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![Tanacetum corymbosum-Sesleria latifolia-[Cirsio-Brachypodion] community (order Brachypodietalia pinnati) in Parshevitsa, near Vratsa. Among the recognisable plants are Vincetoxicum hinrundinaria, Tanacetum corymbosum and Brachypodium pinnatum (Photo: J. Dengler, JD115377). Abb. 5. Tanacetum corymbosum-Sesleria latifolia-[Cirsio-Brachypodion]-Gesellschaft (Ordnung Brachypodietalia pinnati) in Parshevitsa, nahe Vratsa. Man erkennt unter anderem Vincetoxicum hinrundinaria, Tanacetum corymbosum und Brachypodium pinnatum (Foto: J. Dengler, JD115377).](profile/Juergen-Dengler/publication/256444440/figure/fig2/AS:614126019694624@1523430461591/Tanacetum-corymbosum-Sesleria-latifolia-Cirsio-Brachypodion-community-order.png)
Tanacetum corymbosum-Sesleria latifolia-[Cirsio-Brachypodion] community (order Brachypodietalia pinnati) in Parshevitsa, near Vratsa. Among the recognisable plants are Vincetoxicum hinrundinaria, Tanacetum corymbosum and Brachypodium pinnatum (Photo: J. Dengler, JD115377). Abb. 5. Tanacetum corymbosum-Sesleria latifolia-[Cirsio-Brachypodion]-Gesellschaft (Ordnung Brachypodietalia pinnati) in Parshevitsa, nahe Vratsa. Man erkennt unter anderem Vincetoxicum hinrundinaria, Tanacetum corymbosum und Brachypodium pinnatum (Foto: J. Dengler, JD115377).
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![Fig. 4. Dianthus petraeus-Sesleria latifolia-[Saturejion montanae]...](profile/Juergen-Dengler/publication/256444440/figure/fig1/AS:614126019674114@1523430461503/Dianthus-petraeus-Sesleria-latifolia-Saturejion-montanae-community-order-Stipo_Q320.jpg)
![Fig. 5. Tanacetum corymbosum-Sesleria latifolia-[Cirsio-Brachypodion]...](profile/Juergen-Dengler/publication/256444440/figure/fig2/AS:614126019694624@1523430461591/Tanacetum-corymbosum-Sesleria-latifolia-Cirsio-Brachypodion-community-order_Q320.jpg)
We present the data of the 3rd research expedition of the European Dry Grasslands Group (EDGG), which was conducted in 2011 in two contrasting areas in NW Bulgarian mountains. The aim was to collect plot data for comparing Bulgarian dry grasslands with those of other parts of Europe in terms of syntaxonomy and biodiversity. We sampled 15 nested-plo...
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Context 1
... Very species-rich community with high occurrence of the dwarf shrub Satureja montana subsp. kitaibelii. Stands are rich of forbs (e.g. Teucrium chamaedrys, As- perula purpurea, A. cynanchica, Veronica austriaca and Euphorbia cyparissias), while gras- ses (Koeleria macrantha agg, Poa angustifolia, P. compressa and Festuca stojanovii) play a lesser role. Bryophytes and lichens are poorly presented in terms of richness and cover. Ecology and distribution: Occurs on both steep and slightly inclined calcareous terrains with rocky outcrops at south, west or north-west exposition and with rough microrelief. Soils are shallow, rich in skeleton material and sand fraction. Organic matter content is high, and soil reaction is neutral to slightly alkaline. Relevés were taken in the area of Kravya and on the slopes of the Okolchitsa peak on extensively used pastures. Classification: Floristically and ecologically similar stands, which likely belong to the same association, have been described by as Potentillo pilosae-Achilleetum clype- olatae from the Chernelka Canyon, approx. 80 km East of Vratsa. Unfortunately, this publi- cation is not valid according to Art. 1 ICPN because it appeared only online but not in print. Moderately species-rich community with closed horizontal structure and strongly dominated by Agrostis capillaris. Other mesophilous grasses like Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca nigrescens, Brachypodium pinnatum and Briza media show much lower cover and constancy values unlike some forbs: Trifolium alpestre, Stachys officinalis, Achil- lea millefolium agg., Primula veris and Galium verum. The cryptogam layer is poorly pre- sented, whereas accumulation of litter is substantial. Ecology and distribution: Occurs on both steep and slightly inclined terrains with varying exposition and microrelief at high altitude (mean 1271 m a.s.l.). Soils are derived from cal- careous bedrock, have a prevailing sandy texture and are rich in skeleton material and organ- ic matter. Communities were found in the area of Okolchitsa, Beglichka mogila peak and above the village of Milanovo, where they were used as low-intensity pastures; some were already abandoned. Classification: Relevé BGR024 is dominated by Festuca paniculata subsp. paniculata and might therefore justify placement in a separate association or even a different higher syntax- on. GRABHERR (1993), for example, considers this taxon in Austria as diagnostic for the order Festucetalia spadiceae Barbero 1970 within the class Caricetea curvulae Br.-Bl. 1948 (alpine-subalpine acidic grasslands), but as we had only one such relevé, we considered any decision premature. Fig. 5) Characterisation: Moderately species-rich community with closed horizontal structure, dominated by Sesleria latifolia and many forbs like Trifolium alpestre, Primula veris, Heli- anthemum nummularium, Teucrium chamaedrys, Stachys officinalis and Prunella grandiflo- ra. The Sesleria dominance is similar to Assoc. 1.1.1, with which it often grows in close contact, but the sward is much denser and the species composition more mesophytic. Bryo- phytes and lichens have very low cover values. Ecology and distribution: This community grows on calcareous terrains at high altitude (mean 1275 m a.s.l.), mostly on steep north-and northwest-facing slopes. The soils have sandy texture, neutral reaction (mean pH = 6.8), high conductivity values and high organic matter content. Stands were found in the area of Beglichka mogila peak, Okolchitsa peak and above the village of Milanovo, where they were used as low-intensity pastures. This community might be a transitional stage between grassland and forest vegetation. Tanacetum corymbosum is ecologically much related to forest edges, and Sesleria latifolia occurs in different plant communities, including as herb layer under tree canopy, for example in the black pine communities, and has thus been considered diagnostic for the Seslerio-Pinetum nigrae Em 1962. Unlike many other plants growing beneath the canopy, S. latifolia can sur- vive or even spread in open places. Due to its strong competitive ability and low forage qua- lity, S. latifolia becomes dominant in grasslands under different environmental conditions. Classification: To our knowledge, no similar community type has been described so far. ...
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Citations
... This involved both adding species not evaluated by Mucina et al. (2016) and modifying the diagnostic values of already included species, based on the knowledge of the authors of this article and existing statistically tested lists of diagnostic species at the class level (e.g. Berg et al., 2001;Dengler, 2003;Michl et al., 2010;Pedashenko et al., 2013;Fotiadis et al., 2014; for full list, see Appendix S4). The "consensus list" of diagnostic species for classes of the herbaceous vegetation on the Balkan Peninsula forms the first hierarchical step of our ES (Fig. 2). ...
... The class Koelerio-Corynephoretea s.l. has rarely been recognized in phytosociological works of the central and eastern Balkans (but see Tzonev et al., 2009;Pedashenko et al., 2013). By contrast, we found two well-separated syntaxonomic groups that could be equated to orders in the European classification system of the class Koelerio-Corynephoretea by Dengler (2003: Table 30). ...
... The alliance Festucion vaginatae (order 4.1 in Table 2 Meso-xeric, closed grasslands of siliceous soils in the mountainous areas of the Balkans (order 4.2 in Table 2) found little attention in the past and, if recorded, were assigned to varying syntaxa. The EDGG Research Expedition in Bulgaria involving several Central European specialists (Pedashenko et al., 2013) recognised that such stands are ecologically and structurally very similar to, for example, the alliance Armerion elongatae from the subcontinental lowlands of Central Europe, sharing many identical or closely related species. ...
Aims: Developing a hierarchical classification system for classes, orders and alliances of the diverse dry grasslands of the Central and Eastern Balkan Peninsula and translating this into an electronic expert system (ES) for the automatic assignment of plots.
Location: Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and northern Greece.
Methods: We extracted 5734 plots from the Balkan Dry Grassland Database corresponding to eight classes of dry grasslands reported from the region, using the EuroVegChecklist ES. This dataset and later the plots within each derived subunit were subjected to a new numerical approach: Starting with an initial partitioning (expert-interpreted TWINSPAN classification), diagnostic species were determined based on their phi values for the target vegetation type and the differences in phi values to the next similar types. These diagnostic species were fed into an ES to create a new partitioning, a procedure which was iterated until diagnostic species and species of the ES converged. Then the same approach was applied within each of the derived units to define the units of the next-lower level.
Results: The iterative cluster optimisation (ICO) converged in all cases. The resulting hierarchical expert system (HES) classified 95% of all plots to alliances. We distinguished four classes with eight orders and 12 alliances: (1) Tuberarietea guttatae (Romuleion); (2) Stipo-Brachypodietea distachyi (Clinopodio alpini-Thymion striati); (3) Festuco-Brometea with Brachypodietalia pinnati (Chrysopogono-Danthonion calycinae and Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati), Festucetalia valesiacae (Festucion valesiacae), an unnamed order of rocky steppes (with Pimpinello-Thymion zygioidis) and Koelerietalia splendentis (Centaureo-Bromion fibrosi, Saturejion montanae and Diantho haematocalycis-Festucion hirtovaginatae); (4) Koelerio-Corynephoretea with Sedo acris-Festucetalia (Festucion vaginatae) and Trifolio arvensis-Festucetalia ovinae (Armerio rumelicae-Potentillion and Minuartio montanae-Poion molinerii all. nov.).
Conclusions: We created a unified hierarchical classification with an electronic ES using diagnostic species defined by phi values. Our new approach (ICO-HES: iterative cluster optimisation for hierarchical expert systems) allows dividing large datasets into meaningful units at several hierarchical levels, and thus has high potential for complex classifications. Importantly, it overcomes the divide between expert system species and diagnostic species and re-unites them into one concept.
... Velev Pedashenko & al. 2013; Order Vaccinio myrtilli-Genistetalia pilosae Schubert ex Passarge 1964 ...
... 1949) Preisg.1949]; Horvat & al. 1974;Pedashenko & al. 2013 Alliance Violion caninae Schwickerath 1944 Oligotrophic pastures at low and mid-altitudes. Pedashenko & al. 2013;Grigorov & al. 2022b ?Alliance Nardo-Agrostion tenuis Sillinger 1933 ...
... Horvat & al. 1974;Pedashenko & al. 2013 Alliance Violion caninae Schwickerath 1944 Oligotrophic pastures at low and mid-altitudes. Pedashenko & al. 2013;Grigorov & al. 2022b ?Alliance Nardo-Agrostion tenuis Sillinger 1933 ...
... Following Krausch (1961) and Korneck (1974), more and more authors adopted their view of a primarily edaphic subdivision of the Festuco-Brometea at the ordinal level over the previous geographic subdivision. A mesoxeric order comprising at least the (Meso-) Bromion erecti and the Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati is accepted in many of the more recent syntheses (Mucina and Kolbek 1993;Dengler 1994Dengler , 2003Dengler , 2004Dengler et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013;Kuzemko et al. 2014;Mucina et al. 2016). Recently, Willner et al. (2017Willner et al. ( , 2019 demonstrated with the analysis of a large dataset from Central and Eastern Europe that three main subtypes of the class can be distinguished in this region according to their soil conditions (mesoxeric: Brometalia erecti / Brachypodietalia pinnati; xeric: Festucetalia valesiacae; rocky: Stipo pulcherrimae-Festucetalia pallentis). ...
... Therefore, numerous authors throughout Europe now use Korneck's (1974) name Brachypodietalia pinnati to denote the mesoxeric order of the Festuco-Brometea, often explicitly proposing it as a nomen conservandum, e.g. Dengler (2003Dengler ( , 2004, Dengler et al. (2003Dengler et al. ( , 2012Dengler et al. ( , 2019, Boch and Dengler (2006), Löbel and Dengler (2008), Becker et al. (2012), Kuzemko et al. (2014), Pedashenko et al. (2013), Mucina et al. (2016), Willner et al. (2019Willner et al. ( , 2022, Zolotareva and Korolyuk (2019), García-Mijangos et al. (2021), Lysenko et al. (2021), Magnes et al. (2021) and Vynokurov et al. (2021). ...
After a nomenclatural review of the available names for the order of mesoxeric grasslands within the class Festuco-Brometea, we propose the conservation of the name Brachypodietalia pinnati (with a conserved type) against the names Brometalia erecti and Scorzoneretalia villosae. In syntaxonomic concepts not accepting a single order for the mesoxeric grasslands of Europe, the latter names could still be used as they are based on different nomenclatural types.
(31) Brachypodietalia pinnati Korneck 1974: 123, nom. cons. propos.
Typus: Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati Hadač et Klika in Klika et Hadač 1944 (lectotypus; Dengler et al. 2003: 608; typus cons. propos.).
(=) Brometalia erecti W. Koch 1926: 20.
Typus: Bromion erecti W. Koch 1926: 121 (holotypus).
(=) Scorzoneretalia villosae Kovačević 1959: 7
Typus: Scorzonerion villosae Horvatić ex Kovačević 1959 (holotypus)
... Complex soil-grassland relations have been studied from different aspects [7][8][9]. The data on the influences of the main soil properties on the development of different grassland communities in the central Balkan region have been reported [10], but in-depth analyses are still missing. ...
... The data on the influences of the main soil properties on the development of different grassland communities in the central Balkan region have been reported [10], but in-depth analyses are still missing. Since the literature of vegetation studies rarely addresses the appropriate soil taxonomy [8,10], to better understand their mutual interactions, it was necessary to classify soil types according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) 2015 for soil classification [11]. Although the present research targets a relatively limited area situated in the southeastern Balkans (Mt. ...
... The grasslands of Mt. Rtanj are still used for grazing, but significant areas have been abandoned due to the depopulation of rural areas in southeastern Serbia, and the Balkans in general [8]. ...
Understanding the relations between soil features and plant responses is important for agricultural production and nature conservation. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the influence of soils? physical and chemical features on the composition of plant species and richness in grasslands studied on the limestone massif in eastern Serbia (Mt. Rtanj). The data set included 22 phytosociological relev?s, the same number of corresponding mixed soil samples (0-10 cm depth) and 8 soil profiles. Two vegetation types were distinguished by numerical classification as Saturejion montanae and Festucion valesiacae. The results of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) indicated that the most important soil parameters affecting species composition in dry grasslands were humus, the content of calcium, soil exchange capacity and base saturation, in addition to total acidity, pH and soil depth. The communities of both vegetation types are developed on Leptosols and Phaeozems. Under similar physical and chemical conditions of the soil, the grassland vegetation exhibits differences in floristic composition.
... Among these IndSp, there are many common taxa in the Saturejion montanae (e.g., Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff., Achillea clypeolata Sm., Hyacinthella leucophaea (K.Koch) Schur, Hypericum rumeliacum Boiss., and others: see Vassilev et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013;Matevski et al. 2018). This alliance was found in an area very close to the locus classicus of the Artemisio albae-Salvietum officinalis (see Matevski et al. 2018). ...
Vegetation diversity and ecology of grassland communities with Salvia officinalis were assessed in the natural range of the species in the Western Balkans, using the Braun-Blanquet approach. With the aim of defining the differences among the communities and identifying the main environmental gradients, cluster analysis (Flexible Beta method) and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination were applied. From a total of 346 phytosociological relevés (259 relevés were used from the literature, and 87 new relevés were collected recently in Montenegro and the Middle Dalmatian Islands of Croatia), seventeen associations were identified. Three associations (Brachypodio retusi-Salvietum officinalis, Salvietum brachyodonti-officinalis and Salvio officinalis-Phlomidetum fruticosae) and one subassociation (Stipo-Salvietum officinalis campanuletosum lingulatae) were described for the first time. Most of the associations belong to the alliances Saturejion subspicatae and Chrysopogono grylli-Koelerion splendentis, separated along an altitudinal and thermal gradient. They were classified in the order Koelerietalia splendentis and in the class Helianthemo cani-Seslerietea nitidae, whose presence in the western Balkans is a syntaxonomic novelty. Three associations belong to three other vegetation classes, Festuco-Brometea erecti, Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae and Ononido-Rosmarinetea.
... The appearance of the catalogue in 2005 definitely stimulated research of both Bulgarian and foreign lichenologists on the study of lichenized fungi in Bulgaria. During this period, numerous papers, related to lichenized or lichenicolous fungi in Bulgaria, or taxonomic treatments citing specimens from Bulgaria have been published: Aguirre-Hudson et al. (2005), Otte (2005), Otte et al. (2005), Denchev et al. (2006), Guttová et al. (2006Guttová et al. ( , 2014Guttová et al. ( , 2019Guttová et al. ( , 2020, Hertel (2006), Schiefelbein (2006), Slavíková-Bayerová & Orange (2006), Titov (2006), Vondrák (2006Vondrák ( , 2007Vondrák ( , 2010Vondrák ( , 2012, Vondrák & Hrouzek (2006), Vondrák & Slavíková-Bayerová (2006), Czarnota (2007), Krzewicka et al. (2007), Obermayer (2007), Slavíková-Bayerová & Fehrer (2007, Śliwa (2007, 2009) , Vondrák & Šoun (2007, Vondrák & Šoun ( , 2008a, Brodo et al. (2008Brodo et al. ( , 2019, Hawksworth et al. (2008), Hertel & Leuckert (2008), Knudsen & Kocourková (2008, Lisická et al. (2008), Šoun & Vondrák (2008), Spier et al. (2008), Vondrák et al. ( , b, 2009aVondrák et al. ( , b, c, 2011Vondrák et al. ( , 2012aVondrák et al. ( , b, 2013Vondrák et al. ( , 2016Vondrák et al. ( , 2020, Arup & Åkelius (2009), Breuss (2009, Gaya (2009), Kukwa (2009Kukwa ( , 2011, Randlane et al. (2009), Saag et al. (2009), Stoykov (2009, 2020a, Cornejo & Scheidegger (2010), Farkas (2010Farkas ( , 2011Farkas ( , 2014Farkas ( , 2020, Ivanov (2010), Lendemer et al. (2010), Rosato & Arup (2010), Şenkardeşler (2010a, b), Roux et al. (2011), Šoun et al. (2011), Atanassova & Mayrhofer (2012), Gaya et al. (2012), Krzewicka (2012), Scheidegger et al. (2012), Schmitt et al. (2012), Widmer et al. (2012), Wilk (2012), Arup et al. (2013), Nikolova et al. (2013), Pedashenko et al. (2013), Shivarov (2013Shivarov ( , 2017Shivarov ( , 2019, Shivarov & Stoykov (2013), Tehler et al. (2013), Hafellner et al. (2014), Muggia et al. (2014a, b), Shivarov & Lőkös (2015), Frolov et al. (2016Frolov et al. ( , 2021, Shivarov et al. (2016Shivarov et al. ( , 2017Shivarov et al. ( , 2018Shivarov et al. ( , 2021, Bancheva et al. (2017), Fačkovcová et al. (2017Fačkovcová et al. ( , 2019Fačkovcová et al. ( , 2020, Navarro-Rosinés & Roux (2017, Schultz (2017), Vladimirov et al. (2017a, b), Hafellner (2018), Gärtner et al. (2019), Gyosheva & Stoykov (2019), Voglmayr et al. (2019), Zakeri et al. (2019), Hafellner & Mayrhofer (2020), Kunev et al. (2020), Mayrhofer et al. (2020), Orange (2020), Starosta & Svoboda (2020), Malíček et al. (2021), Apostolova et al. (2022). It is worth noting studies on the Physciaceae (Atanassova & Mayrhofer 2012;Mayrhofer et al. 2020) and the Verrucariaceae (Shivarov 2015) in Bulgaria. ...
A checklist of all taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi recorded from Bulgaria is presented. The lichen biota as currently known includes 1137 taxa (1115 species, 5 subspecies, and 17 varieties) of lichenized fungi, 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 28 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. Lepra corallina is reported for the first time from Bulgaria. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1761 infrageneric names.
... Similar to previous studies, we found large variation in z-values within most of the typological units considered (Schmiedel et al. 2010;Dengler et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013). Whereas the only two previous studies that to our knowledge tested for differences in fine-grain z-values between vegetation types had not reported any significant differences Pedashenko et al. 2013), we found highly significant differences, which in the case of vascular plants explained more than half of the overall variance. ...
... Similar to previous studies, we found large variation in z-values within most of the typological units considered (Schmiedel et al. 2010;Dengler et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013). Whereas the only two previous studies that to our knowledge tested for differences in fine-grain z-values between vegetation types had not reported any significant differences Pedashenko et al. 2013), we found highly significant differences, which in the case of vascular plants explained more than half of the overall variance. These contrasting results can be attributed to (i) our much larger sample size, which allowed for detection of differences despite the strong variation within typological units, and (ii) our more diverse array of phytosociological classes, thus longer gradients. ...
Aims : To quantify how fine-grain (within-plot) beta diversity differs among biomes and vegetation types. Study area : Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods : We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database spanning broad geographic and ecological gradients. Next, we calculated the slope parameter ( z -value) of the power-law species–area relationship (SAR) to use as a measure of multiplicative beta diversity. We did this separately for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens and for the three groups combined (complete vegetation). We then tested whether z -values differed between biomes, ecological-physiognomic vegetation types at coarse and fine levels and phytosociological classes. Results : We found that z -values varied significantly among biomes and vegetation types. The explanatory power of area for species richness was highest for vascular plants, followed by complete vegetation, bryophytes and lichens. Within each species group, the explained variance increased with typological resolution. In vascular plants, adjusted R ² was 0.14 for biomes, but reached 0.50 for phytosociological classes. Among the biomes, mean z -values were particularly high in the Subtropics with winter rain (Mediterranean biome) and the Dry tropics and subtropics. Natural grasslands had higher z -values than secondary grasslands. Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation types had particularly high z -values whereas managed grasslands with benign soil and climate conditions and saline communities were characterised by particularly low z -values. Conclusions : In this study relating fine-grain beta diversity to typological units, we found distinct patterns. As we explain in a conceptual figure, these can be related to ultimate drivers, such as productivity, stress and disturbance, which can influence z -values via multiple pathways. The provided means, medians and quantiles of z -values for a wide range of typological entities provide benchmarks for local to continental studies, while calling for additional data from under-represented units.
Syntaxonomic references : Mucina et al. (2016) for classes occurring in Europe; Ermakov (2012) for classes restricted to Asia.
Abbreviations : ANOVA = analysis of variance; EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; SAR = species-area relationship.
... Similar to previous studies, we found large variation in z-values within most of the typological units considered (Schmiedel et al. 2010;Dengler et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013). Whereas the only two previous studies that to our knowledge tested for differences in fine-grain z-values between vegetation types had not reported any significant differences Pedashenko et al. 2013), we found highly significant differences, which in the case of vascular plants explained more than half of the overall variance. ...
... Similar to previous studies, we found large variation in z-values within most of the typological units considered (Schmiedel et al. 2010;Dengler et al. 2012;Pedashenko et al. 2013). Whereas the only two previous studies that to our knowledge tested for differences in fine-grain z-values between vegetation types had not reported any significant differences Pedashenko et al. 2013), we found highly significant differences, which in the case of vascular plants explained more than half of the overall variance. These contrasting results can be attributed to (i) our much larger sample size, which allowed for detection of differences despite the strong variation within typological units, and (ii) our more diverse array of phytosociological classes, thus longer gradients. ...
Aims : To quantify how fine-grain (within-plot) beta diversity differs among biomes and vegetation types. Study area : Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods : We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database spanning broad geographic and ecological gradients. Next, we calculated the slope parameter ( z -value) of the power-law species–area relationship (SAR) to use as a measure of multiplicative beta diversity. We did this separately for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens and for the three groups combined (complete vegetation). We then tested whether z -values differed between biomes, ecological-physiognomic vegetation types at coarse and fine levels and phytosociological classes. Results : We found that z -values varied significantly among biomes and vegetation types. The explanatory power of area for species richness was highest for vascular plants, followed by complete vegetation, bryophytes and lichens. Within each species group, the explained variance increased with typological resolution. In vascular plants, adjusted R ² was 0.14 for biomes, but reached 0.50 for phytosociological classes. Among the biomes, mean z -values were particularly high in the Subtropics with winter rain (Mediterranean biome) and the Dry tropics and subtropics. Natural grasslands had higher z -values than secondary grasslands. Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation types had particularly high z -values whereas managed grasslands with benign soil and climate conditions and saline communities were characterised by particularly low z -values. Conclusions : In this study relating fine-grain beta diversity to typological units, we found distinct patterns. As we explain in a conceptual figure, these can be related to ultimate drivers, such as productivity, stress and disturbance, which can influence z -values via multiple pathways. The provided means, medians and quantiles of z -values for a wide range of typological entities provide benchmarks for local to continental studies, while calling for additional data from under-represented units.
Syntaxonomic references : Mucina et al. (2016) for classes occurring in Europe; Ermakov (2012) for classes restricted to Asia.
Abbreviations : ANOVA = analysis of variance; EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; SAR = species-area relationship.
... According to the recent syntaxonomical scheme for Europe (Mucina et al. 2016), inland dune vegetation belongs to class Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis, which represents dry grasslands on sandy soils and on rocky outcrops of the temperate to boreal zones of Europe, the North Atlantic islands and Greenland. Previous phytosociological studies on the vegetation of class Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis in Bulgaria did not include inland dune vegetation (Tzonev et al. 2009;Pedashenko et al. 2013). Based on 12 relevés from Belene Island (the largest Danubian island in Bulgaria), Tzonev (2009c) classified sand dune vegetation to the association Tribulo-Tragetum, commenting the high degree of ruderalization as a result of anthropogenic influence, and in particular grazing and trampling by domestic livestock. ...
The aim of this study was to extend the knowledge on the floristic diversity, vegetation, ecology and threats of habitat 2340 *Pannonic inland dunes in Bulgaria. Fieldwork was conducted in 2018 and data were sampled at 35 phytosociological plots from 5 localities along the Danube in NW Bulgaria. A complete list of vascular plants and bryophytes, percentage cover of each vascular plant species, total vegetation cover and separately cover of bryophytes, herbs, litter and bare soil were recorded within each plot, and a soil sample was also collected. A total number of 132 vascular plants and 7 bryophytes were registered. Each vascular plant was assigned to one of two groups: (1) typical plants – 39 species, and (2)non-typical plants – 93 species. The total vegetation cover in the relevés was generally high, and the share of typical and non-typical plants was quite similar. Values for species richness ranged between studied localities from 17 to 23 species per plot, for total vegetation cover – between 69% and 84%, and for cover of bryophytes – between 1 and 7%. The association Bassio laniflorae-Brometum tectorum was reported for the first time for Bulgaria and it was presented in all localities. The substantial presence of non-typical plants registered in this study revealed a successional trend towards ruderalization, which has significantly affected the autochthonous flora and vegetation of inland dunes in Bulgaria. We believe that results from our study will be useful in order to reveal the current diversity, distribution and conservation status of European inland dune vegetation.
... For vascular plants, our findings that meso-xeric stands were substantially richer in species than either rocky or xeric grasslands across all grain sizes, is consistent with results from various other regional studies (Dengler et al. 2012Pedashenko et al. 2013) as well as a synthesis across the Palaearctic (Dengler et al. 2020b). Our scale-dependent richness values were similar to mean richness from nested-plot sampling in meso-xeric grasslands across the Palaearctic, but about 25% lower in the xeric grasslands and about 40% lower in the rocky grasslands (GrassPlot Diversity Explorer v.2.10; https://edgg. ...
Aims : We studied the syntaxonomic position, biodiversity, ecological features, nature conservation value and current status of dry grasslands investigated by Josias Braun-Blanquet more than 60 years ago. Study area : Inner-alpine valleys of Austria. Methods : We sampled 67 plots of 10 m ² , following the standardized EDGG methodology. We subjected our plots to an unsupervised classification with the modified TWINSPAN algorithm and interpreted the branches of the dendrogram syntaxonomically. Biodiversity, structural and ecological characteristics of the resulting vegetation units at association and order level were compared by ANOVAs. Results : All the examined grasslands belong to the class Festuco-Brometea . From ten distinguished clusters, we could assign four clusters to validly published associations, while the remaining six clusters were named tentatively. We classified them into three orders: Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis ( Armerio elongatae-Potentilletum arenariae , Phleo phleoidis-Pulsatilletum nigricantis , Medicago minima-Melica ciliata community, Koelerio pyramidatae-Teucrietum montani ), Festucetalia valesiacae ( Sempervivum tectorum-Festuca valesiaca community); Brachypodietalia pinnati ( Astragalo onobrychidis-Brometum erecti , Agrostis capillaris-Avenula adsurgens community, Anthericum ramosum-Brachypodium pinnatum community, Ranunculus bulbosus-Festuca rubra community, Carduus defloratus-Brachypodium pinnatum community). Conclusions : The ten distinguished dry grassland communities of the Austrian inner-alpine valleys differ in their ecological affinities as well as their vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen diversity. We point out their high nature conservation importance, as each of them presents a unique habitat of high value.
Taxonomic reference : Names of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens follow Fischer et al. (2008), Frahm and Frey (2004) and Nimis et al. (2018), respectively.
Syntaxonomic reference : Names of orders and classes follow Mucina et al. (2016), references for associations and alliances are given in the text.
Abbreviations : ANOVA = analysis of variance; DCA: detrended correspondence analyses; EDGG: Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; EIV: ecological indicator value; FL: Fließ; GR: Griffen; GU: Gulsen; KA: Kaunerberg; LA: Laudegg castle in Ladis; MA: Marin; NM: Neumarkt in der Steiermark; OM: Obermauern; PÖ: Pöls; PU: Puxer Loch; TWINSPAN = Two-way indicator species analysis; ZS: Zinizachspitze.
