A case study on the early stage of Pinus nigra invasion and its impact on species composition and pattern in Pannonic sand grassland
- Author:
- Bakacsy L. & Szepesi Á.
- Year:
- 2024
- Journal:
- Scientific Reports
- Pages:
- 14: 5125 [10 p.]
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55811-1
Alien woody species are successful invaders, frequently used for aforestation in regions like semi-arid lands. Shrubs and trees create important microhabitats in arid areas. Understorey vegetation
in these habitats has unique species composition and coexistence. However, the impact of solitary
woody species on understorey vegetation is less understood. This study evaluated the effect of native
(Juniperus communis) and invasive solitary conifers (Pinus nigra) on surrounding vegetation, where
individuals were relatively isolated (referred to as solitary conifers). The field study conducted in
Pannonic dry sand grassland in 2018 recorded plant and lichen species presence around six selected
solitary conifers. Composition and pattern of understorey vegetation were assessed using 26 m belt
transects with 520 units of 5 cm× 5 cm contiguous microquadrats. Compositional diversity (CD) and
the number of realized species combinations (NRC) were calculated from the circular transects. Results
showed native conifer J. communis created more complex, organized microhabitats compared to
alien P. nigra. CD and NRC values were significantly higher under native conifers than invasive ones
(p = 0.045 and p = 0.026, respectively). Native species also had more species with a homogeneous
pattern than the alien species. Alien conifers negatively afected understorey vegetation composition
and pattern: some species exhibited significant gaps and clusters of occurrences along the transects
under P. nigra. Based on our study, the removal of invasive woody species is necessary to sustain
habitat diversity.
- Id:
- 36347
- Submitter:
- zpalice
- Post_time:
- Monday, 11 March 2024 12:17