Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

Abstract

Abstract:The phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological relevés with its occurrence were set for light -6, temperature -5, continentality -4, moisture -5, soil reaction -6 and nutrients -5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.

Ecological differentiation, speciation, and rarity: How do they match in Tephroseris longifolia agg. (Asteraceae)?

“…Our study confirmed that generally all studied populations of T. (Hegedüšová et al, 2013;Meindl, 2011;Pflugbeil, 2012). This could imply that phylogenetic niche conservatism limits the ecological adaptation of the T. longifolia agg.…”

“…Rchb. and Tephroseris helenitis (L.) B. Nord occurring mainly in neutral to acidophilus wet meadows and fens, and Tephroseris integrifolia (L.) Holub growing mainly in nutrient‐poor dry and semi‐dry calcareous grassland and open forest communities (Hegedüšová et al., ; Meindl, ; Pflugbeil, ). This could imply that phylogenetic niche conservatism limits the ecological adaptation of the T. longifolia agg.…”

“…The members of the aggregate have almost allopatric distribution through extensive part of Europe including Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, Western Carpathians, and Pannonian Basin. Interestingly, differences in vertical amplitude of occurrence and preferences of specific plant communities for particular morphotypes have been reported (Aeschimann, Lauber, Moser, & Theurillat, 2004;Hegedüšová, Škodová, Janišová, & Kochjarová, 2013;Janišová, Hegedüšová, Kráľ, & Škodová, 2012;Pignatti, Guarino, & La Rosa, in press). Thus, it seems that the habitats of morphotypes are climatically and ecologically differentiated, which suggests that the speciation involving adaptation to different environments and niche differentiation can be expected.…”