Species composition and structure of vascular plants and bryophytes on the water level gradient within a calcareous fen in North Estonia

Abstract

We examined the relationship between the composition and structure of vegetation and hydrology and microtopography within the Paraspõllu calcareous-rich fen (North Estonia). Species composition, depth to groundwater level (+ 6 to-40 cm), pH (6.1-7.1), and electrical conductivity (220-840 µS cm-1) were recorded in 23 relevés of 1 m 2 along transects over the site. The species composition and coverage of vascular plants depended on the extent of water level fluctuations and water conductivity, those of moss species additionally also on microtopography. A total of 44 bryophyte and 57 vascular plant species were identified, including 14 protected and rare species. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and the Monte Carlo test were used to describe compositional variation and identify significant habitat variables separately for vascular plant and bryophyte species. The relationship between the species composition of field and surface layers was nonsignificant. Three of the five assemblages distinguished by two-way cluster analysis, Carex panicea-Schoenus ferrugineus-Drepanocladus cossonii, Phragmites australis-Calliergonella cuspidata, and Molinia caerulea-Carex davalliana, represent the calcareous tufa-forming fen type. The other two are distributed on the moderately drained part of the fen. The number and coverage of rich fen species decreased sharply as the coverage of M. caerulea exceeded the 30% level and seasonal fluctuation of water level was over 25 cm.

Light detection and ranging explains diversity of plants, fungi, lichens, and bryophytes across multiple habitats and large geographic extent

“…In particular, the local diversity in these groups strongly depend on soil characteristics (Ejrnæs and Bruun , Ilomets et al. , Ódor et al. ) and these characteristics are not well represented by LIDAR.…”

“…However, for these non-fungal groups the importance of terrain structures, microclimate, and soil-related factors are generally found to be more important than vegetation structures (Camathias et al 2013, Zellweger et al 2015. In particular, the local diversity in these groups strongly depend on soil characteristics (Ejrnaes and Bruun 2000, Ilomets et al 2010, Odor et al 2013) and these characteristics are not well represented by LIDAR. This may explain the differences in predictive power between the species groups we observed here.…”

Hydro-ecology of groundwater-dependent ecosystems: applying basic science to groundwater management

“…However, fen plants may respond to gradients or variation defined at a greater level of detail, which are evident only from a more extensive data set. Examples include the duration of initial growing season saturation Waddington 2011, Duval et al 2012), seasonal water table fluctuations (Drexler et al 1999, Ilomets et al 2010) and gradients in hydraulic head (Schutten et al 2011). What is common to all of these cases is that the plants are responding to cues associated with saturation in the rooting zone.…”

Biogeographic patterns of base‐rich fen vegetation across Europe

“…; van Wirdum ; Ilomets et al. ). Although these approaches provide a good basis for delineating the plant indicators that better define base‐rich fens from other habitats (i.e.…”