Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands
across the eastern Balkan Peninsula.

J 2015

Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula.

PALPURINA, Salza, Milan CHYTRÝ, Rossen TZONEV, Jiří DANIHELKA, Irena AXMANOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula.

Authors

PALPURINA, Salza (100 Bulgaria, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Milan CHYTRÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Rossen TZONEV (100 Bulgaria), Jiří DANIHELKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Irena AXMANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Kristina MERUNKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Mário DUCHOŇ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution) and Todor KARAKIEV (100 Bulgaria)

Edition

Acta Oecologica, Elsevier, 2015, 1146-609X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

France

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.420

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/15:00080680

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.02.001

UT WoS

000351652800006

Keywords in English

Alpha diversity; Bulgaria; Romania; Soil chemistry; Species pool; Steppe

Abstract

V originále

Fine-scale plant species richness varies across habitats, climatic and biogeographic regions, but the large-scale context of this variation is insufficiently explored. The patterns at the borders between biomes harbouring rich but different floras are of special interest. Dry grasslands of the eastern Balkan Peninsula, situated in the Eurasian forest-steppe zone and developed under Mediterranean influence, are a specific case of such biome transition. However, there are no studies assessing the patterns of fine-scale species richness and their underlying factors across the eastern Balkans. To explore these patterns, we sampled dry and semi-dry grasslands (phytosociological class Festuco-Brometea) across Bulgaria and SE Romania. In total, 172 vegetation plots of 10 × 10 m2 were sampled, in which all vascular plant species were recorded, soil depth was measured, and soil samples were collected and analysed in a laboratory for pH and plant-available nutrients. Geographic coordinates were used to extract selected climatic variables. Regression trees and linear regressions were used to quantify the relationships between species richness and environmental variables. Climatic factors were identified as the main drivers of species richness: (1) Species richness was strongly positively correlated with the mean temperature of the coldest month: sub-Mediterranean areas of S and E Bulgaria, characterized by warmer winters, were more species-rich. (2) Outside the sub-Mediterranean areas, species richness strongly increased with annual precipitation, which was primarily controlled by altitude. (3) Bedrock type and soil pH also significantly affected dry grassland richness outside the sub-Mediterranean areas. These results suggest that fine-scale species richness of dry grasslands over large areas is driven by processes at the regional level, especially by the difference in the species pools of large regions, in our case the Continental and Mediterranean biogeographic regions. Local environmental factors are of secondary importance over broad extents, but their effect on fine-scale species richness increases within climatically and biogeographically homogeneous regions.

Links

GB14-36079G, research and development project

Name: Centrum analýzy a syntézy rostlinné diverzity (PLADIAS) (Acronym: PLADIAS)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

PALPURINA, Salza, Milan CHYTRÝ, Rossen TZONEV, Jiří DANIHELKA, Irena AXMANOVÁ, Kristina MERUNKOVÁ, Mário DUCHOŇ and Todor KARAKIEV. Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula. Acta Oecologica. Elsevier, 2015, vol. 63, February, p. 36-46. ISSN 1146-609X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.02.001.

@article{1227983,
   author = {Palpurina, Salza and Chytrý, Milan and Tzonev, Rossen and Danihelka, Jiří and Axmanová, Irena and Merunková, Kristina and Duchoň, Mário and Karakiev, Todor},
   article_number = {February},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.02.001},
   keywords = {Alpha diversity; Bulgaria; Romania; Soil chemistry; Species pool; Steppe},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1146-609X},
   journal = {Acta Oecologica},
   title = {Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula.},
   url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X1500017X},
   volume = {63},
   year = {2015}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1227983
AU  - Palpurina, Salza - Chytrý, Milan - Tzonev, Rossen - Danihelka, Jiří - Axmanová, Irena - Merunková, Kristina - Duchoň, Mário - Karakiev, Todor
PY  - 2015
TI  - Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula.
JF  - Acta Oecologica
VL  - 63
IS  - February
SP  - 36-46
EP  - 36-46
PB  - Elsevier
SN  - 1146609X
KW  - Alpha diversity
KW  - Bulgaria
KW  - Romania
KW  - Soil chemistry
KW  - Species pool
KW  - Steppe
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X1500017X
L2  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1146609X1500017X
N2  - Fine-scale plant species richness varies across habitats, climatic and biogeographic regions, but the large-scale context of this variation is insufficiently explored. The patterns at the borders between biomes harbouring rich but different floras are of special interest. Dry grasslands of the eastern Balkan Peninsula, situated in the Eurasian forest-steppe zone and developed under Mediterranean influence, are a specific case of such biome transition. However, there are no studies assessing the patterns of fine-scale species richness and their underlying factors across the eastern Balkans. To explore these patterns, we sampled dry and semi-dry grasslands (phytosociological class Festuco-Brometea) across Bulgaria and SE Romania. In total, 172 vegetation plots of 10 × 10 m2 were sampled, in which all vascular plant species were recorded, soil depth was measured, and soil samples were collected and analysed in a laboratory for pH and plant-available nutrients. Geographic coordinates were used to extract selected climatic variables. Regression trees and linear regressions were used to quantify the relationships between species richness and environmental variables. Climatic factors were identified as the main drivers of species richness: (1) Species richness was strongly positively correlated with the mean temperature of the coldest month: sub-Mediterranean areas of S and E Bulgaria, characterized by warmer winters, were more species-rich. (2) Outside the sub-Mediterranean areas, species richness strongly increased with annual precipitation, which was primarily controlled by altitude. (3) Bedrock type and soil pH also significantly affected dry grassland richness outside the sub-Mediterranean areas. These results suggest that fine-scale species richness of dry grasslands over large areas is driven by processes at the regional level, especially by the difference in the species pools of large regions, in our case the Continental and Mediterranean biogeographic regions. Local environmental factors are of secondary importance over broad extents, but their effect on fine-scale species richness increases within climatically and biogeographically homogeneous regions.
ER  -

PALPURINA, Salza, Milan CHYTRÝ, Rossen TZONEV, Jiří DANIHELKA, Irena AXMANOVÁ, Kristina MERUNKOVÁ, Mário DUCHOŇ and Todor KARAKIEV. Patterns of fine-scale plant species richness in dry grasslands across the eastern Balkan Peninsula. \textit{Acta Oecologica}. Elsevier, 2015, vol.~63, February, p.~36-46. ISSN~1146-609X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.02.001.

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