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.

Základní údaje

Originální název

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

Autoři

NOVÁK, Pavel (203 Česká republika, domácí), Veronika KALNÍKOVÁ, Martin VEČEŘA (203 Česká republika, domácí), Gabriela ŠTĚTKOVÁ, Vojtěch SEDLÁČEK, Štěpánka PUSTKOVÁ (203 Česká republika, domácí), Daniel SZOKALA (203 Česká republika, domácí), Pavel PEŠKA, Tadeáš ŠTĚRBA, Sandro KOLBAIA a Ana GOGOLADZE

Vydání

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

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Stát vydavatele

Německo

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 1.200 v roce 2022

Kód RIV

RIV/00216224:14310/23:00134425

Organizační jednotka

Přírodovědecká fakulta

UT WoS

001180350700002

Klíčová slova anglicky

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

Štítky

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno
Změněno: 16. 4. 2024 11:18, Mgr. Marie Šípková, DiS.

Anotace

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.

Návaznosti

GX19-28491X, projekt VaV
Název: Centrum pro evropské vegetační syntézy (CEVS) (Akronym: CEVS)
Investor: Grantová agentura ČR, Centrum pro evropské vegetační syntézy (CEVS)