Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lotte Patty Mens, Aida Bargues-Tobella, Frank Sterck, Tor-Gunnar Vagen, Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Madelon Lohbeck
Summary: Land degradation poses a significant threat to food security in Sub Saharan Africa. This study explores how woody vegetation and its functional properties impact soil fertility and infiltrability. The findings suggest that both the quantity and quality of vegetation influence soil health. Increasing aboveground woody biomass enhances soil infiltrability, while woody plants with thinner leaves have a positive effect on infiltrability.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Benjapan Manohan, Dia Panitnard Shannon, Pimonrat Tiansawat, Sutthathorn Chairuangsri, Jutatip Jainuan, Stephen Elliott
Summary: Forest ecosystem restoration involves establishing tree species mixes representing different successional stages, using functional traits as a tool for species selection. Cluster analysis and rank scoring were used to identify successional guilds among 28 tree species. The techniques successfully distinguished six guilds and seven guilds, respectively. Cross-validation between the two techniques showed their robustness in using functional traits to inform species selection.
Article
Plant Sciences
Alex Ceriani, Michele Dalle Fratte, Gustavo Agosto, Antonio Montagnoli, Bruno Enrico Leone Cerabolini
Summary: The eradication of invasive alien plant species is a worldwide necessity. This study investigated the potential bioenergy use of the biomass obtained from eradicating these plants. The results revealed that herbaceous plants are better suited for biochemical processes, while woody plants are more suitable for thermal processes. Grime's CSR strategies were found to be an effective tool for defining the bioenergy potential of these plants.
Article
Ecology
Chen Wang, Shuguang Jian, Hai Ren, Junhua Yan, Nan Liu
Summary: Plant functional traits are key to understanding plant adaptations and distributions. A trait-based species selection theory has been proposed to support ecosystem restoration, prevent invasive species, and manage sustainable ecosystems. A software platform called RPSS has been developed to automate the selection process and assist users in selecting plant species for specific purposes, written in R language and designed with a web-based graphical user interface. The platform has cross-platform functionality and is constantly updated for broader applications in the future.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brian Charles, Marissa H. Chase, Geoffrey Pociask, Rabin Bhattarai, Jeffrey W. Matthews
Summary: This study aimed to explore the relationship between abiotic factors influencing wetland community composition and functional leaf traits as well as standard vegetation monitoring metrics. The results suggest that specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) may not be suitable as monitoring tools in Midwestern floodplain wetlands, and existing monitoring tools may already be sufficient in reflecting abiotic conditions.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Geography
Bethany Wiggin
Summary: This essay focuses on an overlooked area along the tidal Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, which is home to the largest petroleum refinery on the East Coast of the United States. It examines the sacrifices made to transform this former wetland into an urbanized area and explores the lived experiences of the residents. By using embodied research methods and storytelling, the essay aims to build and sustain academic-community alliances.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Wang, Wenwu Zhao, Zongxue Xu, Jingyi Ding, Yue Yan, Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira
Summary: This study investigated the plant functional traits and associated ecosystem services in restored areas of artificial forestlands and natural grasslands. The results showed that artificial forestlands and natural grasslands exhibited different trends in water conservation, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration services. The impacts of leaves, root length, and root biomass density on different ecosystem services also varied. In arid ecosystems, natural grasslands were the best restoration strategy, while restoration through artificial forestlands was more appropriate in soil erosion-affected areas. To mitigate trade-offs between ecosystem services, thinning of artificial forestlands should be done before reaching maximum leaf carbon content, specific root length, and root biomass density.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Taylor M. Sloey, Victoria S. Ellis, Karin M. Kettenring
Summary: The use of plant functional trait frameworks in wetland restoration is limited and requires further research and consensus on key traits. Wetland restoration requires continuous improvement in scientific methods, and plant functional traits can provide guidance for specific restoration goals.
Article
Ecology
George N. Furey, David Tilman
Summary: In order to determine which plant traits can better explain ecosystem functioning and plant evolutionary histories, we collected 42 traits for each of 15 perennial species in a biodiversity experiment. We used every possible combination of three traits to cluster species, and found that clusters generated using tissue %Ca, %N and %K best correlated with phylogeny. Our results suggest that tissue elemental chemistry might be more phylogenetically conserved and more strongly related to ecosystem functioning than commonly measured morphological and physiological traits, which is worth exploring.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Judit Sonkoly, Edina Toth, Nora Balogh, Lajos Balogh, Denes Bartha, Kinga Csendesne Bata, Zoltan Batori, Nora Bekefi, Zoltan Botta-Dukat, Janos Boloni, Aniko Csecserits, Janos Csiky, Peter Csontos, Istvan Dancza, Balazs Deak, Zoltan Konstantin Dobolyi, Anna E-Vojtko, Ferenc Gyulai, Alida Anna Habenczyus, Tamas Henn, Ferenc Horvath, Maria Hohn, Gusztav Jakab, Andras Kelemen, Gergely Kiraly, Szabolcs Kis, Gergely Kovacsics-Vari, Andras Kun, Eva Lehoczky, Attila Lengyel, Barbara Lhotsky, Viktor Loki, Balazs Andras Lukacs, Gabor Matus, Andrea McIntosh-Buday, Attila Mesterhazy, Tamas Miglecz, V. Attila Molnar, Zsolt Molnar, Tamas Morschhauser, Laszlo Papp, Patricia Posa, Tamas Redei, David Schmidt, Ferenc Szmorad, Attila Takacs, Julia Tamas, Viktor Tiborcz, Csaba Tolgyesi, Katalin Toth, Bela Tothmeresz, Orsolya Valko, Viktor Virok, Tamas Wirth, Peter Torok
Summary: The existing plant trait databases have limited applicability for studying the flora and vegetation of Eastern and Central Europe due to their limited geographical data coverage and incorporation of records from regions with different climatic conditions. To address this issue, PADAPT, a regional dataset of plant traits for the Pannonian region, has been compiled, providing data on 54 traits and attributes of plant species in the region.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nianxun Xi, Peter B. Adler, Dongxia Chen, Hangyu Wu, Jane A. Catford, Peter M. van Bodegom, Michael Bahn, Kerri M. Crawford, Chengjin Chu
Summary: Plant-soil feedbacks and functional traits are influenced by life-history evolution, and are theoretically related. Faster-growing species with greater SLA, LNC, and SRL have more negative individual PSF values, supporting the growth-defence trade-off hypothesis. Plant height may be positively correlated with individual PSF, and larger-seeded species exhibit more positive or less negative PSF, likely reflecting greater tolerance of soil pathogens.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Pu Yan, Nianpeng He, Kailiang Yu, Li Xu, Koenraad Van Meerbeek
Summary: This study integrates multiple plant traits with the trait-based productivity theory and demonstrates the accuracy of predicting GPP variation in Chinese forest and grassland systems. The results highlight the importance of plant community traits in explaining GPP variability and contribute to the understanding of the trait-productivity relationship.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Estibaliz Palma, Peter A. Vesk, Matt White, John B. Baumgartner, Jane A. Catford
Summary: The study reveals that different ways of quantifying invasiveness are correlated with different functional traits, and some plant traits have opposite effects across invasion metrics. Species' invasiveness is associated with different demographic dimensions such as spread rate, local abundance, and geographic and environmental range sizes, and these dimensions are better explained by different sets of traits.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Patricia Krickl, Peter Poschlod
Summary: This study investigated the long-term restoration success of calcareous grasslands using a functional trait approach. The restoration of a former calcareous grassland patch in Germany was achieved through the clearance of a spruce afforestation and reintroduction of sheep grazing. Over a 25-year period, vegetation development was monitored, and the functional composition of ecological traits was compared between the restored and adjacent ancient grassland. The study found that differences between the restored and ancient grasslands decreased over time.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Libin Liu, Jing Hu, Xinyao Chen, Xin Xu, Yong Yang, Jian Ni
Summary: This study investigates the functional traits of dominant plant species in karst forests in China and finds that these forests develop multiple functional traits, such as low specific leaf area and high dry matter content and tissue density, to adapt to harsh habitats. The results suggest a conservative survival strategy at the community level.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Romy Woellner, Thomas C. Wagner, Julie Crabot, Johannes Kollmann
Summary: Braided reaches were common along near-natural Alpine rivers, supporting plant and animal species specialized on early-successional stages. Human impacts have reduced active river corridors, but recent restoration projects aim at increasing river dynamics. Historical data shows that gravel bar area along five Alpine rivers has decreased by over 90% since the mid-19th century.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sarah Redlich, Jie Zhang, Caryl Benjamin, Maninder Singh Dhillon, Jana Englmeier, Joerg Ewald, Ute Fricke, Cristina Ganuza, Maria Haensel, Thomas Hovestadt, Johannes Kollmann, Thomas Koellner, Carina Kuebert-Flock, Harald Kunstmann, Annette Menzel, Christoph Moning, Wibke Peters, Rebekka Riebl, Thomas Rummler, Sandra Rojas-Botero, Cynthia Tobisch, Johannes Uhler, Lars Uphus, Jorg Mueller, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: The study introduces a multi-scale space-for-time design to disentangle the effects of climate and land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The implementation in Bavaria, Germany resulted in study plots that maximize the range and independence of environmental variables at different spatial scales. Stratifying Bavaria into five climate zones and three land-use types allowed for an independent assessment of the relative contribution of climate and land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Monika Janisova, Pavel Sirka, Salza Palpurina, Martin Magnes, Anna Kuzemko, Iwona Dembicz, Lukasz Kozub
Summary: The taxonomic and functional composition, cover, and species richness of bryophyte assemblages in traditional grasslands are mainly determined by variables related to moisture and light availability. Management-related factors appear to be as important as abiotic factors for bryophyte species richness and cover.
APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Marie-Therese Krieger, Julia Ditton, Harald Albrecht, Luise Linderl, Johannes Kollmann, Leonardo H. Teixeira
Summary: Changes in grassland management can affect community structure and the spread of invasive plants. This study shows that light reduction can effectively suppress the growth and spread of a native invasive plant in grasslands.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuayib Yusup, Sebastian Sundberg, Mark K. J. Ooi, Mingming Zhang, Zhongqiu Sun, Hakan Rydin, Meng Wang, Lu Feng, Xu Chen, Zhao-Jun Bu
Summary: Northern peatlands are important carbon stores, and the re-establishment of bryophytes after fire is crucial for carbon sequestration. This study demonstrates that smoke can enhance the germination of bryophyte spores, with the effect increasing along the fire frequency gradient. The findings suggest that an increase in fire frequency can lead to shifts in species dominance, impacting long-term carbon sequestration in peatlands.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Izabela Jaszczuk, Wiktor Kotowski, Lukasz Kozub, Jurgen Kreyling, Ewa Jablonska
Summary: Nutrient availability affects the growth and chlorophyll content of brown mosses in calcareous fens. Brown mosses reach their maximum growth rates and chlorophyll contents at higher nutrient concentrations than those naturally occurring. Competition for light with vascular plants limits the occurrence of brown mosses in nutrient-rich habitats, preventing them from occupying their entire fundamental niche.
Article
Ecology
Leonardo H. Teixeira, Markus Bauer, Michaela Moosner, Johannes Kollmann
Summary: River dikes are important secondary habitats that can provide multiple ecosystem services, including erosion control, habitat conservation, recreation, and biomass production. The multifunctionality of dike grasslands can be enhanced through site preparation, trait-based seeding design, and grassland management. With the increasing importance of dike multifunctionality under climate change, spatio-temporal variability of vegetation should also be considered in restoration and management approaches. Cooperation between conservation and river authorities, and the use of ecological knowledge and experiments, can further improve the restoration and management of dike grasslands.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandra Rojas-Botero, Leonardo Teixeira, Johannes Kollmann
Summary: Urban grasslands play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services in cities, but their multifunctionality under climate change remains poorly understood. This study simulated climate change scenarios in grassland ecosystems and found that reduced precipitation had a significant impact on multifunctionality. Furthermore, grasslands with an even ratio of plant functional types showed greater resilience to climate change.
Article
Ecology
Marie-Therese Krieger, Leonardo H. Teixeira, Kerstin Grant, Johannes Kollmann, Harald Albrecht
Summary: Grasslands are managed to provide multiple goods and services. However, recent decades have seen the abandonment of marginal grasslands and intensification of the most productive sites, leading to biodiversity losses and reduced ecosystem services. Invasion by unwanted plants, such as Jacobaea aquatica, further impairs ecosystem services by compromising fodder quality and endangering animal health. To address this issue, different management regimes were tested in wet grasslands of Southern Germany, and moderate management was found to strike a balance between controlling J. aquatica and maintaining grassland multifunctionality.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sandra Rojas-Botero, Leonardo H. H. Teixeira, Paula Prucker, Veronika Kloska, Johannes Kollmann, Soizig Le Stradic
Summary: The current challenges of functional responses in plant communities to climate change require multi-factorial experiments. Moreover, studies on climate change should focus on below-ground responses, especially the traits and biomass allocation of absorptive roots. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how climate change affects absorptive roots in young mesocosm grasslands by manipulating three components.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Fernando Pulido, Bastien Castagneyrol, Francisco Rodriguez-Sanchez, Yonatan Caceres, Adara Pardo, Eva Moracho, Johannes Kollmann, Fernando Valladares, Johan Ehrlen, Alistair S. Jump, Jens-Christian Svenning, Arndt Hampe
Summary: By conducting a meta-analysis on global populations of plants and animals, it was found that marginal populations perform significantly worse than central populations, especially those at low latitudes. This performance difference is likely to be influenced by global climate change, and changes in demographic rates of marginal populations can serve as early-warning signals for range shifts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Markus Bauer, Martin Krause, Valentin Heizinger, Johannes Kollmann
Summary: Brick wastes resulting from construction and demolition pose a recycling challenge. Using bricks as planting substrates can reduce their deposition in landfills and partly replace other materials. This study investigated the effects of brick-based substrates on survival, growth, and functional traits of two urban trees. The results showed that brick quantity had a slight negative effect on the growth and branching of one tree species, while acid pre-treatment had a negative effect on the growth rate of another species. Overall, brick-based substrates had no clear effects on the study species.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Huang, Hongyue Cai, Shuguang Jian, Jun Wang, Johannes Kollmann, Dafeng Hui, Lei Zhang, Hongfang Lu, Hai Ren
Summary: Human disturbance affects the community structure and spatial distribution of forest soil seed banks on coral islands, increasing the diversity, richness, and density of seed banks as well as the richness of invasive species. Human disturbance alters the dispersal pattern of seeds, limiting the outward dispersal of resident species and promoting the inward dispersal of invasive species. Soil properties, plant characteristics, and human disturbance explain 23-45% of the spatial variation of forest soil seed banks on coral islands, with human disturbance reducing the correlations between plant communities and soil factors while increasing the correlations with landscape heterogeneity, road distance, and shrub and litter cover.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kelly G. Lyons, Peter Torok, Julia-Maria Hermann, Kathrin Kiehl, Anita Kirmer, Johannes Kollmann, Gerhard E. Overbeck, Sabine Tischew, Edith B. Allen, Jonathan D. Bakker, Christy Brigham, Elise Buisson, Kerri Crawford, Peter Dunwiddie, Jennifer Firn, Devin Grobert, Karen Hickman, Soizig L. E. Stradic, Vicky M. Temperton
Summary: Grasslands are crucial for combating biodiversity and climate crises, and their restoration is essential. Multifunctional grassland restoration can restore biodiversity while also sequestering carbon. However, the importance of grassland preservation and restoration has been overlooked compared to forests, despite their contributions to human well-being and the environment.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)