Variability of alder-dominated forest vegetation along a latitudinal gradient in Slovakia

Michal Slezák, Richard Hrivnák, Anna Petrášová, Daniel Dítě

Abstract


Syntaxonmical revision of azonal forest vegetation with dominance of Alnus glutinosa and A. incana was done along a latitudinal transect of Slovakia. A data matrix consisting of 240 phytosociological relevés was obtained in accordance with the standard Zürich-Montpellier approach. Detrended correspondence analysis was used to clarify the relationships between the vegetation composition and environmental variables, whereas one-way ANOVA was applied to quantify the differences in site requirements of particular vegetation types. The unsupervised numerical classification resulted in identification of five clusters corresponding to the traditionally described and ecologically interpretable associations within the Euro-Siberian alder carr forests of Alnion glutinosae and the European broad-leaved floodplain forests of Alnion incanae: Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae Schwickerath 1933 (alder carr forests on permanently waterlogged soils), Stellario-Alnetum glutinosae Lohmeyer 1957 (riparian alder vegetation on mesic to humid sites along small brooks), Piceo-Alnetum Mráz 1959 (submontane and montane oligotrophic spruce-alder forests on waterlogged habitats), Cardamino amarae-Alnetum incanae Šomšák 1961 (grey alder vegetation in spring fed areas) and Alnetum incanae Lüdi 1921 (submontane and montane streamside grey alder forests on mesic sites). They significantly (P < 0.05) differed in the Ellenberg's indicator values for nutrients, moisture, temperature and altitude. These environmental variables were also established by DCA analysis as underlying sources of variation in alder-dominated forest composition. Special attention was given to discussion of their syntaxonomy, nomenclature, floristic structure, ecological features and distribution.

Keywords


syntaxonomy; Alnus glutinosa; Alnus incana; numerical classification; nomenclature

Full Text:

PDF

References


Carnicer J, Brotons L, Stefanescu C, Peñuelas J. Biogeography of species richness gradients: linking adaptive traits, demography and diversification. Biol Rev. 2012;87(2):457–479. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2011.00210.x

Klika J. Die Pflanzengesellschaften des Alnion-Verbandes. Preslia. 1940;18-19:97–112.

Bodeux A. Alnetum glutinosae. Mitt Florist-Soziol Arbsgem. 1955;5:114–137.

Douda J. Formalized classification of the vegetation of alder carr and floodplain forests in the Czech Republic. Preslia. 2008;80:199–224.

Sburlino G, Poldini L, Venanzoni R, Ghirelli L. Italian black alder swamps: their syntaxonomic relationships and originality within the European context. Plant Biosyst. 2011;145(1 suppl):148–171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2011.602746

Meusel H, Jäger E, Weinert E. Vergleichende Chorologie der Zentraleuropäischen Flora. Jena: Gustav Fischer Verlag; 1965.

Ellenberg H. Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. Stuttgart: Ulmer; 1982.

Matuszkiewicz W, Traczyk H, Traczyk T. Materialy do fitosocjologicznej systematyki zespołów olsowych w Polsce. Acta Soc Bot Pol. 1958;27:21–44.

Moravec J, Husová M, Neuhäusl R, Neuhäuslová-Novotná Z. Die Assoziationen mesophiler und hygrophiler Laubwälder in der Tschechischen Sozialistischen Republik. Prague: Academia; 1982. (Vegetace ČSSR; vol 12).

Schwabe A. Monographie Alnus incana-reicher Waldgesellschaften in Europa Variabilität und Ähnlichkeiten einer azonal verbreiteten Gesellschaftsgruppe. Phytocoenologia. 1985;13:197–302.

Solińska-Górnicka B. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) carr in Poland. Tuexenia. 1987;7:329–346.

Oberdorfer E. Der europäische Auenwald. Naturk Forsch Südwest-Deutschl. 1953;12:23–70.

Matuszkiewicz W. Przewodnik do oznaczania zbiorowisk roślinnych Polski. Warsaw: Polish Scientific Publishers PWN; 2008.

Solomakha VA. The syntaxonomy of vegetation of Ukraine. Ukr Phytosociol Collection A. 1996;4(5):1–121.

Kevey B. Magyarország erdötársulásai (Forest associations of Hungary). Tilia. 2008;14:1–489.

Willner W, Grabherr G. Die Wälder und Gebüsche Österreichs: Ein Bestimmungswerk mit Tabellen. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag; 2007.

Pott R. Die Pflanzengesellschaften Deutschlands. Stuttgart: E. Ulmer Verlag; 1992.

Jarolímek I, Šibík J, Hegedüšová K, Janišová M, Kliment J, Kučera P, et al. A list of vegetation units of Slovakia. In: Jarolímek I, Šibík J, editors. Diagnostic, constant and dominant species of the higher vegetation units of Slovakia. Bratislava: Veda; 2008. p. 295–329.

Onyshchenko VA. A revised classification of Ukrainian forests of the order Fagetalia sylvaticae. Tuexenia. 2010;30:31–45.

Šomšák L. Jelšové porasty Spišsko-gemerského rudohoria. Acta Fac Rer Natur Univ Comenianae Bot. 1961;6:407–459.

Kliment J, Watzka R. Lesné spoločenstvá Drienčanského krasu. In: Kliment J, editor. Príroda Drienčanského krasu. Banská Bystrica: Štátna ochrana prírody SR; 2000. p. 191–214.

Berta J. Waldgesellschaften und Bodenverhältnisse in der Theisstiefebene. Bratislava: Slowakischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.; 1970. (Vegetácia ČSSR; vol 1).

Kontriš J. Pôdnoekologické a fytocenologické pomery lužných lesov Liptovskej kotliny. Biol Práce Slov Akad Vied. 1981;27(1):1–164.

Slezák M, Hrivnák R, Petrášová A. Syntaxonomy and ecology of black alder vegetation in the southern part of central Slovakia. Hacquetia. 2011;10(2):119–136. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10028-011-0006-6

Jurko A. Das Alnetum incanae in der Mittelslowakei (II. Die Auenwälder in den Westkarpaten). Biológia. 1961;16:321–339.

Šomšák L. Alnion glutinosae Malcuit 1929 na Slovensku (Západné Karpaty). Acta Fac Rer Natur Univ Comenianae Bot. 2000;40:81–102.

Hegedüšová K. Centrálna databáza fytocenologických zápisov (CDF) na Slovensku. Bull Slov Bot Spoločn. 2007;29:124–129.

Westhoff V, van der Maarel E. The Braun-Blanquet approach. In: Whittaker RH, editor. Ordination and classification of communities. Hague: Junk; 1973. p. 617–727.

Barkman JJ, Doing H, Segal S. Kritische Bemerkungen und Vorschläge zur quantitativen Vegetationsanalyse. Acta Bot Neerl. 1964;13:394–419.

McCune B, Mefford MJ. PC-ORD: Multivariate analysis of ecological data: version 4.0. Gleneden Beach: MjM Software Design; 1999.

Botta-Dukát Z, Chytrý M, Hájková P, Havlová M. Vegetation of lowland wet meadows along a climatic continentality gradient in Central Europe. Preslia. 2005;77:89–111.

Tichý L. JUICE, software for vegetation classification. J Veg Sci. 2002;13(3):451–453. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2002.tb02069.x

Lüdi W. Die Pflanzengesellschaften des Lauterbrunnentales und ihre Sukzession: Versuch zur Gliederung der Vegetation eines Alpentales nach genetisch-dynamischen Gesichtpunkten. Beitr Geobot Landesaufn Schweiz. 1921;9:1–364.

Schwickerath M. Die Vegetation des Landkreises Aachen und ihre Stellung im nördlichen West-Deutschland. Aachen Beitr Heimatk. 1933;13:1–135.

Lohmeyer W. Der Hainmieren-Schwarzerlenwald [Stellario-Alnetum glutinosae (Kästner 1938)]. Mitt Florist-Soziol Arbsgem. 1957;6-7:247–257.

Mráz K. Příspevek k poznání původnosti smrku a jedle ve vnitrozemí Čech. Práce Výzk Úst Lesn. 1959;17:135–180.

Chytrý M, Tichý L, Holt J, Botta-Dukát Z. Determination of diagnostic species with statistical fidelity measures. J Veg Sci. 2002;13(1):79–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2002.tb02025.x

Ellenberg H, Weber HE, Düll R, Wirth W, Werner W, Paulißen D. Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scr Geobot. 1992;18:1–258.

Marhold K, Hindák F, editors. Zoznam nižších a vyšších rastlín Slovenska. Bratislava: Veda; 1998.

Hill MO, Bell N, Bruggeman-Nannenga MA, Brugués M, Mefford MJ, Enroth J, et al. An annotated checklist of the mosses of Europe and Macaronesia. J Bryol. 2006;28(3):198–267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/174328206X119998

Söderström L, Urmi E, Váňa J. The distribution of Hepaticae and Anthocerotae in Europe and Macaronesia – update 1–427. Cryptogamie Bryologie. 2007;28:299–350.

Weber HE, Moravec J, Theurillat JP. International code of phytosociological nomenclature. 3rd edition. J Veg Sci. 2000;11(5):739–768. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3236580

Döring-Mederake U. Alnion forests in Lower Saxony (FRG), their ecological requirements, classification and position within Carici elongatae-Alnetum of northern Central Europe. Vegetatio. 1990;89(2):107–119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00032164

Prieditis N. Alnus glutinosa-dominated wetland forests of the Baltic Region: community structure, syntaxonomy and conservation. Plant Ecol. 1997;129(1):49–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009759701364

Douda J, Čejková A, Douda K, Kochánková J. Development of alder carr after the abandonment of wet grasslands during the last 70 years. Ann For Sci. 2009;66(7):712–712. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009065

Orczewska A. The impact of former agriculture on habitat conditions and distribution patterns of ancient woodland plant species in recent black alder [Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.] woods in south-western Poland. For Ecol Manage. 2009;258(5):794–803. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.05.021

Neuhäuslová Z. Alnetea glutinosae. In: Moravec J, editor. Přehled vegetace České republiky, Svazek 4. Vrbotopolové luhy a bažinné olšiny a vrbiny. Prague: Academia; 2003. p. 41–57.

Marek S. Biologia i stratygrafia torfowisk olszynowych w Polsce. Zesz Probl Post Nauk Rol. 1965;57:1–264.

Schaminée JHJ, Hennekens SM, Chytrý M, Rodwell JS. Vegetation-plot data and databases in Europe: an overview. Preslia. 2009;81:173–185.

Šomšák L. Torfwälder fluvioglazialen Abagerungen der Hohen Tatra. Acta Fac Rer Natur Univ Comenianae Bot. 1979;27:1–37.

Zarzycki K. Lasy Bieszczadów Zachodnich. Acta Agr Silv Ser Silv. 1963;3:1–132.

Stuchlik L. Zbiorowiska leśne i zaroślowe pasma Policy w Karpatach Zachodnich. Fragm Flor Geobot. 1968;14(4):441–484.

Rubner K. Die Roterlengesellschaft der oberbayerischen Grundmoräne. Forstarchiv. 1954;25(6):137–142.

Oberdorfer E. Süddeutsche Pflanzengesellschaften. Pflanzensoziologie. 1957;10:1–564.

Koczur A. Zróżnicowanie siedliskowe bagiennej olszyny górskiej Caltho laetae-Alnetum (Zarz. 1963) Stuchlik 1968 v Babiogórskim Parku Narodowym. Sylwan. 2011;155:112–119.

Hrivnák R, Cvachová A. Vegetácia zátopovej oblasti projektovanej vodárenskej nádrže Hronček v doline Kamenistého potoka vo Veporských vrchoch. Acta Fac Forest. 1999;51:11–27.

Hrivnák R, Kochjarová J, Blanár D, Šoltés R. Jelšové lesy na Muránskej planine – zrhnutie súčasných fytocenologických poznatkov. Reussia. 2009;5(1–2):23–33.

Miadok D. Vegetácia severozápadnej časti Gemerského rudohoria [PhD thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1974.

Slezák M, Letz DR, Hrivnák R, Vlčko J, Turis P, Blanár D. Aktuálne poznatky o výskyte niektorých zriedkavejších cievnatých rastlín na území stredného Slovenska. Bull Slov Bot Spoločn. 2012;34:19–44.

Watzka R. Spoločenstvá lužných jelšín Ľubochnianskej doliny vo Veľkej Fatre. Bull Slov Bot Spoločn. 1999;21:151–160.

Ferančíková V. Vegetačná mapa lesov Podtatranskej kotliny – časť Tatranská Polianka [Master thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1994.

Holotová E. Vegetačná mapa lesov Podtatranskej koltiny – časť Smokovce [Master thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1994.

Maťová H. Vegetačná mapa lesov Podtatranskej kotliny – časť Tatranské Zruby [Master thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1994.

Viceníková A. Viceníková A. Lesné spoločenstvá glaciálno-fluviálnych sedimentov Podtatranskej kotliny [PhD thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1998.

Černušáková D. Fytocenologická a ekologická charakteristika lesov masívu Osobitej [PhD thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 1983.

Kubíček F, Šimonovič V, Viceníková A, Mačor S. Productivity of the herb and moss layer in forest ecosystems at the nature reserve Bor (Podspády); the Tatra national park. Štúdie o TANAP-e. 1997;35(2):143–159.

Šomšák L. Erlenbruchwald von Bacúch (Bacúšska jelšina). Acta Fac Rer Natur Univ Comenianae Bot. 1967;15:1–11.

Šomšák L, Viceníková A, Mačor S. Cardamino-Alnetum incanae luecanthemetosum waldsteinii subas. nova v Podtatranskej brazed. Bull Slov Bot Spoločn. 1993;15:37–41.

Jurko A, Májovský J. Lužné lesy v západných Karpatoch I. Alnetum incanae na severnej Orave. Acta Fac Rer Natur Univ Comenianae Bot. 1956;8–9:363–385.

Kanka R. Alnetum incanae Lüdi 1921 v Belianskych Tatrách. Biosozologia. 2003;1:52–59.

Kučera P. Lesné spoločenstvá Belianskej doliny vo Veľkej Fatre [Master thesis]. Bratislava: Comenius University in Bratislava; 2002.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2012.042

Journal ISSN:
  • 2083-9480 (online)
  • 0001-6977 (print; ceased since 2016)
This is an Open Access journal, which distributes its content under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, provided that the content is properly cited.
The journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and aims to follow the COPE’s principles.
The journal publisher is a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association.
The journal content is indexed in Similarity Check, the Crossref initiative to prevent scholarly and professional plagiarism.
Publisher
Polish Botanical Society