Central European forest–steppe: An ecosystem shaped by climate, topography and disturbances

Abstract

The natural vegetation of Central Europe is dominated by various types of forest differing in structure and species composition (Bohn et al., 2004). However, the driest Central European regions host an exceptional diversity of species that require open landscape, including continental species that reach their westernmost distribution limit

Ecotones in Central European forest–steppe: Edge effect occurs on hard rocks but not on loess

“…The transition between forest and steppe biomes on continental scale is usually caused by a continuous macroclimatic gradient. However, landscapes in the transitional areas do not consist of physiognomically intermediate vegetation types, but of mosaics of forest and steppe patches (Erdős et al, 2018; Chytrý et al, 2022a). The mosaic nature of such landscapes has many consequences for biodiversity, species distribution, land use and conservation planning (Erdős et al, 2014, 2018).…”

“…Within Eurasia, forest–steppe has an extensive distribution with the westernmost large exclave in the Carpathian (=Pannonian) Basin in Central Europe (Chytrý, 2012; Fekete et al, 2016; Erdős et al, 2018; Chytrý et al, 2022a). Further west, forest–steppe occurs in isolated areas in the lee of mountain ranges in northern Bohemia, central Germany and in dry inner‐Alpine valleys.…”

“…On a broad scale, the distribution and proportion of individual habitat patches in forest–steppe mosaics is determined mainly by macroclimate (Hais et al, 2016; Chytrý et al, 2022a). On a finer scale, it is determined by the distribution of plant‐available moisture (Liu et al, 2012; Anenkhonov et al, 2015; Fajmonová et al, 2020) and community‐level feedback loops (Wilson & Agnew, 1992; Agnew et al, 1993; Alftine & Malanson, 2004; Wiegand et al, 2006).…”

“…In hilly landscapes of the northern hemisphere, north‐facing slopes tend to have more stable microclimate and moisture availability than south‐facing slopes (Slavíková, 1983; Rorison et al, 1986; Bennie et al, 2008). As a result, steppe occurs preferentially on south‐facing slopes, where it occupies increasingly larger areas towards drier macroclimates, whereas forest is restricted to north‐facing slopes (Hais et al, 2016; Chytrý et al, 2022a). The availability of moisture to plants depends largely on its retention time in the soil, which in turn reflects the physical properties of the soil.…”

“…Basin in Central Europe (Chytrý, 2012;Fekete et al, 2016;Erdős et al, 2018;Chytrý et al, 2022a). Further west, forest-steppe occurs in isolated areas in the lee of mountain ranges in northern Bohemia, central Germany and in dry inner-Alpine valleys.…”