Patterns of plant species richness and composition in deciduous oak forests in relation to environmental drivers

SLEZAK, M. and Irena AXMANOVÁ. Patterns of plant species richness and composition in deciduous oak forests in relation to environmental drivers. Online. Community Ecology. Akadémiai Kiadó, 2016, vol. 17, No 1, p. 61-70. ISSN 1585-8553. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1556/168.2016.17.1.8. [citováno 2024-04-24]

Basic information

• Original name: Patterns of plant species richness and composition in deciduous oak forests in relation to environmental drivers
• Authors: SLEZAK, M. (703 Slovakia) and Irena AXMANOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)
• Edition: Community Ecology, Akadémiai Kiadó, 2016, 1585-8553.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 10600 1.6 Biological sciences
• Country of publisher: Hungary
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 0.782
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/16:00093956
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/168.2016.17.1.8
• UT WoS: 000388003500008
• Keywords in English: Alpha diversity; Bryophytes; Deciduous oak forests; Light conditions; Soil chemistry; Topography; Vascular plants
• Tags: AKR, rivok

Abstract

Local plant species richness and composition may vary across habitats and between plant taxonomic groups within temperate deciduous forests. Multi-taxon approach is therefore needed to provide a more detailed insight into determinants affecting vegetation structure. Fifty-four deciduous oak-dominated vegetation plots (20 m 20 m) were sampled across central Slovakia (Stiavnicke vrchy Mts) in order to study the effect of environmental (soil, light, topographic) factors on species richness and composition patterns of two main assemblages of understorey layer (herb-layer vascular plants and ground-dwelling bryophytes). The number of recorded herb-layer vascular plants and ground-dwelling bryophytes was 1248 (mean 28) and 011 (mean 4) species per plot, respectively. Generalized linear model revealed that species richness of herb-layer vascular plants was driven by canopy openness, altitude, soil pH/base saturation gradient and plant-available phosphorus. Canopy openness and heat load index accompanied by soil pH/base saturation gradient determined changes of the ground-dwelling bryophyte richness. Canonical Correspondence Analysis identified soil pH/base saturation gradient, canopy openness, soil silt and topography related predictors (altitude, slope, radiation) as the main drivers of the herb-layer vascular plant compositional variability. Species composition variation of ground-dwelling bryophytes was controlled by radiation and canopy openness.