Development of Species Diversity in Some Mediterranean Plant Communities

Houssard, Claudié; Escarré, José; Romane, F.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-9200-9_7

Cited by 48 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…its stability, the diversity must increase steadily until the end of the secondary succession (Margalef, 1963(Margalef, , 1970Odum, 1969;Bazzaz, 1975). This has hardly ever been verified in natural communities (Nicholson & Monk, 1974;Connell & Slatyer, 1977;Whittaker, 1977;Peet, 1978Peet, , 1981Huston, 1979;Houssard et aL, 1980;Lepart & Escarr6, 1983). A main problem here is the reluctance of investigators to build multidimensional models, even though these models appear to be fruitful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of young Pinus pinaster vegetation in a Mediterranean area: diversity and niche-strategy

Mazurek¹,

Romane²

1986

Vegetatio

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This study is an attempt to interpret a mediterranean climatic gradient. It is based on 5-year observations of the dynamics of young plant communities dominated by Pinuspinaster in the hills of Provence, on permanent plots set up after the destruction of the pine forest by the introduction of Matsucoccusfeytaudi. After a short description of the transect, including a classification of the plant communities and their relationship with environmental factors, we discuss the diversity pattern in relation to the niche concept. It is useful to explain diversity with the concept of resource distribution in order to construct models for the productivity of the communities and possible changes in the process of dominance. However, the acquisition of dominance by some species, the variation of habitat-niche breadth and the level of productivity of an environment are inferences from the models rather than the result of a process. As an alternative, we interpret the diversity gradient on the basis of the morphological and demographic characteristics of the species. We here consider Raunkiaer's life forms, including vegetative or offspring regeneration, leaf size and morphology as type of adaptive resistance to limiting factors such as frost, drought, competition, and as strategies used by the species to colonize or to survive.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of young Pinus pinaster vegetation in a Mediterranean area: diversity and niche-strategy

Mazurek¹,

Romane²

1986

Vegetatio

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“…It has been theoretically suggested (Odum, 1969) and empirically/experimentally observed (Bazzaz, 1975;Burrows, 1990;Monk, 1965Monk, , 1967Tilman, 1988) increases reaching a peak in the later successional phases, afterwards, due to loss of early-successional species, it slowly decreases with the approaching of "climax" phase (Auclair and Goff, 1971;Whittaker, 1972). Finally, there are observations showing that plant diversity was highest in the early successional stage after which it abruptly declined (Houssard et al, 1980;Whittaker, 1970). Our results support the second hypothesis because we have found that the least diverse stands were those where thinner stems dominated (5-10 cm).…”

Section: α-Diversity Relationship With Vegetation Successionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Modelling Plant Species Diversity Pattern in a Local Environmental Space

Dyakov¹

2016

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. The loss of biodiversity is a major concern for conservationists and whole human societies these days. Understanding plant species diversity pattern along local environmental gradients can be very useful for undertaking management and conservation measures. Despite the enormous efforts in the last decades, however, unified theory about the plant diversity pattern has not yet emerged. This study tries to model plant species diversity pattern in the context of four local/indirect environmental gradients. Nonparametric correlation and multiple regression methods have been used. Ecological response surfaces of species richness at the two levels of observation showed similar complex distribution in the local environmental space. Vegetation diversity and evenness also had complex pattern with several peaks. Dividing species into growth forms revealed their specific manner of diversity distribution. Plant diversity correlated positively with elevation, habitat dryness, herb stratum cover and mature forest stands. It correlated negatively with slope convexity and inclination, tree stratum cover and early-successional stands. Alien and rare plant species number were also positively correlated with species richness and diversity. β-diversity variation along moisture gradient was due mainly to herbs. Trees and shrubs showed decreasing β-diversity along moisture gradient with increasing elevation. β-diversity along elevational gradient showed no clear trend. Our results support the idea that diversity pattern is much more complicated than previously thought due to the complex interplay between local environmental gradients, vegetation succession and history. Understanding of diversity pattern in the local environmental space will allow resident managers and conservationist to set more specific goals and to take more applicable actions in order to preserve plant diversity in the area for the future generations.

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“…The introduction of woody species, which belong to more mature stages of succession accelerate changes. Therefore late-successional species are able to settle without any further preparation of the site (Houssard, Escarre & Romane 1980). This process of changes may be described as secondary succession (when successive substitution of a comunity by another one has taken place), but more often it is rather regeneration succession (van der Maarel 1988).…”

Section: Introduction Goal and Scope Of The Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytosociological typology and phytoindicator value of young oak and larch forest communities near Pinczów (southern Poland)

Roo-Zielińska

Solon

1990

Vegetatio

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Oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.) and larch (Larix decidua Mill.) forest plantations of the study area 'Mtodzawy' in Poland were analysed. Changes in the syntaxonomic composition and of Ellenberg's indices (light, continentality, moisture, reaction and nitrogen index) were determinated. The results obtained mostly conform to the assumption that the herb layer of both plantations becomes, gradually with tree growth, more similar to each other and to that of mature oak-hornbeam forests. Such statement is justified by: an increase in the share of species common to both plantation types, a significant increase in the number and cover of the Querco-Fagetea character-species, accompanied by a decrease in the number and cover of other character-species, a general decrease in the share of species with extreme climatic and edaphic requirements, accompanied by a gradual increase in the share of number and cover of species with average demands. From the studies it may be concluded that the developmental mechanisms which determine the direction and trends of changes in the herb layer are mainly common to both plantation types, whereas tree stand species, in spite of different habit, ecological demands, and effect on soil properties, have only slight modification influence.

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Development of Species Diversity in Some Mediterranean Plant Communities

Cited by 48 publications

References 45 publications

Dynamics of young Pinus pinaster vegetation in a Mediterranean area: diversity and niche-strategy

Dynamics of young Pinus pinaster vegetation in a Mediterranean area: diversity and niche-strategy

Modelling Plant Species Diversity Pattern in a Local Environmental Space

Phytosociological typology and phytoindicator value of young oak and larch forest communities near Pinczów (southern Poland)

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