European Vegetation Archive (EVA): An integrated database of European vegetation plots

© 2016 International Association for Vegetation Science. The European Vegetation Archive (EVA) is a centralized database of European vegetation plots developed by the IAVS Working Group European Vegetation Survey. It has been in development since 2012 and first made available for use in research projects in 2014. It stores copies of national and regional vegetation- plot databases on a single software platform. Data storage in EVA does not affect on-going independent development of the contributing databases, which remain the property of the data contributors. EVA uses a prototype of the database management software TURBOVEG 3 developed for joint management of multiple databases that use different species lists. This is facilitated by the SynBioSys Taxon Database, a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual European databases and their corresponding names on a unified list of European flora. TURBOVEG 3 also includes procedures for handling data requests, selections and provisions according to the approved EVA Data Property and Governance Rules. By 30 June 2015, 61 databases from all European regions have joined EVA, contributing in total 1 027 376 vegetation plots, 82% of them with geographic coordinates, from 57 countries. EVA provides a unique data source for large-scale analyses of European vegetation diversity both for fundamental research and nature conservation applications. Updated information on EVA is available online at http://euroveg.org/eva-database

Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Beeinflussung des Wachstums des Alpenedelweiß (Leontopodium alpinum) durch den pH-Wert des Bodens und durch Konkurrenz

The Alpine Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is widely distributed at higher elevations throughout the European high mountains (Pyrenees,Alps, Carpathians and Northern Balkans). However, it is well-represented in regions of base-rich soils (on limestone or other base-rich rocks), but absent or subsiding in acidic areas.We tested the growth of L. alpinum in relation to soil pH (isolated in vitro germination on a large range of pH), and under competition (with Nardus stricta L., pot cultivation). The results suggest that, as typical for many ‘basiphilous’ plants, L. alpinum grows well on acidic substrates, although germination rates are lower than under neutral or basic conditions. Competition was confirmed as the main limiting factor that does not allow proper growth or resistance of L. alpinum against Nardus stricta, a strongly competitive species on acidic soils. Accordingly, a species-specific factor, which is the small size and low competitiveness of L. alpinum, is mainly responsible for its absence on acidic substrates. Some physiological intolerance to its germination under acidic conditions may be involved as well