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Deák B, Botta-Dukát Z, Rádai Z, Kovács B, Apostolova I, Bátori Z, Kelemen A, Lukács K, Kiss R, Palpurina S, Sopotlieva D, Valkó O. Meso-scale environmental heterogeneity drives plant trait distributions in fragmented dry grasslands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174355. [PMID: 38964408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Environmental heterogeneity shapes the patterns of resources and limiting factors and therefore can be an important driver of plant community composition through the selection of the most adaptive functional traits. In this study, we explored plant trait-environment relationships in environmentally heterogeneous microsite complexes at the meso-scale (few meters), and used ancient Bulgarian and Hungarian burial mounds covered by dry grasslands as a model habitat. We assessed within-site trait variability typical of certain microsites with different combinations of environmental parameters (mound slopes with different aspects, mound tops, and surrounding plain grasslands) using a dataset of 480 vegetation plots. For this we calculated community-weighted means (CWMs) and abundance models. We found that despite their small size, the vegetation on mounds was characterized by different sets of functional traits (higher canopy, higher level of clonality, and heavier seeds) compared to the plain grasslands. North-facing slopes with mild environmental conditions were characterized by perennial species with light seeds, short flowering period, and a high proportion of dwarf shrubs sharply contrasted from the plain grasslands and from the south-facing slopes and mound tops with harsh environmental conditions. Patterns predicted by CWMs and abundance models differed in the case of certain traits (perenniality, canopy height, and leaf dry matter content), suggesting that environmental factors do not necessarily affect trait optima directly, but influence them indirectly through correlating traits. Due to the large relative differences in environmental parameters, contrasts in trait composition among microsites were mostly consistent and independent from the macroclimate. Mounds with high environmental heterogeneity can considerably increase variability in plant functional traits and ecological strategies at the site and landscape levels. The large trait variation on topographically heterogeneous landscape features can increase community resilience against climate change or stochastic disturbances, which underlines their conservation importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Deák
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Botta-Dukát
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Rádai
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary; Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University, Germany; One Health Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Bence Kovács
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Iva Apostolova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
| | - Zoltán Bátori
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Hungary; MTA-SZTE 'Lendület' Applied Ecology Research Group, Hungary
| | - András Kelemen
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Katalin Lukács
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Réka Kiss
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
| | - Salza Palpurina
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria; National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
| | - Desislava Sopotlieva
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary.
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Tayier G, Hasimu D, Aishan T, Yimingniyazi A. Impact of a heterogeneous environment on the population expansion of the harmful plant Iris ruthenica Ker-Gawl. in the high mountain grasslands. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1363496. [PMID: 38766474 PMCID: PMC11099274 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1363496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Iris ruthenica Ker-Gawl. (Russian iris) is a perennial, clonal, herbaceous plant that is spread across the degraded mountain grasslands in northern Xinjiang. In this study, to explore the breeding system and the impact of slope orientation on the flowering phenology, pollination characteristics, and other aspects of I. ruthenica, we used a combination of field observations and controlled experiments to compare the population density, flowering phenology, floral characteristics, breeding system, and pollinator type and behavior of plants on different slope orientations. Vegetation coverage on the north (N), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE) slopes was 90%, 67%, and 53%, respectively. Differences in plant height and diameter were observed between the SE slope and the N and SW slopes, whereas the N and SW slopes were similar in these respects. The SE slope exhibited the earliest initial flowering time, followed by the SW and N slopes. The diameter of the corolla, distance between the stigma and anther, length of the anther and ovary, number of pollen grains, and number of ovules on the N slope were smaller than those on the SE and SW slopes, whereas those of the SE and SW slopes were similar. Artificial pollination experiments showed that neither bagging nor unbagging resulted in seed formation after emasculation for all slope orientations. The pollinating insects of I. ruthenica included Bombus sp., Amegilla leptocoma, Andrena sp., and Halictus sp.; the types and numbers of pollinating insects differed among slopes. In summary, on SE and SW slopes with high temperatures and sufficient sunlight, this species attracted pollinators and provided them with more opportunities to visit and pollinate by flowering early, with large numbers of blooms, and a longer flowering period and lifespan, ensuring successful reproduction. Under unfavorable conditions, such as insufficient pollinators and limited activity caused by the more stressful environmental conditions of the N slope (including low temperature and insufficient light), this species ensures a certain seed yield by increasing its self-compatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulinige Tayier
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Dilixiati Hasimu
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | | | - Amanula Yimingniyazi
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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Uphus L, Uhler J, Tobisch C, Rojas-Botero S, Lüpke M, Benjamin C, Englmeier J, Fricke U, Ganuza C, Haensel M, Redlich S, Zhang J, Müller J, Menzel A. Earlier and more uniform spring green-up linked to lower insect richness and biomass in temperate forests. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1052. [PMID: 37935790 PMCID: PMC10630471 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05422-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization and agricultural intensification are considered the main causes of recent insect decline in temperate Europe, while direct climate warming effects are still ambiguous. Nonetheless, higher temperatures advance spring leaf emergence, which in turn may directly or indirectly affect insects. We therefore investigated how Sentinel-2-derived start of season (SOS) and its spatial variability (SV-SOS) are affected by spring temperature and whether these green-up variables can explain insect biomass and richness across a climate and land-use gradient in southern Germany. We found that the effects of both spring green-up variables on insect biomass and richness differed between land-use types, but were strongest in forests. Here, insect richness and biomass were higher with later green-up (SOS) and higher SV-SOS. In turn, higher spring temperatures advanced SOS, while SV-SOS was lower at warmer sites. We conclude that with a warming climate, insect biomass and richness in forests may be affected negatively due to earlier and more uniform green-up. Promising adaptation strategies should therefore focus on spatial variability in green-up in forests, thus plant species and structural diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Uphus
- Ecoclimatology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
| | - Johannes Uhler
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Cynthia Tobisch
- Restoration Ecology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Institute of Ecology and Landscape, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Freising, Germany
| | - Sandra Rojas-Botero
- Restoration Ecology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Marvin Lüpke
- Ecoclimatology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Caryl Benjamin
- Ecoclimatology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Jana Englmeier
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Ute Fricke
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Cristina Ganuza
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maria Haensel
- Professorship of Ecological Services, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Sarah Redlich
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Annette Menzel
- Ecoclimatology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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Martínez‐Núñez C, Kleijn D, Ganuza C, Heupink D, Raemakers I, Vertommen W, Fijen TPM. Temporal and spatial heterogeneity of semi‐natural habitat, but not crop diversity, is correlated with landscape pollinator richness. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Martínez‐Núñez
- Department of Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén Jaén Spain
| | - David Kleijn
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Ganuza
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter University of Würzburg Am Hubland Würzburg Germany
| | - Dennis Heupink
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
- Louis Bolk Institute Kosterijland 3‐5, 39781 AJ Bunnik The Netherlands
| | - Ivo Raemakers
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Winfried Vertommen
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Thijs P. M. Fijen
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group Wageningen University Droevendaalsesteeg 3a PB Wageningen The Netherlands
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Scale gaps in landscape phenology: challenges and opportunities. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:709-721. [PMID: 33972119 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Phenology, or the timing of life history events, can be heterogeneous across biological communities and landscapes and can vary across a wide variety of spatiotemporal scales. Here, we synthesize information from landscape phenology studies across different scales of measurement around a set of core concepts. We highlight why phenology is scale dependent and identify gaps in the spatiotemporal scales of phenological observations and inferences. We discuss the consequences of these gaps and describe opportunities to address the inherent sensitivities of phenological metrics to measurement scale. Although most studies we review and discuss are focused on plants, our work provides a broadly relevant overview of the role of observation scale in landscape phenology and a general approach for measuring and reporting scale dependence.
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Deák B, Rádai Z, Bátori Z, Kelemen A, Lukács K, Kiss R, Maák IE, Valkó O. Ancient Burial Mounds Provide Safe Havens for Grassland Specialist Plants in Transformed Landscapes—A Trait-Based Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.619812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the intensified land use in transformed landscapes, grassland biodiversity is often restricted to habitat fragments inadequate for arable use or for urban development. In continental parts of Eurasia, the ~600,000 ancient burial mounds (called “kurgans”) built by nomadic tribes of the steppes are amongst the most widespread landmarks providing refuge for dry grassland species. In our study by using plant functional groups and functional traits, we aimed at gaining insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the structure and the composition of assemblages of grassland specialist plant species on kurgans embedded in the agricultural landscapes of East-Hungary. As a comparison, we also studied roadside verges and pristine extensive grasslands in the same region. We found that despite their small size, due to the lack of human disturbances and high microhabitat diversity kurgans can maintain a high species richness and percentage cover of specialists, especially when compared to verges. We revealed that assemblages of specialist plants on kurgans are characterized by traits typical to terrestrial habitat islands such as self-compatibility, large seed mass and tall stature. Kurgans and extensive grasslands were characterized by higher functional diversity (both at the level of single traits and multi-trait based functional dispersion) which is probably due to the higher level of environmental heterogeneity compared to the homogeneous environment in verges.
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