Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia:
ecology, habitats and variability

J 2023

Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability

NOVÁK, Pavel, Veronika KALNÍKOVÁ, Martin VEČEŘA, Gabriela ŠTĚTKOVÁ, Vojtěch SEDLÁČEK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability

Authors

NOVÁK, Pavel (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Veronika KALNÍKOVÁ, Martin VEČEŘA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Gabriela ŠTĚTKOVÁ, Vojtěch SEDLÁČEK, Štěpánka PUSTKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Daniel SZOKALA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Pavel PEŠKA, Tadeáš ŠTĚRBA, Sandro KOLBAIA and Ana GOGOLADZE

Edition

Tuexenia, Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V. 2023, 0722-494X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.200 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/23:00134425

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.003

UT WoS

001180350700002

Keywords in English

Alluvium; Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae; Caucasus; forest; phytosociology; riparian community; vegetation classification

Abstract

V originále

The Caucasus Region belongs among the most remarkable biodiversity hotspots globally. Local mountain floodplain forests represent highly endangered ecosystems and possess the status of protective forests. However, they have not been extensively phytosociologically assessed using Braun-Blanquet methods to date. Here, we present a novel dataset of vegetation plots recorded in two remarkable areas of forest plant diversity in this region. They were Enguri (Black Sea watershed) and Aragvi (Caspian Sea watershed) River basins in the Western and Eastern Greater Caucasus, respectively. Based on 49 releves, sampled on a broad elevation gradient (980-1830 m), we distinguished three vegetation types using unsupervised classification. Main gradients in their species composition reflect biogeographical and climatic differences. Alnus incana dominated two types. The Enguri type (Brunnero macrophyllae-Alnetum incanae) was characterized by numerous species typical of the western part of the Greater Caucasus, including tall forbs and mountain species. The Aragvi type (Veronico filiformis-Alnetum incanae) showed a diagnostic combination of common Caucasian species and relatively thermophilous forest species. The subdivision of this unit included three subtypes according to grazing intensity. The last type (Sedo stoloniferi-Alnetum barbatae) was significant by a putative Tertiary relict Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata as a canopy dominant. It occupied lower elevations of the Enguri Region, significantly influenced by the nearby Colchic Region. To provide a regional context of the sampled vegetation, we compiled an expanded dataset of alluvial alder forests from the Caucasus and its surroundings. Their joint classification highlighted the uniqueness of the recorded communities with A. incana and clearly distinguished them from the Euxinian alliance Alnion barbatae delimited by relict species typical of the Colchic refugium (e.g. Diospyros lotus, Pterocarya fraxinifolia). A comparison of the Caucasian A. incana forests with the alluvial forests of the boreonemoral alliance Alnion incanae supported the individuality of the Caucasian stands in terms of floristic composition and allowed us to describe them as a new alliance (Veronico filiformis-Alnion incanae all. nova). It is characterized by the dominance of A. incana accompanied by numerous geographically restricted species (e.g. Senecio propinquus, Symphytum asperum) coupled with boreo-montane forest species (e.g. Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum verticillatum). Caucasian alluvial forests face many ongoing threats, including constructing of new water reservoirs and hydropower plants, overgrazing and illegal cutting.

Links

GX19-28491X, research and development project

Name: Centrum pro evropské vegetační syntézy (CEVS) (Acronym: CEVS)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

NOVÁK, Pavel, Veronika KALNÍKOVÁ, Martin VEČEŘA, Gabriela ŠTĚTKOVÁ, Vojtěch SEDLÁČEK, Štěpánka PUSTKOVÁ, Daniel SZOKALA, Pavel PEŠKA, Tadeáš ŠTĚRBA, Sandro KOLBAIA and Ana GOGOLADZE. Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability. Tuexenia. Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V., 2023, vol. 43, December, p. 9-36. ISSN 0722-494X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.003.

@article{2390780,
   author = {Novák, Pavel and Kalníková, Veronika and Večeřa, Martin and Štětková, Gabriela and Sedláček, Vojtěch and Pustková, Štěpánka and Szokala, Daniel and Peška, Pavel and Štěrba, Tadeáš and Kolbaia, Sandro and Gogoladze, Ana},
   article_number = {December},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.003},
   keywords = {Alluvium; Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae; Caucasus; forest; phytosociology; riparian community; vegetation classification},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0722-494X},
   journal = {Tuexenia},
   title = {Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability},
   url = {https://www.tuexenia.de/publications/tuexenia/Tuexenia_2023_NS_043_0009-0036.pdf},
   volume = {43},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2390780
AU  - Novák, Pavel - Kalníková, Veronika - Večeřa, Martin - Štětková, Gabriela - Sedláček, Vojtěch - Pustková, Štěpánka - Szokala, Daniel - Peška, Pavel - Štěrba, Tadeáš - Kolbaia, Sandro - Gogoladze, Ana
PY  - 2023
TI  - Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability
JF  - Tuexenia
VL  - 43
IS  - December
SP  - 9-36
EP  - 9-36
PB  - Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V.
SN  - 0722494X
KW  - Alluvium
KW  - Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae
KW  - Caucasus
KW  - forest
KW  - phytosociology
KW  - riparian community
KW  - vegetation classification
UR  - https://www.tuexenia.de/publications/tuexenia/Tuexenia_2023_NS_043_0009-0036.pdf
N2  - The Caucasus Region belongs among the most remarkable biodiversity hotspots globally. Local mountain floodplain forests represent highly endangered ecosystems and possess the status of protective forests. However, they have not been extensively phytosociologically assessed using Braun-Blanquet methods to date. Here, we present a novel dataset of vegetation plots recorded in two remarkable areas of forest plant diversity in this region. They were Enguri (Black Sea watershed) and Aragvi (Caspian Sea watershed) River basins in the Western and Eastern Greater Caucasus, respectively. Based on 49 releves, sampled on a broad elevation gradient (980-1830 m), we distinguished three vegetation types using unsupervised classification. Main gradients in their species composition reflect biogeographical and climatic differences. Alnus incana dominated two types. The Enguri type (Brunnero macrophyllae-Alnetum incanae) was characterized by numerous species typical of the western part of the Greater Caucasus, including tall forbs and mountain species. The Aragvi type (Veronico filiformis-Alnetum incanae) showed a diagnostic combination of common Caucasian species and relatively thermophilous forest species. The subdivision of this unit included three subtypes according to grazing intensity. The last type (Sedo stoloniferi-Alnetum barbatae) was significant by a putative Tertiary relict Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata as a canopy dominant. It occupied lower elevations of the Enguri Region, significantly influenced by the nearby Colchic Region. To provide a regional context of the sampled vegetation, we compiled an expanded dataset of alluvial alder forests from the Caucasus and its surroundings. Their joint classification highlighted the uniqueness of the recorded communities with A. incana and clearly distinguished them from the Euxinian alliance Alnion barbatae delimited by relict species typical of the Colchic refugium (e.g. Diospyros lotus, Pterocarya fraxinifolia). A comparison of the Caucasian A. incana forests with the alluvial forests of the boreonemoral alliance Alnion incanae supported the individuality of the Caucasian stands in terms of floristic composition and allowed us to describe them as a new alliance (Veronico filiformis-Alnion incanae all. nova). It is characterized by the dominance of A. incana accompanied by numerous geographically restricted species (e.g. Senecio propinquus, Symphytum asperum) coupled with boreo-montane forest species (e.g. Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum verticillatum). Caucasian alluvial forests face many ongoing threats, including constructing of new water reservoirs and hydropower plants, overgrazing and illegal cutting.
ER  -

NOVÁK, Pavel, Veronika KALNÍKOVÁ, Martin VEČEŘA, Gabriela ŠTĚTKOVÁ, Vojtěch SEDLÁČEK, Štěpánka PUSTKOVÁ, Daniel SZOKALA, Pavel PEŠKA, Tadeáš ŠTĚRBA, Sandro KOLBAIA and Ana GOGOLADZE. Alluvial alder forests of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia: ecology, habitats and variability. \textit{Tuexenia}. Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V., 2023, vol.~43, December, p.~9-36. ISSN~0722-494X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.003.

Detailed Information on Publication Record