Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1111/jvs.12563
Volltext Shareable Link
Titel (primär) Vascular plant diversity structures bryophyte colonization in experimental grassland
Autor Fergus, A.J.F.; Gerighausen, U.; Roscher, C.
Quelle Journal of Vegetation Science
Erscheinungsjahr 2017
Department iDiv; PHYDIV
Band/Volume 28
Heft 5
Seite von 903
Seite bis 914
Sprache englisch
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Keywords Bryophytes; Colonization; Grass; Growth forms; Indicator values; Legume; Species diversity
UFZ Querschnittsthemen RU1
Abstract

Questions

Numerous grassland biodiversity experiments have explored how plant diversity influences colonization by vascular plants, but no such studies have examined how sown vascular plant diversity structures colonization by bryophytes, which can contribute greatly to grassland diversity.

Location

Grassland biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment), Germany.

Methods

We studied bryophyte composition in experimental grasslands encompassing a gradient of vascular plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species), functional group richness and composition (one to four; grasses, legumes, tall herbs, small herbs) as well as in additional bare ground and spontaneously colonized plots and semi-natural control meadows.

Results

Increasing vascular plant species richness and functional group richness as well as the presence of legume species decreased bryophyte species richness and increased the spatial variability of this richness. Bryophyte species richness and cover responded positively to grass presence, which also decreased the spatial variability of both. The proportion of acrocarpous species was largest in bare ground plots and decreased with increasing vascular plant species richness and with grass and legume presence. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed that bryophyte species composition followed the gradient in sown vascular plant species richness and was dependent on grass and legume presence. The effect of plant diversity on bryophytes was only partly attributable to increased vascular plant species cover. Bryophyte habitat indicator values suggested that conditions in communities of higher vascular plant diversity that included grasses were more shady, moist and nutrient-rich than in communities with lower vascular plant diversity and without grasses, whereas bryophyte assemblages in communities with legumes indicated well-lit nutrient-rich conditions. Even after 6 yr, bryophyte species richness and cover was considerably lower in experimental grasslands than in semi-natural meadows, suggesting a role for dispersal limitation or habitat filtering.

Conclusions

Our study shows that bryophyte colonization is not random, rather it is structured by vascular plant species diversity and composition. Not all components of a plant community respond positively to increased vascular plant diversity and advocating increased richness of one taxonomic group over another in grassland may reduce net species diversity.

dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=19253
Fergus, A.J.F., Gerighausen, U., Roscher, C. (2017):
Vascular plant diversity structures bryophyte colonization in experimental grassland
J. Veg. Sci. 28 (5), 903 - 914 10.1111/jvs.12563