The effects of successional stage and size of gaps on recruitment of clonal plants in overgrowing Molinietum caeruleae meadows
Abstract
In majority of plant communities with a closed canopy, the disturbances created by abiotic factors and biotic agents contribute to origin of an area free of existing vegetation and considered as safe sites for seedling recruitment. Although the gaps are characterized by several features, the size is proposed to be the most important characteristic. The investigations of recruitment of clonal taxa in different–sized gaps were conducted in the years 2011–2012 in Molinietum caeruleae meadows representing various successional stages and dominated by different species. Patch ES, representing early-successional stage, was dominated by small meadow species, Patch MS, representing mid-successional stage, was prevailed by tall-growing macroforbs, while Patch LS representing late-successional stage was overgrown by macroforbs and willows. In the successive sites the mean height of plant canopy, as well as the period of spring inundation increased gradually.
The total number of species and seedlings decreased from the Patch ES, through the Patch MS, to the Patch LS. Almost all plants presenting positive correlation between seedling number and gap area created hypogeogenous stems with substantial lateral growth and considerable number of short-lived daughter ramets allowing the fast colonization of neighbourhood. The majority of species showing negative relationship formed epigeogenous stems with slight lateral growth, as well as low number of long-lived ramets contributing to slow colonization of area.
In light of performed studies, it might be concluded, that making disturbance in continuous plant canopy and litter might be very effective way of conservation of Molinietum caeruleae meadows. The creation of different-sized gaps seems to be especially valuable due to the maintenance of heterogeneity of clonal species, which is particularly important in advanced successional stages.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Harper JL, Williams JT, Sagar GR. The behaviour of seeds in soil: I. The heterogeneity of soil surfaces and its role in determining the establishment of plants from seed. J Ecol. 1965; 53(2): 273. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2257975
Sousa WP. The role of disturbance in natural communities. Ann Rev Ecol Syst. 1984; 15(1): 353–391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.15.110184.002033
Fenner M, Thompson K. The ecology of seeds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2005.
Qing Li Z, Bogaert J, Nijs I. Gap pattern and colonization opportunities in plant communities: effects of species richness, mortality, and spatial aggregation. Ecography. 2005; 28(6): 777–790. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.
0906-7590.04261.x
Eriksson Å, Eriksson O. Seedling recruitment in semi-natural pastures: the effects of disturbance, seed size, phenology and seed bank. Nord J Bot. 1997; 17(5): 469–482. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1997.tb00344.x
Burke MJW, Grime JP. An experimental study of plant community invasibility. Ecology. 1996; 77(3): 776. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2265501
Kostrakiewicz K. The effect of gaps size on colonization process in Molinietum caeruleae meadows with different habitat conditions. Pol J Ecol. 2011; 59(4): 677–686.
Foster S, Janson CH. The relationship between seed size and establishment conditions in tropical woody plants. Ecology. 1985; 66(3): 773. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1940538
Ulft LH. The effect of seed mass and gap size on seed fate of tropical rain forest tree species in Guyana. Plant Biol. 2004; 6(2): 214–221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-815736
Marthews TR, Mullins CE, Dalling JW, Burslem DFRP. Burial and secondary dispersal of small seeds in a tropical forest. J Trop Ecol. 2008; 24(06): 595. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S026646740800535X
Williams RJ. Gap dynamics in subalpine heathland and grassland vegetation in south-eastern Australia. J Ecol. 1992; 80(2): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2261016
Kotanen PM. Effect of gap area and shape on recolonization by grassland plants with differing reproductive strategies. Can J Bot. 1997; 75(2): 352–361.
Fuller RM. The changing extent and conservation interest of lowland grasslands in England and Wales: a review of grassland surveys 1930–1984. Biol Conserv. 1987; 40(4): 281–300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(87)90121-2
Green BH. Agricultural intensification and the loss of habitat, species and amenity in British grasslands: a review of historical change and assessment of future prospects+. Grass Forage Sci. 1990; 45(4): 365–372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.1990.tb01961.x
Prach K. Vegetational changes in a wet meadow complex, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Folia Geobot. 1993; 40(1): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02853197
Joyce CB, Wade PM, editors. European wet grasslands: biodiversity, management, and restoration. Chichester: John Wiley; 1998. (Landscape ecology series).
Muller S. Diversity of management practices required to ensure conservation of rare and locally threatened plant species in grasslands: a case study at a regional scale (Lorraine, France). Biodivers Conserv. 2002; 11(7): 1173–1184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1016049605021
Zarzycki K. Wilgotne łąki w okolicy Czernichowa i potrzeba ich ochrony. Ochr Przyr. 1958;25:49–59.
Dubiel E. Mapa roślinności aktualnej Krakowa. Zesz Nauk UJ Pr Bot. 1991; 22: 121–133.
Dubiel E. Łąki Krakowa. I. Klasa Molinio-Arrhenatherea. Stud Ośrodka Dok Fizjogr. 1996; 24: 145–171.
Csapodý V. Keimlingsbestimmungsbuch der Dikotyledonen. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; 1968.
Muller FM. Seedlings of the North-Western European lowland. A flora of seedlings. Wageningen: Dr. W. Junk B.V. Publishers; 1978.
Mirek Z, Piękoś-Mirkowa H, Zając A, Zając M. Flowering plants and pteridophytes of Poland. A checklist. Krytyczna lista roślin naczyniowych Polski. Cracow: W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences; 2002.
Klimesova J, Latzel V, de Bello F, van Groenendael JM. Plant functional traits in studies of vegetation changes in response to grazing and mowing: towards a use of more specific traits. Preslia. 2008; 80(3): 245–253.
Klimešova J, Klimeš L. CLO-PLA 3 - a database of clonal growth in plants [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2014 Oct 31]; Available from: http://clopla.butbn.cas.cz
Klimešová J, de Bello F. CLO-PLA: the database of clonal and bud bank traits of Central European flora. J Veg Sci. 2009; 20(3): 511–516. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2009.01050.x
Borkowska L. Patterns of seedling recruitment in experimental gaps on mosaic vegetation of abandoned meadows. Acta Soc Bot Pol. 2004; 73(4): 343–350. http://dx.doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2004.045
Borkowska L. Wzorce rekrutacji siewek gatunków klonalnych w zbiorowisku niekoszonej łąki Cirsietum rivularis Ralski 1931. Wyniki badań eksperymentalnych. Phytocoenosis (N.S.). Arch Geobot. 2004; 10: 1–71.
Falińska K. Alternative pathways of succession species turnover patterns in meadows abandoned for 30 years. Phytocoenosis (N.S.). Arch Geobot. 2003; 9: 1–100.
Vandvik V, Goldberg DE. Sources of diversity in a grassland metacommunity: quantifying the contribution of dispersal to species richness. Am Nat. 2006; 168(2): 157–167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/505759
Van der Valk AG, Davis CB. The role of seed banks in the vegetation dynamics of prairie glacial marshes. Ecology. 1978; 59(2): 322. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1936377
Guo Y, Shelton MG, Lockhart BR. Effects of flood duration and season on germination of black, cherrybark, northern red, and water oak acorns. New For. 1998; 5(1): 69–76.
Walls RL, Wardrop DH, Brooks RP. The impact of experimental sedimentation and flooding on the growth and germination of floodplain trees. Plant Ecol. 2005; 176(2): 203–213. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11258-004-0089-y
Pérez-Ramos IM, Marañón T. Effects of waterlogging on seed germination of three Mediterranean oak species: ecological implications. Acta Oecol. 2009; 35(3): 422–428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2009.01.007
Voesenek LACJ, Colmer TD, Pierik R, Millenaar FF, Peeters AJM. How plants cope with complete submergence. New Phytol. 2006;170(2):213–226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01692.x
Fraser LH, Karnezis JP. A comparative assessment of seedling survival and biomass accumulation for fourteen wetland plant species grown under minor water-depth differences. Wetlands. 2005; 25(3): 520–530. http://dx.doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2005)025[0520:ACAOSS]2.0.CO;2
Franczak M, Czarnecka B. Unitary and iterative growth of clonal species individuals: significance for the spatial structure and the dynamics of population abundance. Ann UMCS Biol. 2009; 64(2): 9–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10067-010-0010-0
Kotowski W, van Andel J, van Diggelen R, Hogendorf J. Responses of fen plant species to groundwater level and light intensity. Plant Ecol. 2001; 155(2): 147–156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013214716842
Kotowski W, Beauchard O, Opdekamp W, Meire P, van Diggelen R. Waterlogging and canopy interact to control species recruitment in floodplains: interacting factors in floodplain species recruitment. Func Ecol. 2010; 24(4): 918–926. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01682.x
Aguiar MR, Soriano A, Sala OE. Competition and facilitation in the recruitment of seedlings in Patagonian steppe. Func Ecol. 1992; 6(1): 66. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2389772
Aguiar MR, Sala OE, Aguiar MR. Competition, facilitation, seed distribution and the origin of patches in a Patagonian steppe. Oikos. 1994; 70(1): 26. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3545695
Shiponeni NN, Carrick PJ, Allsopp N, Hoffman MT. Effects of root competition and soils on seedling establishment at the ecotone between an arid grassland and succulent shrubland in South Africa. J Veg Sci. 2014; 25(2): 402–410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12082
Walker LR, Chapin FS. Physiological controls over seedling growth in primary succession on an Alaskan Floodplain. Ecology. 1986; 67(6): 1508. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1939082
Vandvik V. Gap dynamics in perennial subalpine grasslands: trends and processes change during secondary succession. J Ecol. 2004; 92(1): 86–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2004.00842.x
Degen T, Devillez F, Jacquemart A-L. Gaps promote plant diversity in beech forests (Luzulo-Fagetum), North Vosges, France. Ann Sci. 2005; 62(5): 429–440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/forest:2005039
Kelemen K, Mihók B, Gálhidy L, Standovár T. Dynamic response of herbaceous vegetation to gap opening in a Central European beech stand. Silva Fenn. 2012; 46(1): 53–65.
Kern CC, Montgomery RA, Reich PB, Strong TF. Canopy gap size influences niche partitioning of the ground-layer plant community in a northern temperate forest. J Plant Ecol. 2013; 6(1): 101–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rts016
Fahey RT, Puettmann KJ. Ground-layer disturbance and initial conditions influence gap partitioning of understorey vegetation. J Ecol. 2007; 95(5): 1098–1109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01283.x
Dupuy JM, Chazdon RL. Interacting effects of canopy gap, understory vegetation and leaf litter on tree seedling recruitment and composition in tropical secondary forests. Ecol Man. 2008; 255(11): 3716–3725. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.03.021
Gálhidy L, Mihók B, Hagyó A, Rajkai K, Standovár T. Effects of gap size and associated changes in light and soil moisture on the understorey vegetation of a Hungarian beech forest. Plant Ecol. 2006; 183(1): 133–145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-9012-4
Goldberg DE, Werner PA. The effects of size of opening in vegetation and litter cover on seedling establishment of goldenrods (Solidago spp.). Oecologia. 1983; 60(2): 149–155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379516
Eckstein RL, Ruch D, Otte A, Donath TW. Invasibility of a nutrient-poor pasture through resident and non-resident herbs is controlled by litter, gap size and propagule pressure. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(7): e41887. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0041887
Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K. The impact of neighbourhood and gap character on seedling recruitment of Trollius europaeus L. and Iris sibirica L. in Molinietum caeruleae meadows. Biodiv Res Conserv. 2012; 28(1): 37–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10119-012-0026-1
Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K. The effect of neighbouring plant height, disturbance level and gap size on spontaneous recruitment of small- and large-seeded species in Molinietum caeruleae meadows. Pol J Ecol. 2014; 62(2): 259–276.
Lepš J. Nutrient status, disturbance and competition: an experimental test of relationships in a wet meadow. J Veg Sci. 1999; 10(2): 219–230. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3237143
Van der Meer S, Dahlgren JP, Mildén M, Ehrlén J. Differential effects of abandonment on the demography of the grassland perennial Succisa pratensis. Popul Ecol. 2014; 56(1): 151–160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10144-013-0400-7
Van der Meer S, Dahlgren JP, Milden M, Ehrien J. P Differential effects of abandonment on the dermography of the grassland perennial succisa pratencis. Popul. Ecol. 2013; 26(1): 151–169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10144-013-0400-7
Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K. The impact of disturbance gradient on recruitment of clonal plant species in Molinietum caeruleae meadows. Pol J Ecol. 2013; 61(3): 519–533.
McIntyre S, Lavorel S. Livestock grazing in subtropical pastures: steps in the analysis of attribute response and plant functional types. J Ecol. 2001; 89(2): 209–226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2001.00535.x
Kahmen S, Poschlod P. Effects of grassland management on plant functional trait composition. Agric Ecosyst Env. 2008; 128(3): 137–145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2008.05.016
Kohler F, Gillet F, Gobat J-M, Buttler A. Effect of cattle activities on gap colonization in mountain pastures. Folia Geobot. 2006; 41(3): 289–304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02904943
Lavorel S, Touzard B, Lebreton J-D, Clément B. Identifying functional groups for response to disturbance in an abandoned pasture. Acta Oecol. 1998; 19(3): 227–240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1146-609X(98)80027-1
Lavorel S, Rochette C, Lebreton J-D. Functional groups for response to disturbance in mediterranean old fields. Oikos. 1999; 84(3): 480. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3546427
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/aa.2014.044
|
|
|