Abstract
This study investigates how yellow bluestem
affects biodiversity in a typical Pannonian grassland. Beta diversity (i.e.
the finescale spatial variability of species compositions), was estimated by
the realized number of species combinations sampled at various scales. Sampling
was performed by a standard protocol. Presences of plant species were recorded
along 52.2 m
long belt transect of 1044 units of 0.05x0.05 m contiguous microquadrats.
According to the results the massive presence of tested C4 grass
significantly reduced species richness of the grassland. Beta diversity
assessment revealed that 90% of species combinations were lost due to yellow
bluestem invasion. Fine-scale spatial pattern analyses showed complete local
extinctions of other species from microsites dominated by yellow bluestem. This
local extinction is enhanced by the specific clonal architecture of this
species and by the accumulation of litter. Other dominant grasses had no effect
on fine scale diversity, i.e. they could coexist well with other
elements of the local flora. This study presents currently developed
microhabitat types, forecasts and also draws attention to the danger that
climate warming will probably enhance the spread of this detrimental C4
species.
Keywords
Dominant grass, Plant neighbourhood
diversity, Litter, Spatial association, Climate change
Nincsenek megjegyzések:
Megjegyzés küldése