The European Forest Plant Species List (EuForPlant): Concept and applications

Abstract

Question When evaluating forests in terms of their biodiversity, distinctiveness and naturalness, the affinity of the constituent species to forests is a crucial parameter. Here we ask to what extent are vascular plant species associated with forests, and does species’ affinity to forests vary between European regions? Location Temperate and boreal forest biome of Northwestern and Central Europe. Methods We compiled EuForPlant, a new extensive list of forest vascular plant species in 24 regions spread across 13 European countries using vegetation databases and expert knowledge. Species were region‐specifically classified into four categories reflecting the degree of their affinity to forest habitats: 1.1, species of forest interiors; 1.2, species of forest edges and forest openings; 2.1, species that can be found in forest as well as open vegetation; and 2.2, species that can be found partly in forest, but mainly in open vegetation. An additional “O” category was distinguished, covering species typical for non‐forest vegetation. Results EuForPlant comprises 1,726 species, including 1,437 herb‐layer species, 159 shrubs, 107 trees, 19 lianas and 4 epiphytic parasites. Across regions, generalist forest species (with 450 and 777 species classified as 2.1 and 2.2, respectively) significantly outnumbered specialist forest species (with 250 and 137 species classified as 1.1 and 1.2, respectively). Even though the degree of shifting between the categories of forest affinity among regions was relatively low (on average, 17.5%), about one‐third of the forest species (especially 1.2 and 2.2) swapped categories in at least one of the study regions. Conclusions The proposed list can be used widely in vegetation science and global change ecology related to forest biodiversity and community dynamics. Shifting of forest affinity among regions emphasizes the importance of a continental‐scale forest plant species list with regional specificity.

Rapid thermophilization of understorey plant communities in a 9 year‐long temperate forest experiment

“…We here report on 8 years of treatment vegetation measurements (data from the pre-treatment year 2011 are not included in the TA B L E 1 The species recorded in the experimental plots, and their characteristics. Specialists can be found mainly in the closed forest and generalists can be found in forest as well as open vegetation (following Heinken et al, 2019). CSR-strategies refer to (a) C-competitors, (b) S-stress tolerators and (c) R-ruderals, following Grime (1988) analyses because vernal species were not recorded in that year).…”

The Italian endemic forest plants: an annotated inventory and synthesis of knowledge

“…These two groups roughly correspond to the categories 1.1 and 1.2 of the system recently developed for central and northern Europe by Heinken et al (2022), and collectively form the group of the socalled "forest specialists". In addition, all endemic tree taxa forming or found in forests were included in the list (category 1.1), as well as taxa that grow in wet riparian communities of mountain streams and rivulets mostly in shady forest habitats (e.g.…”

“…Regions were scored for relative endemic richness and density using, respectively, z-values (Malyshev, 1991) and ratio no. forest endemics: regional area in km 2 (E/A; Hobohm 2003); the Regional richness in forest endemic taxa (E) was then related to the following variables: regional area (A, using log function), regional forest area from Inventario Forestale Nazionale (INFC, link in the reference list) (ha, log function), total number of endemic taxa, native species richness of the region (S), and latitude of the central regional point (UTM system), using Spearman rank correlation coefficients; the ratio E/S was considered as a simple measure of regional endemism rate (Bruchmann 2011); 3) altitudinal range based on Pignatti (2017Pignatti ( -2019, ActaPlantarum and personal knowledge; 4) the dominant or more frequent tree species in the forest type(s) inhabited by each endemic taxon; 5) major reference phytosociological syntaxa (orders or alliances), based on literature, and for the available taxa, "Prodromo della Vegetazione Italiana" (link in the reference list); 6) habitat type(s) according to the EUNIS classification system (link in the reference list), using both 2012 and 2021 codes; 7) habitat type(s) according to the EEC Directive 92/43 Annex I; 8) ecological group after Heinken et al, (2022), e.g. whether 1.1 or 1.2 as explained above; 9) type of preferred substrate (indifferent, siliceous, calcareous, basalt), when known; 10) Ellenberg ecological indices (L,T, C, H, R, N), after Guarino et al (2012) and Pignatti et al (2005), when available.…”

“…This allowed us to identify knowledge gaps but also to calculate baseline statistics which suggested previously undetected taxonomical, biogeographical and ecological patterns. In perspective, this work may thus contribute to implement the recently developed European forest plant species list (EuForPlant; Heinken et al 2022), so far limited to the central and northern regions of the continent, and serve as a basis for conservation and further research on a unique biological heritage.…”

A model-based scenario analysis of the impact of forest management and environmental change on the understorey of temperate forests in Europe

“…We used the proportion of forest specialists (specialist versus non-specialist) as a proxy for number of species with conservation concerns, as these species are linked explicitly to ancient forests. Heinken et al (2022) have created a list of vascular plant species for 24 geographical regions across 13 countries in Western, Central and Northern Europe to classify forest specialist and generalist species based on their affinity to forests. We tallied the number of times each species was counted as a specialist across all countries (categories "1.1" and "1.2").…”