Parasitic plants in Europe: ecological niches and spatial patterns
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F25%3A00142970" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/25:00142970 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70099" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70099</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/plb.70099" target="_blank" >10.1111/plb.70099</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Parasitic plants in Europe: ecological niches and spatial patterns
Original language description
Parasitic plants inhabit a wide range of ecosystems worldwide, where they may have critical roles as "ecosystem engineers". We examined the ecology of parasitic plants in Europe. We aimed to identify habitat preferences, spatial distribution, and environmental drivers of parasitic plant functional types: euphytoid hemiparasites, obligate root parasites, and parasitic vines, and assess individual species' ecological niches. We analysed 244 parasitic plant species in a dataset of 819,452 vegetation plots across European natural vegetation. We used a boosted regression tree model to assess the effects of macro-climate, topography, and habitat descriptors (open, wet, saline) on the distribution of parasitic plant functional types. We analysed their distribution along the gradients of ecological indicator values. Finally, we determined the niches of individual species along all the environmental gradients. Parasitic plants occur across Europe and in nearly all habitats. Euphytoid hemiparasites (173 species) are most abundant in colder environments with moderate to high precipitation and low precipitation seasonality. In contrast, obligate root parasites (52 species) and parasitic vines (12 species) are primarily associated with warm-temperate to Mediterranean dry climates. All three functional types prefer nutrient-poor to moderately rich conditions. Some species diverge from the trend of their functional type. The spatial distribution and niches of parasitic plant functional types correspond to their fundamental physiological properties, including mode of resource acquisition and level of photosynthesis. Euphytoid hemiparasites are likely to be negatively affected by climate warming, while obligate root parasites and parasitic vines might benefit from future warmer and drier climates.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - 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
Result continuities
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)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
PLANT BIOLOGY
ISSN
1435-8603
e-ISSN
1438-8677
Volume of the periodical
27
Issue of the periodical within the volume
7
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
15
Pages from-to
1285-1299
UT code for WoS article
001573579200001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105019497400