Lianas play significant ecological roles in tropical forest ecosystems, so knowledge of the factors that affect them is key to forest management. Nonetheless, there is limited information on how wildfires influence liana communities. This study therefore sought to determine the effects of wildfires on liana community structure and liana–soil associations in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve, Ghana. Thirty

Species identification within the species complex of Q. pubescens is a well-known taxonomic challenge among European botanists. Some of the specific pubescent oak binomials currently accepted in various European floras and checklists were originally described in Sicily and southern Calabria. As a consequence, several species belonging to the pubescent oaks group (Q. pubescens, Q. amplifolia, Q. congesta

Please be informed that the wrong table was inadvertently published in the following paper

The Carex flava aggregate belongs to one of the most taxonomically difficult groups of sedges which colonize diverse habitats, from organic to sandy, from acidic to alkaline, usually humid and moist. The study included 129 vegetation plots and ten soil variables (organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, carbonates, carbon, nitrogen, pH, and the ratio between organic carbon and nitrogen)

Keystone plant species are known to provide various essential ecosystem services. The Mediterranean keystone species Stipa tenacissima improves soil functioning and facilitates the establishment of different plant species, so it is used in restoration programmes. In this paper, we aimed to predict the impacts of climate (aridity) and soil texture (sand content) on the establishment and development

The extreme species richness of some temperate grasslands is a globally relevant yet understudied phenomenon. Until now, few records from thoroughly sampled, though not permanently fixed, vegetation plots were available. We therefore established a network of 40 permanent 4 × 4-m2 plots in species-rich grasslands of the White Carpathians (Czechia), Ukraine, Hungary and Romania. Thirty-one of them form

The Maritime Antarctica region has terrestrial ecosystems dominated by lichens and mosses, representing important ecological indicators of climate change. However, little is known about environmental factors that shape regional cryptogam communities at local scale. In this study we analyse changes in species richness, species composition and coverage of representative cryptogam communities across a

Competition and facilitation vary inversely along environmental stress gradients. Here we ask how environmental stress along a slope gradient influences plant-plant interaction in a semi-arid savanna. We attempted to link spatial patterns and ecological interactions, so we analysed the spatial distribution of three Vachellia (Acacia) tree species and assessed the consequences of their interaction on

Neopolyploid species have been used as model plants to elucidate the consequences of hybridization and polyploidy. Two Drosera species, D. anglica Hudson (2n = 4x = 40) and D. rotundifolia L. (2n = 2x = 20), and the hybrid D. ×obovata Mert. et Koch (2n = 3x = 30), which results from their crossing, have been reported from Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Recently, we discovered unexpected higher ploidy

In view of the sensitivity of Liparis loeselii to changes in habitat conditions, we carried out a study with the aim to monitor population numbers, identify the individual features of the Liparis loeselii population, analyse habitat conditions, identify threats and propose conservation measures to preserve the species. The investigations were conducted in seven unmanaged objects located in three Natura

Ultraviolet-B radiation can result in deleterious effects on many plant growth processes. In clonal plants, resources and hormones are often shared between connected ramets to deal with various environments. However, little is known about whether and how clonal integration influences the ability of clonal plants to respond to UV-B radiation. In this paper, ramet pairs of Duchesnea indica were either

Elevational gradients are linked with different abiotic and biotic factors, which in turn influence the distribution of plant diversity. In the present study we explored the relative importance of different environmental factors in shaping species diversity and composition of vascular plant species along an elevational gradient in the Chamelia Valley, Api-Nampa Conservation Area in western Nepal. Data

River gravel-bar habitats are highly endangered. They are still well-preserved in the Caucasus, but developing conservation strategies is burdened by the lack of data from this region. We studied vegetation and habitat types on gravel bars of 22 rivers in Georgia, including successional stages from open early-successional herbaceous vegetation to scrub. We distinguished five vegetation types based

Floating plants are widespread in aquatic ecosystems. Most floating plants are clonal and their clones can be easily fragmented as a result of natural events or human activities. Such clonal fragmentation may decrease the growth and thus the competitive ability of floating plants. We tested these hypotheses with the widespread floating, clonal plant Salvinia natans. We simulated disturbance-mediated

We investigated the interrelations between environmental variables (proxies for water availability and soil physico-chemical properties) and tree community patterns (diversity, composition and structure) along pond-upland topographic gradients within depressional watersheds in the upper Uruguay River basin in southern Brazil. Sampling plots were allocated in four topographic habitats: (1) inside ponds

Knowledge about the effects of fire on tree communities of Araucaria forests (AF) is scarce, although this physiognomy is among the most threatened ones in the entire Brazilian hotspot Atlantic Forest. With this study, we sought to answer the following questions: After three years of the fire, how has the soil of this forest remnant been recovering? Are fires in the AF able to change the structure

Urbanization is one of the main drivers of environmental change and can result in drastic changes to the biodiversity and composition of plant communities. The objective of the present work was to investigate whether the structure, diversity and composition of Neotropical savanna woody plant communities differ among fragments immersed in urban, peri-urban and rural environments. The study was carried

The history and continuity of lowland woodlands in Central Europe is closely connected with human activities. We studied a small wetland situated directly in a low-elevation oak-dominated woodland to evaluate the history and impact of humans on an oak woodland in south-eastern Slovakia. We used different proxies to obtain evidence of woodland history spanning at least 8,500 years. Pollen, diatom and

Understanding the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the distribution of species is essential for developing management in endangered ecosystems. We studied the current abundance and distribution patterns of vegetation along environmental and anthropogenic gradients in North West Algeria. We focused on the four dominant coniferous species (Pinus halepensis, Tetraclinis articulata

The steppe flora and vegetation represents a significant part of the Eurasian temperate grassland biome. In Serbia, this flora is a part of the biome’s western border zone and its characteristics therefore may be modified. The aim of this study was to determine the number of steppe taxa in Serbia and to conduct a chorological and ecological analysis of this flora. The results of diversity analysis

Climate variability added to anthropogenic pressures leads to habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss of forest ecosystem resources in Burkina Faso. Studying vegetation structure and woody species composition is important in monitoring vegetation dynamics for efficient forest management. This study was carried out to characterize woody vegetation along a climatic gradient. Stratified sampling according

Semi-natural, extensively managed, grasslands are among the most species-rich agroecosystems in Europe. However, they are threatened by abandonment. We investigated the response of semi-natural grasslands to cessation of mowing at ten sites in three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Switzerland and Austria. We assessed vegetation characteristics, topsoil properties and microbially mediated soil processes

Larger plants of course generally produce more seed offspring than smaller plants. The vast majority of species, however (and resident reproductive plants within a given species’ population), are relatively small. To help interpret why this may be so, we controlled for effects of between-species body size variation by measuring fecundity per unit plant body size (i.e. ‘fecundity allocation’) – to test

The tribe Neottieae (Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae) represents an excellent potential system for understanding plastome evolution in orchids. The tribe includes about 100 species with six recognized genera and includes both chlorophyllous and achlorophyllous taxa. Previously published Neottieae plastomes have revealed a complicated history of gene loss, particularly ndh gene loss, as well as plastome

Knowledge of ploidy level and genome size in a germplasm collection is critical before studying genetic diversification of different environmental range in grasses and other plants. We assessed the geographic patterns in ploidy level and genome size of 216 individuals of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (common bermudagrass) by flow cytometry of accessions sampled from 16 geographic sites along a latitudinal

The Cactaceae display a wide array of pollination systems, with many different animals already confirmed as pollinators. Pilosocereus is one of the most conspicuous bat-pollinated genera characteristic of the tropical dry forests of Brazil, known as Caatinga. The role of bats, hawkmoths and bees as pollinators in natural populations was investigated for four Pilosocereus species (P. catingicola, P

Plant species of the intermediate life strategy type are characteristic for species-rich grasslands, which are sensitive to changes in the level of disturbance. Germination and early establishment of seedlings is expected to be the most crucial stage, limiting the successful colonization of appropriate sites. Valeriana dioica is a typical plant of calcareous fens, which are dependent on regular suppression

Seasonally tropical dry forests are among the most threatened environments by climate change. However, these forests, which are at risk of desertification, are still poorly studied and conserved. Seeds of several species endemic to the Caatinga, a Brazilian dry forest, are also understudied, mainly regarding their ability to cope with a hotter and drier climate predicted for the future. For the first

Fire is a widespread disturbance that affects plant individuals and populations. In fire-prone environments, such as Mediterranean-type ecosystems, many species are stimulated to germinate by fire-related cues, for example heat and smoke. However, little is known about the effect of fire on seed germination of species from herbaceous communities like temperate grasslands. In this study we assessed

Artemisia caerulescens L. is a rare aromatic perennial shrub growing in saline or brackish environments of the central and western part of the Mediterranean region. On the other hand, despite its distribution in unstable and highly selective environments such as salt marshes, no data are available on its ecological adaptability or on its growth strategy. In an effort to fill these gaps, we performed

Most Mediterranean wetlands are overexploited and degraded by different factors and are especially vulnerable to alien and invasive species. Currently, there is still a lack of knowledge on certain aspects of plant invasions, especially from an applied point of view, as key tools in restoration and conservation programmes. In this sense, Cortaderia selloana has showed a rapid expansion in the western

The genus Sabulina is represented by 26 taxa in Turkey. Some interesting specimens belonging to the genus, the main distribution area of which is the Mediterranean phytogeographical region, were collected in Erzurum province. These newly collected specimens and Sabulina rimarum var. rimarum were compared with each other in terms of their general morphology and seed micromorphology. Besides, by using

Knowledge about seed germination ecology is necessary for development of protocols for in ex situ conservation and in situ restoration of rare species. Here we investigate the effect of temperature, light, GA­3 and cold storage in the germination niche of Saxifraga italica (Saxifragaceae), and endemic species of Central Apennines (Italy). Several temperatures, both in dark and light conditions, and

Heat shock-stimulated germination is frequently considered a trait restricted to a few plant families with impermeable seed coats in the Mediterranean Basin. We aimed to ascertain this general idea by using 68 eastern Mediterranean plant taxa differing in growth form, dormancy type and geographic distributional range. We conducted a laboratory experiment including heat shocks (60, 80, 100, 120 and

Plants growing in the same environment typically share ecophysiological characteristics enabling them to survive and reproduce when exposed to a common selection pressure. As such, seedlings establishing in temperate forest habitats cope with similar issues of low light availability and climate seasonality. We examined similarities in the germination syndromes in three shade-tolerant temperate forest

Responses of species to environmental change are largely dependent on their niche breadth. To investigate the relationship between germination niche breadth and sensitivity to climate change, we selected three North American perennials: Physalis longifolia, Asclepias syriaca and Penstemon digitalis. Dormancy loss and germination requirements were determined for seeds from populations along a Midwest

Festuca is a genus of the Poaceae family with about 140 species in South America. Little information is available about Festuca species growing in the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina, a region with a significant degree of endemism. The taxonomic delimitation of some species of this region is imprecise. One such taxon is Festuca lilloi, which has not only been recognized as a native species of

The tribe Olyreae comprises 124 understorey herbaceous bamboos species and almost all of its species are distributed in the Neotropics. Only Buergersiochloa bambusoides is found in New Guinea, and Olyra latifolia has a disjunct distribution in tropical America, Africa and Madagascar. Applying phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses, our aim was to identify the ancestral area and time of divergence

The factors that influence seed production and seed dormancy in rare plant species are crucial to their conservation yet are often poorly understood. In this study, we examined the breeding system and seed biology of the critically endangered Australian endemic species Persoonia pauciflora through a series of experiments. Pollinator visitation surveys and manipulative hand-pollination treatments were

Understanding vegetation-environment relationships enables perceiving past and present patterns and to predict responses to future scenarios, thereby being useful for conservation and understanding evolutionary processes. In this context, the objective of our study was to test the hypothesis that niche processes at local scales (< 1 km2) are significantly expressive in plant communities structuring

Germination is a high-risk phase in a plant’s life cycle and is directly regulated by temperature. Seeds germinate over a range of temperatures within which there is an optimum temperature, with thresholds above and below which no germination occurs. Rapid changes in temperature associated with global warming may cause a disconnect between temperatures a seed experiences and temperatures over which

Paepalanthus subsect. Polycladus was proposed based on a few and incomplete specimens of P. polygonus. In this manuscript we re-circumscribe the group, include the remarkable new species Paepalanthus lychnophorellus and exclude P. grao-mogolensis, providing also a complete description of Paepalanthus polygonus. One new synonym is proposed (P. spiralifolius = P. polygonus) and one lectotypification

Fire is an important ecological factor shaping plant strategies. Plants that are not able to survive fire and rely on seed reproduction may have seeds adapted for surviving heat shock or their germination may even be enhanced by heat or smoke. In order to find out whether such adaptations may be found in plants able to survive fire and resprout, we examined the germination of ten Vellozia species in

Recruitment in savanna environments represents a high-risk step in a plant’s life cycle. Dimorphandra mollis Benth (Fabaceae) is a savanna tree species which produces dry fruits holding coat-imposed dormant seeds dispersed late in the dry season. We investigated fire effects on fruit dehiscence, seed dormancy breaking and seed viability, and also monitored seedling recruitment and survival for 44 months

Climbing plants form a substantial component of tropical forest diversity. Climbers are a diverse group comprising various ecological strategies dependent on tree support and are affected by biotic and abiotic forest conditions. In a lowland primary tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea, we studied the distribution of root climbers from genus Piper in relation to topography (slope, convexity, altitude)

The Ordos Plateau is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the arid and semi-arid areas of China. To extend our knowledge of the flora in this region, we integrated documented data and field survey data to present quantitative analyses on the taxonomy, life forms, endemism, and composition of geographical elements. In total, 790 species of seed plants belong to 346 genera in 87 families are recorded

This study was designed to examine the subtle effects of habitat, aspect and altitude on plant diversity and the timing of phenological stages. In this increasingly arid region, within-species differences would cause more reproductive isolation of local populations, making species more vulnerable to regional extinction. Fifty-two sites in the Jebel Marra region of the Central Darfur state of Sudan

Soil salinity is among the main factors influencing seed germination in coastal dunes, acting as a major determinant of species establishment and growth. Tolerance to salinity during the germination process is crucial especially for species of the drift line, which are exposed to high levels. Cakile maritima is an annual species of coastal dunes which can suffer from the effects of salt-spray and seawater

The genus Andryala includes diploid plants distributed in the Mediterranean Basin, Macaronesia and in one isolated outpost in the Romanian Carpathians. We analysed nuclear genome size in a phylogenetic framework and assessed relationships between genome size and life form (perennials vs annuals/biennials) and the consequences of insular vs continental distribution. Absolute nuclear genome size of 18

Although plant-plant interactions and their effects on ecological functioning have been examined in communities composed of different functional groups, they have rarely been studied in communities that contained a single functional group. We established a five-year experiment using three grass species with different nutrient addition and mowing treatments to explore overyielding and species interactions

The relationship between the floristic composition of communities and the underlying environmental and spatial determinants is still the subject of intense debate, mainly because only recently has geographical distance been cited as an important driver of plant communities. We analysed environmental (elevation, climate and soil properties [E]) and spatial (geographic distance [S]) effects on the floristic

There is still not enough palaeoecological data from the southwestern part of the Western Carpathians, where mountain ridges steeply rise from the dry and warm Pannonian basin. The reason is a low availability of sites with sediments harbouring fossil remains. In the Považský Inovec Mts, two small protected calcareous wetlands occur in different geographical position and contain suitable sediments

The genus Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), commonly known as meadow rue, comprises 200 species throughout the world and there are 25 taxa growing in India. While revising the genus in India, we came across a new species collected in Nainital in the Uttarakhand Himalaya. The new species, Thalictrum nainitalense, is differentiated from its closely allied species T. punduanum in its habitat preference for

Rivers with a natural flooding regime and gravel accumulations are an important natural habitat endangered by regulations and other types of human impact. Succession after disturbances by floods creates a mosaic of different vegetation types, some of them containing rare specialist species. We studied vegetation succession and changes in plant diversity on river gravel bars of four streams in the Western

Glacial relicts have been regionally more common in glacial than in recent times. A rigorous assessment of which species are indeed glacial relicts is extremely difficult because direct evidence is untraceable or equivocal for many species. We aimed to identify species of the Western Carpathian flora (vascular plants, bryophytes and terrestrial lichens) that display apparent biogeographical and ecological

Sand dunes of warm regions provide suitable habitats for C4 plants because of their water and nitrogen use efficiency under high temperature and their high tolerance to ecological stress such as salinity, aridity and disturbance. We studied the distribution patterns of C4 plant species in five habitat types of sand dune ecosystems in three climatic regions (Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Hyrcanian)

Alien plants, although usually rare in mountain habitats, can significantly impact native species diversity. The aim of this study was to analyse patterns of alien plant distribution in the Tatra Mts (Slovakia), focusing primarily on comparison of various transportation routes as a conduit for the spread of alien plants. We collected data on transects along: (i) railways, (ii) paved roads with unlimited

Hay meadows, which are managed using a low-intensity regime, are characterized by highly diverse vegetation but have declined significantly since the mid twentieth century. Remaining species-rich meadows are often protected by statutory designations and conservation management agreements. However, long-term studies of change in the composition of meadow vegetation, and investigations of the success

Quaking rich fens dominated by boreal semi-aquatic brown-mosses such as Scorpidium scorpioides and Calliergon trifarium are extremely rare in the Carpathians. These fens harbour endangered species persisting at few localities in the region. However, their phytosociological classification has not been sufficiently solved yet, because they lack Sphagnum species as well as calcicole species characteristic

Mountain vegetation is often considered highly sensitive to climate and land-use changes due to steep environmental gradients determining local plant species composition. In this study we present plant species compositional shifts in the Tatra Mts over the past 90 years and discuss the potential drivers of the changes observed. Using historical vegetation studies of the region from 1927, we resurveyed