Seasonal beta-diversity of dry grassland vegetation: Divergent peaks of above-ground biomass and species richness

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F23%3A00132093" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/23:00132093 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13182" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13182</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13182" target="_blank" >10.1111/jvs.13182</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Seasonal beta-diversity of dry grassland vegetation: Divergent peaks of above-ground biomass and species richness

Original language description

Question: Temperate grasslands are known for their high plant diversity and distinct seasonality. However, their intra-annual community dynamics are still largely overlooked by ecologists. Therefore, we explored the seasonal alpha- and beta-diversity patterns of vascular plants and their relationships to above-ground biomass in a rocky steppe (Festucion valesiacae). - Location: Pavlov Hills, SE Czech Republic.Methods: For one year, we monitored the plant community of the rocky steppe at monthly intervals in 42 permanent plots of 0.25 m(2). We examined seasonal changes in above-ground biomass (estimated from the cover and height of living plant parts) and seasonal beta-diversity, which we partitioned into turnover and nestedness components and their quantitative counterparts: balanced changes and abundance gradients. - Results: We identified a pronounced seasonal pattern of above-ground biomass, species richness and composition. Total above-ground biomass was highest in June (summer), with a peak representing only 60% of total annual production (sum of individual species' maxima). However, the observed peak in species richness occurred in March (early spring), with 80% of the total species number recorded throughout the year. Accordingly, nestedness and abundance gradient patterns differed in the spring months, while seasonal turnover and balanced changes in abundance were generally congruent. Annual, short-lived, and perennial species exhibited different seasonal patterns of species richness and biomass production, although a sharp increase in biomass and a peak in species richness in spring were universal across the community. - Conclusions: Seasonal climatic constraints on plant growth are key determinants of primary production dynamics. Plants adapt to these constraints by adjusting their life cycles in different ways. In dry grasslands, the complexity of plant responses to climatic seasonality can result in seasonal beta-diversity patterns with divergent peaks in biomass and species richness.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10611 - Plant sciences, botany

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2023

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Vegetation Science

ISSN

1100-9233

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

34

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

1-9

UT code for WoS article

000961933300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85159300014