Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of orchids in grasslands and herbaceous wetlands

Djordjević, Vladan; Tsiftsis, Spyros; Lakušić, Dmitar; Jovanović, Slobodan; Stevanović, Vladimir D.

doi:10.1080/14772000.2016.1151468

Cited by 52 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Several of the above-mentioned factors have been taken into account to explain the distribution of orchid species, and particular attention has been given to climatic conditions (Wotavová et al 2004 ), nutrient availability (Silvertown et al 1994 ), physic environmental (Djordjević et al 2016 ;Kull and Hutchings 2006 ;Tsiftsis et al 2008 ) and anthropogenic disturbance such as fire and grazing (Coates et al 2006 ;Gregg 2004 ;Hutchings et al 1998 ;Janišová et al 2011 ). However, the extant vegetation may further modify microsite availability through such community attributes as the thickness of the litter layer or percentage cover of vegetation, and through indirect effects on the microclimate (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant community attributes affect dry grassland orchid establishment

et al. 2016

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Several factors have been taken into account to explain the distribution of orchid species. We explored the extent to which plant community attributes affect the abundance and reproductive fitness of three orchid species (Anacamptis morio, Himantoglossum adriaticum and Ophrys sphegodes), native to dry grasslands. Structural attributes of plant community (e.g. cover and height) were assessed in ninety 4 m2 plots scattered on three hill massifs of the Veneto Region (NE Italy). For the three target orchid species, the height of the flowering stalk, the relative ramet height and the number of flowers and fruits were recorded in 203 tagged ramets. Generalized Linear Model revealed that plant community attributes such as cover and height of the herb layer exert a negative effect on the abundance of orchid populations. Furthermore, regression models indicated that O. sphegodes and H. adriaticum reproductive fitness, determined as fruit/flower ratio, was positively affected by relative ramet height. Our results revealed that local herbaceous vegetation structure influences the cover and fruit set of target orchid species. However, there can be substantial variation in the response of different species and variation in the structural attributes of surrounding vegetation may be associated with differences in the strength of selection. In order to achieve effective results in orchid species conservation, protocols for the in situ conservation must detail the range of vegetation covers and heights at which orchid species are favoured and can produce the most effective inflorescences

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant community attributes affect dry grassland orchid establishment

et al. 2016

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“…For example, due to the weak competitive ability of most orchid species, they generally colonize newly created habitat patches (such as roadside verges), where the abundance of dominant plant species and the cover of trees and shrubs is low (Jersáková & Malinová, ). Furthermore, roadsides can act as ecotones, and due to the previously mentioned reasons, orchids frequently prefer these transitional areas (Bray & Wilson, ; Djordjević, Tsiftsis, Lakušić, Jovanović, & Stevanović, ; Duchoň, ; Rai, Adhikari, & Rawat, ; Slaviero, Del Vecchio, Pierce, Fantinato, & Buffa, ). The microscopic seeds of orchids are effectively dispersed by the wind, even on long distances (Arditti & Ghani, ), thus facilitates the effective colonization of new habitat patches, like newly created roadside verges, by these species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roadside verges and cemeteries: Comparative analysis of anthropogenic orchid habitats in the Eastern Mediterranean

Fekete

Löki

Urgyán

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Several important habitats have become threatened in the last few centuries in the Mediterranean Basin due to major changes adopted in land‐use practices. The consequent loss of natural and seminatural orchid habitats leads to the appreciation of small anthropogenic habitats, such as cemeteries and roadside verges. Colonization of cemeteries and roadside verges by orchids has long been known, but no study to date compared the suitability of these two anthropogenic habitats for orchids. Therefore, in this paper our aim was to survey cemeteries and roadside verges and to compare these two habitats regarding their role in conserving Mediterranean terrestrial orchids. We conducted field surveys in three Mediterranean islands, Cyprus, Crete, and Lesbos, where both cemeteries and roadside verges were sampled on a geographically representative scale. We found a total of almost 7,000 orchid individuals, belonging to 77 species in the two anthropogenic habitat types. Roadside verges hosted significantly more individuals than cemeteries in Crete and Lesbos, and significantly more species across all three islands. Our results suggest that although cemeteries have a great potential conservation value in other parts of the world, intensive maintenance practices that characterized cemeteries in these three islands renders them unable to sustain valuable plant communities. On the other hand, roadside verges play a prominent role in the conservation of Mediterranean orchids in Cyprus and Greece. The pioneer status of roadside verges facilitates their fast colonization, while roads serve as ecological corridors in fragmented landscapes.

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“…Sometimes, orchids also colonize abandoned marl and lime pits, but avoid saline marshes, 26 arid white dune areas and intensively managed farmlands (Pedersen & Faurholdt 2010). The soil's structure 27 and texture, hydrology, pH, mycorrhiza availability and composition of nutrients are important ecological 28 factors that characterize suitable habitats for orchids (Djordjević et al 2016;Hemrová et al 2019;29 McCormick & Jacquemyn 2014; van der Heijden et al 2015). Furthermore, light conditions, the degree of 30 disturbance and, for some orchids, the presence of specific pollinators play important roles for habitat 31 suitability (Pedersen & Faurholdt 2010;Schiestl 2005).…”

Section: Introduction 17mentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the abundance of Danish orchids over the past 30 years

Damgaard

Moeslund

Wind

2020

Preprint

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5Orchid abundance data collected during the past 30 years from 440 sites within the National Orchid 6Monitoring Program were analysed to quantify the population trends of orchids in Denmark, and the 7 underlying reasons for the observed population trends were analysed and discussed. Twenty of the 45 8 monitored Danish orchids showed a significant decrease in abundance over the past 30 years (16, if only 9 orchids with at least 50 observations each are selected), thus corroborating the previous observations of 10 declining orchid abundances at European scale. Generally, there was a significant negative effect of 11 overgrowing with tall-growing herbs and shrubs on the abundance of Danish orchids. 12 13 plant diversity, pressures on orchid sites 16 some cases, overgrazing can also constitute a threat to orchids (Catorci et al. 2013), e.g. by preventing seed 40 development. In forests, many orchids grow in areas that have been left untouched for decades, and if the 41 forests are disturbed, e.g. drained, clear-cut or fertilized, then orchids are at risk of disappearing (Whigham 42 2004). Despite being protected by law in many countries including Denmark (Miljøministeriet 2016), 43 orchids are regularly picked for flower bouquets or dug up for gardening or trade, actions that both affect 44 the fitness of an orchid population. For instance, three entire clones of Cypripedium calceolus were dug up 45 from the Danish population of at Buderupholm in 2012 and moved from the fence that had been raised in 46 order to protect the population, and in 2016, approximately 40 flowering shoots were picked from the 47

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Factors affecting the distribution and abundance of orchids in grasslands and herbaceous wetlands

Abstract: TaxonAltitude (m) (Mean ± SD) Arrhenath ( 129) Brachyp ( 180) Calamagro ( 3) Calthion ( 18) Chrysopog ( 134) Cynosurion ( 274) Deschamp ( 31) Festucetalia (137)

Cited by 52 publications

References 67 publications

Plant community attributes affect dry grassland orchid establishment

Plant community attributes affect dry grassland orchid establishment

Roadside verges and cemeteries: Comparative analysis of anthropogenic orchid habitats in the Eastern Mediterranean

Changes in the abundance of Danish orchids over the past 30 years

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