The effect of light conditions on herbs, bryophytes and seedlings of temperate mixed forests in Őrség, Western Hungary

Abstract

The effect of light on different understory plant groups (herbs, ground floor bryophytes, trunkdwelling bryophytes and seedlings) was studied in a deciduous-coniferous mixed woodland in Western Hungary. The correlation of cover and species richness in each group and the cover of individual species to relative diffuse light were analyzed at different spatial scales. The study was carried out in 34 forest stands with different tree species composition. The importance of light in determining species composition was investigated by redundancy analysis. Species within each plant group were classified based on their light response. Light was positively correlated with species richness of herbs, cover of ground floor and trunkdwelling bryophytes, and species richness and cover of seedlings. In redundancy analysis, the variance explained by light was 13.0% for herbs, 15.0% for bryophytes and 8.6% for seedlings. Within the group of herbs, species preferring open conditions and light-flexible (gap) species were separated on the basis of the spatial scale of the analysis, while shade-tolerant species were not correlated positively with light. Among bryophytes mainly terricolous, opportunistic and mineral soil-inhabiting species showed significant positive correlations with light, while epiphytic and epixylic species did not respond to light. Seedlings of Quercus petraea and Pinus sylvestris were positively related to light, while most other seedling species were shade-tolerant. In case of vascular plants, the species' correlations with light were in agreement with their light indicator values; however, they were independent in the case of bryophytes. This study proved that the extent and spatial pattern of light influenced strongly the understory plant groups. Species within each group respond to light conditions differently, concerning the strength, direction and spatial scale of the relationships.

The negative impact of intentionally introduced Quercus rubra L. on a forest community

“…The drastic changes noted in plant cover are probably caused by the decrease of understorey insolation. Quercus rubra, like other deciduous tree-species [68][69][70], gives deep shadow [66], which may lead to the reduction of understorey components, mainly species preferring semi-light and sunny sites. A higher number of Q. rubra individuals in a forest patch and the closer Q. rubra canopy is associated with a greater reduction of resident plants, regardless of whether it occurs in the shrub layer or in the overstory.…”

Environmental drivers of the composition and diversity of the herb layer in mixed temperate forests in Hungary

“…Tinya et al 2009aTinya et al , 2009b Our studies were carried out in slightly acidic forests, and acidofrequent (e.g. Luzula 335…”

Species Richness Pattern along Altitudinal Gradient in Central European Beech Forests

“…The proximity of a potential refuge area can have a pronounced effect on beech forest species richness (Willner et al 2009). Moreover, herb layer species richness has been found to be positively correlated with light availability (Tinya et al 2009) and soil reaction (Vockenhuber et al 2011). We will try to explain the possible sources of these observed patterns below.…”