Degree of Dominance and Species Richness in Plant Communities with High and Low Intensity of Interspecies Competition

Akatov, V. V.; Акатова, Т. В.; Chefranov, S. G.

doi:10.1134/s207908641805002x

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…In general, the data presented in our study are consistent with results of similar studies of plant communities of other types. In particular, we have previously analysed the relationship between the degree of dominance, the density of individuals (or shoots), and the number of species on the sample plots of forest stands and plant communities of riverine shallows in the Western Caucasus (Akatov et al, 2018). Data collection was carried out in basins of the River Malaya Laba, River Belaya, River Pshada, River Shepsi, River Shakhe, River Sochi, River Mzymta and others in the altitude range of 10-2100 m a.s.l., including the Protected Areas (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been suggested that the regional consequences of the impact of dominants on local species richness (alpha diversity) of plant communities may depend on how much the accompanying plant species differ from each other in resistance to this factor (Powell et al, 2011(Powell et al, , 2013Akatov et al, 2018). So, according to the «energy-diversity» hypothesis (Wright, 1983;Srivastava & Lawton, 1998), the higher participation of dominants in the formation of plant communities (degree of dominance, Berger-Parker index based on Berger & Parker, 1970;Magurran, 1988), the less resources remained to other (accompanying) species, the lower their total production, the smaller number of such species will be present on sites of these plant communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, dominants can significantly reduce the occurrence of many species, as well as the number of these species in small plots; but they will not be able to significantly change the species richness of communities as a whole (i.e. the size of their species pool) (Powell et al, 2011(Powell et al, , 2013Akatov et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of dominants on the species richness and compositional dissimilarity of high mountain plant communities of the Western Caucasus (Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Russia)

Akatov

Акатова

Chefranov

et al. 2021

Nature Conservation Research

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Climate warming may cause not only a reduction in the area of high-mountain vegetation, but also a change in the abundance of many species, including dominant ones, which may have additionally negative consequences for plant communities. Therefore, our knowledge how dominants affect high-mountain plant communities at different spatial scales is important to predict changes in their species richness in the future. In this study, we aimed to answer the following questions: i) How does the species richness of high-mountain plant communities of the Western Caucasus depend on the participation of dominant species? ii) Can this relationship be explained on the basis of the «energy diversity» hypothesis? iii) Do dominants affect the degree of similarity (or difference) in the species composition of plant communities located in different habitats? The research was carried out in the Caucasian State Nature Reserve, Russia. The objects of study were seven homogeneous sites of plant communities dominated by Alchemilla retinervis, A. oxysepala, Geranium gymnocaulon, Carex capillifolia, Inula grandiflora, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Epilobium angustifolium. Within each of them, biomass samples were taken from 25-30 plots of 0.25 m 2 , which were then disassembled by species and weighed. The participation of dominants (the degree of dominance) was assessed through the ratio of their biomass and biomass of samples as a whole. The results show that, first, most of the studied high-mountain plant communities are characterised by a close relationship between the relative participation of the dominant and the species richness in small plots. Secondly, this connection can be explained on the basis of the "energy-diversity" hypothesis. This means that the size of the species pool of plant communities with different degrees of dominance should be approximately the same. Thirdly, the plant communities with relatively high participation of dominants are characterised by a slightly higher degree of compositional dissimilarity than plant communities with low participation. We have concluded that dominants have a predominantly local effect on the species richness of high-mountain plant communities in the Western Caucasus. However, an increase in their participation leads to a decrease in the occurrence of many accompanying species, and, accordingly, can make these species more vulnerable to the effects of other factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%