Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands
European semi-dry grasslands are habitats of high conservation value. Therefore, research into the mechanisms of community assembly is important for their effective management. Using data from 76 vegetation plots of calcareous and acidic semi-dry grasslands in continental Slovenia, the author analys...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Sonja Škornik |
| author_facet | Sonja Škornik |
| author_sort | Sonja Škornik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | European semi-dry grasslands are habitats of high conservation value. Therefore, research into the mechanisms of community assembly is important for their effective management. Using data from 76 vegetation plots of calcareous and acidic semi-dry grasslands in continental Slovenia, the author analysed the composition of plant traits, focusing on less studied belowground traits. Community-weighted means were calculated for nine plant functional traits: life form, growth form, clonal growth organ (CGO) type, persistence of connection in CGO, number of clonal offspring shoots, lateral spreading distance, role of CGO, bud bank, CSR strategy. The results showed that both grassland communities were characterized by high local persistence (perennial plants with long-lived connections between ramets). Acidic grasslands had more species with rosettes, rhizomes and stress-tolerators, indicating more stressful conditions, probably due to low pH. Mesic grassland species with numerous stolons and longer lateral spread were also characteristic of acidic grasslands. Calcareous grasslands hosted more competitors, plants with leafy stems and plants with perennial main roots. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of grassland processes and provides a basis for future investigations of belowground plant traits and their function. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b17329c637c440b79d4990eafb800abd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj-art-b17329c637c440b79d4990eafb800abd2025-01-24T13:29:23ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-12-011712210.3390/d17010022Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry GrasslandsSonja Škornik0Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška 160, 2000 Maribor, SloveniaEuropean semi-dry grasslands are habitats of high conservation value. Therefore, research into the mechanisms of community assembly is important for their effective management. Using data from 76 vegetation plots of calcareous and acidic semi-dry grasslands in continental Slovenia, the author analysed the composition of plant traits, focusing on less studied belowground traits. Community-weighted means were calculated for nine plant functional traits: life form, growth form, clonal growth organ (CGO) type, persistence of connection in CGO, number of clonal offspring shoots, lateral spreading distance, role of CGO, bud bank, CSR strategy. The results showed that both grassland communities were characterized by high local persistence (perennial plants with long-lived connections between ramets). Acidic grasslands had more species with rosettes, rhizomes and stress-tolerators, indicating more stressful conditions, probably due to low pH. Mesic grassland species with numerous stolons and longer lateral spread were also characteristic of acidic grasslands. Calcareous grasslands hosted more competitors, plants with leafy stems and plants with perennial main roots. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of grassland processes and provides a basis for future investigations of belowground plant traits and their function.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/22biodiversitycommunity assemblypermanent grasslandplant traitsecosystem functionsNatura 2000 |
| spellingShingle | Sonja Škornik Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands Diversity biodiversity community assembly permanent grassland plant traits ecosystem functions Natura 2000 |
| title | Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands |
| title_full | Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands |
| title_short | Plant Trait Composition in Lowland Calcareous and Acidic Semi-Dry Grasslands |
| title_sort | plant trait composition in lowland calcareous and acidic semi dry grasslands |
| topic | biodiversity community assembly permanent grassland plant traits ecosystem functions Natura 2000 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/1/22 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sonjaskornik planttraitcompositioninlowlandcalcareousandacidicsemidrygrasslands |