Validity of Ellenberg indicator values judged from physico‐chemical field measurements

Wamelink, G.W.W.; Joosten, V.; Dobben, H.F. van; Berendse, F.

doi:10.1111/j.1654-1103.2002.tb02047.x

Cited by 158 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In practice, the indicator values of Ellenberg's implicitly defined scale seem to work well, but this type of environmental calibration does not include the interaction effect of other factors (Ter Braak and Gremmen, 1987) and could significantly differ from real site conditions. For example, for Vaccinio-Piceetea, Wamelink et al (2002) found a negative relationship between Ellenberg's R values and soil acidity while a positive relationship was expected. Comparison of individual species response and mean sample indicator values can therefore yield inconsistent results.…”

Section: Vegetation Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of plant species composition in the Šumava spruce forests, SW Bohemia, since the 1970s

Wild

Neuhäuslová

Sofron

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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Vegetation dynamics of three forest communities were studied by resampling of relevés recorded in the 1970s in the Bohemian Forest (Š umava Mountains). Results of multivariate analysis (RDA) confirmed significant time changes in species composition of the climax (Calamagrostio-Piceetum) and waterlogged (Bazzanio-Piceetum) spruce forests. The changes in the sphagnum-rich waterlogged spruce forests (Sphagno-Piceetum) are close to the level of significance. The main vegetation changes are represented by a decrease in cover and/or frequency of hygrophilous or sciophilous species (e.g. Athyrium distentifolium, Oxalis acetosella) in climax spruce forests, and an abundant increase of species, indicating a preference to drier stands or better light conditions (e.g. Calamagrostis villosa, Vaccinium vitis-idaea or Avenella flexuosa), in waterlogged spruce forests. We also found a higher proportion of meadow species (e.g. Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca rubra or Luzula multiflora) in the newly recorded relevés from waterlogged forests. Analysis of species number per plot showed a remarkable shift to species-rich communities, especially in waterlogged stands. We tried to find the possible factors responsible for the observed changes. Unfortunately, only indirect measurement of environmental factors using Ellenberg's indicator values could be used and did not yield sufficient results. Thus, the changes observed in climax spruce forests were ascribed mainly to a decrease in canopy cover, which was directly estimated. In waterlogged forests, a complex of several general factors, which influence the climax spruce forest, had to be taken into account, such as: (i) a decrease in atmospheric acidification during the last 10-15 years and subsequent improvement in soil conditions, especially in waterlogged stands; (ii) fragmentation of forests as a result of bark-beetles attack; (iii) climate warming documented by long-term local meteorological measurements. #

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Section: Vegetation Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of plant species composition in the Šumava spruce forests, SW Bohemia, since the 1970s

Wild

Neuhäuslová

Sofron

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…Both floristic and vegetation databases can be used and/or combined using the system of ecological indicators. Wamelink et al [57] suggest, however, that Ellenberg indicator values should not be combined between various vegetation types. The aforementioned combination of vegetation and floristic databases on the basis of ecological indicators should therefore be treated with care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial modelling-based approach to phytogeographical regionalization using grassland vegetation data

Hlásny¹,

Turisová

2012

Open Life Sciences

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We presented a methodology for drawing continuous boundaries in the landscape differentiating between regions with different floristic composition. A region in Central Slovakia covering 2,445 km2 was investigated. Ecological indicator values for temperature (EIT) in 1,978 grassland polygons were analysed. Ordinary kriging was used to interpolate EIT across the study region. Lattice wombling was used to identify the most intensive gradients in EIT and to draw boundaries, while ANOVA was used for post-classification analysis. A strong pattern of spatial continuity was present in EIT assigned to species in grassland polygons allowing for drawing continuous boundaries in the landscape. The study region was divided into 15 districts using the proposed method. Post-classification analysis indicated that 17 out of 23 adjacent districts were found to differ significantly in term of mean value of source samples. The results implied the need for incorporating spatial autocorrelation in sample data into post-classification analysis; such factor is often neglected in ecological research. The presented findings suggested broader applicability of the proposed method for spatial modelling, as vegetation data is widely accessible in databases for many regions of Europe.

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“…by using inverse regression (Birks et al 1990). Wamelink et al (2002) and Schaffers & Sýkora (2000) showed that expert systems may lead to biased results, which can be improved by calibrating indicator values with field measurements (e.g., Wamelink et al 2005). Therefore, various statistical calibration techniques were introduced to build such indicator systems (e.g., ter Braak & Barendregt 1986;Huisman et al 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ellenberg's indicator values (EIV) have been exhaustively discussed by many authors (e.g., Mucina 1985;Jurko 1986;Klimeš 1987; and recently by Schaffers & Sýkora 2000; Wamelink et al 2002Wamelink et al , 2005, and several aspects of their usage have been criticised.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, it does not provide information on the ecological tolerance of individual species and it also uses an arbitrary scale which introduces many uncertainties in bioindication (e.g., Schaffers & Sýkora 2000;Wamelink et al 2002). Therefore various methods of statistical calibration have been introduced to calculate indicator values directly from field measurements (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experience with using Ellenberg’s R indicator values in Slovakia: Oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests

2012

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Ellenberg's indicator values have been suggested as useful method of estimating site conditions using plants. We examined whether Ellenberg's R values are suitable for indicating soil reaction and if calibration to physical pH measurements can improve bioindication in oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests in Slovakia. Vegetation relevés and pH-H2O and pH-CaCl2 soil reaction were recorded for this purpose. Ellenberg's R values (Re) were compared to Jurko's indicator values (Rj) and a set of species R values and tolerances (T), which were calibrated with physical pH data using the weighted averaging (Rw, Tw) and Huisman-Olff-Fresco modelling (R h , T h ). Original Re values were then recalibrated with measured pH data to establish new, adjusted set of scores (Rc, Tc) at Ellenberg's scale. The Re values are significantly correlated with the other R values, and they demonstrate similar frequency distribution to Rj and Rw values for the studied species pool. The frequency distribution becomes similar across all the R values when indifferent species were excluded. The performance of all the indicator values in terms of bioindication was tested. Relevé means of the R values were regressed on the field pH measurements. The performance of bioindication varied from 36% to 49% of the explained variance for pH-CaCl2, with the Re and Rc values yielding 46% and 49% respectively. The bioindication slightly improved for all calibrated methods (Rw, R h and Rc) when species were weighted inversely with their tolerances -the performance varied from 42% to 51%, and the Rc values performed most effectively. We concluded that Ellenberg's R values represent a powerful system for bioindicating soil acidity when compared to the other alternatives, with pH-CaCl2 showing better results than pH-H2O. Recalibration of Ellenberg's values to the measured data improved the indicator system.

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Validity of Ellenberg indicator values judged from physico‐chemical field measurements

Cited by 158 publications

References 13 publications

Changes of plant species composition in the Šumava spruce forests, SW Bohemia, since the 1970s

Changes of plant species composition in the Šumava spruce forests, SW Bohemia, since the 1970s

Spatial modelling-based approach to phytogeographical regionalization using grassland vegetation data

Experience with using Ellenberg’s R indicator values in Slovakia: Oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests

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