Buchbesprechungen

Buchbesprechunge

Biogeographical classification of Austria based on hierarchical cluster analysis of vascular plant distributions

Applying hierarchical cluster analysis on data from the project “Floristic Mapping of Austria”, a biogeographical classification of Austria is established. Various clustering methods and similarity indices are tested for their suitability, and their performance is assessed via stability tests. The best results are achieved by the Ward method in combination with Euclidean distance. For validation, the obtained results are compared with existing natural landscape classification schemes. The results are congruent, and the level of concordance to the natural landscape classification is satisfying. It is shown that hierarchical cluster analysis based only on plant distribution data is suitable for a biogeographical classification of Austria.[German title] Biogeographische Raumgliederung Österreichs mittels hierarchischer Clusteranalyse auf Grundlage der Gefäßpflanzenverbreitung [German abstract] Mittels hierarchischer Clusteranalyse basierend auf den Daten des Projekts "Floristische Kartierung Österreichs" wird eine biogeographische Raumgliederung Österreichs erstellt. Es werden unterschiedliche Clustermethoden und Ähnlichkeitsmaße auf ihre Eignung überprüft und es wird ihre Stabilität getestet. Die besten Resultate lieferten die Ward-Methode in Kombination mit dem Euklidischen Distanzmaß. Zur Validierung werden die Ergebnisse mit vorhandenen naturräumlichen Gliederungen verglichen. Der Grad der Übereinstimmung zur naturräumlichen Gliederung ist zufriedenstellend. Es wird dargestellt, dass eine hierarchische Clusteranalyse, die ausschließlich auf floristischen Verbreitungsdaten basiert, zur Erstellung einer biogeographischen Raumgliederung Österreichs geeignet ist

From Information Structure to Intonation: A Phonological Interface for Concept-to-Speech

The paper describes an interface between generator and synthesizer of the German language concept-to-speech system VieCtoS. It discusses phenomena in German intonation that depend on the interaction between grammatical dependencies (projection of information structure into syntax) and prosodic context (performancerelated modifications to intonation patterns). Phonological processing in our system comprises segmental as well as suprasegmental dimensions such as syllabification, modification of word stress positions, and a symbolic encoding of intonation. Phonological phenomena often touch upon more than one of these dimensions, so that mutual accessibility of the data structures on each dimension had to be ensured. We present a linear representation of the multidimensional phonological data based on a straightforward linearization convention, which suffices to bring this conceptually multilinear data set under the scope of the well-known processing techniques for two-level morphology...

From Information Structure to Intonation: A Phonological Interface for Concept-to-Speech

The pal)er describes an interface between gen-erator and synthesizer of tile German language concept-to-speech system VieCtoS. It discusses phenomena in German intonation that depend on the interaction between grammatical depen-dencies (projection of information structure into syntax) and prosodic context (performance-related modifications to intonation patterns). Phonological processing in our system con> prises segmental as well as suprasegmental di-mensions such as syllabification, modification of word stress positions, and a symbolic encoding of intonation. Phonological phenomena often touch upon more than one of these dimensions, so that mutual accessibility of the data struc-tures on each dimension had to be ensured. We present a linear representation of the multidimensional phonological data based on a straightforward linearization convention, which suffices to bring this conceptually multilinear data set under the scope of the well-known pro-cessing techniques for two-level morphology.

Viola elatior, V. pumila and V. stagnina in Austria, Czechia and Slovakia: a story of decline

Specimens of Viola elatior (VE), V. pumila (VP), and V. stagnina (VS) in 38 Austrian, Czech, and Slovak public herbaria were revised, and almost 1700 specimens were found from the three countries. Apart from VE, the quality of original identifications was rather poor, especially of VS specimens (VS is frequently confused laso with V. canina). This, together with nomenclatural confusion lasting over the whole 19th century, makes the use of old literature records rather problematic. Hybrids are usually difficult-to-identify, and they are rarer than generally believed. VS and VP have similar distribution patterns: they occur mainly in floodplains of large lowland rivers and adjacent hill countries of the N part of Bohemia, in S and Central Moravia, E Austria, and S Slovakia; they may be classified as river corridor plants. VS differs from VE and VP mainly by its presence in S Bohemia and its absence from large parts of S Slovakia, as well as by its rarity in Austria and Slovakia. All three species grow predominantly in regions with relatively warm and dry climate: most localities are situated in regions with mean annual temperature 7–11 °C and mean annual precipitation 401–700 mm. A temporal analysis of records has shown that all three species have been declining in all three countries: generally, this decline has been the weakest in Austria, with 46–61% of grid cells with occurrences confirmed after 1980 (compared with the number of grid cells with records from 1801–2008), and the strongest in Slovakia, with 18–32% of grid cells with occurrences confirmed after 1980. The causes of decline include mainly river canalization and subsequent changes in land use, as well as urbanization, and recently also afforestations. VE may also be endangered by modern forestry practices. The inclusion of all three species in national Red Lists and subsequent conservation measures are justified and necessary, though national Red List status may be different

Floristic records from Karavanke/ Karawanken and Kamniske Alpe/Steiner Alpen (Slovenia and Austria)

New floristic records from the eastern Karavanke/Karawanken and Kamniske Alpe/Steiner Alpen (Slovenia and Austria) are reported. Allium kermesinum is new for Austria; Arabis soyeri subsp. subcoriacea, Carex rupestris and Draba dubia are new for the Kamniske Alpe/Steiner Alpen; for Androsace hausmannii, Arabis stellulata, Carex ornithopodioides, Pedicularis rosea, Salix serpyllifolia and Veronica fruticulosa new localities are presented. Furthermore, taxonomic problems in Oxytropis sect. Oxytropis and Arabis pumila sensu lato are discussed