Patterns of bryophyte and vascular plant richness in European subalpine springs

The diversity of spring habitats can be determined not only by local environmental conditions, but also by large-scale biogeographical effects. The effects can differ across various groups of organisms. We compared α-, β- and γ-diversity patterns of bryophytes and vascular plants of (sub)alpine springs in three contrasting mountain ranges: Alps (Switzerland), Balkans (Bulgaria), Western Carpathians (Slovakia, Poland). We used univariate and multivariate statistics to test for the effects of pH, conductivity, altitude, slope, mean annual temperature and annual precipitation on diversity patterns of both taxonomic groups and compared diversity patterns among the regions for particular pH and conductivity classes. We identified acidophyte and basiphyte, calcifuge and calcicole species using species response modelling. All regions displayed significant relationship between conductivity and α-diversity of vascular plants. Bulgaria showed the highest α-diversity of vascular plants for the middle part of the conductivity gradient. For both taxonomic groups, the β-diversity in the middle part of gradient was highest in Swiss Alps. The total species pool was lowest in Bulgaria. The percentage of basiphyte and calcicole species was highest in the Alps. In (sub)alpine springs, mineral richness was a better determinant of vascular plant α-diversity than pH, and the extent of the alpine area did not coincide with α-diversity. Observed inter-regional differences in diversity patterns could be explained by the different proportion of limestone bedrock and different biogeographic history. The differences in α-diversity between both taxonomic groups are presumably result of the different rates of adaptation processe

Zveze Arrhenatherion, Cynosurion in Trifolion medii v zahodni Bolgariji – rastiščni gradient in ekološke omejitve

The vegetation of mesic grasslands distributed in the central part of Western Bulgaria is studied. A significant number of 533 relevés were made following the Braun-Blanquet approach. Classification and ordination of the vegetation was performed. The vegetation is classified up to alliance level. The result of the classification are four groups which correspond to the alliances Arrhenatherion elatioris, Cynosurion cristati and Trifolion medii. Within Cynosurion alliance two well distinct subgroups are observed, differing in moisture of the substrate – provisionally called “wet” and “dry” Cynosurion. Ellenberg Indicator Values are used for assessment of ecology of the habitats. The pasture/mowing management of the studied vegetation types is commented.Proučevali smo vegetacijo mezofilnih travnikov razširjeno v srednjem delu zahodne Bolgarije. Naredili smo pomembno veliko število (553) popisov po Braun-Blanquetovem pristopu in jih analizirali s klasifikacijo in ordinacijo. Vegetacijo smo nato uvrstili do nivoja zveze. Rezultat klasifikacije so štiri skupine, ki odgovarjajo zvezam Arrhenatherion elatioris, Cynosurion cristati in Trifolion medii. Znotraj zveze Cynosurion smo izločili dve posebni skupini popisov, ki se ločita po vlažnosti tal in ju provizorno imenujemo “vlažni” in “suhi” Cynosurion. Za opis ekologije rastišč smo uporabili Ellenbergove Indikatorske Vrednosti. Komentirali smo tudi gospodarjenje obravnavanih vegetacijskih tipov s košnjo oziroma pašo