A unique small-scale microclimatic gradient in a temperate karst harbours exceptionally high diversity of soil Collembola

Raschmanová, Natália; Miklisová, Dana; Kováč, Ĺubomír

doi:10.5038/1827-806x.47.2.2194

Cited by 21 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For instance, Růžička et al (2016) mention Vitrea transsylvanica (Mollusca: Gastropoda), Micrargus georgescuae (Chelicerata: Araneae), and Ligidium germanicum (Crustacea: Isopoda) as cold-adapted mountain species from the lower parts of a collapse doline in the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic). Similar results were published by Raschmanová et al (2018), showing that collapse dolines in Slovakia harbour disproportionately high biodiversity and numbers of cold-adapted springtail species (Collembola). We also found that dolines may act as key habitats for a number of ants adapted to warmer and/or drier (e.g., Formica cunicularia, M. sabuleti, and Tapinoma subboreale) conditions.…”

Section: Modelsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…In addition, the accumulation of cold-adapted plants (e.g., high montane and glacial relict species) within certain microhabitats of dolines -such as poleward-facing slopes and bottoms -is a prime indicator of the presence of current warm-stage microrefugia. Although recent investigations have indicated that dolines may also provide safe havens for various functional groups of animals from different phyla (Vilisics et al, 2011;Kemencei et al, 2014;Raschmanová et al, 2015Raschmanová et al, , 2018Růžička et al, 2016;Battisti et al, 2017;Bátori et al, 2019), data on many taxa is scarce or completely lacking. Furthermore, most of these studies do not provide information about the effects of habitat heterogeneity and related vegetation patterns on the functional diversity of animal assemblages within dolines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Karstic Microrefugia Host Functionally Specific Ant Assemblages

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Karst landscapes are among the topographically most complex systems with various microhabitats, where species can persist despite unfavourable macro-environmental changes. These microhabitats can also function as stepping stones during range shifts. Although the enclosed depressions (dolines, sinkholes or tiankengs) of karst landscapes may act as such safe havens, data on the functional diversity of their animal assemblages are scarce. Here, we investigate the functional diversity (i.e., certain functional groups and functional traits) of ant assemblages in dolines and study whether dolines surrounded by resource-poor environments (i.e., Fagus sylvatica forests) may function as safe havens for different kinds of ants. We found that dolines have the potential to maintain distinctive ant assemblages characterised by specific functional groups and traits that are rare in the surrounding habitats. Although continuous Fagus sylvatica cover in dolines had a detrimental impact on ant assemblages, grassland dolines surrounded by grasslands or Fagus sylvatica forests supported the presence of some specific functional groups and traits. These results suggest that conservation management needs to consider the influence of vegetation characteristics not only in dolines but also on the surrounding plateau. Moderate grazing and/or mowing would be desirable in order to prevent shrub encroachment into grasslands to ensure optimal vegetation structure for ants in the long run. Therefore, proper management and conservation of these safe havens may mitigate the rate of biodiversity loss under global warming. There is a need to explore a wide variety of taxonomic groups and taxon-specific traits in parallel with the quality of the surrounding habitats when evaluating current and potential microrefugia.

show abstract

Section: Modelsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Karstic Microrefugia Host Functionally Specific Ant Assemblages

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Global warming is predicted to continue driving range shifts of the main vegetation zones in Europe, with many cool-adapted and moist-adapted species likely to disappear from lower elevations (Walther et al 2002;Chen et al 2011;Lamprecht et al 2018). Based on their past and current ability to facilitate persistence, dolines are likely to provide important microrefugia, where these species can persist for a longer time than in the surrounding landscape (Bátori et al 2017;Raschmanová et al 2018). However, changes to the physical environment (e.g., microclimate, light availability and topography) by anthropogenic disturbances will alter the capacity of dolines to support vulnerable species by affecting recolonization, germination and growth of plant species (Zenner and Berger 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic disturbances alter the conservation value of karst dolines

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dolines are depressions in karst landscapes that are of high value for conservation, providing habitats and supporting species not found in the surrounding landscape. This is due to their high microhabitat diversity and ability to decouple microclimate from regional climate changes, making them potential refugia for biodiversity. Nevertheless, local anthropogenic disturbances have had considerable impact on the species composition and vegetation structure of many dolines. Here we investigate the conservation value of dolines in three European karst areas, where different levels and types of anthropogenic disturbances have been shaping the vegetation for centuries, using the number of plant species that are cool-adapted, moist-adapted and of high conservation importance (i.e. vulnerable species) as indicators. We found that anthropogenic disturbances generally have a negative impact, reducing the number of vulnerable species supported by dolines. However, more cooladapted and moist-adapted species were found in some dolines planted with non-native Picea abies than in less disturbed dolines, indicating that anthropogenic disturbances can also have positive consequences for biodiversity. We conclude that anthropogenic disturbances alter the capacity of dolines to support vulnerable species, and that this will impact survival of species in landscapes under global warming. In this context, the effects of various disturbances on species composition and diversity need to carefully considered to determine the best conservation and/or management options.

show abstract

“…A sinkhole is a typical negative ground terrain; it is a small-to-large bowl-shaped depression on the surface of a karst [1]. The thermal inversion caused by the inverted terrain often keeps the interior of the sinkhole cold [2]. As a result, deep sinkholes may serve as microclimate refugia, especially for cold-adapted species vulnerable to climate changes [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The development of sinkholes determines to some extent the high diversity and endemism of local biota; however, at the same time, they may also become endangered habitats, as they may lose their restoration characteristics because of changes in surface conditions [2]. The karst environment is extremely sensitive to human activities, and human interference and use of sinkholes to varying degrees may lead to the degradation of its environmental value, that is, the biological shelters will disappear [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bryophyte diversity in karst sinkholes affected by different degrees of human disturbance

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The diversity of bryophytes in karst sinkholes has received little attention, and these habitats probably play a crucial role as refugia. In this study, bryophyte diversity affected by different levels of human disturbance in five karst sinkholes was compared. A total of 132 species of bryophytes (17 liverworts and 115 mosses) that belong to 64 genera and 30 families were recorded. The richness of the bryophytes in the natural sinkholes was significantly higher than that of the bryophytes in the sinkholes affected by tourism and used as farmland. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that soil moisture is one of the most important factors that affect the abundance of bryophyte distribution in the five sinkholes. Human activities, including agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourism development, reduce the bryophyte coverage of sinkholes and lead to soil moisture loss. Therefore, effective protection of karst sinkholes is required to maintain their original value for biodiversity conservation.

show abstract

A unique small-scale microclimatic gradient in a temperate karst harbours exceptionally high diversity of soil Collembola

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Karstic Microrefugia Host Functionally Specific Ant Assemblages

Karstic Microrefugia Host Functionally Specific Ant Assemblages

Anthropogenic disturbances alter the conservation value of karst dolines

Bryophyte diversity in karst sinkholes affected by different degrees of human disturbance

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About