Natural forest remnants as refugia for bryophyte diversity in a transformed mountain river valley landscape

Wierzcholska, Sylwia; Dyderski, Marcin K.; Pielech, Remigiusz; Gazda, Anna; Smoczyk, Michał; Malicki, Marek; Horodecki, Paweł; Kamczyc, Jacek; Skorupski, Maciej; Hachułka, Mariusz; Kałucka, Izabela; Jagodziński, Andrzej M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.340

Cited by 26 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…which are pivotal for maintaining species diversity). These microhabitats are crucial for vascular plants (Zerbe et al 2007 ), bryophytes (Jagodziński et al 2018 ; Wierzcholska et al 2018 ), fungi (Juutilainen et al 2014 ), insects (Jukes et al 2001 ) and birds (Smith et al 2008 ). It should also be remembered that relatively homogeneous litter can create specific microhabitat conditions for different communities, as was proved for many groups of soil fauna including mites (Mueller et al 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) to long-term Norway spruce plantation along a mountain stream

et al. 2018

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During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, coniferous monocultures were introduced, replacing natural broadleaved forests in Central Europe, mainly for economic benefits. In the mountains, Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst] was introduced in large areas previously covered with beech forests and also in natural riverside habitat corridors such as river valleys, despite its negative impact on the soil environment by e.g. organic matter accumulation, decrease of soil pH and changes in C/N ratio. We aimed to check how long-term Norway spruce plantations affect species richness and diversity of soil mites along a mountain river in former mixed and broadleaved forests. The study, based on 342 samples, was carried out in Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland). Understory species biomass, soil pH and soil organic layer thickness significantly affected soil mite communities. Although coniferous forests did not differ from either broadleaved or mixed forests in mite density (number of individuals m−2) and species diversity (H′), they were characterized by low species richness and proportional abundance of Uropodina mites typical for broadleaved forests. In total, 4849 mites classified into 57 species were recorded from all forest types and no unique species were found in the sampled forests. Although the mite communities were dominated by the same common species (Veigaia nemorensis, Paragamasus runcatellus, Leptogamasus obesus and Trachytes aegrota), they still maintain the rare species of broadleaved forests and their high recovery potential may be used in forest conversion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) to long-term Norway spruce plantation along a mountain stream

et al. 2018

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“…Our preliminary vegetation survey revealed that within the Czerwona Woda River Valley, forests dominated by P. abies cover an area of 67.6 ha (73.4% of the study area), while the coverage of other forest types is only 0.4 ha (Pielech et al 2018;Wierzcholska et al 2018). Other forest ecosystems (remnants of riparian forests) compose ca.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Moreover, in the study area, there are local hollows with small peatlands, which are not in the nearest closure to the bank (Pielech et al 2018). These hollows are usually covered by mosses indicating high moisture (e.g., Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii) and typical of acidic, poor wetlands (Gunnarsson et al 2002;Rydin and Jeglum 2006;Wierzcholska et al 2018), which shows compound effects of soil moisture and acidity. In the age of global changes and predicted contraction of the P. abies range (Sykes et al 1996;Hanewinkel et al 2013;Dyderski et al 2018a), our results indicate conditions of local refugia, where P. abies may still regenerate in a nonnatural elevational belt.…”

Section: Impact Of Resource Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Impacts of soil conditions and light availability on natural regeneration of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in low-elevation mountain forests

Dyderski

Gazda

Hachułka

et al. 2018

Annals of Forest Science

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& Key message Natural regeneration of P. abies (L.) H. Karst. may reach high densities in lower mountain elevations. The highest densities were found in sites with moderate light availability, with low pH, and not near the riverbank. However, age-height classes differed in the predicted magnitude of response, but were consistent in response directions. Mosses and understory species typical of coniferous forests were positively correlated with regeneration density. & Context Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in Central Europe is at risk under climate change scenarios, particularly in mountain regions. Little is known about the impact of environmental factors on the natural regeneration of P. abies in lowelevation mountain forests. & Aims We aimed to assess impacts of distance from the riverbank, soil pH, and light availability on natural P. abies regeneration. We hypothesized that (1) natural P. abies regeneration would depend on light availability and soil pH and (2) there are understory plant species which may indicate the microsites suitable for natural regeneration of P. abies. & Methods The study was conducted in the Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland, 600-800 m a.s.l.). We established 160 study plots (25 m 2) for natural regeneration, light availability, soil pH, and understory vegetation assessment.

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“…They are often highly productive and diverse parts of the landscape [2]. A large number of species have habitats that include riparian zones, while also providing shelter for species from other parts of the landscape [11][12][13]. Riparian zones represent the backbone of the natural vegetation or even its last remnants in the agricultural or urban landscapes [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex Undisturbed Riparian Zones Are Resistant to Colonisation by Invasive Alien Plant Species

Zelnik

Klenovšek

Gaberščik

2020

Water

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We investigated the presence and abundance of invasive alien plant species (IAS) in the riparian zones of rivers in relation to different environmental parameters. We surveyed the spatial and human-influenced characteristics of the riparian zones, river channels, and land use along seven Slovenian rivers. We further monitored the presence and abundance of IAS with different natural properties and different human impacts to define the characteristics of non-infected and heavily infected reaches. Special attention was given to different life forms of IAS. The presence and abundance of IAS positively correlated with distance from river source, current velocity, and water depth, and negatively correlated with altitude, naturalness of the land use, width and completeness of the riparian zone, height and structure of its vegetation, and condition of the riverbed and banks. Annuals prevailed among IAS at 48%, with 37% herbaceous perennials and 15% woody species. The vine Echinocystis lobata was the most abundant IAS, which was found in 179 out of the 414 river reaches analysed, followed by the annual Impatiens glandulifera and the herbaceous perennial Solidago gigantea. E. lobata was spread over the native riparian vegetation and was affected by the natural gradients of the rivers in terms of altitude and distance from the river’s source. Reaches without IAS significantly differed from reaches colonised with IAS in the width of riparian zone, vegetation height and structure, land-use next to the river, and distance from the source. As IAS in riparian zones affect riparian and aquatic communities, there is the need for management practices to maintain and establish complex riparian zones that are resistant to IAS colonisation.

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Natural forest remnants as refugia for bryophyte diversity in a transformed mountain river valley landscape

Cited by 26 publications

References 72 publications

Response of soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) to long-term Norway spruce plantation along a mountain stream

Response of soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) to long-term Norway spruce plantation along a mountain stream

Impacts of soil conditions and light availability on natural regeneration of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in low-elevation mountain forests

Complex Undisturbed Riparian Zones Are Resistant to Colonisation by Invasive Alien Plant Species

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