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Die Saumgesellschaften im Osten Österreichs sind bisher nur sehr unzureichend dokumentiert. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die möglichst vollständige Erfassung der floristisch und standörtlichen Variationsbreite der Säume auf magerern Standorten im Biosphärenpark Wienerwald. Der Wienerwald ist eines der größten naturnahen Laubwaldgebiete der collinen bis submontanen Stufe in Mitteleuropa. Er liegt am Übergang vom subatlantisch bestimmten mitteleuropäischen zum pannonischen Klima. Auf der Basis von 132 neu erhobenen Vegetationsaufnahmen wurde eine TWINSPAN-Klassifikation durchgeführt. Die Korrelation der standörtlichen Parameter mit der Artenzusammensetzung wurde in einer kanonischen Korrespondenzanalyse (CCA) analysiert. Zur syntaxonomischen Interpretation wurden auch Aufnahmen aus der Literatur hinzugefügt. - Im Gebiet am weitesten verbreitet ist der Verband Trifolion medii. Gesellschaften des Verbandes Geranion sanguinei sind im Vergleich dazu seltener und bevorzugen die warmen Randlagen des Wienerwaldes. Es werden einige Probleme in der syntaxonomischen Gliederung der beiden Verbände diskutiert.
We first report from the 5th Dry Grassland Meeting held from 28th to 30st of August 2008 in Kiel, Germany. Then we take stock of the achievements of the German Arbeitsgruppe Trockenrasen and the international Working Group on Dry Grasslands in the Nordic and Baltic Region towards establishment of vegetation databases of dry grasslands in these study regions. At the conference, the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) was founded as an international platform of dry grassland researchers and conservationists. As networking tools it provides a homepage on the internet, publishes a quarterly electronical bulletin, and will organise the future European Dry Grassland Meetings. In the last part of this contribution, we give a short introduction to the five articles of this Special Feature. Four of them make a major contribution to supra-national classification of Koelerio-Corynephoretea and Festuco- Brometea communities, respectively, by providing syntaxonomic overviews based on comprehensive data from eastern European countries for which only few data have been available until now. The other major focus of the Feature papers is on degradation and restoration of various types of dry grasslands.
Ziel der Arbeit ist es, die nitrophytischen Saum- und Waldverlichtungsgesellschaften grundwasserferner Standorte in Nordostniedersachsen standörtlich, strukturell und floristisch zu charakterisieren, sie diesbezüglich untereinander und mit den in Teil I behandelten Säumen nährstoffarmer Standorte zu vergleichen und sie schließlich in eine überregional stimmige syntaxonomische Gliederung einzureihen. In Nordostniedersachsen konnten wir auf der Basis von 200 eigenen Vegetationsaufnahmen 16 Assoziationen (oder ranggleiche Einheiten) unterscheiden. Für das temperate Europa haben wir diese mit Aufnahmen und Stetigkeitslisten aus 63 weiteren Literaturquellen aus 16 Ländern zu einer synoptischen Tabelle aller ausdauernden Ruderal- und nitrophytischen Saumgesellschaften grundwasserferner Standorte zusammengestellt, die insgesamt auf 10.347 Einzelaufnahmen beruht.
Sowohl die nordostniedersächsischen als auch die europaweiten Daten sprechen dafür, alle diese Gesellschaften, und damit auch Teile der bisherigen Klassen Epilobietea angustifolii und Galio- Urticetea, in den Artemisietea vulgaris zusammenzufassen. Die nitrophytischen Säume gehören darin zu zwei der vier Unterklassen: Die azidophytischen „Schlagfluren“ (Senecioni sylvatici-Epilobienea angustifolii subcl. nov.) umfassen nach derzeitigem Kenntnisstand nur die Ordnung Galeopsio-Senecionetalia sylvatici mit dem einzigen Verband Epilobion angustifolii (2 Assoziationen in Nordostniedersachsen). Die übrigen nitrophytischen Säume gehören zu zwei Ordnungen innerhalb der Unterklasse Lamio albi-Urticenea dioicae. Die Circaeo-Stachyetalia umfassen das Atropion bellae-donnae (basiphytische „Schlagfluren“, 2 Assoziationen) und das Impatienti noli-tangere-Stachyion sylvaticae (staufeuchte Innensäume, 3 Assoziationen, darunter das Scutellario galericulatae-Circaeetum lutetianae ass. nov.), während die Galio-Alliarietalia aus Geo-Alliarion (frische Innensäume, 5 Assoziationen, darunter das Bromo sterilis-Chelidonietum majoris ass. nov.) und Aegopodion podagrariae (Außensäume, 4 Assoziationen) bestehen. Wir unterziehen alle im Untersuchungsgebiet vertretenen Syntaxa einer nomenklatorischen Revision, mit umfassender Auflistung von Synonymen, Typennachweis bzw. erforderlichenfalls Typisierung für alle gültigen Namen und Begründung vorgesehener Anträge an die Nomenklaturkommission.
In einer vergleichenden Betrachtung (meist auf Verbandsniveau) arbeiten wir abschließend Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede aller nordostniedersächsischen Saumgesellschaften hinsichtlich Standortbedingungen, Vegetationsstruktur und Phytodiversität heraus. Die Säume weisen, verglichen mit anderen Gesellschaften der Region, durchschnittlich eine höhere Artendichte auf. Dabei sind die Syntaxa basenreicher Standorte im Allgemeinen artenreicher als jene saurer Standorte. Unter anderem aufgrund ihres großes Längen-Breiten-Verhältnisses beherbergen Säume entlang von Gehölzen in ihrer Gesamtheit auf sehr kleiner Fläche einen erheblichen Teil des regionalen Arteninventars an Gefäßpflanzen und besitzen so einen bedeutenden Naturschutzwert.
Auf der Basis von fast 500 eigenen Vegetationsaufnahmen haben wir die Pflanzengesellschaften grundwasserferner Säume in Nordostniedersachsen untersucht. Der vorliegende Beitrag beschäftigt sich davon mit den Gesellschaften der Klasse Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei (inkl. Melampyro-Holcetea: 246 Aufnahmen). Wir unterscheiden 16 Assoziationen (bzw. assoziationsgleiche Einheiten). Zu diesen führen wir die diagnostische Artenkombination an, charakterisieren sie floristisch und strukturell, beschreiben ihren Standort sowie ihre Verbreitung und Häufigkeit im Gebiet und diskutieren ihre syntaxonomische Fassung bei anderen Autoren. Die Aufnahmen sind durch Einzeltabellen sowie in einer synoptischen Stetigkeitstabelle dokumentiert.
Die Klassifikation erfolgte mittels einer in Axiomen gefassten Konkretisierung des Braun-Blanquet-Ansatzes. Parallel zur Bearbeitung des regionalen Datensatzes entwickelten wir ein europaweites Gliederungssystem, das auf insgesamt 246 Stetigkeitsspalten aus 15 Ländern beruht, die zusammen über 5.000 Aufnahmen umfassen. Das Ergebnis präsentieren wir in Form von zwei Stetigkeitstabellen (höhere Syntaxa der Trifolio-Geranietea, Assoziationen der Melamypro-Holcetalia mollis). Wir kommen zu dem Schluss, dass sämtliche Saumgesellschaften Europas von mageren Standorten in einer einzigen Klasse Trifolio-Geranietea zusammengefasst werden sollten, da diese floristisch besser charakterisiert ist als es die azidophytischen und basiphytischen Säume jeweils für sich genommen wären. Diese beiden Gruppen von Säumen, die von anderen Autoren als eigene Klassen gefasst werden, führen wir als Unterklassen, wobei die Melampyro pratensis-Holcenea mollis nur eine einzige Ordnung Melampyro- Holcetalia umfassen, während wir die Trifolio-Geranienea sanguinei in die beiden Ordnungen Origanetalia vulgaris s. str. (mesophytisch) und Antherico ramosi-Geranietalia sanguinei (xerophytisch) gliedern. Die Melampyro-Holcetalia umfassen vier Verbände, das Melampyrion pratensis (weit verbreitet: 3 Assoziationen im Gebiet), das Teucrion scorodoniae (atlantisch: 1 Assoziation), das Poion nemoralis all. nov. (steile, schattige Standorte: 2 Assoziationen: Aulacomnio androgynae-Polypodietum vulgaris ass. nov. und Veronica chamaedryos-Poetum nemoralis ass. nov.) und das Violo rivinianae-Stellarion holosteae (schwach saure, etwas nährstoffreichere Standorte: 2 Assoziationen). Die Origanetalia vulgaris sind im Gebiet nur mit dem Trifolion medii (6 Assoziationen) und die Antherico-Geranietalia nur mit dem Geranion sanguinei (2 Assoziationen, fragmentarisch) vertreten.
Wir unterziehen alle behandelten Syntaxa einer nomenklatorischen Revision, listen Synonyme und Typen auf und begründen vorgesehene Anträge an die Nomenklaturkommission. Das Agrimonio eupatoriae-Vicietum cassubicae Passarge 1967 nom. invers, propos, und das Geranio-Anemonetum sylvestris T. Müller 1962 werden neotypisiert. In einer abschließenden Diskussion beleuchten wir die überregionale Relevanz der von uns vorgeschlagenen syntaxonomischen Gliederung, diskutieren methodische Fragen und leiten aus unseren Erfahrungen generelle Empfehlungen für die pflanzensoziologische Arbeitsweise ab.
We performed a survey of grassland communities in the Ukrainian Carpathians with the aim of: (1) syntaxonomically classifying the meso- and subxerophilous grassland vegetation; (2) analysing the main gradients in their species composition; (3) estimating the effect of selected environmental factors on grassland species composition; (4) assessing the species richness of vascular plants and bryophytes in relation to the measured environmental variables. We collected 46 phytosociological relevés during the growing seasons of 2010 and 2011. Species composition and species richness were studied at two spatial scales (1 m² and 16 m²) in relation to soil parameters (soil depth, pH (KCl), content of P, K, Mg, N and C), management regime (mowing, grazing, ploughing in the past and burning), and other factors (altitude, litter cover, open soil, inclination, solar radiation and animal excrement). Seven grassland types were distinguished belonging to 3 classes and 4 alliances, namely the Nardetea strictae including the Violion caninae (mesic pastures at altitudes of 400–600 m mostly on moderate slopes) and the Nardo strictae-Agrostion tenuis (grasslands on moderate slopes at altitudes of 700–900 m usually managed by mowing and grazing the aftermath); the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, including the Arrhenatherion elatioris (submontane grasslands originated mostly on former fields after their abandonment in the past) and the Cynosurion cristati (intensive pastures); and the Festuco-Brometea including the Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati (abandoned grasslands dominated by Brachypodium pinnatum and Inula salicina). Detrended correspondence analysis indicated that the major compositional turnover was related to altitude and soil reaction. A canonical correspondence analysis confirmed that altitude had the strongest effect on species composition in the analysed dataset, followed by management treatments (former ploughing, grazing intensity). For vascular plant species richness, regression tree analysis identified grazing intensity as the most important predictor at the 1 m² scale. At the 16 m² scale, soil humus content was evaluated as the most important predictor of vascular plant species richness, followed by litter cover and grazing intensity. The number of bryophytes was not determined by the studied environmental factors at either of the two spatial scales. Although the number of analysed relevés in this study was limited, our results significantly contribute to the understanding of submontane grasslands in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
The Cocktail method was applied to a small data set derived in a regional survey on riparian forest in the Polish part of the Sudetes. Formalised classification revealed the occurrence of seven associations. Considering the ecological character, three distinct groups emerged among them: i) alluvial forests (Salicetum albae, Alnetum incanae), ii) forests of small and medium mountain streams with only a narrow riparian zone (Salicetum fragilis, Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae and Fraxino-Alnetum) and iii) forests developed on waterlogged soils of spring-fed areas (Carici remotae-Fraxinetum and Piceo-Alnetum). The associations Salicetum fragilis and Piceo-Alnetum are reported for the first time from Poland. Analysis of GIS-derived environmental variables showed that average altitude, stream power index (SPI) and river order were significantly different among the associations, while there were no differences among average values of slope, solar radiation and topographic wetness index (TWI). Significant differences in species richness among the associations were also identified. Application of the Cocktail method in regional studies was also discussed.
We present the data of the 2nd research expedition of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG), which was conducted in 2010 in Central Podolia, Ukraine. The aim was to collect plot data to compare Ukrainian dry grasslands with those of other parts of Europe in terms of syntaxonomy and biodiversity. We sampled 21 nested-plot series (0.0001–100 m2) and 184 normal plots (10 m2) covering the full variety of dry grassland types occurring in the study region. For all plots, we recorded species composi-tion of terrestrial vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, while for the 226 10-m2 plots we estimated and measured percentage cover of all species, structural, topographic, soil and landuse parameters. The 10-m² plots were used for phytosociological classification based on iteratively refined TWINSPAN classification as well as for DCA ordination. Differences between the derived vegetation types with respect to environmental conditions and species richness were assessed with ANOVAs. We assigned our plots to nine association-level units but refrained from placing them into formal associations with two exceptions. In the study area, dry grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea were far more common than those of the Koelerio-Corynephoretea. Among the Festuco-Brometea, xeric Festucetalia valesiacae grasslands were more frequent and represented by the Festucion valesiacae (2 associations, including the Allio taurici-Dichanthietum ischaemi ass. nova) and the Stipion lessingianae (1) compared to the Brachypodietalia pinnati with the Agrostio vinealis-Avenulion schellianae (3). The Koelerio-Corynephoretea were represented by three associations, each from a different order and alliance: basiphilous outcrops (Alysso alyssoidis-Sedetalia: Alysso alyssoidis-Sedion?), acidophilous outcrops (Sedo-Scleranthetalia: Veronico dillenii-Sedion albi?) and mesoxeric sandy grasslands (Trifolio arvensis-Festucetalia ovinae: Agrostion vinealis). We discuss the issue of the mesoxeric order Galietalia veri placed within the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea by Ukrainian authors and conclude that the content of that order would probably be better placed in the mesoxeric orders of the Koelerio-Corynephoretea and Festuco-Brometea. Other syntaxonomic questions could not be solved with our geographically limited dataset and await a supraregional analysis, e.g. whether the Ukrainian outcrop communities should be assigned to the same alliances as known from Central Europe or rather represent new vicariant units. The analysis of the biodiversity patterns showed that at a grain size of 10 m2, Podolian Koelerio-Corynephoretea communities were overall richer than Festuco-Brometea communities (46.4 vs. 40.6 species). This difference was due to the Koelerio-Corynephoretea containing twice as many bryophytes and nine times more lichens, while vascular plant species richness did not differ significantly between classes. The orders within the classes showed no real differences in species richness. The richness patterns observed in Podolia were almost the opposite of those usually found in dry grasslands, where Brachypodietalia pinnati are richer than Festucetalia valesiacae, and these richer than stands of the Koelerio-Corynpehoretea – and we do not have a good explanation for these idiosyncrasies. In conclusion, Podolian dry grasslands behave quite unexpectedly regarding biodiversity, and their syntaxonomy is still poorly understood. These knowledge gaps can only be addressed with supranational analyses based on comprehensive datasets.
As second part of a series focusing on the Pannonian grasslands of Austria, we present a detailed classification of the grasslands of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald). This region, although geographically belonging to the Alps, has strong floristic affinities to the Pannonian Basin. The eastern slopes of the Vienna Woods are a hotspot of xero-thermophytic vegetation and exhibit the highest vascular plant species richness in Austria at a scale of 3' x 5'. We used the TWINSPAN classification of a large data set reported in the first part of this series as starting point. Relevés that were considered as misclassified at the level of alliances were manually re-arranged. From this table, an excerpt containing only the relevés of the Vienna Woods was used for the present study (1055 plots). We re-classified the relevés preliminary labelled as Arrhenatherion with another TWINSPAN run. Clusters for which no ecological difference could be detected were merged. The final delimitation of associations and subassociations was achieved by adjusting their diagnostic species so as to get units that were most informative in terms of environmental conditions. All re-arrangements were based on the summarised cover of diagnostic species within individual relevés. As a result, the grasslands of the Vienna Woods are classified within 22 associations (plus two subassociations) belonging to ten alliances and four classes. Within the Seslerio-Festucion pallentis, a new association Scorzonero austriacae-Caricetum humilis is described. The semi-dry grasslands of the study area previously classified as Onobrychido-Brometum are de-scribed as new association Filipendulo vulgaris-Brometum erecti and assigned to the Cirsio-Brachypodion. The Anthoxantho-Agrostietum tenuis is reported for Austria for the first time, and its syntaxonomy is discussed within a broader geographical context.
Syntaxonomic revision of the Pannonian grasslands of Austria : 1. Introduction and general overview
(2013)
The Pannonian part of Austria is a diverse landscape situated in the transition zone between the Alps, the Bohemian Massif and the Carpathian Basin. Although the grasslands of this region have been investigated in many botanical and vegetation studies, their phytosociological classification has remained confusing. With this paper, we start a series aiming at a developement of a revised, consistent system of the Austrian Pannonian grasslands. Here we present a general overview focusing on the higher syntaxonomic units. We define grasslands as all types of meadows, pastures, fens and primary steppes. We selected all available relevés of Pannonian grasslands from the Austrian Vegetation Database. Additional unpub-lished data were included from the Danube National Park and the Biosphere Reserve Vienna Woods. To account for the comparatively low number of relevés from the northern part of the Pannonian region of Austria (Weinviertel), we included also data from southern Moravia (Czech Republic). This set of 3384 relevés was classified using TWINSPAN. Relevés that were considered as misclassified at the alliance level according to the summarised cover of diagnostic species were manually re-arranged, and the data-set specific fidelity of species to alliances was calculated using the phi coefficient. The first TWINSPAN division largely corresponded to the traditional border between the classes Festuco-Brometea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. The conventional alliance concepts were generally well supported. As an exception, the distinction between Diantho-Seslerion and Bromo-Festucion pallentis was not reproduced at all. Therefore, we unite all rocky grasslands on calcareous soils in a single alliance Seslerio-Festucion pallentis. We also advocate the inclusion of all basiphilous semi-dry grasslands of the study area within a single alliance Cirsio-Brachypodion. Each of the corresponding TWINSPAN clusters showed a clear prevalence of Cirsio-Brachypodion species. Moreover, two separate alliances of semi-dry grasslands would have almost no regional character species.
Dry grasslands of NW Bulgarian mountains : first insights into diversity, ecology and syntaxonomy
(2013)
We present the data of the 3rd research expedition of the European Dry Grasslands Group (EDGG), which was conducted in 2011 in two contrasting areas in NW Bulgarian mountains. The aim was to collect plot data for comparing Bulgarian dry grasslands with those of other parts of Europe in terms of syntaxonomy and biodiversity. We sampled 15 nested-plot series (0.0001–100 m²) and 68 normal plots (10 m²) covering the full variety of dry grassland types occurring in the Vratsa area (Balkan Mts.) and the Koprivshtitsa area (Sredna Gora Mt.). In the plots all vascular plants, terricolous non-vascular plants and a set of soil and other environmental parameters were determined. By applying modified TWIN-SPAN, we distinguished 10 floristically well characterised vegetation types at the association level. After comparison with the regional and European literature, we propose to place them within three classes and five orders: Festuco-Brometea with the orders Stipo pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis (xerophilous dry grasslands of base-rich rocks; alliance Saturejion montanae), Brachypodietalia pinnati (meso-xeric, basiphilous grasslands; alliances Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati and Chyrsopogono grylli-Danthonion calycinae), Calluno-Ulicetea with the order Nardetalia stricae (lowland to montane Nar-dus swards; alliance Violion caninae), and Koelerio-Corynephoretea with the orders Sedo-Scleranthetalia (open communities of skeleton-rich, acidic soils; alliance unclear) and Trifolio arvensis-Festucetalia ovinae (closed, meso-xeric, acidophilous grasslands; alliance Armerio rumelicae-Potentillion). The Violion caninae with the association Festuco rubrae-Genistelletum sagittalis is reported from Bulgaria for the first time, while the two occurring Koelerio-Corynephoretea communities are described as new associations (Cetrario aculeatae-Plantaginetum radicatae, Plantagini radicatae-Agrostietum capillaris). According to DCA the main floristic gradient was largely determined by soil conditions, differentiating the Festuco-Brometea communities on soils with high pH and high humus content from the Koelerio-Corynephoretea communities on acidic, humus-poor soils, while the Calluno-Ulicetea stands are the connecting link. At 10 m2 Festuco-Brometea and Calluno-Ulicetea stands were richer in species across all investigated taxa and in vascular plants than Koelerio-Corynephoretea stands; the latter were richest in lichen species, while bryophyte richness did not differ significantly among syntaxa. Among the Bulgarian classes, the species-area relationships tended to be steepest in the Festuco-Brometea (i.e. highest beta diversity), but both alpha and beta diversity clearly fell behind the Festuco-Brometea communities in the Transylvanian Plateau, Romania, located less than 500 km north of the study region. Overall, our study contributes to a more adequate placement of the Bulgarian dry grasslands in the European syntaxonomic system and provides valuable data for large-scale analyses of biodiversity patterns.
The Transylvanian Plateau in Romania is well known to host large areas of a variety of dry grassland types, still traditionally managed by low-intensity mowing or grazing. While this natural heritage is now under threat from changes in agricultural practices, the diversity of Transylvanian dry grasslands is still little understood. There is a lack of both field data sampled with standardised methods and a syntaxonomic treatment with modern statistical methods and supra-regional perspective. Therefore, the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) carried out its first international Research Expedition in Transylvania 2009 to study syntaxonomy, vegetation-environment relationships, and biodiversity patterns of these communities. In various locations across Transylvania, we sampled 10-m² vegetation plots (n = 82) and nested-plot series from 0.0001 m² to 100 m² (n = 20), including all vascular plant, bryophyte, and lichen species, as well as structural and soil data. The vegetation classification was carried out with modified TWINSPAN, followed by determination of diagnostic species with phi values and a small-scale re-assignment of relevés with the aim of crispness maximisation. Both TWINSPAN and ordination revealed three major groups of syntaxa, which were matched to three orders from the class of basiphilous dry grasslands, Festuco-Brometea, represented by one alliance each: rocky dry grasslands (Stipo pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis: Seslerion rigidae); xeric grasslands on deep soils (Festucetalia valesiacae: Stipion lessingianae) and meso-xeric grasslands on deep soils (Brachypodietalia pinnati: Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati). We accepted nine association-level units plus two that potentially merit association status but were only represented by one relevé each. Most of the units could be identified with one or several previously described associations. To support nomenclatural stability, we provide a nomenclatural revision and designate nomenclatural types where previously there were none. Further, we used DCA ordination and analysis of variance to determine the main environmental drivers of floristic differentiation and to determine ecological and structural differences between the vegetation types. The strongest differentiation occurred along the aridity gradient with the dense, particularly diverse stands on more or less level sites on the one hand (Brachypodietalia pinnati) and the more open, less diverse stands on steep south-facing slopes on the other end of the gradient (Stipo pulcherrimae- Festucetalia pallentis, Festucetalia valesiacae). The two xeric orders were then separated along the second DCA axis, with the Stipo pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis inhabiting the stone-rich sites at higher altitudes while the Festucetalia valesiacae occur on soft, deep substrata at lower altitudes. The analysed dry grassland communities have extraordinarily high -diversity at all spatial scales for all plants and for vascular plants, but are relatively poor in bryophytes and lichens. Some formerly mown stands of the Festuco sulcatae-Brachypodietum pinnati (Brachypodietalia pinnati) are even richer in vascular plant species than any other recorded vegetation type worldwide on the spatial scales of 0.1 m² (43) and 10 m² (98); the respective relevés are documented here for the first time. Also, the b-diversity of the grasslands was unexpectedly high, with a mean z-value of 0.275. Despite its limited extent, the methodological thoroughness of this study allows us to shed new light on the syntaxonomy of dry grasslands in Romania and to raise the awareness that Transylvania still hosts High Nature Value grasslands that are bio - diversity hotspots at a global scale but at the same time are highly endangered through changes in agricultural practices.
We report on the activities of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) during the last year, namely the 8th European Dry Grassland Meeting in Uman', Ukraine in June 2011, the 3rd EDGG Research Expedition in Bulgaria in August 2011, the 4th EDGG Research Expedition in Sicily in April 2012, as well as the completed and forthcoming EDGG-coordinated special features in international journals. Then we provide a brief bibliometrical analysis of the Dry Grassland Special Features in Tuexenia since 2005. The 32 contributions of the years 2005–2011 constituted approx. 17% of the overall content of Tuexenia in this period. Including this 7th Dry Grassland Special Feature, sixty-one authors from 12 countries have contributed to these Special Features, guest-edited by yearly changing teams from a total of 16 guest editors. In the years with statistically reliable data, contributions in the Dry Grassland Special Features have been cited approximately four times as much as regular Tuexenia contributions. It is likely that this fact together with the internationality of the Special Features has contributed to the final inclusion of the journal in the Web of Science in 2011. Finally, we introduce the four research articles of this 7th Dry Grassland Special Feature. Two of them are focusing on vegetation change and restoration issues of cryptogam-rich sand dunes in the Netherlands and calcareous grasslands in Bavaria (Germany), respectively. The others, dealing with siliceous grasslands in Hesse (central Germany) and the results of EDGG Research Expedition 2009 to Transylvania (Romania), focus on syntaxonomy.
The paper presents a new classification and information about associations of the order Fagetalia sylvaticae on the territory of Ukraine. The order includes 9 alliances (Asperulo-Fagion, Cephalanthero- Fagion, Carpinion betuli, Tilio platyphylli-Acerion pseudoplatani, Dentario quinquefolii-Fagion, Paeonio dauricae-Quercion petraeae, Querco roboris-Tilion cordatae, Scillo sibericae-Quercion roboris, Alnion incanae) and 31 syntaxa of the level of association. The synoptic table contains data on constancy of species in all associations with constancy more than 10%. Maps of distribution of these associations in Ukraine are given.
In our contribution, we report on the 6th European Dry Grassland Meeting held from 31 August to 1 September 2009 in Halle (Saale), Germany. The meeting was attended by 40 participants, who gave 15 oral and 17 poster presentations. The rapid positive development of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG), the organiser of this conference, is mentioned: the inclusion of the EDGG in the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) as a working group, the establishment of two new subgroups focussing on Mediterranean and South-East European dry grasslands, respectively, and the organisation of the first EDGG research expedition in 2010 belong to the most important events. In the last part of our contribution, we give a short introduction to the six articles of this Special Feature. Two of them deal with phytosociological classification of semi-natural grassland communities, one with vegetation- environment relationships. Two papers are concerned with conservational topics, one focussing on the population structure of endangered Pulsatilla patens, the other dealing with conservation of xeric grasslands in Transylvania. The last paper examines temporal changes in calcareous grasslands with regard to species diversity.
Many current approaches to the formal definition of vegetation units have the disadvantage of leaving a large amount of relevés unclassified. In this paper I propose a new method for the unambiguous assignment of relevés, which is based on the summarised cover value of diagnostic species. In the first step, a relevé is assigned to the class with the highest cover score. For this purpose, the character and differential species of the class as well as the character species of all subordinated syntaxa are considered diagnostic. Once the class has been determined, the assignment proceeds successively to the lower ranks. This method, which may be called “summarised percentage cover approach”, uses solely the diagnostic species of syntaxa for the assignment of relevés to vegetation units, making additional formal definitions unnecessary. As a test data set, I used 487 relevés of fringe vegetation and grasslands of nutrient-poor sites sampled in the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), Austria. All relevés were provisorily classified at alliances level, mostly following the assignment of the original authors. TWINSPAN and DCA were applied to evaluate this preliminary classification. Diagnostic species for both the alliance and the class level were identified using the total cover value ratio as fidelity measure. The subjective classification was largely confirmed by the numerical methods. On basis of the summarised cover of Trifolio-Geranietea and Festuco-Brometea species, between 64% (Geranion sanguinei) and 99% (Seslerio-Festucion pallentis) of the relevés were reassigned to the same class as in the original classification. The fact that a considerable amount of relevés originally classified as Geranion sanguinei was reassigned to grasslands reflects the problems in delimiting fringe communities rather than a poor performance of the assignment method. The “summarised percentage cover approach” allows not only for the unequivocal assignment of relevés to an existing classification system, but may also help to improve classifications by clarifying the delimitation of higher syntaxa.
We first report from the 7th European Dry Grassland Meeting held 27 May to 1 June 2010 in Smolenice, Slovakia, devoted to the main topic "Succession, restoration and management of dry grasslands". Apart from the scientific programme and the excursions, we also summarise the outcomes of the General Assembly of the EDGG and present the Smolenice Grassland Declaration. Then we take stock of the dynamic development of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG), report on its activities during the past year, and announce its future plans. Finally, we give a short introduction to the four articles of this Special Feature, which deal with biodiversity patterns, vegetation classification, and dynamics of dry grassland habitats. One presents a detailed phytosociological study of the xeric and mesic grasslands of the Slovak part of the Biele Karpaty Mts. The second provides a new numeric approach to the assignment of relevés to syntaxa and exemplifies this in a case study for the delimitation of the classes Festuco-Brometea against Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei in Austria. The third article investigates the septennial impact of mouflon grazing and weather on dry grassland plant communities in dry grassland patches of the Czech Republic. The fourth article deals with long-term abandonment of grasslands in Central Slovakia and shows the importance of vegetation structure, ecological stability, and low-disturbance regime for specific ant assemblages.
Die Steppenrasen des NSG „Badraer Lehde–Großer Eller“ werden hier erstmalig beschrieben und analysiert. 156 Originalaufnahmen wurden über eine Clusteranalyse in sieben Assoziationen und zwei ranglose Gesellschaften innerhalb der Verbände Alysso-Sedion, Seslerio-Festucion pallentis, Festucion valesiacae, Xerobromion und Cirsio-Brachypodion gegliedert. Die Auswertung alter Luftbilder zeigt, dass die beiden ranglosen Gesellschaften junge Steppenrasen auf ehemaligen Ackerflächen darstellen, während die Assoziationen überwiegend alte Steppenrasen repräsentieren. Der erste floristische Gradient nach einer NMDS in der Vegetation wird durch Variablen erklärt, die die Temperatur und die Wasserversorgung der Standorte anzeigen. Der zweite floristische Gradient kann durch das Alter der Flächen erklärt werden. Alte Steppenrasen enthalten signifikant mehr gefährdete Pflanzenarten als junge Steppenrasen, während sich der Gesamtartenreichtum zwischen jungen und alten Beständen nicht signifikant unterscheidet. Ein CSR-Strategietypenspektrum zeigt in einer Gesellschaft auf ehemaligen Ackerflächen eine höhere Bedeutung der C-Strategie, sonst aber kaum Unterschiede zwischen den Syntaxa. Die beiden Xerobromion-Assoziationen sind besonders artenreich und enthalten überdurchschnittlich viele gefährdete Pflanzenarten. Eine Gesellschaft auf ehemaligen Ackerflächen enthält durchschnittlich viele und die andere fast keine gefährdeten Arten. Der Artenreichtum der Gefäßpflanzen ist am stärksten positiv mit der Bodengründigkeit, der Deckung der Krautschicht und dem Ellenberg-Zeigerwert für Bodenreaktion und negativ mit dem Zeigerwert für Temperatur korreliert. Unsere Studie zeigt die hohe Bedeutung des NSG für den Trockenrasenschutz. Diese beruht vor allem auf der allgemein hohen Artenvielfalt und Diversität an Gesellschaften sowie auf der sehr hohen Zahl gefährdeter Arten.