Changes of plant species composition in the Šumava spruce forests, SW Bohemia, since the 1970s

Abstract

Vegetation dynamics of three forest communities were studied by resampling of relevés recorded in the 1970s in the Bohemian Forest (Š umava Mountains). Results of multivariate analysis (RDA) confirmed significant time changes in species composition of the climax (Calamagrostio-Piceetum) and waterlogged (Bazzanio-Piceetum) spruce forests. The changes in the sphagnum-rich waterlogged spruce forests (Sphagno-Piceetum) are close to the level of significance. The main vegetation changes are represented by a decrease in cover and/or frequency of hygrophilous or sciophilous species (e.g. Athyrium distentifolium, Oxalis acetosella) in climax spruce forests, and an abundant increase of species, indicating a preference to drier stands or better light conditions (e.g. Calamagrostis villosa, Vaccinium vitis-idaea or Avenella flexuosa), in waterlogged spruce forests. We also found a higher proportion of meadow species (e.g. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca rubra or Luzula multiflora) in the newly recorded relevés from waterlogged forests. Analysis of species number per plot showed a remarkable shift to species-rich communities, especially in waterlogged stands. We tried to find the possible factors responsible for the observed changes. Unfortunately, only indirect measurement of environmental factors using Ellenberg's indicator values could be used and did not yield sufficient results. Thus, the changes observed in climax spruce forests were ascribed mainly to a decrease in canopy cover, which was directly estimated. In waterlogged forests, a complex of several general factors, which influence the climax spruce forest, had to be taken into account, such as: (i) a decrease in atmospheric acidification during the last 10-15 years and subsequent improvement in soil conditions, especially in waterlogged stands; (ii) fragmentation of forests as a result of bark-beetles attack; (iii) climate warming documented by long-term local meteorological measurements. #

Long-term monitoring of an invasion process: the case of an isolated small wetland on a Mediterranean Island

“…Cover values were estimated in the field using the Braun-Blanquet scale (1932; see also Tulbure et al 2007). According to Wild et al (2004) and Bímová et al (2004) the original Braun-Blanquet scale values were transformed as follows: 5 = 87.5%; 4 = 62.5%; 3 = 37.5%; 2 = 15%; 1 = 2.5%; + = 1%; r = 0.1%.…”

Long-term vegetation change in marshy pine forest Vaccinio uliginosi-Pinetum Kleist 1929

“…Przy jednoczesnym spadku uwilgotnienia gleb nast¹pi³ wzrost ¿yznooeci, zwi¹zany g³ównie z przyspieszon¹ mineralizacj¹ torfu. Podobny fakt odnotowano równie¿ w lasach Szumawy (Wild et al 2004). Równie¿ wyniki uzyskane w niniejszej pracy odnooenie zmian pokrycia warstw fitocenozy, jak i zmian sk³adu gatunkowego drzewostanów potwierdzaj¹ trzydziestoletnie badania Klossa (1996) 3,67 4,02 3,95 3,66 3,95 4,01 3,51 3,93 3,92 3,88 3,88 3,95 4,82 3,82 . .…”

Biomass and element pools of understory vegetation in the catchments of Čertovo Lake and Plešné Lake in the Bohemian Forest

“…There is evidence that the coverage of grasses could increase, while that of dwarf shrubs would decrease, following man-made disturbance (Uotila & Kouki, 2005). The dense canopy of the beech stands results in often sparse understory vegetation, while the canopy of the spruce stands lets through more light, which enables the development of light demanding grass species such as C. villosa (Holeksa, 2003;Wild et al, 2004). Acid deposition, resulting in soil acidification in the catchments of both lakes, was another important factor that could possibly affect species composition (Kopáček, 2002c).…”