Mapping species richness of plant families in European vegetation

Abstract

Aims Biodiversity is traditionally studied mostly at the species level, but biogeographical and macroecological studies at higher taxonomic levels can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes at large spatial scales. Our aim was to assess the representation of vascular plant families within different vegetation formations across Europe. Location Europe. Methods We used a data set of 816,005 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA). For each plot, we calculated the relative species richness of each plant family as the number of species belonging to that family divided by the total number of species. We mapped the relative species richness, averaged across all plots in 50 km × 50 km grid cells, for each family and broad habitat groups: forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We also calculated the absolute species richness and the Shannon diversity index for each family. Results We produced 522 maps of mean relative species richness for a total of 152 vascular plant families occurring in forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We found distinct spatial patterns for many combinations of families and habitat groups. The resulting series of 522 maps is freely available, both as images and GIS layers. Conclusions The distinct spatial patterns revealed in the maps suggest that the relative species richness of plant families at the community level reflects the evolutionary history of individual families. We believe that the maps and associated data can inspire further biogeographical and macroecological studies and strengthen the ongoing integration of phylogenetic, functional and taxonomic diversity concepts.

Hydraulic Efficiency of Green-Blue Flood Control Scenarios for Vegetated Rivers: 1D and 2D Unsteady Simulations

“…Managing riverine vegetation biomass growth plays a key role in mitigating the flooding risk associated with urban and agro-forestry areas crossed by vegetated water bodies [16][17][18][19]. In the past, flood peak control has been essentially achieved by adopting hydraulic engineering solutions based on so-called "grey engineering scenarios", aiming at reducing peak hydrological discharge and water levels [20,21] through traditional engineering infrastructures that prevent any development of terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems through the years [22,23].…”

The effect of niche filtering on plant species abundance in temperate grassland communities

“…This relationship between species abundance and phylogenetic similarity was more commonly significant in grasslands in warmer and less seasonal areas of western‐Central Europe. Recent maps of relative species richness of plant families in Europe have also identified a high proportion of Poaceae in grassland communities in the central and western part of the continent (Večeřa et al., 2021). Historical biogeographical factors and long‐term anthropogenic pressures, such as intensive grassland management, have been proposed as mechanisms explaining why these grassland communities are dominated by grasses and contain fewer other families compared with, for example, mountain areas of Central Europe.…”

The European Forest Plant Species List (EuForPlant): Concept and applications

“…Moreover, species classified as O necessarily have a 2.2 habitat preference in at least one region, otherwise they would not be part of this forest species list Amaranthaceae, for instance, are known to prefer warm, open habitats such as temperate grasslands, sand dunes and agricultural habitats (Kadereit et al, 2003), and were therefore nearly absent from this list of forest species. However, some of these families, such as Asteraceae, Brassicaceae and Gentianaceae, are more strongly represented in forest vegetation in the southeastern part of Europe (Večeřa et al, 2021) that is not covered by the forest species list, probably reflecting the evolutionary history of the families.…”