Strong influence of long-distance edge effect on herb-layer vegetation in forest fragments in an agricultural landscape

0395929 - ÚI 2014 RIV DE eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Hofmeister, J. - Hošek, J. - Brabec, Marek - Hédl, Radim - Modrý, M.
Strong influence of long-distance edge effect on herb-layer vegetation in forest fragments in an agricultural landscape.
Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. Roč. 15, č. 6 (2013), s. 293-303. ISSN 1433-8319. E-ISSN 1433-8319
Grant ostatní: GA MŽP(CZ) SM/6/69/05; GA MŽP(CZ) SP/2D3/139/07
Institucionální podpora: RVO:67985807 ; RVO:67985939
Klíčová slova: ancient forest * edge effect * habitat fragmentation * light condition * soil nutrients * species richness
Kód oboru RIV: BB - Aplikovaná statistika, operační výzkum; EH - Ekologie - společenstva (BU-J)
Impakt faktor: 3.324, rok: 2013

In agricultural landscapes in central Europe, species richness of the herbaceous plant community may be compromised by processes associated with forest fragmentation, habitat loss, and management practices. We examined variability in species richness and composition of the herbaceous layer in 229 plots located in 23 forest fragments (0.1 to 255 ha), in relation to the most important site environmental factors, edge effects, and site history. The influence of environmental factors on the composition of vegetation in the herb layer was evaluated using generalized additive models, which enabled us to analyze highly non-linear and non-monotonic relationships. Total species richness and number of red-listed and ancient forest species were significantly influenced by type of forest vegetation, light quality, soil pH, slope aspect, and distance from the forest edge. Implications of the significant explanatory variables corresponded well to previous findings, with the exception of distance from the forest edge, for which we found a positive relationship with species richness for distances up to 200 m toward the forest interior. Plant species with low colonization ability occupied plots with increasing frequency from edge to forest interior, while fast-colonizing species showed the opposite trend. Apart from the edge effect, forest continuity should be considered for its important contribution to the richness of ancient forest and red-listed species, whereas the effect of forest fragment size appeared to be generally weak. These results do not negate the importance of large forest fragments for the maintenance of herb layer species richness, but specifically emphasize the essential contribution of the core habitats of these forests.
Trvalý link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0223832