Journal of Vegetation Science最新文献

{"title":"Functional Trait Adaptations Drive Enhanced Post-Hurricane Resilience on Serpentine Soils","authors":"Claudia Garnica Díaz,&nbsp;Grizelle González,&nbsp;Ramón Agosto,&nbsp;Gustavo Garay,&nbsp;María M. Rivera,&nbsp;Humberto Robles,&nbsp;Luis E. Velázquez Román,&nbsp;Catherine M. Hulshof","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70130","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvs.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Understanding how plant functional traits mediate ecosystem resilience to extreme events is central to predicting ecological responses under variable climates. We asked: does edaphic filtering in serpentine versus volcanic soils shape plant functional composition in ways that determine forest stability (resistance, resilience, temporal stability, and recovery) following a major hurricane (Hurricane Maria)? We hypothesized that stress-tolerant serpentine plant communities would be more resistant but recover less quickly from environmental disturbances, while volcanic plant communities would show the opposite pattern, less resistance but faster recovery.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Puerto Rico.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We combined trait-based analyses with remote sensing and environmental data across forest plots spanning serpentine and volcanic soils. We calculated community-weighted means and functional diversity metrics and analyzed their relationships with soil properties, storm impact (cumulative rainfall and maximum wind), and NDVI-based forest stability indicators.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Contrary to expectations, serpentine communities exhibited greater than expected resilience and recovery, whereas volcanic communities exhibited greater than expected resistance after accounting for storm impact. Foliar iron content, functional evenness, and functional dispersion emerged as key correlates of forest stability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings suggest that nutrient-poor serpentine soils select for stress-tolerant traits that confer greater ecological resilience compared to forests on more fertile volcanic soils, challenging assumptions of serpentine vulnerability and highlighting the role of soil properties and traits in mediating ecosystem responses to extreme climatic events.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70130","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical Trait Variation Modulates Forest Biomass Dynamics in Two Japanese Forest Types","authors":"Celegeer,&nbsp;Yuki Yumigeta,&nbsp;Kanji Asahi,&nbsp;Katsuura Hiiragi,&nbsp;Naoto Watanabe,&nbsp;Tomoya Okada,&nbsp;Michiko Nakagawa","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While plant functional traits are known to influence biomass dynamics, the nuanced variations across layers, and the underlying ecological mechanisms, especially in temperate zones, are poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of key functional traits on demographic processes across different forest strata.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our investigation took place between 2015 and 2023 in two distinct temperate forest ecosystems: cool-temperate old-growth forests and warm-temperate secondary forests.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We quantified aboveground biomass (AGB) increment, recruitment, and mortality, alongside community-weighted mean (CWM) values for functional traits, across three distinct layers within each study plot. Generalized linear mixed models were then applied within each layer to examine the relationship between CWM traits and AGB dynamics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>AGB dynamics exhibited consistent patterns across the three forest layers at both study sites. However, CWM trait patterns varied significantly between study sites across layers, suggesting that successional stage and microenvironmental conditions shape the functional composition and ecological strategies of temperate tree communities. Remarkably, CWM wood density (CWM-WD) positively correlated with AGB increment in both canopy and sub-canopy layers, and with AGB recruitment in the canopy. In the understory, CWM-specific leaf area (CWM-SLA) showed significant positive effects on both increment and mortality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study reveals that CWM trait–AGB dynamic relationships vary vertically, underscoring the significance of vertical heterogeneity in trait-based community assembly processes. This necessitates that future research on forest turnover dynamics accounts for both size- and layer-specific dynamic processes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70129","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical Trait Variation Modulates Forest Biomass Dynamics in Two Japanese Forest Types","authors":"Celegeer,&nbsp;Yuki Yumigeta,&nbsp;Kanji Asahi,&nbsp;Katsuura Hiiragi,&nbsp;Naoto Watanabe,&nbsp;Tomoya Okada,&nbsp;Michiko Nakagawa","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While plant functional traits are known to influence biomass dynamics, the nuanced variations across layers, and the underlying ecological mechanisms, especially in temperate zones, are poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of key functional traits on demographic processes across different forest strata.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our investigation took place between 2015 and 2023 in two distinct temperate forest ecosystems: cool-temperate old-growth forests and warm-temperate secondary forests.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We quantified aboveground biomass (AGB) increment, recruitment, and mortality, alongside community-weighted mean (CWM) values for functional traits, across three distinct layers within each study plot. Generalized linear mixed models were then applied within each layer to examine the relationship between CWM traits and AGB dynamics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>AGB dynamics exhibited consistent patterns across the three forest layers at both study sites. However, CWM trait patterns varied significantly between study sites across layers, suggesting that successional stage and microenvironmental conditions shape the functional composition and ecological strategies of temperate tree communities. Remarkably, CWM wood density (CWM-WD) positively correlated with AGB increment in both canopy and sub-canopy layers, and with AGB recruitment in the canopy. In the understory, CWM-specific leaf area (CWM-SLA) showed significant positive effects on both increment and mortality.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our study reveals that CWM trait–AGB dynamic relationships vary vertically, underscoring the significance of vertical heterogeneity in trait-based community assembly processes. This necessitates that future research on forest turnover dynamics accounts for both size- and layer-specific dynamic processes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70129","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil Metabarcoding Helps Identify Recalcitrant Taxa From Chaparral Seed Banks","authors":"Angela Chu,&nbsp;Stephanie Ma Lucero,&nbsp;Mari Irving,&nbsp;Carla Marie D'Antonio,&nbsp;Ryoko Oono","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70124","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil seed banks serve as reservoirs of plant diversity, but traditional germination-based methods often fail to detect dormant or recalcitrant species, limiting their utility in ecological studies. Metabarcoding is a promising method to supplement traditional approaches to characterize seed bank composition, yet its adoption has been hindered by a lack of validation against traditional methods. This study aimed to (1) compare metabarcoding protocols varying in nucleotide type, barcode region, and sample preparation, and (2) test how well metabarcoding captures seed bank diversity in a degraded chaparral ecosystem.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted controlled experiments to evaluate DNA and RNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing success using three common plant barcodes (ITS2, rbcL, trnL) applied to seeds and plant tissues embedded in sterilized sand or field soils. We also tested whether germination stimulants (water or gibberellic acid) influenced sequencing yield. We then applied metabarcoding protocols alongside traditional germination assays to homogenized soil from five chaparral sites, identifying taxa using rbcL and ITS2.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chaparral in Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County, California, USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>DNA consistently outperformed RNA in extraction reliability, sequencing success, and taxonomic breadth. Water treatment altered community composition without significantly hindering sequencing success rates. Across chaparral samples, ITS2 and rbcL identified similar numbers of taxa at genus or super-genus levels but showed limited species-level resolution compared to germination assays. Metabarcoding detected more genera from smaller soil volumes than germination assays. Taxa that are typically challenging to germinate, such as fire-followers and hemiparasitic plants, were among those identified by metabarcoding and not by traditional methods.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Integrating seed bank metabarcoding with traditional germination assays improves the completeness and efficiency of plant community surveys in degraded, disturbance-adapted ecosystems. DNA-based metabarcoding with rbcL and ITS2 enhances detection of elusive or recalcitrant taxa and can strengthen restoration planning when paired with ecological knowledge.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70124","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil Metabarcoding Helps Identify Recalcitrant Taxa From Chaparral Seed Banks","authors":"Angela Chu,&nbsp;Stephanie Ma Lucero,&nbsp;Mari Irving,&nbsp;Carla Marie D'Antonio,&nbsp;Ryoko Oono","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70124","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil seed banks serve as reservoirs of plant diversity, but traditional germination-based methods often fail to detect dormant or recalcitrant species, limiting their utility in ecological studies. Metabarcoding is a promising method to supplement traditional approaches to characterize seed bank composition, yet its adoption has been hindered by a lack of validation against traditional methods. This study aimed to (1) compare metabarcoding protocols varying in nucleotide type, barcode region, and sample preparation, and (2) test how well metabarcoding captures seed bank diversity in a degraded chaparral ecosystem.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted controlled experiments to evaluate DNA and RNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing success using three common plant barcodes (ITS2, rbcL, trnL) applied to seeds and plant tissues embedded in sterilized sand or field soils. We also tested whether germination stimulants (water or gibberellic acid) influenced sequencing yield. We then applied metabarcoding protocols alongside traditional germination assays to homogenized soil from five chaparral sites, identifying taxa using rbcL and ITS2.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chaparral in Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County, California, USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>DNA consistently outperformed RNA in extraction reliability, sequencing success, and taxonomic breadth. Water treatment altered community composition without significantly hindering sequencing success rates. Across chaparral samples, ITS2 and rbcL identified similar numbers of taxa at genus or super-genus levels but showed limited species-level resolution compared to germination assays. Metabarcoding detected more genera from smaller soil volumes than germination assays. Taxa that are typically challenging to germinate, such as fire-followers and hemiparasitic plants, were among those identified by metabarcoding and not by traditional methods.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Integrating seed bank metabarcoding with traditional germination assays improves the completeness and efficiency of plant community surveys in degraded, disturbance-adapted ecosystems. DNA-based metabarcoding with rbcL and ITS2 enhances detection of elusive or recalcitrant taxa and can strengthen restoration planning when paired with ecological knowledge.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70124","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional Traits Mediate Physico-Chemical Niche Differentiation of Epiphytic Lichens and Bryophytes in Temperate Forests","authors":"Theresa Möller,&nbsp;Stefan Kaufmann,&nbsp;Markus Hauck","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Differences among host trees in chemical and physical bark features strongly influence the preferences of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes. Element contents can enhance, limit, or impair performance, with bark pH further modulating bioavailability. Establishment is closely linked to functional traits that define habitat thresholds, particularly under acidic conditions. Yet such traits are often overlooked in community analyses. We asked how host-specific bark chemistry filters epiphytes and how functional traits mediate these responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Temperate mountain forests of the Southern Black Forest, southwestern Germany.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We surveyed 96 trees of <i>Abies alba</i>, <i>Picea abies</i>, and <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> across 24 plots. Bark physico-chemical features (pH, element concentrations, water-holding capacity) were linked to epiphyte communities using double-constrained canonical analyses, considering functional traits such as bryophyte growth habit, lichen growth form, photobiont type, and lichen substances. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis identified community and species thresholds along bark chemical gradients, and functional diversity metrics quantified community-level responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fir occupied an intermediate position between beech and spruce in bark chemistry and community structure. Lichen substances were key correlates of composition across hosts. On spruce, strong associations between transition metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and lichen substances indicated metal homeostasis as a central tolerance strategy, accompanied by a marked <i>Asterochloris</i> signature. Bryophyte communities segregated along C/N, Zn, and Mn ratio gradients, with acrocarpous and pleurocarpous groups showing contrasting responses. Functional divergence of lichens increased along Mn and pH gradients and declined with higher bark P.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Epiphyte assembly is governed by interactions between bark chemistry and species traits. Host identity and substrate chemistry create functional thresholds that drive community turnover, supporting a trait-based filtering perspective that links tree-scale habitat conditions with the structure and functional diversity of epiphytic communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70127","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional Traits Mediate Physico-Chemical Niche Differentiation of Epiphytic Lichens and Bryophytes in Temperate Forests","authors":"Theresa Möller,&nbsp;Stefan Kaufmann,&nbsp;Markus Hauck","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Questions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Differences among host trees in chemical and physical bark features strongly influence the preferences of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes. Element contents can enhance, limit, or impair performance, with bark pH further modulating bioavailability. Establishment is closely linked to functional traits that define habitat thresholds, particularly under acidic conditions. Yet such traits are often overlooked in community analyses. We asked how host-specific bark chemistry filters epiphytes and how functional traits mediate these responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Temperate mountain forests of the Southern Black Forest, southwestern Germany.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We surveyed 96 trees of <i>Abies alba</i>, <i>Picea abies</i>, and <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> across 24 plots. Bark physico-chemical features (pH, element concentrations, water-holding capacity) were linked to epiphyte communities using double-constrained canonical analyses, considering functional traits such as bryophyte growth habit, lichen growth form, photobiont type, and lichen substances. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis identified community and species thresholds along bark chemical gradients, and functional diversity metrics quantified community-level responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fir occupied an intermediate position between beech and spruce in bark chemistry and community structure. Lichen substances were key correlates of composition across hosts. On spruce, strong associations between transition metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and lichen substances indicated metal homeostasis as a central tolerance strategy, accompanied by a marked <i>Asterochloris</i> signature. Bryophyte communities segregated along C/N, Zn, and Mn ratio gradients, with acrocarpous and pleurocarpous groups showing contrasting responses. Functional divergence of lichens increased along Mn and pH gradients and declined with higher bark P.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Epiphyte assembly is governed by interactions between bark chemistry and species traits. Host identity and substrate chemistry create functional thresholds that drive community turnover, supporting a trait-based filtering perspective that links tree-scale habitat conditions with the structure and functional diversity of epiphytic communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70127","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Ungulate Herbivores on Temperate Forest Understory Vegetation—Implications From a Large-Scale Wildlife Exclosure Experiment in Central Europe","authors":"Alexander Seliger,&nbsp;Jan Zäh,&nbsp;Steffi Heinrichs,&nbsp;Peter Schall,&nbsp;Christian Ammer,&nbsp;Torsten Vor","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70128","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Question&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Ungulates play a key role in influencing understory vegetation and ecosystem dynamics in temperate forests. However, how soil conditions modulate ungulate effects on understory communities remains insufficiently understood.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Location&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Central and Southern Germany.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;We used a time series of paired ungulate exclosures (fenced) and control plots (unfenced) to assess the influence of ungulates on the cover, species richness, and composition of forest understory communities at acidic and alkaline sites. We sampled epigeous bryophytes and vascular plants in 248 paired fenced and unfenced plots between 2016 and 2023, evaluating the data using multivariate analyses.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;We detected significant temporal changes in understory communities and differences between fenced and unfenced plots with distinct responses across vegetation layers and soil types. When ungulates were excluded by fencing, the herb layer initially showed increased cover, likely reflecting rapid release from herbivory that stimulated plant growth. Over time, however, herb layer cover declined, indicating that competitive interactions among plants became more important. In the shrub layer, both cover and species richness increased rapidly and significantly following fencing at both acidic and alkaline sites. In contrast, in unfenced plots, increases in shrub cover and species richness occurred more slowly and to a lesser extent over the same period. Species richness of the herb layer was not affected by fencing at alkaline sites, but declined at acidic sites. Cover but not species richness of the moss layer was higher in ungulate exclosures at both site categories beginning in the fourth year of observation. While no significant differences in understory species composition were detected between fenced and unfenced plots in any year, floristic differentiation over time occurred exclusively at acidic sites.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Ungulates influence forest understory communities differently under acidic and alkaline soil conditions, underscoring the importance of accounting for edaphic context in long-term studies of ungulate–vegetation interactions. Our findings suggest that forest management can shape understory vegetation trajectories by incorporating ungulate impacts, particularly at acidic sites.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70128","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147564123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Ungulate Herbivores on Temperate Forest Understory Vegetation—Implications From a Large-Scale Wildlife Exclosure Experiment in Central Europe","authors":"Alexander Seliger,&nbsp;Jan Zäh,&nbsp;Steffi Heinrichs,&nbsp;Peter Schall,&nbsp;Christian Ammer,&nbsp;Torsten Vor","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70128","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Question&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Ungulates play a key role in influencing understory vegetation and ecosystem dynamics in temperate forests. However, how soil conditions modulate ungulate effects on understory communities remains insufficiently understood.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Location&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Central and Southern Germany.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;We used a time series of paired ungulate exclosures (fenced) and control plots (unfenced) to assess the influence of ungulates on the cover, species richness, and composition of forest understory communities at acidic and alkaline sites. We sampled epigeous bryophytes and vascular plants in 248 paired fenced and unfenced plots between 2016 and 2023, evaluating the data using multivariate analyses.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;We detected significant temporal changes in understory communities and differences between fenced and unfenced plots with distinct responses across vegetation layers and soil types. When ungulates were excluded by fencing, the herb layer initially showed increased cover, likely reflecting rapid release from herbivory that stimulated plant growth. Over time, however, herb layer cover declined, indicating that competitive interactions among plants became more important. In the shrub layer, both cover and species richness increased rapidly and significantly following fencing at both acidic and alkaline sites. In contrast, in unfenced plots, increases in shrub cover and species richness occurred more slowly and to a lesser extent over the same period. Species richness of the herb layer was not affected by fencing at alkaline sites, but declined at acidic sites. Cover but not species richness of the moss layer was higher in ungulate exclosures at both site categories beginning in the fourth year of observation. While no significant differences in understory species composition were detected between fenced and unfenced plots in any year, floristic differentiation over time occurred exclusively at acidic sites.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Ungulates influence forest understory communities differently under acidic and alkaline soil conditions, underscoring the importance of accounting for edaphic context in long-term studies of ungulate–vegetation interactions. Our findings suggest that forest management can shape understory vegetation trajectories by incorporating ungulate impacts, particularly at acidic sites.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70128","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147564091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Apple Does Not Fall Far From the Tree and How This Affects the Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Juvenile Trees","authors":"Lauri Laanisto","doi":"10.1111/jvs.70126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.70126","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Juvenile trees are generally considered less tolerant to abiotic stress than adult trees. Yet this could be a case where, at least partially, conspecific shade tolerance may outweigh the sensitivity to other stress factors in determining their persistence. While studies report lower drought, cold, and heat tolerance in seedlings and saplings than in adults, numerous studies indicate that juveniles display higher shade tolerance than mature individuals. Because tree regeneration usually occurs under closed canopies, having higher shade tolerance can compensate for reduced tolerance to other stresses—the latter stress factors being generally significantly mitigated in forest ecosystems. Shade tolerance may thus be the nonintuitive, yet decisive factor in tree recruitment success, outweighing the vulnerability of juveniles to other abiotic stress factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":49965,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Vegetation Science","volume":"37 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvs.70126","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147563915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}