Ellenberg-type indicator values for European vascular plant species

Aims: Ellenberg-type indicator values are expert-based rankings of plant species according to their ecological optima on main environmental gradients. Here we extend the indicator-value system proposed by Heinz Ellenberg and co-authors for Central Europe by incorporating other systems of Ellenberg-type indicator values (i.e., those using scales compatible with Ellenberg values) developed for other European regions. Our aim is to create a harmonized data set of Ellenberg-type indicator values applicable at the European scale. Methods: We collected European data sets of indicator values for vascular plants and selected 13 data sets that used the nine-, ten- or twelve-degree scales defined by Ellenberg for light, temperature, moisture, reaction, nutrients and salinity. We compared these values with the original Ellenberg values and used those that showed consistent trends in regression slope and coefficient of determination. We calculated the average value for each combination of species and indicator values from these data sets. Based on species’ co-occurrences in European vegetation plots, we also calculated new values for species that were not assigned an indicator value. Results: We provide a new data set of Ellenberg-type indicator values for 8908 European vascular plant species (8168 for light, 7400 for temperature, 8030 for moisture, 7282 for reaction, 7193 for nutrients, and 7507 for salinity), of which 398 species have been newly assigned to at least one indicator value. Conclusions: The newly introduced indicator values are compatible with the original Ellenberg values. They can be used for large-scale studies of the European flora and vegetation or for gap-filling in regional data sets. The European indicator values and the original and taxonomically harmonized regional data sets of Ellenberg-type indicator values are available in the Supporting Information and the Zenodo repository

Effects of abandonment on the functional composition and forage nutritive value of a North Adriatic dry grassland community (Cicarija, Croatia)

Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris association is one of the most widespread types of pasture in Istria and of great environmental and economic interest. The research aims were to test if forage quantity, nutritive value and functional composition (grasses and grass-like, legumes, and forbs percentage) of these pastures change significantly in relation to: time of the growing season, management type (low use intensity grazing/grazing abandonment) and topographic variables. During 2008, phytomass samples were collected in grazed and ungrazed pastures of Cicarija (Croatia), in May, June, and September. Their composition in dry matter, ash, crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF, ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were determined and net energy for lactation (NEL) and yield NEL were calculated. These variables followed a double trend, linked to the phenological phases of grasslands and to a land use/topographic gradient. Yield, yield NEL, dry matter, NDF, ADF and ADL increased during the growing season, while CP, NEL and IVDMD decreased. Yield, yield NEL, grasses and forbs, ash, and IVDMD were tied to the ungrazed pastures spread on the slopes, while ADF, ADL and dry matter had stronger correlation with grazed grasslands spread on the flat lands

Thermophilous deciduous forests in Southeastern Europe

This paper deals with the numerical elaboration of the database of 1764 releves of thermophilous deciduous forests assigned by the authors to the order Quercetalia pubescentis in the northwestern part of Southeastern Europe. After elimination of releves which were dominated by mesophilous deciduous and coniferous tree species, the stratification of releves was carried out. The TWINSPAN classification revealed eight ecologically and phytogeographically interpretable groups. Additionally the analysis of Pignatti indicator values passively projected on the PCA diagram of the eight groups, and a chorological analysis of individual groups were made. The analyses revealed that all groups in general match with the traditionally accepted alliances, such as Quercion pubescenti-sessiliflorae, Aceri tatarici-Quercion, Quercion confertae, Quercion petraeae-cerris, Syringo-Carpinion, Pruno tenelle-Syrinion, Carpinion orientalis and Fraxino orni-Ostryion. Finally, a synsystematic classification of the elaborated group is proposed, and the nomenclature is harmonised with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The results are also presented in a synoptic table together with calculation of the diagnostic species.Slovenian Research Agenc

Tree-circles spontaneous vegetation over a long climatic gradient

Urban flora varies between urban habitats within a city and between cities. We used a particular urban habitat - tree-circles to compare floristic differences between urban agglomerations along a long climatic gradient on a continental scale. We recorded flora of this unique habitat in seven West Balkan cities and compared it to seven cities from Western and Central Europe. On average, 91 species were found on tree-circles in every city in the Balkans (compared to 81 in continental Europe). Climate was the most important factor influencing species composition. Western and Central European tree-circles floras are much more uniform and homogeneous than Balkan ones, which have richer species pools

Formal Model for Data Dependency Analysis between Controls and Actions of a Graphical User Interface

End-user development is an emerging computer science discipline that provides programming paradigms, techniques, and tools suitable for users not trained in software engineering. One of the techniques that allow ordinary computer users to develop their own applications without the need to learn a classic programming language is a GUI-level programming based on programming-by-demonstration. To build wizard-based tools that assist users in application development and to verify the correctness of user programs, a computer-supported method for GUI-level data dependency analysis is necessary. Therefore, formal model for GUI representation is needed. In this paper, we present a finite state machine for modeling the data dependencies between GUI controls and GUI actions. Furthermore, we present an algorithm for automatic construction of finite state machine for arbitrary GUI application. We show that proposed state aggregation scheme successfully manages state explosion in state machine construction algorithm, which makes the model applicable for applications with complex GUIs

Thermophilous deciduous forests in Southeastern Europe

This paper deals with the numerical elaboration of the database of 1764 releves of thermophilous deciduous forests assigned by the authors to the order Quercetalia pubescentis in the northwestern part of Southeastern Europe. After elimination of releves which were dominated by mesophilous deciduous and coniferous tree species, the stratification of releves was carried out. The TWINSPAN classification revealed eight ecologically and phytogeographically interpretable groups. Additionally the analysis of Pignatti indicator values passively projected on the PCA diagram of the eight groups, and a chorological analysis of individual groups were made. The analyses revealed that all groups in general match with the traditionally accepted alliances, such as Quercion pubescenti-sessiliflorae, Aceri tatarici-Quercion, Quercion confertae, Quercion petraeae-cerris, Syringo-Carpinion, Pruno tenelle-Syrinion, Carpinion orientalis and Fraxino orni-Ostryion. Finally, a synsystematic classification of the elaborated group is proposed, and the nomenclature is harmonised with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The results are also presented in a synoptic table together with calculation of the diagnostic species.Slovenian Research Agenc

European Vegetation Archive: now EVA really starts!

European Vegetation Archive (EVA) was announced as a new initiative of the European Vegetation Survey at the EVS Meeting in Vienna in 2012. The aim of EVA is to create a centralized database of European vegetation plots by storing copies of national and regional databases on a single software platform using a unified taxonomic reference database. EVA does not affect the ongoing independent developments of source data­ bases and it guarantees that data property rights of the original contributors are re­ spected. EVA Data Property and Governance Rules were approved and the EVA website (www.euroveg.org/eva­database) was established in 2012. Since then several European vegetation­plot databases joined EVA. In the framework of the parallel Braun­Blanquet project, we obtained experience with handling multiple databases based on different taxonomies, and a prototype of Turboveg 3 was developed as a software tool for joint management of multiple databases. This prototype has recently been accepted as the platform for technical management of EVA according to the approved Rules. A spe­ cific challenge for EVA is joining multiple species lists with different taxonomies used in national and regional databases. To solve this issue, EVA took over the SynBioSys Taxon Database, developed earlier for the SynBioSys Europe project, which is a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual databases and their matches to a unified list of European flora. This taxon database is currently being extended to ac­ count for new vegetation­plot databases and revised by taxonomic experts working in a newly established EVA Taxonomic Advisory Board. These technical developments made it possible that after two years since its formal establishment, first data sets could be uploaded to EVA, forming a basis for large­scale analyses of European vegeta­ tion diversity for both scientific purposes and applications

Vegetation classification and biogeography of European floodplain forests and alder carrs

Location: Europe. Methods: A database of more than 40 000 vegetation plots of floodplain forests and alder carrs across Europe was compiled. After geographic stratification, 16 392 plots were available for classification, which was performed using the supervised method Cocktail. We also searched for new associations using semi-supervised K-means classification. The main biogeographic patterns and climate-related gradients in species composition were determined using detrended correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. Results: Thirty associations of floodplain forests and alder carrs were distinguished, which belong to five alliances. The Alnion incanae includes riparian, seepage and hardwood floodplain forests in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones (dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior) and in the boreal zone (dominated by A. incana). The Osmundo-Alnion represents oceanic vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus angustifolia and F. excelsior distributed mostly on the Iberian Peninsula and composed of species with Atlantic distribution and Iberian endemics. The Populion albae comprises floodplain forests frequently dominated by Fraxinus angustifolia, Populus alba and P. nigra that are widespread in floodplains of large rivers under summer-dry climates in the Mediterranean region. The Platanion orientalis represents eastern Mediterranean floodplain forests dominated by Platanus orientalis. The Alnion glutinosae includes forest swamps dominated by Alnus glutinosa distributed mostly in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones. The main biogeographic patterns within European floodplain forests and alder carrs reflect the climatic contrasts between the Mediterranean, nemoral, boreal and mountain regions. Oceanic floodplain forests differ from those in the rest of Europe. The hydrological regime appears to be the most important factor influencing species composition within regions. Conclusions: This study is the first applying a formalized classification at the association level for a broad vegetation type at the continental scale. The proposed classification provides the scientific basis for the necessary improvement of the habitat classification systems used in European nature conservation

European Vegetation Archive: now EVA really starts!

European Vegetation Archive (EVA) was announced as a new initiative of the European Vegetation Survey at the EVS Meeting in Vienna in 2012. The aim of EVA is to create a centralized database of European vegetation plots by storing copies of national and regional databases on a single software platform using a unified taxonomic reference database. EVA does not affect the ongoing independent developments of source data­ bases and it guarantees that data property rights of the original contributors are re­ spected. EVA Data Property and Governance Rules were approved and the EVA website (www.euroveg.org/eva­database) was established in 2012. Since then several European vegetation­plot databases joined EVA. In the framework of the parallel Braun­Blanquet project, we obtained experience with handling multiple databases based on different taxonomies, and a prototype of Turboveg 3 was developed as a software tool for joint management of multiple databases. This prototype has recently been accepted as the platform for technical management of EVA according to the approved Rules. A spe­ cific challenge for EVA is joining multiple species lists with different taxonomies used in national and regional databases. To solve this issue, EVA took over the SynBioSys Taxon Database, developed earlier for the SynBioSys Europe project, which is a system of taxon names and concepts used in the individual databases and their matches to a unified list of European flora. This taxon database is currently being extended to ac­ count for new vegetation­plot databases and revised by taxonomic experts working in a newly established EVA Taxonomic Advisory Board. These technical developments made it possible that after two years since its formal establishment, first data sets could be uploaded to EVA, forming a basis for large­scale analyses of European vegeta­ tion diversity for both scientific purposes and applications