Community Ecology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 5: Issue 1
Coenostate descriptors and spatial dependence in vegetation - derived variables in monitoring forest dynamics and assembly rules
Authors:
G. Campetella Department of Botany and Ecology, University of Camerino via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy

Search for other papers by G. Campetella in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
R. Canullo Department of Botany and Ecology, University of Camerino via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino, Italy

Search for other papers by R. Canullo in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
S. Bartha Institute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-2163 Vácrátót, Hungary

Search for other papers by S. Bartha in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
105–114
Online Publication Date:
22 Jul 2005
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2004
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.5.2004.1.10
Keywords:
Diversity; Diversity; Disturbance; Competitive dominance; Dynamic tendencies; Forest herb layer; Information theory; Spatial scale
Restricted access

Long term vegetation monitoring provides valuable information on spatio-temporal patterns in plant communities that could be analysed to detect spatial relationship changes among species and to interpret dynamic tendencies and assembly rules in non-equilibrium phytocoenoses. In studies of this kind, one should take into account recent ecological theories emphasizing the scale dependence of vegetation; in particular, fine-scale spatial patterns of vegetation are important constraints in the genesis and maintenance of diversity. The information theory models of Juhász-Nagy offer an appropriate tool for describing the relationship between diversity and multispecies spatial dependence in vegetation. Diversity (florula diversity) and spatial dependence (associatum) are calculated for a series of increasing plot sizes (spatial scaling). The plot sizes at which the two coenostate descriptors reach the maximum information represent the characteristic scales that should be considered as optimal plot sizes in monitoring data collection. Moreover, this methodology enables us to study non-equilibrium dynamics and assembly rules in a more effective way. Diversity and spatial dependence are related, but the power and direction of this relationship change according to environmental characteristics, vegetation type and successional context. The demonstrated correspondence between dominant pattern-generating mechanisms and the related trajectories in abstract coenostate spaces (florula diversity and associatum maximum values), obtained by exploratory simulation studies, can improve interpretation of dynamic state and vegetation tendencies and can support a better inference about the relative role of different background mechanisms. We present some results obtained using this methodology with field data from the forest of Bialowieza National Park (Poland). In particular, we compared the herb layer spatial patterns of dynamically contiguous regeneration phases of the same phytocoenosis. Sampling was performed by recording the presence of plant species in 10 cm x 10cm contiguous microquadrats arranged in 150 m long circular transects. Field data were analysed with the same information theory methods as the ones applied to simulated data. Results show that assemblages of plant individuals are less diverse and more associated in primary than in regenerating stands, suggesting, in both situations, competitive dominance and disturbance as the main ecological mechanisms. Thus, the method was proven effective in distinguishing slightly different dynamical processes.

  • Faliński, J.B. and W. Matuszkiewicz. 1963. La Grande Forêt de Bialowieza. Der Urwald von Bialowieza (2). Excursion internationale phytosociologique en Pologne N-E. Mat. Zakl. Fitosoc. Stos. UW 2: 31-60.

    'La Grande Forêt de Bialowieza ' () 2 Mat. Zakl. Fitosoc. Stos. UW : 31 -60 .

  • Juhász-Nagy, P. 1976. Spatial dependence of plant populations. Part I. A family of new models. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 22: 61-68.

    'Spatial dependence of plant populations ' () 22 Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung : 61 -68 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wagner, H.H. 2003. Spatial covariance in plant communities: integrating ordination, geostatistics, and variance testing. Ecology 84: 1045-1057.

    'Spatial covariance in plant communities: integrating ordination, geostatistics, and variance testing ' () 84 Ecology : 1045 -1057 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Watkins, A.J. and J.B. Wilson. 1992. Fine scale community structure of lawns.J. Ecol. 80: 15-24.

    'Fine scale community structure of lawns ' () 80 J. Ecol. : 15 -24 .

  • Bobiec, A. 1994. The mosaic diversity of ground vegetation along the transect through the transition zone from the pure coniferous to the mixed coniferous site in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest in the north-eastern Poland. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. 39: 605-617.

    'The mosaic diversity of ground vegetation along the transect through the transition zone from the pure coniferous to the mixed coniferous site in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest in the north-eastern Poland ' () 39 Fragm. Flor. Geobot : 605 -617 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bartha, S., T. Czárán and J. Podani. 1998. Exploring plant community dynamics in abstract coenostate spaces. Abstracta Botanica 22:49-66.

    'Exploring plant community dynamics in abstract coenostate spaces ' () 22 Abstracta Botanica : 49 -66 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Campetella, G. and R. Canullo. 2001. Structure and spatial scale in woodland vegetation studies in permanet plots: a determinant feature of monitoring. ISAFA, Comunicazioni di Ricerca 2001/02: 101-111 (in Italian, with English abstract).

    'Structure and spatial scale in woodland vegetation studies in permanet plots: a determinant feature of monitoring ' () ISAFA, Comunicazioni di Ricerca : 101 -111 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bartha, S. and M. Kertész. 1998. The importance of neutral-models in detecting interspecific spatial associations from 'trainsect' data. Tiscia 31: 85-98.

    'The importance of neutral-models in detecting interspecific spatial associations from 'trainsect' data ' () 31 Tiscia : 85 -98 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Campetella, G., R. Canullo and S. Bartha. 1999. Fine-scale spatial pattern analysis of the herb layer of woodland vegetation using information theory. Plant Biosystems 133: 277-288.

    'Fine-scale spatial pattern analysis of the herb layer of woodland vegetation using information theory ' () 133 Plant Biosystems : 277 -288 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Czárán, T. 1998. Spatiotemporal Models of Population and Community Dynamics. Chapman and Hall, New York.

    Spatiotemporal Models of Population and Community Dynamics , ().

  • Dale, M.R.T. and M.W. Zbigniewicz. 1995. The evaluation of multi-species pattern. J.Veg. Sci. 6: 391-398.

    'The evaluation of multi-species pattern ' () 6 J.Veg. Sci : 391 -398 .

  • Faliński, J.B. 1986. Vegetation Dynamics in Temperate Lowland Primeval Forest (Ecological Studies in Bialowieza Forest). Geobotany 8. Junk, Dordrecht.

    Vegetation Dynamics in Temperate Lowland Primeval Forest (Ecological Studies in Bialowieza Forest) , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Faliński, J.B. 1988. Succession, regeneration and fluctuation in the Bialowieza forest (NE Poland). Vegetatio 77: 115-128.

    'Succession, regeneration and fluctuation in the Bialowieza forest (NE Poland) ' () 77 Vegetatio : 115 -128 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Faliński, J.B., R. Canullo and K. Bialy. 1988. Changes in herb layer, litter fall and soil properties under primary and secondary tree stands in a deciduous forest ecosystem. Phytocoenosis (N.S.) 1: 1-49.

    'Changes in herb layer, litter fall and soil properties under primary and secondary tree stands in a deciduous forest ecosystem ' () 1 Phytocoenosis : 1 -49 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Fotheringham, A.S. and D.W.S. Wong. 1991. The modifiable areal unit problem in statistical analysis. Environment and Planning A 23: 1025-1044.

    'The modifiable areal unit problem in statistical analysis ' () A 23 Environment and Planning : 1025 -1044 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Greig-Smith, P. 1964. Quantitative Plant Ecology. 2nd ed. Butter-worths, London.

    Quantitative Plant Ecology , ().

  • Greig-Smith, P. 1979. Pattern in vegetation. J. Ecol. 67: 755-779.

    'Pattern in vegetation ' () 67 J. Ecol. : 755 -779 .

  • Haveman, R. and R. van der Wijngaart. 2003. Multi-scale vegetation monitoring for conservation practice on military ranges in the Netherlands. In: E. Feldmeyer-Christe (ed.), State of the Art in Vegetation Monitoring Approaches. International Symposium, March 24-26, 2003. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL. p. 20.

    , , .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hogeweg, P. 2002. Computing an organism: on the interface between informatic and dynamic processes. BioSystems 64: 97-109.

    'Computing an organism: on the interface between informatic and dynamic processes ' () 64 BioSystems : 97 -109 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Huston, M.A. and D.L. DeAngelis. 1994. Competition and coexistence: the effects of resource trasport and supply rates. Am. Nat. 144: 954-977.

    'Competition and coexistence: the effects of resource trasport and supply rates ' () 144 Am. Nat. : 954 -977 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Jelinski, D.E. and J.-G. Wu. 1996. The modifiable areal unit problem and implications for landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology 11: 129-140.

    'The modifiable areal unit problem and implications for landscape ecology ' () 11 Landscape Ecology : 129 -140 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Peterson, C.J. and S.T.A. Pickett. 1990. Microsite and elevation influences on early forest regeneration after catastrophic windthrow.J. Veg. Sci. 1: 657-662.

    'Microsite and elevation influences on early forest regeneration after catastrophic windthrow ' () 1 J. Veg. Sci : 657 -662 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Pielou, E.C. 1975. Ecological Diversity. Wiley, New York.

    Ecological Diversity , ().

  • Podani, J. 1984. Spatial processes in the analysis of vegetation: theory and review. Acta Bot. Hung. 30: 75-118.

    'Spatial processes in the analysis of vegetation: theory and review ' () 30 Acta Bot. Hung. : 75 -118 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Podani, J., T. Czárán and S. Bartha. 1993. Pattern, area and diversity: the importance of spatial scale in species assemblages. Abstracta Botanica 17:289-302.

    'Pattern, area and diversity: the importance of spatial scale in species assemblages ' () 17 Abstracta Botanica : 289 -302 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D. 1993. Species richness of experimental productivity gradients: how important is colonization limitation? Ecology 74: 2179-2191.

    'Species richness of experimental productivity gradients: how important is colonization limitation ' () 74 Ecology : 2179 -2191 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Newbery, D.M. and J. Proctor. 1984. Ecological studies in four contrasting lowland rain forests in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak. IV. Association between tree distribution and soil factors. J. Ecol. 72: 475-493.

    'Ecological studies in four contrasting lowland rain forests in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak ' () 72 J. Ecol. : 475 -493 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tutin, T.G. (ed.) et al. 1993. Flora Europea. 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Flora Europea , ().

  • van der Maarel, E. 1996. Pattern and process in the plant community: fifty years after A.S. Watt. J. Veg. Sci. 7: 19-28.

    'Pattern and process in the plant community: fifty years after A.S. Watt ' () 7 J. Veg. Sci : 19 -28 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Openshaw, S. 1984. The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem. CATMOG 38. GeoBooks, Norwich, England.

    The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem , ().

  • Pélissier, R. and F. Goreaud. 2001. A practical approach to the study of spatial structure in simple cases of heterogeneous vegetation. J. Veg. Sci. 12:99-108.

    'A practical approach to the study of spatial structure in simple cases of heterogeneous vegetation ' () 12 J. Veg. Sci : 99 -108 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Juhász-Nagy, P. 1984. Spatial dependence of plant populations. Part II. A family of new models. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 30: 363-402.

    'Spatial dependence of plant populations ' () 30 Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung : 363 -402 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Juhsász-Nagy, P. 1993. Notes on compositional diversity. Hydrobiologia 249:173-182.

    'Notes on compositional diversity ' () 249 Hydrobiologia : 173 -182 .

  • Lande, R. 1996. Statistics and partitioning of species diversity, and similarity among multiple communities. Oikos 76: 5-13.

    'Statistics and partitioning of species diversity, and similarity among multiple communities ' () 76 Oikos : 5 -13 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kershaw, K.A. 1964. Quantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology. E. Arnold, London.

    Quantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology , ().

  • Juhász-Nagy, P. and J. Podani. 1983. Information theory methods for the study of spatial processes in succession. Vegetatio 51: 129-140.

    'Information theory methods for the study of spatial processes in succession ' () 51 Vegetatio : 129 -140 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Olszewski, J.L. 1986. The role of forest ecosystems in modifying local climate of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, as revealed by air temperature characteristics. Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Wroclaw (in Polish with English summary).

    The role of forest ecosystems in modifying local climate of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, as revealed by air temperature characteristics , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, J.B. 1994. Who makes assembly rules? J. Veg. Sci. 5: 275-278.

    'Who makes assembly rules ' () 5 J. Veg. Sci : 275 -278 .

  • Lepŝ, J. 1990. Comparison on transect methods for the analysis of spatial pattern. In: F. Krahulec, A.D.Q. Agnew, S. Agnew and H.J. Willems (eds.), Spatial Processes in Plant Communities. Academia, Praha. pp. 71-82.

    Comparison on transect methods for the analysis of spatial pattern , () 71 -82 .

  • Magurran, A.E. 1988. Ecological Diversity and its Measurement. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton.

    Ecological Diversity and its Measurement , ().

  • Moreno-Casasola, P. and G. Vásquez. 1999. The relationship between vegetation dynamics and water table in tropical dune slacks.J. Veg. Sci. 10: 515-524.

    'The relationship between vegetation dynamics and water table in tropical dune slacks ' () 10 J. Veg. Sci. : 515 -524 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Community Ecology
Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies
Print ISSN:
1585-8553
Online ISSN:
1588-2756

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Community Ecology
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2000
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 3
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2756 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Nov 2024 22 1 2
Dec 2024 19 0 0
Jan 2025 42 0 0
Feb 2025 45 0 0
Mar 2025 41 1 1
Apr 2025 16 0 0
May 2025 0 0 0