The Atlantic elements in the Swiss flora: distribution, diversity, and conservation status

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the composition, distribution, ecology, and conservation status of the Atlantic elements of the Swiss flora. About 195 Atlantic and 80 Mediterranean-Atlantic vascular plant species of the European flora have been used as the basis for our analysis. The complete list of 3,143 taxa has been used as the reference for the Swiss flora. The distributions of the species are illustrated in coincidence maps based on the computer database of the Data Centre of the Swiss Flora in Geneva, Switzerland. Our study demonstrates clearly that the Atlantic flora of Europe requires a new biogeographical appraisal. The Swiss flora comprises 66 Atlantic and MediterraneanAtlantic taxa, which are taxonomically and ecologically highly diverse. Switzerland contains 44% of all European Sub-Atlantic plants. This confirms the Sub-Atlantic geographical position of Switzerland. Only one Eu-Atlantic species growing in Switzerland, Vicia orobus, can be classified as native with certainty. This species is critically endangered and merits the highest conservation priority. Although a very alpine country, Switzerland has a relatively large number of Mediterranean-Atlantic species. The Atlantic and Mediterranean-Atlantic plants are a very threatened group in Switzerland, with wetland plants the most imperilled ecological group.

Comparative Germination Ecology of Two Endemic Rhaponticum Species (Asteraceae) in Different Climatic Zones of the Ligurian and Maritime Alps (Piedmont, Italy)

“…In brief, many studies suggest that alpine and subalpine species lack a common germination strategy [ 20 ] and that their germination requirements can vary greatly over space and time [ 6 , 21 , 22 ]. It is difficult to associate precise germination traits to specific alpine environments/habitats as this depends also on the number of microhabitats [ 14 , 20 ].…”

Analysis of the Transdanubian region of Hungary according to plant species diversity and floristic geoelement categories

“…In Switzerland the proportion of Atlantic floristic elements was compared with the proportion of Atlantic elements in Europe (Kozlowski et al, 2009). The Polish flora atlas was published (Zajac andZajac, 2001a, 2001b) and on the basis of this work eastern and southeastern distribution limits for 2,300 plant species were analysed, along with the proportion of floristic elements (Zajac and Zajac, 2006).…”

Χλωρίδα Και Βλάστηση Του Όρους Τζένα

“…Η ερμηνεία της εξάπλωσης ενός είδους δεν είναι δυνατή μόνο βάσει των συνθηκών που επικρατούν σήμερα, αλλά είναι ταυτόχρονα ιστορικό, οικολογικό και γενετικό πρόβλημα (Φοίτος 1987). H ανάλυση της εξάπλωσης των ειδών σχετίζεται με δύο καθήκοντα, τον καθορισμό φυτογεωγραφικών περιοχών (floristic regions ή phytochoria) με βάση τη χλωριδική τους ομοιότητα και τη διάκριση φυτικών ομάδων (χλωριδικά στοιχεία -floristic elements) με παρόμοια γεωγραφική εξάπλωση (Finnie et al 2007, Kozlowski et al 2009). Ο Takhtajan (1986) φυτογεωγραφική περιοχή της βορειοκεντρικής Ελλάδας (NC Greece).…”