Paweł Pawlikowski

Low investment in sexual reproduction threatens plants adapted to phosphorus limitation

Plant species diversity in Eurasian wetlands and grasslands depends not only on productivity but also on the relative availability of nutrients, particularly of nitrogen and phosphorus. Here we show that the impacts of nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry on plant species richness can be explained by selected plant life-history traits, notably by plant investments in growth versus reproduction. In 599 Eurasian sites with herbaceous vegetation we examined the relationship between the local nutrient conditions and community-mean life-history traits. We found that compared with plants in nitrogen-limited communities, plants in phosphorus-limited communities invest little in sexual reproduction (for example, less investment in seed, shorter flowering period, longer lifespan) and have conservative leaf economy traits (that is, a low specific leaf area and a high leaf dry-matter content). Endangered species were more frequent in phosphorus-limited ecosystems and they too invested little in sexual reproduction. The results provide new insight into how plant adaptations to nutrient conditions can drive the distribution of plant species in natural ecosystems and can account for the vulnerability of endangered species.

Importance of water level dynamics for vegetation patterns in a natural percolation mire (Rospuda fen, NE Poland)

Although conservation of percolation mires is very important for the European biodiversity, our understanding of their functioning is still insufficient, as most of the studied sites are to some extent degraded. We present a study on the relationship between vegetation patterns, hydrochemical gradients and water level fluctuations carried out in the Rospuda valley (NE Poland), which was recently discovered for science as a uniquely preserved fully functioning percolation mire. Vegetation composition, mire water chemistry and water level dynamics were studied along five transects perpendicular to the valley. Eight major vegetation types were identified: brown moss-small and slender sedge fens, Sphagnum-small sedge fens, brown moss-tall sedge fens, tall sedge-reed fens, pine-birch fen woodlands and shrublands, spruce fen woodlands, inundated alder woodlands, alder spring fen woodlands. The seasonal dynamics of water table was revealed as the major factor explaining vegetation patterns. The studied chemical parameters were relatively homogeneous in the whole mire—there is a rather uniform type of mineral-rich nutrient-poor subsurface water all across the fen.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 39

New national and regional bryophyte records, 39 L. T. Ellis, O. M. Afonina, A. K. Asthana, R. Gupta, V. Sahu, V. Nath, N. Batan, H. Bednarek-Ochyra, A. Benitez, P. Erzberger, V. E. Fedosov, P. Gorski, S. R. Gradstein, N. Gremmen, T. Hallingback, M. Hagstrom, H. Kockinger, M. Lebouvier, L. Meinunger, C. Nemeth, M. Nobis, A. Nowak, T. Ozdemir, J. Pantovic, A. Sabovljevic, M. S. Sabovljevic, P. Pawlikowski, V. Plasek, L. Cihal, J. Sawicki, C. Sergio, P. Ministro, C. A. Garcia, V. R. Smith, S. Ştefănuţ, S. Stow, G. M. Suarez, J. R. Flores, L. Thouvenot, J. Vaňa, J. van Rooy, R. H. Zander Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, U.K., V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Bryology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India, Macka Vocational School, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, Laboratory of Bryology, Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Loja, Ecuador, Berlin, Germany, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, Department of Botany, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Paris, France, Hesselstraat 11, 7981 CD Diever, The Netherlands, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Species Information Centre, Uppsala, Sweden, Roseggergasse 12, Weisskirchen, Austria, CNRS UMR 6553, Universite de Rennes 1, France, Ludwigsstadt, Germany, Corvinus University Budapest, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Hungary, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, University of Opole, Poland, Department of Biology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Institute of Botany, University of Warsaw, Poland, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, Museu Nacional de Historia Natural e da Ciencia/Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, Department of Botany, University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa, Institute of Biology of Bucharest Romanian Academy, Romania, Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, School of Anthropology & Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, U.K., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, U.N.T., San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, 11 rue Saint Leon, Perpignan, France, 30 Department of Botany, Charles University, Czech Republic, National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, USA

New national and regional bryophyte records, 41

Dicranum spurium has been recorded for the first time in Croatia. In neighbouring countries it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic´ et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In Hungary, it is treated as VU (vulnerable) (Papp et al., 2010), in Montenegro as DD (data-deficient) (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2004), and further in the Balkans as EN (endangered) in Romania (Stefanut¸ & Goia, 2012). Dicranum spurium was found on Papuk Mountain (northeastern Croatia). Ninety-five per cent of Papuk Mountain is covered by forest vegetation, the yearly mean temperature is between 8 and 11C, and annual precipitation varies between 800 and 1300 mm. Almost the whole of the mountain is protected as a Nature Park. The locality in Svinjarevac where D. spurium occurred is beech forest (Fagus sylvatica L.), unique in Croatia, with a dense cover of Sphagnum quinquefarium (Braithw.) Warnst. on the forest floor. The bedrock is quartzite and gneiss, sloping between 35 and 45, and exposed to the northwest. This Fagus-Sphagnum quinquefarium forest was spread over 2.4 ha., with a poorly developed layer of herbaceous plants. Sphagnum platyphyllum was recorded during an extensive survey of spruce forests throughout Croatia. It was found in Stirovaca, a plateau in the central part of Velebit Mountain. The locality for this first record of S. platyphyllum for Croatia is just near the border of the Northern Velebit National Park (The whole Velebit Mountain is protected as a Nature Park). According to Dull et al. (1999), Sabovljevic (2006), and Sabovljevic et al. (2008), the species has not been recorded from Croatia, although it is known to occur in neighbouring countries: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In many of these countries, it is red listed: as VU (vulnerable) in Hungary, Slovenia, and Serbia (Martincicc, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2004 ; Papp et al., 2010) and further in the Balkans as NT (near threatened) in Romania (Stefanut & Goia, 2012). This part of Velebit Mountain is characterized by cool and long winters, with 1900 mm average annual precipitation and an average annual temperature of 3.5C. The natural vegetation consists of beech-fir and spruce forests and some of the forest stands are still primeval. Sphagnum platyphyllum occurred in a wet spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) forest, where it grew in dense carpets covering the forest floor and the banks of shallow depressions (ca 100 m2) filled with water. The collection site in Stirovaca is the only known locality for this unique spruce forest community with peat mosses in Croatia. Sphagnum teres was found at two localities in Croatia, in or near the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes, but in different habitats within the belt of beech-fir forests. The climate is moderately temperate, with 1500 mm annual precipitation and an average temperature of 7.9C. This is the first record of this species for Croatia, although in the neighbouring countries, it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia, and further to the south-east, in FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece (Papp et al., 2010 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008). S. teres has been recently recorded as new for Albania (Marka & Sabovljevic, 2011), Bosnia- Herzegovina (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2010) and Montenegro (Martincic, 2006), and is red listed as CR (critically endangered) in Hungary (Papp et al., 2010), and as VU (vulnerable) in Serbia (Sabovljevic et al., 2004). The first locality, Ljeskovacˇke bare, is within the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes. Here, the species occurred in transitional peat bog belonging to the community Drosero-Caricetum echinatae and occupying an area of ca 1 ha., S. teres was the dominant Sphagnum species. Sphagnum squarrosum Crome, S. palustre L., S. centrale C.E.O.Jensen and S. flexuosum Dozy & Molk. were also relatively abundant. The bog is wet throughout the year, but mostly without open water. Depending on the amount of precipitation, it can be flooded during winter and spring. The bog is not shaded ; it is completely exposed to the sun, but partially overgrown by Molinia coerulea Moench, which is mowed in the management of the Park. Some other species characteristic for this site were Drosera rotundifolia L., Carex echinata Murray, C. lasiocarpa Ehrh., and Menyanthes trifoliata L. The second locality, Vrhovinsko polje, is situated near the eastern border of Plitvicˇka jezera lakes National Park. It is a typical karst field, with the lowest, central part periodically flooded during winter and early spring. It is covered with grassland vegetation of different communities reflecting gradients of water and soil pH. The flora was very rich. In the lowest part of the field were several shallow depressions with a perimeter of 10–20 m overgrown by sedges, mostly Carex vesicaria L. On the edges of these depressions were scattered peat moss hummocks of Sphagnum palustre L., S. capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw., and S. subnitens Russow & Warnst. Among them, S. teres (Schimp.) Angstr. also occured, but in much lower abundance.

New national and regional bryophyte records, 36

ub lis he d by M an ey P ub lis hi ng ( c) B rit is h B ry ol og ic al S oc ie ty Bryological Notes New national and regional bryophyte records, 36 L T Ellis, V A Bakalin, E Baisheva, H Bednarek-Ochyra, R Ochyra, E A Borovichev, S S Choi, B-Y Sun, P Erzberger, V E Fedosov, R Garilleti, B Albertos, P Gorski, P Hajkova, N G Hodgetts, M Ignatov, A Koczur, L E Kurbatova, M Lebouvier, A Mežaka, J Miravet, P Pawlikowski, R D Porley, J A Rossello, M S Sabovljevic, J Pantovic, A Sabovljevic, W Schroder, S Ştefănuţ, G M Suarez, M Schiavone, O T Yayintas, J Vaňa The Natural History Museum, London, UK, Botanical Garden-Institute, Vladivostok, Russia, Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Vladivostok, Russia, Institute of Biology of Ufa, Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russia, Institute of Botany, Poland, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute, Kirovsk, Russia, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea, Berlin, Germany, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, Institute of Botany, Brno, Czech Republic, Earlish, Isle of Skye, UK, Main Botanical Garden, Moscow, Russia, Institute of Nature Conservation, Krakow, Poland, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russia, Universite de Rennes 1, France, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia, Marimurtra Botanical Garden, Catalonia, Spain, University of Warsaw, Poland, Cerca dos Pomares, Portugal, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Ludwigsstadt, Germany, Institute of Biology of Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e I.M.L., Tucuman, Argentina, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Biga, Canakkale, Turkey, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic

Formalized classification of European fen vegetation at the alliance level

Phytosociological classification of fen vegetation (Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae class) differs among European countries. Here we propose a unified vegetation classification of European fens at the alliance level, provide unequivocal assignment rules for individual vegetation plots, identify diagnostic species of fen alliances, and map their distribution. 29 049 vegetation-plot records of fenswere selected fromdatabases using a list of specialist fen species. Formal definitions of alliances were created using the presence, absence and abundance of Cocktail-based species groups and indicator species. DCA visualized the similarities among the alliances in an ordination space. The ISOPAM classification algorithm was applied to regional subsets with homogeneous plot size to check whether the classification based on formal definitions matches the results of unsupervised classifications. The following alliances were defined: Caricion viridulo-trinervis (sub-halophytic Atlantic dune-slack fens), Caricion davallianae (temperate calcareous fens), Caricion atrofusco-saxatilis (arcto-alpine calcareous fens), Stygio-Caricion limosae (boreal topogenic brown-moss fens), Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis (Sphagnumbrown-moss rich fens), Saxifrago-Tomentypnion (continental to boreo-continental nitrogen-limited brown-moss rich fens), Narthecion scardici (alpine fens with Balkan endemics), Caricion stantis (arctic brown-moss rich fens), Anagallido tenellae-Juncion bulbosi (Ibero-Atlantic moderately rich fens), Drepanocladion exannulati (arcto-borealalpine non-calcareous fens), Caricion fuscae (temperate moderately rich fens), Sphagno-Caricion canescentis (poor fens) and Scheuchzerion palustris (dystrophic hollows). The main variation in the species composition of European fens reflected site chemistry (pH, mineral richness) and sorted the plots from calcareous and extremely rich fens, through rich andmoderately rich fens, to poor fens and dystrophic hollows.

Understanding the Long Term Ecosystem Stability of a Fen Mire by Analyzing Subsurface Geology, Eco-Hydrology and Nutrient Stoichiometry – Case Study of the Rospuda Valley (NE Poland)

We explored the background of differences in long–term stability between two parts in an undisturbed mire system (Rospuda fen, NE Poland). We re-constructed the Holocene history of the mire and compared it with current vegetation, water level dynamics, water chemistry and nutrient availability in two basins: A, where the mire terrestrialised a deep gyttja–filled lake, and B, where peatland developed directly on fluvial sands. The current vegetation of sedge–moss fens was described in 10 relevés from each basin, groundwater was sampled from piezometers and analysed for major ions, while its relative water level was recorded during three years. N and P content was measured in above ground vascular plant samples collected within the relevés. Fens in basin A were stable in the past, whereas fens in basin B switched between open and wooded or reed–dominated phases. In basin B, where trees are more abundant, we found higher water fluctuations, occurrence of river floods and a higher N:P ratio than in basin A. Our interpretation follows that the subsurface geology of fen basin may govern mire stability by determining its hydrological–buffering capacity, which may affect N:P ratios. Our results suggest that P–limited fens are more vulnerable for changes in water level.

Age and land use as factors differentiating hydrochemistry and plant cover of astatic ponds in post-agricultural landscape

Abstract Small, astatic ponds are important features of post-glacial landscape, which support heterogeneity and biodiversity of agricultural areas. In the presented research we explored differences in hydrochemistry and plant cover of 20 small ponds located in Northeastern Poland, characterized by diverse age and developed in differently managed areas. According to our research, though changes in water level are under direct influence of water balance in the catchment, to which belonged the ponds, their hydrochemistry seemed to be shaped by processes at the level lower than the catchment scale. Age of the ponds appeared to be an important factor influencing density and species composition of vegetation developed on the studied ponds.

Erratum to: Development of bog-like vegetation during terrestrialization of polyhumic lakes in north-eastern Poland is not accompanied by ecosystem ombrotrophication

The aim of the present study was to use the analysis of surface water chemistry to understand vegetation succession pathways in terrestrializing polyhumic lakes. We hypothesized that Sphagnum mire development was accompanied by a decrease in the mineral content in water. A total of 111 vegetation plots along 23 transects were analysed in 11 lakes and adjacent peat lands in the Wigry National Park (NE Poland). The vegetation of the lake-mire systems forms distinct zones: (1) nymphaeid-, bladderwort- and bryophyte-dominated aquatic vegetation; (2) sedge-dominated edge of the Sphagnumcarpet; (3) quaking, extremely poor fen with various Cyperaceae; (4) non-quaking, Eriophorum vaginatum-dominated bog-like vegetation and (5) pine woodland. Surface water corrected conductivity (ECcorr.), pH, COD-KMnO4 and Ca2+, Mg2+, Fetot. and SiO2 were measured along the transects. The environmental gradients best explaining the observed pattern were pH (with the highest values in the lake and the lowest in the bog-like vegetation) and COD-KMnO4 (showing an inverse direction). At least in some Sphagnum-mires conditions were more minerotrophic than in the lakes. The process of humic lake overgrowing by Sphagnum-mires in NE Poland results in pine woodlands on mineralised peat. The climate conditions in NE Poland, combined with evapotranspiration accelerated by encroaching trees, do not seem to support the development of ombrotrophic bogs.

Nature's patchwork: How water sources and soil salinity determine the distribution and structure of halophytic plant communities in arid environments of the Eastern Pamir

The eastern part of the Pamir Mountains, located in Central Asia, is characterized by great climatic continentality and aridity. Wetlands developed in this hostile region are restricted to spring areas, terraces of shallow lakes or floodplains along rivers, and provide diversified ecosystem services e.g. as water reservoirs, refugia for rare species and pastures for domestic cattle. These ecosystems are particularly susceptible to climate changes, that in the Pamir Mountains result in increased temperatures, intense permafrost/glacial melt and alterations of precipitation patterns. Climatic changes affect pasture management in the mountains, causing overutilization of sites located at lower elevations. Thus, both climate and man-induced disturbances may violate the existing ecological equilibrium in high-mountain wetlands of the Eastern Pamir, posing a serious risk to their biodiversity and to food security of the local population. In this context, we sought to assess how environmental drivers (with special focus on soil features and potential water sources) shape the distribution and diversity of halophytic plant communities developed in valleys in the Eastern Pamir. This task was completed by means of a vegetation survey and comprehensive analyses of habitat conditions. The lake terraces and floodplains studied were covered by a repetitive mosaic of plant communities determined by differences in soil moisture and salinity. On lower, wetter sites, this patchwork was formed by Blysmus rufus dominated salt marshes, saline small sedge meadows and saline meadows with Kobresia royleana and Primula pamirica; and on drier, elevated sites, by endemic grasslands with Hordeum brevisubulatum and Puccinellia species and patches of xerohalophytic vegetation. Continuous instability of water sources and summer droughts occurring in the Pamir Mountains may lead to significant structural and functional transformations of described wetland ecosystems. Species more tolerant to decreased soil moisture and/or increased soil salinity will expand, leading to alterations of ecosystem services provided by the Pamirs’ wetlands. The described research will help to assess the current state of the wetlands and to predict directions of their future changes.