The impacts of management and site conditions on the phytodiversity of the upper montane and subalpine belts in the Central Greater Caucasus

Tephnadze, Nato; Abdaladze, Otar; Nakhutsrishvili, George; Simmering, Dietmar; Waldhardt, Rainer; Otte, Annette

doi:10.1127/0340-269x/2014/0044-0579

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…The fluvial sediments of the floodplains are characterized by fluvisols and gleysols. The related soil chemical parameters show acidic conditions with a moderate to low level of nutrients (Tephnadze et al 2014). Mud and debris flows occur frequently in this area (Keggenhoff et al 2014).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 87%

“…; Tephnadze et al. ). In the valley bottom herb‐rich hay meadows with Hordeum violaceum are typical.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The related soil chemical parameters show acidic conditions with a moderate to low level of nutrients (Tephnadze et al. ). Mud and debris flows occur frequently in this area (Keggenhoff et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Akhalkatsi et al 2006). In contrast, the thorny H. rhamnoides with its silvery lanceolate leaves forms dense shrubs (up to 350-cm high), which occur mainly on disturbed sites, such as areas of landslide or fluvial deposits of the small streams and rivers in the valley (Tephnadze et al 2014). R. caucasicum grows to a lower height (<100 cm) but develops a closed canopy with its evergreen, planophile leaves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Separating reflectance signatures of shrub species – a case study in the Central Greater Caucasus

Magiera

Feilhauer

Tephnadze

et al. 2015

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions Shrub encroachment has been observed in many alpine and arctic environments and is expected to significantly alter these ecosystems. Mapping these processes with remote sensing is a powerful tool for monitoring purposes. Thus, we test the distinctiveness of the reflectance signature of target species relative to their co‐occurring shrub species using uni‐ and multivariate analyses for an alpine ecosystem. We ask: (i) is it possible to differentiate shrub species with a unique growth form by their reflectance signature; (ii) which of the tested multispectral sensors produces the best separation; and (iii) how are the results affected by the timing of data acquisition in the vegetation period? Location Kazbegi district, Central Greater Caucasus, Georgia. Method We analysed three shrub (Betula litwinowii, Rhododendron caucasicum, Hippophae rhamnoides) and one tall forb (Veratrum lobelianum) species occurring in the sub‐alpine to alpine belt The vegetation of 52 relevés was analysed using non‐metric multidimensional scaling and indicator species analysis. From field spectrometric data we simulated multispectral sensor bands (IKONOS, Quickbird 2, RapidEye, WorldView‐2) directly taken from the target species. We analysed the reflectance signature in RapidEye data from June and September. For all data sets we calculated the Jeffries‐Matusita distance (JMD) as a separation measure and tested the reflectance signature of the single bands for differences. Results Betula litwinowii and V. lobelianum always co‐occurred in our data. A high abundance of B. litwinowii could also be found in the Rhododendron cluster and vice versa, whereas the Hippophae cluster was more homogeneous. Simulated bands showed good overall separation (JMD 1.58–2.00) of the target species. The separation increased with the increase of number of bands and inclusion of the red edge band. There was a general trend in which the reflectance from satellite images produced a lower separation (JMD 1.20–1.55) than the simulations, with the best separation in the late vegetation period. Conclusion Our results showed the possibility to spectrally separate encroaching shrub species with a unique growth form in a high‐mountain environment using simulated multispectral data and satellite imagery.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 87%

“…; Tephnadze et al. ). In the valley bottom herb‐rich hay meadows with Hordeum violaceum are typical.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Separating reflectance signatures of shrub species – a case study in the Central Greater Caucasus

Magiera

Feilhauer

Tephnadze

et al. 2015

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…It has frequently been shown that the application of high doses of fertilizers and intensive sward utilization have negative effects on plant species diversity (Tephnadze et al, 2014). Chemical and physical soil characteristics are related not only to natural soil properties but also to fertilization inputs, and influence both species richness and species composition of vascular plants (Marini et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tractor traffic and nitrogen fertilization affect the herbage production of the red clover/grass sward

Głąb

Żabiński

Sadowska

2016

Zemdirbyste-Agriculture

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In recent years, soil compaction caused by agricultural machinery has been recognized as one of the main factors that can lower yields of perennial crops. At the same time changes in grassland fertilization intensity are observed. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the interaction of different N fertilization rates and the intensity of tractor passes. This study was conducted as a field experiment located on a sandy loam soil classified as Mollic Fluvisol in Mydlniki near Krakow, Poland over a four-year period (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012). The field experiment was established with four replications in a split-plot design with fertilization as the main plot and tractor traffic as the subplot. Three levels of N fertilization: untreated (control), 80 and 160 kg ha -1 N, and four levels of tractor traffic intensity were applied using the following numbers of tractor passes: no passes (control), two passes, four passes and six passes. Nitrogen (N) fertilization significantly affected the percentage of only three species -Trifolium pratense, Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis in the sward. T. pratense was negatively affected by with higher N rates but two grasses, L. perenne and F. pratensis, showed the opposite response. The tractor traffic significantly affected T. pratense and L. perenne occurrence in the swards. The percentage of T. pratense in the sward was reduced by tractor traffic, and this space was occupied by L. perenne. Changes in the botanical composition reflected in the herbage production. All investigated grass species increased biomass productivity in direct proportion to N rates. Only T. pratense was negatively affected by nitrogen fertilization and since 2011 it started to disappear from the swards treated with higher nitrogen rates. For all investigated components of the mixture no interaction between treatments, tractor traffic and nitrogen fertilization was observed.

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Relationships between plant diversity, vegetation cover, and site conditions: implications for grassland conservation in the Greater Caucasus

2016

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The impacts of management and site conditions on the phytodiversity of the upper montane and subalpine belts in the Central Greater Caucasus

Cited by 14 publications

References 0 publications

Separating reflectance signatures of shrub species – a case study in the Central Greater Caucasus

Separating reflectance signatures of shrub species – a case study in the Central Greater Caucasus

Tractor traffic and nitrogen fertilization affect the herbage production of the red clover/grass sward

Relationships between plant diversity, vegetation cover, and site conditions: implications for grassland conservation in the Greater Caucasus

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