; because most of the hygrophyte species were missing from the seed bank at the medium-elevated, but most saline Puccinellia grasslands. Thus, our results only partly supported the second hypothesis. In total we detected more species in the seed bank than in the aboveground vegetation which emphasises that seed bank plays an important role in sustaining the diversity of alkali grasslands. However, characteristic graminoids possessed no considerable seed bank, except for Juncus compressus (up to 38,619 seeds/m2). We can conclude that persistence and establishment of most alkali grassland species are not supported by the local persistent seed bank.
Salt affected soils especially in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world exhibit a significant increasing tendency. The relationship between plant/vegetation richness and soil salinity was assessed for 21 grassland asscociations and one sub-association of Serbia. Among studied grasslands, the ass. Halo-Crypsidetum aculeatae, Suaedetum maritimae and Salicornieto-Suaedetum maritimae were found to be indicators of the extremely saline soils (solonchak), whereas the ass. Lepidio crassifolio- Festucetum pseudovinae, Trifollietum subterranei and Peucedano-Asteretum punctati were typical indicators of sodic soils (solonetz). Management and use of grasslands of salt affected soils and evaluation of pastoral value and salinity tolerance of the studied grasslands was performed.
Question: Community ecologists are often confronted with multiple possible partitions of a single set of records of species composition and/or abundances from several sites. Different methods of numerical classification produce different results, and the question is which of them, and how many clusters, should be selected for interpretation. We demonstrate a new method for identifying the optimal partition from a series of partitions of the same set of sites, based on number of species with high fidelity to clusters in a partition (faithful species).
Research was done over the period of 1995-1998 in the industrial and natural saline areas of the Kujawy region, central Poland. The study area was located mainly in the vicinity of two soda factories. The investigation aimed at determination of halophytes' importance in indication of soil salinity. The main soil factors important for halophilous plant species distribution were concentration of Cl-, content of K+, SO42-, Ntot, in the soil, electrical conductivity (EC e) and pH. Their importance was identified after CCA, forward selection and Monte Carlo permutation test. Distribution analysis of fourteen species along a salinity gradient showed that only Salicornia europaea, Glaux maritima and Triglochin maritima could be used as indicators of soil salinity described by ECe. The main factors important for distribution of ten distinguished halophilous communities were ECe, moisture, content of SO42- and Ca2+/Na+ ratio (after discriminant analysis CVA, forward selection and Monte Carlo permutation test). Salicornia europaea community and Aster tripolium community were present at salinity over 20 mS/cm, Triglochin maritima community over 12 mS/cm, Puccinellia distans-Salicornia europaea-Spergularia marina community over 8 mS/cm and Glaux maritima-Potentilla anserina-Agrostis stolonifera community over 2 mS/cm. Plant communities were better indicators of soil salinity than individual species.
The program JUICE was designed as a Microsoft® WINDOWS® application for editing, classification and analysis of large phytosociological tables and databases. This software, with a current maximum capacity of 30 000 relevés in one table, includes many functions for easy manipulation of table and header data. Various options include classification using COCKTAIL and TWINSPAN methods, calculation of interspecific associations, fidelity measures, average Ellenberg indicator values, preparation of synoptic tables, automatic sorting of relevé tables, and export of table data into other applications (word processors, spreadsheet programs or mapping packages). JUICE is optimized for use in association with TURBOVEG which is the most widespread database program for storing phytosociological data in Europe.
Many recent attempts to map soils and related ecological phenomena are concerned with spatial patterns. There is a large diversity of approaches to determine 1) the actual parameters to be measured, 2) the most informative categories to be formed based on them, and depending on both of the above, 3) the sampling locations and 4) the resolution of the map. This paper reports a field remote sensing project to meet the requirements of a detailed botanical and soils survey to understand salinity status of the Hortobágy region in east Hungary. The problem of association-level recognition of land cover is addressed in terms of quantitative description and ground resolution. It is concluded that the most characteristic six to seven vegetation association types are well identifiable based on their TM spectra using discriminant analysis/nonhierarchical clustering with half-meter ground resolution.
Názvový rejstřík Přehl. lit. S fot. a mp. v textu přílohy jako druhý svazek Čes. souhrn Práce podává fytocenologickou charakteristiku rostlinných společenstev halofytní a subhalofytní vegetace ČSSR a jejího zeměpisného rozšíření. Nastiňuje historii výzkumu této vegetace v Československu a upozorňuje na problémyjejí dosavadní klasifikace. Dále charakterizuje přírodní poměry a ekologické účinky fysiografických činitelů a podíl člověka na utváření cenos v minulosti i v současnosti. Ve speciální části uvádí systematicky uspořádaný přehledcenotaxonů halofytní a subhalofytní vegetace v ČSSR.