Examining native and exotic species diversity in European riparian forests

Schnitzler, Annik; Hale, Brack W.; Alsum, Esther M.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2007.04.010

Cited by 110 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This shift towards a water resistant community was also observed in the Tagus river system in Portugal (Aguiar et al 2006). Alternatively, upland and exotic species are known to use riparian ecosystems for dispersal (Schnitzler et al 2007), and some of those seeds could have become established either naturally or following disturbance (Aguiar et al 2001). Spatial segregation between strictly riparian and sclerophyllous plant patches may be an important factor in determining propagule pressure from sclerophyllous plants species into riparian areas.…”

Section: Sclerophylous Plant Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Riparian plant communities in Mediterranean climates have been impoverished and threatened by human activities (Aguiar et al 2006;Schnitzler et al 2007) such as agriculture Salinas et al 2000;Tabacchi et al 2002), land development for industry or tourism, and transportation infrastructures (Jongman and Pungetti 2003;Scarascia-Mugnozza et al 2000). These changes led to the loss of unique riparian species (Sabo et al 2005;Salinas et al 2000) and likely resulted in woody plant encroachment in the riparian ecosystem (Huxman et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Encroachment of upland Mediterranean plant species in riparian ecosystems of southern Portugal

Santos

2010

Biodivers Conserv

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Riparian ecosystems have unique biodiversity, are highly sensitive to disturbance and anthropogenic influence. As world water resources become scarcer, scientists predict greater competition among species for water resources. Indeed, increased encroachment of upland plants into the riparian zone is already occurring, irreversibly changing riparian plant communities. Since semi-arid regions such as Mediterranean-type ecosystems are likely to follow this same trajectory, assessing the contributions of riparian versus upland (sclerophyllous) plants to community composition is important. A survey of seventy 2 km-long riparian transects on the Sado and Guadiana watersheds in southern Portugal assessed (1) the woody riparian plant community composition, (2) how much richness is due to strictly riparian plants versus sclerophyllous upland plants, and (3) which combinations of biotic and abiotic factors allow higher species richness in the strictly riparian, sclerophyllous, and overall plant communities. The survey detected 53 different woody plant species (28 endemic) across all communities. Riparian community richness was on average 16 species, seven of which were strictly riparian and the remainder being sclerophyllous, exotic species or fruit trees. Sclerophyllous plant species occurred consistently across sampling units (90% of transects). On average, 46% of the total woody plant community richness was due to strictly riparian plants and 28% was due to sclerophyllous plants. Community richness was positively affected by the area of shrubs in the riparian zone and by the absence of human activities and goats. Surrounding landscape pattern only affected the strictly riparian plant richness. These results suggest that natural and human-mediated disturbances in riparian ecosystems create gaps and clearings for which riparian and sclerophyllous plants compete. Establishment success seems to be related to the propagule pressure of the neighbouring landscape, its diversity and density, as well as the presence of herbivores. Preserving strictly riparian plants, removing exotic 123Biodivers Conserv (2010) 19:2667-2684 DOI 10.1007 species, preventing grazing, and promoting riparian values (recreation, aesthetics and the provision of ecosystem services) will aid the future conservation of the unique biodiversity of riparian ecosystems.

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Section: Sclerophylous Plant Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Encroachment of upland Mediterranean plant species in riparian ecosystems of southern Portugal

Santos

2010

Biodivers Conserv

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“…Yet, a previous meta-analysis of non-experimental work found that native species diversity was positively correlated with the establishment of exotic species (Schnitzler et al 2007). Discrepancies between meta-analyses synthesizing observational vs. experimental studies may be due to the following factors: (i) experimental studies by manipulating diversity can move a system away from its equilibrium and thus reveal processes that led to the equilibrium (Schmid & Hector 2004); (ii) correlations in observational studies may be due to a third variable which affects the two variables under study, if the influence of the third variable could be removed (as in an experimental study), the correlation may disappear or turn its sign (Mwangi et al 2007); (iii) scale effects, the spatial scale of observational studies usually being much larger than the one of experimental studies, under the condition that different mechanisms are operating at the different scales (Fridley et al 2007).…”

Section: Lessons Learned About Effects Of Plant Diversity On the Provmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Resistance to plant invasions consistently increased with plant diversity; the lower the invasive species biomass will be, the higher the regulation of its presence and impacts, and the lower the detrimental effects incurred by humans and society (Díaz et al 2006;Schnitzler, Hale, & Alsum 2007). Yet, a previous meta-analysis of non-experimental work found that native species diversity was positively correlated with the establishment of exotic species (Schnitzler et al 2007).…”

Section: Lessons Learned About Effects Of Plant Diversity On the Provmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant diversity enhances provision of ecosystem services: A new synthesis

Quijas

Schmid

Balvanera

2010

Basic and Applied Ecology

182

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Biodiversity is known to play a fundamental role in ecosystem functioning and thus may positively influence the provision of ecosystem services with benefits to society. There is a need for further understanding of how specific components of biodiversity are affecting service provision. In this context, terrestrial plants are a particularly important component of biodiversity and one for which a wealth of information on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships is available. In this paper, we consider terrestrial plants as providers of ecosystem services and analyze whether manipulating plant diversity has an effect on the magnitude of ecosystem service provision using a meta-analysis of 197 effect sizes and a vote-counting analysis of 361 significance tests. The results of these analyses are compared with those of a previous meta-analysis that included a wide diversity of service providers. We produce a synthesis table to explicitly link plants as service providers to indicators of ecosystem properties and these to ecosystem services. By focusing on only plants, we found a clear positive effect of biodiversity on six out of eight services analyzed (provisioning of plant products, erosion control, invasion resistance, pest regulation, pathogen regulation and soil fertility regulation). When controlling for pseudoreplication (repeated records from single studies), we found that four of the six positive effects remained significant; only pest regulation and soil fertility showed non-significant effects. Further expanding our basis for inference with the vote-counting analysis corroborated these results, demonstrating that quantitative meta-analysis and vote-counting methods are both useful methods to synthesize biodiversity-ecosystem service studies. Notwithstanding the restricted number of identified services, our results point to the importance of maintaining plant diversity to ensure and increased provision of ecosystem services which benefit human well-being. Zusammenfassung

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“…Within natural communities such as oak-hornbeam forests and riparian forests the species is of primary importance due to both its common occurrence in the herb layer and potential impact on other species [38,39]. Nevertheless, in recent years, its increasing participation in other types of forest communities (e.g., beech and oak forests) has been observed [19,34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The spread of Impatiens parviflora DC. in Central European oak forests – another stage of invasion?

2015

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In this study, we examine the pattern of occurrence of Impatiens parviflora in Central European oak forests over time and its ecological requirements within these types of communities. Research was based on phytosociological data collected in 3776 relevés. A modified TWINSPAN algorithm were used to distinguish the groups of oak forests. The ecological preferences of the I. parviflora and studied communities as well as differences between invaded and non-invaded vegetation plots were analyzed using mean weighted Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs). Finally, both the temporal pattern of I. parviflora participation and changes in its coverage in the studied communities were analyzed. Our study confirmed a high adaptability of this species with respect to temperature, moisture, soil reaction and nutrients and determined its broad ecological optimum in oak forests. However, it also revealed both a greater sensitivity of some communities within Central European oak forests to the invasion of I. parviflora and differences in habitat conditions between invaded and non-invaded vegetation plots. This suggests that the habitat niche of I. parviflora within oak forests is not accidental. The analysis of temporal changes in the frequency of I. parviflora confirmed a 20% increase in relevés over the last 50 years. However, we did not identify any statistically significant rise in the coverage of I. parviflora in oak forests specifically during the studied period.

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Examining native and exotic species diversity in European riparian forests

Cited by 110 publications

References 42 publications

Encroachment of upland Mediterranean plant species in riparian ecosystems of southern Portugal

Encroachment of upland Mediterranean plant species in riparian ecosystems of southern Portugal

Plant diversity enhances provision of ecosystem services: A new synthesis

The spread of Impatiens parviflora DC. in Central European oak forests – another stage of invasion?

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