Contrasting Responses of Alien and Ancient Forest Indicator Plant Species to Fragmentation Process in the Temperate Lowland Forests

Šipek, Mirjana; Kutnar, Lado; Marinšek, Aleksander; Šajna, Nina

doi:10.3390/plants11233392

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The six most common trees of alien origin in the analysed stands are invasive species: Acer negundo, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juglans regia, Padus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia (Tokarska-Guzik et al 2012). These are also the most common alien trees in the European temperate forest (Lapin et al 2019;Danielewicz et al 2020;Langmaier and Lapin 2020;Šipek et al 2022). Their spread was facilitated by their intensive introduction to forest cultivation and use for reclamation of post-industrial areas (Rostański 2006;Gazda 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The share of anthropophytes in the tree stands of urban forests in Katowice (Silesian upland, S Poland)

Wysiński,

Fojcik

2024

Folia Forestalia Polonica

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Urban forests are an important element of nature in highly urbanised areas. Due to their specificity (e.g. fragmentation, disturbances, alien propagule pressure), they are particularly susceptible to the penetration of alien species. The aim of this study was to determine the share of alien species in the tree stand structure of urban forests in the city of Katowice (Upper Silesian Industrial Region). A total of 50 woody species were recorded in the analysed stands, including 31 native species and 19 of alien origin. The share of alien species in the stands of individual forests was significant, as they constituted from 15% to 44% of the total number. Among the 20 trees most frequently included in the stand, as many as six are species of alien origin (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Borkh., Acer negundo L., Quercus rubra L., Juglans regia L. and Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall). The most abundant species were Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus rubra and Padus serotina. The local potential of alien woody species was determined using the index of their abundance in the understory; the highest value of the average abundance index was obtained by Padus serotina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo and Quercus rubra. Most alien tree species were more likely to inhabit forest edges (ecotone zone).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the herbaceous plants, the most common were Reynoutria japonica Houtt., Solidago canadensis L. and Impatiens parviflora DC. -species that are particularly able to naturalise in the forest environment and effectively compete with native species (Danielewicz et al 2020;Langmaier and Lapin 2020;Šipek et al 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The share of anthropophytes in the tree stands of urban forests in Katowice (Silesian upland, S Poland)

Wysiński,

Fojcik

2024

Folia Forestalia Polonica

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“…Land-use change, habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change and biological invasions have been identified as significant contributors to the accelerating decline in biodiversity worldwide [1,2]. Habitat degradation refers to a decrease in the quality of a habitat's condition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Degradation Facilitates the Invasion of Neophytes: A Resurvey Study Based on Permanent Vegetation Plots in Oak Forests in Slovenia (Europe)

Kermavnar,

Kutnar

2024

Plants

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The spread of neophytes (non-native plant species) challenges the conservation status and ecological integrity of forests, especially in lowland areas. Long-term resurvey studies are needed to evaluate the temporal dynamics of neophytes in forests; however, such data are scarce. In 2023, we resampled a set of 45 permanent vegetation plots (established in 1992/93) in two forest vegetation types: oak–hornbeam forests dominated by Quercus robur and colline oak–beech forests dominated by Q. petraea. Over the last 30 years, oak forests have experienced extensive oak tree mortality, with the degree of habitat degradation being greater in Q. robur forests. In the early 1990s, only three neophytes with low abundance were recorded across all plots. In the 2023 resurvey, the total number of neophytes increased to 22 species (15 herbaceous and 7 woody species), comprising 6.9% of the total species pool in the understory layer. The increase in the plot-level number and cover of neophytes was significant in plots dominated by Q. robur but not in those with Q. petraea. The most frequent neophytes were Impatiens parviflora (present in 31% of plots), Solidago gigantea (27%), Erigeron annuus (16%) and Erechtites hieraciifolia (16%). The richness and cover of neophytes were significantly affected by the tree layer cover (negative correlation) and the degree of soil disturbance (positive correlation). All neophytes established in disturbed patches, whereas the occurrence of I. parviflora was exceptional as it was able to colonize less degraded, shaded understory environments. Habitat degradation (the mortality-induced loss of stand-forming oak trees resulting in extensive tree layer cover decrease) emerged as a key driver promoting neophyte proliferation, coupled with the impact of management-induced disturbances affecting overstory and soil conditions. The spread is expected to continue or even intensify in the future because novel light regimes and disturbances make forest habitats less resistant to neophyte proliferation.

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Lowland forest fragment characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances determine alien plant species richness and composition

Šipek,

Šajna

2024

Biol Invasions

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Loss of habitat and biological invasion are the main threats to biodiversity. In intensive agricultural or urban landscapes, forest fragments, even if they are small and isolated represent biodiversity refugia. Environmental variables such as landscape structure, abiotic conditions and anthropogenic disturbance affect the biodiversity of the fragments. In this study, we explored plant species richness in 48 forest fragments embedded in predominantly agricultural landscapes on the alluvial plains of the Mura and Drava rivers in NE Slovenia. We determined several forest fragment characteristics such as perimeter, area, shape complexity, length and proportion of edge shared with adjacent land-cover types and anthropogenic disturbance indicated by the presence of footpaths and waste disposed in fragments. The abiotic condition of these fragments was assessed by Ellenberg indicator values. We built generalized linear models and ordination analyses to assess the importance of environmental variables for the richness and composition of alien plant species and other ecologically meaningful plant groups. Shape complexity had a consistent positive effect on the richness of native and alien plants species. Major drivers of alien plant composition in forest fragments included adjacent land-cover and urbanization level. An increasing proportion of arable land along the forest fragment perimeter negatively affected the richness of alien plants, while the effect of urban areas was positive. Our results confirmed that forest fragments in the rural–urban matrix represent biodiversity refugia and support native plant species; however, they are not resistant to invasions; instead invasion depends on the land-cover type in the surroundings of a given forest fragment.

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Contrasting Responses of Alien and Ancient Forest Indicator Plant Species to Fragmentation Process in the Temperate Lowland Forests

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

The share of anthropophytes in the tree stands of urban forests in Katowice (Silesian upland, S Poland)

The share of anthropophytes in the tree stands of urban forests in Katowice (Silesian upland, S Poland)

Habitat Degradation Facilitates the Invasion of Neophytes: A Resurvey Study Based on Permanent Vegetation Plots in Oak Forests in Slovenia (Europe)

Lowland forest fragment characteristics and anthropogenic disturbances determine alien plant species richness and composition

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