Biodiversity of dry grasslands in Armenia : first results from the 13th EDGG Field Workshop in Armenia

The 13th EDGG Field Workshop was conducted from the 26 June to 6 July 2019 in Armenia. The Field Workshop had two main aims: (a) to analyse the biodiversity patterns of the Armenian grasslands across multiple taxonomic groups and grain sizes, and (b) to study the syntaxonomic position of these grasslands in a general European context. We conducted our sampling in 16 sites that ensured good geographical coverage across the country. In total, we sampled 29 EDGG Biodiversity Plots (nested-plot series of 0.0001 to 100 m²) and 53 additional 10-m2 plots. Data of orthopteroid insects (Orthoptera and Mantodea) were recorded in 42 100-m² plots. We found mean total species richness values of the vegetation of 7.5 species in 0.01 m², 31.9 species in 1 m² and 51.3 species in 10 m². The richest grasslands for vascular plants were meso-xeric grasslands with up to 35 species in 0.1 m² and 80 in 10 m². Maximum orthopteroid rich-ness in 100 m² was 14. Syntaxonomically, the majority of stands appear to belong to the class Festuco-Brometea, with the orders Brachy-podietalia pinnati (meso-xeric), Festucetalia valesiacae (xeric, non-rocky) and an unknown order of rocky dry grasslands. By contrast, the thorn-cushion communities (probably Onobrychidetea cornutae), the scree communities and the dry grasslands of lower elevations rich in annuals and chamaephytes (probably largely Astragalo-Brometea), do not fit to any vegetation class described in Europe. We found two species new to Armenia – the moss Syntrichia papillosissima and the lichen Aspicilia hispida. Our data demonstrate that Armenia is one of the Palaearctic hotspots of fine grain plant diversity. Both diversity patterns and syntaxonomy warrant in-depth studies, which are now possible with our comprehensive dataset

On the trails of Josias Braun-Blanquet II : first results from the 12th EDGG Field Workshop studying the dry grasslands of the inneralpine dry valleys of Switzerland

The 12th EDGG Field Workshop took place from 11 to 19 May 2019, organised by the Vegetation Ecology Group of the Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR) of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). Like in the 11th Field Workshop in Austria, the main target was the "Inneralpine Trockenvegetation" (Festuco-Brometea and Sedo-Scleranthetea), which was first extensively sampled by Josias Braun-Blanquet and collaborators during the 1950s. We visited the Rhône valley in the cantons of Vaud and Valais, one of the most ex-treme xerothermic islands of the Alps and the Rhine and Inn valleys in the canton of Grison. In total, 30 nested-plot series (EDGG biodi-versity plots) of 0.0001 to 100 m² and 82 plots of 10 m² were sampled in meso-xeric, xeric and rocky grasslands of 25 different sites, rang-ing from 500 to 1,656 m a.s.l., under different topographic, bedrock and landuse conditions. All vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens were recorded in each plot, along with their cover values. We found on average 28.9 vascular plants on 10 m²; which was the lowest mean species richness of any previous EDGG Field Workshop. These values are comparable to the average species richness values of dry grasslands of the Aosta valley in Italy. The data sampled will be used to understand the biodiversity patterns regionally and in the Palae-arctic context as well as to place the Swiss dry grasslands in the modern European syntaxonomic system

Sampling multi-scale and multi-taxon plant diversity data in the subalpine and alpine habitats of Switzerland : report on the 14th EDGG Field Workshop

The 14th EDGG Field Workshop took place from the 4th to the 14th of September 2020 in Switzerland, and was devoted to the vegetation of open habitats in the subalpine and alpine zones. In total, 26 EDGG Biodiversity Plots (nested plots with grain sizes of 0.0001 to 100 m²) were sampled in different open habitat types (grasslands, heathlands, screes, snowbeds, fens) in three regions of Switzerland, both over acidic and base-rich bedrock. Additionally, three normal plots of 10 m² were sampled in high-elevation Festuco-Brometea stands in Zermatt. Across all grain sizes, stands showed 10–25% higher means and 50–94% higher maxima for total richness of vascular plants, terricolous bryophytes and lichens compared with data from the 12th EDGG Field Workshop in dry and semi-dry grasslands of the central valleys of the Swiss Alps. We found outstanding preliminary maxima of total richness of 61, 109 and 163 species in 1, 10 and 100 m² respectively, in an unused alpine grassland over limestone (Seslerion). Both particularly variable and partly extremely rich was the bryophyte and lichen flora of the analysed stands, with up to 33 bryophyte and 22 lichen species in 10-m² plots. We report the liverwort Cephaloziella dentata as new for Switzerland, found in a thermophilous subalpine heathland at Alp Glivers, Surselva, Grisons. Overall, our preliminary data suggest that some of the sampled subalpine and alpine habitats are among the most species-rich communities at small scales if bryophytes and lichens are also considered. Based on this finding, we recommend that these two taxonomic groups be more regularly included in surveying and particularly in monitoring programs for vegetation. The Scientific Report is supplemented by a photo diary that provides impressions of work and life during the Field Workshop

Bryophytes of Île Amsterdam in the South Indian Ocean: 1. Liverworts

Cette étude porte sur les hépatiques de l\u27Île Amsterdam. L\u27analyse de collections historiques et d\u27échantillons collectés sur cette île en 2006 et 2007 a révélé la présence de 29 espèces et une variété, appartenant à 18 familles. Ce nombre de taxons est presque le double de celui indiqué dans la dernière étude publiée en 2002. Huit taxa sont cités pour la première fois de cette île, à savoir Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle subsp. stephanii (Renauld ex Steph.) Pócs, Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt., Syzygiella colorata (Lehm.) K.Feldberg, Vána, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, S. sonderi (Gottsche) K.Feldberg, Váa, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, Cephaloziella varians (Gottsche) Steph., Anastrophyllum auritum (Lehm.) Steph., Andrewsianthus marionensis (S.W.Arnell) Grolle et Heterogemma patagonica (Herzog et Grolle) L.Söderstr. et Vána. En parallèle Aneura subcanaliculata R.M.Schust. est éliminée de la flore des hépatiques de l\u27Île Amsterdam. Des illustrations sont présentées pour deux taxons, Kurzia capillaris subsp. stephanii et Gymnomitrion subintegrum (S.W.Arnell) Váa, ainsi que des cartes de distribution mondiale pour Plagiochila minutula (Hook.f. et Taylor) Gottsche, Lindenb. et Nees, Andrewsianthus marionensis, Heterogemma patagonica, Mnioloma fuscum et Gymnomitrion subintegrum. La flore des hépatiques de l\u27Île Amsterdam est nettement tempérée australe à tropicale avec respectivement 12 et huit espèces pour ces deux modes principaux de distribution. Cinq espèces sont bipolaires alors que trois seulement sont subantarctiques et deux sont endémiques ou quasi endémique. Un lectotype est indiqué pour Riccardia insularis Schiffn. et pour R. novo-amstelodamensis Schiffn.The liverworts of Île Amsterdam are surveyed. On the basis of historical collections and specimens collected on the island in 2006 and 2007 some 29 species and one variety belonging to 18 families have been recorded. This means that in comparison with the last survey of the island\u27s hepatics, in 2002, the number of taxa has been nearly doubled. Of these, eight taxa are recorded for the first time from the island, namely Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle subsp. stephanii (Renauld ex Steph.) Pócs, Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt., Syzygiella colorata (Lehm.) K.Feldberg, Vána, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, S. sonderi (Gottsche) K.Feldberg, Vána, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, Cephaloziella varians (Gottsche) Steph., Anastrophyllum auritum (Lehm.) Steph., Andrewsianthus marionensis (S.W.Arnell) Grolle and Heterogemma patagonica (Herzog et Grolle) L.Söderstr. et Vána, whilst Aneura subcanaliculata R.M.Schust. is excluded from the island\u27s hepatic flora. Two taxa, Kurzia capillaris subsp. stephanii and Gymnomitrion subintegrum (S.W.Arnell) Vána, are illustrated, and maps of global distribution are presented for Plagiochila minutula (Hook.f. et Taylor) Gottsche, Lindenb. et Nees, Andrewsianthus marionensis, Heterogemma patagonica, Mnioloma fuscum and Gymnomitrion subintegrum. The liverwort flora is distinctly south-temperate to tropical and these two main distribution patterns consist of 12 and eight species, respectively. The subantarctic element is represented by only three species, two species are endemic or near-endemic and five bipolar. Two names, Riccardia insularis Schiffn. and R. novo-amstelodamensis Schiffn., are lectotypified.</p

Bryophytes of Île Amsterdam in the South Indian Ocean: 1. Liverworts

International audienceThe liverworts of Île Amsterdam are surveyed. On the basis of historical collections and specimens collected on the island in 2006 and 2007 some 29 species and one variety belonging to 18 families have been recorded. This means that in comparison with the last survey of the island’s hepatics, in 2002, the number of taxa has been nearly doubled. Of these, eight taxa are recorded for the first time from the island, namely Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle subsp. stephanii (Renauld ex Steph.) Pócs, Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt., Syzygiella colorata (Lehm.) K.Feldberg, Vá≈a, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, S. sonderi (Gottsche) K.Feldberg, Vá≈a, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, Cephaloziella varians (Gottsche)Steph., Anastrophyllum auritum (Lehm.) Steph., Andrewsianthus marionensis (S.W.Arnell) Grolle and Heterogemma patagonica (Herzog et Grolle) L.Söderstr. et Vá≈a, whilst Aneura subcanaliculata R.M.Schust. is excluded from the island’s hepatic flora. Two taxa, Kurzia capillaris subsp. stephanii and Gymnomitrion subintegrum (S.W.Arnell) Vá≈a, are illustrated, and maps of global distribution are presented for Plagiochila minutula (Hook.f. et Taylor) Gottsche, Lindenb. et Nees, Andrewsianthus marionensis, Heterogemma patagonica, Mnioloma fuscum and Gymnomitrion subintegrum. The liverwort flora is distinctly south-temperate to tropical and these two main distribution patterns consist of12 and eight species, respectively. The subantarctic element is represented by only three species, two species are endemic or near-endemic and five bipolar. Two names, Riccardia insularis Schiffn. and R. novo-amstelodamensis Schiffn., are lectotypified.Cette étude porte sur les hépatiques de l’Île Amsterdam. L’analyse de collections historiques et d’échantillons collectés sur cette île en 2006 et 2007 a révélé la présence de 29 espèces et une variété, appartenant à 18 familles. Ce nombre de taxons est presque le double de celui indiqué dans la dernière étude publiée en 2002. Huit taxa sont cités pour la première fois de cette île, à savoir Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle subsp. stephanii (Renauld ex Steph.) Pócs, Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt., Syzygiella colorata (Lehm.) K.Feldberg, Vána, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, S. sonderi (Gottsche) K.Feldberg, Vána, Hentschel et J.Heinrichs, Cephaloziella varians (Gottsche) Steph., Anastrophyllumauritum (Lehm.) Steph., Andrewsianthus marionensis (S.W.Arnell) Grolle et Heterogemma patagonica (Herzog et Grolle) L.Söderstr. et Vána. En parallèle Aneura subcanaliculata R.M.Schust. est éliminée de la flore des hépatiques de l’Île Amsterdam. Des illustrations sont présentées pour deux taxons, Kurzia capillaris subsp. stephanii et Gymnomitrion subintegrum (S.W.Arnell) Vá≈a, ainsi que des cartes de distribution mondiale pour Plagiochila minutula (Hook.f. et Taylor) Gottsche, Lindenb. et Nees, Andrewsianthus marionensis, Heterogemma patagonica, Mnioloma fuscum et Gymnomitrion subintegrum. La flore des hépatiques de l’Île Amsterdam est nettement tempérée australe à tropicale avec respectivement 12 et huit espèces pour ces deux modes principaux de distribution. Cinq espèces sont bipolaires alors que trois seulement sont subantarctiques et deux sont endémiques ou quasi endémique. Un lectotype est indiqué pour Riccardia insularis Schiffn. et pour R. novo-amstelodamensis Schiffn

Scale-dependent patterns and drivers of vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen diversity in dry grasslands of the Swiss inneralpine valleys

The inner-alpine dry valleys of the Swiss Alps are characterized by subcontinental climate, leading to many peculiarities in dry grassland species composition. Despite their well-known uniqueness, comprehensive studies on biodiversity patterns of the dry grasslands in these valleys were still missing. To close this gap, we sampled 161 10-m2 vegetation plots in the Rhône, Rhine and Inn valleys, recording vascular plants, terricolous bryophyte and lichen species, as well as environmental data. Additionally, we tested the scale-dependence of environmental drivers using 34 nested-plot series with seven grain sizes (0.0001–100 m2). We analysed the effects of environmental drivers related to productivity/stress, disturbance and within-plot heterogeneity on species richness. Mean species richness ranged from 2.3 species in 0.0001 m2 to 58.8 species in 100 m2. For all taxa combined, the most relevant drivers at the grain size of 10 m2 were southing (negative), litter (negative), mean annual precipitation (unimodal), gravel cover (negative), inclination (unimodal) and mean annual precipitation (unimodal). For vascular plants the pattern was similar, while bryophyte and lichen richness differed by the opposite relationship to mean annual precipitation as well as negative influences of mean herb layer height, grazing and mowing. The explained variance of the multiple regression model increased with grain size, with very low values for the smallest two grain sizes. While southing and litter had high importance for the fiver larger grain sizes, pH and gravel cover were particularly important at the intermediate grain sizes, and inclination and mean annual precipitation for the two largest grain sizes. The findings emphasize the importance of taxonomic group and grain size for patterns and drivers of species richness in vegetation, consistent with ecological theory. Differences in the diversity–environment relationships among the three taxonomic groups can partly be explained by asymmetric competition that leads to low bryophyte and lichen diversity where vascular plants do well and vice versa. The relatively low alpha diversity of vascular plants in dry grasslands in Swiss inner-alpine valleys compared to similar communities in other parts of the Palaearctic remains puzzling, especially because Swiss stands are often large and well-preserved

Dry grasslands and thorn-cushion communities of Armenia: a first syntaxonomic classification

Aim: To provide the first syntaxonomic, plot-based classification of the dry grasslands and thorn-cushion communities in Armenia. Study area: Armenia. Methods: We sampled 111 vegetation plots (10 m2) and recorded environmental and structural parameters. We collected additional 487 relevés from surrounding countries for a broad-scale comparison. We used modified TWINSPAN to derive a syntaxonomic classification system, whose units were then compared among each other regarding species composition, structure, site conditions and distribution. Results: The classification of Armenian vegetation plots resulted in a 12-cluster solution. Unsupervised classification of the broad-scale dataset yielded five main groups, which were used for the high-level syntaxonomic assignments of the Armenian data. We assigned about half of the plots of the Armenian dataset to the Festuco-Brometea, while the remaining represented a potential new class, preliminarily called “Ziziphora tenuior-Stipa arabica grasslands”. Most of the syntaxa below class level are new to science, therefore we provide formal descriptions of three orders (Plantagini atratae-Bromopsietalia variegatae, Onobrychido transcaucasicae-Stipetalia pulcherrimae, Cousinio brachypterae-Stipetalia arabicae), four alliances (Acantholimono caryophyllacei-Stipion holosericeae, Artemision fragrantis, Onobrychido michauxii-Stipion capillatae, Onobrychido transcaucasicae-Stipion pulcherrimae) and six associations. We found significant differences in the topographic, climatic and soil characteristics, and structural parameters, species life forms and distribution range types between the grassland types at different syntaxonomic levels. The mean species richness was 47.3 (vascular plants: 46.8, bryophytes: 0.4, lichens: 0.1). Conclusions: We found remarkable differences of the Armenian dry grasslands from the previously known units and described most of the higher syntaxa and all the associations as new to science. Our study provides arguments for a potential new class of Ziziphora tenuior-Stipa arabica grasslands separate both from the Euro-Siberian Festuco-Brometea and the Anatolian Astragalo-Brometea. Finally, we found plot scale richness of vascular plants clearly above the Palaearctic average of dry grasslands and that of non-vascular plants clearly below, which calls for further biodiversity analyses. Taxonomic reference: Euro+Med (2023) for vascular plants, Hodgetts et al. (2020) for bryophytes, Nimis et al. (2018) for lichens except for Xanthoparmelia camtschadalis (Ach.) Hale. Abbreviations: EDGG = Eurasian Dry Grassland Group; DCA = detrended correspondence analysis; ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2021); TWINSPAN = two-way indicator species analysis