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Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 30444

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alenka Gaberščik

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Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: plant ecology; ecosystems; intermittent lake

Dr. Igor Zelnik

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: wetlands; rivers; lakes; environmental parameters; macrophytes; macroinvertebrates; diatoms
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Dear Colleagues,

Hydrological conditions, such as the level of the water table in wetlands and water depth in other aquatic ecosystems, determine species composition and the diversity of plant communities and their functioning, as well as functional traits and strategies of the present species. Hydrological conditions depend on the climate and geomorphological features of an area. Deviation from optimal hydrological conditions may result in the reduced vitality of individual species that affect competitive relations, resulting in an altered species composition of plant communities. The success of plants depends primarily on their ability to overcome stress conditions caused by excess and/or shortage of water in a habitat. The sensitivity of different species is reflected in reduced growth or even their extinction. Due to global climate changes, the regional precipitation regimes have been changing, and thus, so has the duration of the periods of waterlogged or flooded soils in wetlands and the fluctuation of the water level in water bodies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather knowledge and increase the understanding on the structure and functioning of water-shaped plant communities in different wetlands and/or water bodies and to show the possible trends of the changes that occur due to changing water regime.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alenka Gaberščik
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Igor Zelnik
Guest Editors

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Keywords

hydrology
wetlands
rivers
lakes
ponds
plant communities
plant diversity
functional traits
ecological function
changes of water regime
hydromorphological alterations

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

6 pages, 201 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function

by Alenka Gaberščik and Igor Zelnik

Water 2021, 13(24), 3525; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13243525 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2108

Abstract

Water is not only the essence of life and medium of organisms but also the environmental factor that shapes biocenoses, including plant communities [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

39 pages, 20235 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Drivers of Macrophyte and Diatom Diversity in a Shallow Hypertrophic Lake

by Kateřina Šumberová, Ondřej Vild, Michal Ducháček, Martina Fabšičová, Jan Potužák and Markéta Fránková

Water 2021, 13(11), 1569; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111569 - 01 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3079

Abstract

We studied macrophyte and diatom assemblages and a range of environmental factors in the large hypertrophic Dehtář fishpond (Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic) over the course of several growing seasons. The spatial diversity of the environment was considered when collecting diatoms and water samples in three distinct parts of the fishpond, where automatic sensor stations continually measuring basic factors were established. Macrophytes were mapped in 30 segments of the fishpond littoral altogether. High species richness and spatiotemporal variability were found in assemblages of these groups of autotrophs. Water level fluctuations, caused by the interaction of fish farming management and climatic extremes, were identified as one of the most important factors shaping the structure and species composition of diatom and macrophyte assemblages. The distance of the sampling sites from large inflows reflected well the spatial variability within the fishpond, with important differences in duration of bottom drainage and exposure to disturbances in different parts of the fishpond. Disturbances caused by intensive wave action are most probably a crucial factor allowing the coexistence of species with different nutrient requirements under the hypertrophic conditions of the Dehtář fishpond. Due to a range of variables tested and climatic extremes encountered, our study may be considered as a basis for predictive model constructions in similar hypertrophic water bodies under a progressing climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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30 pages, 24816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecology and Genetics of Cyperus fuscus in Central Europe—A Model for Ephemeral Wetland Plant Research and Conservation

by Pavel Kúr, Soňa Píšová, Karin Tremetsberger, Pavel Dřevojan, Zygmunt Kącki, Jörg Böckelmann, Karl-Georg Bernhardt, Zdenka Hroudová, Attila Mesterházy and Kateřina Šumberová

Water 2021, 13(9), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13091277 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2614

Abstract

The ecology and species diversity of ephemeral wetland vegetation have been fairly well studied, but the biology of its characteristic species has rarely been investigated holistically. Here we combine previous results on the genetic diversity of a suitable model species (the diploid Cyperus fuscus) with new data on its historical and recent occurrence, its ecological and climatic niche, and the associated vegetation. Analysis of phytosociological relevés from Central Europe revealed a broad ecological niche of C. fuscus with an optimum in the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea class, extending to several other vegetation types. Overall species composition in the relevés highlight C. fuscus as a potential indicator of habitat conditions suitable for a range of other threatened taxa. Analysis of historical records of C. fuscus from the Czech Republic showed an increasing trend in the number of localities since the 1990s. It seems that recent climate warming allows the thermophilous C. fuscus to expand its range into colder regions. Isoëto-Nanojuncetea and Bidentetea species are well represented in the soil seed bank in both riverine and anthropogenic habitats of C. fuscus. Vegetation diversity has a weak negative effect and anthropogenic (compared to riverine) habitats have a strong negative effect on genetic diversity in this species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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26 pages, 5183 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Distribution of Vascular Plant Communities in Slovenian Watercourses

by Igor Zelnik, Urška Kuhar, Matej Holcar, Mateja Germ and Alenka Gaberščik

Water 2021, 13(8), 1071; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13081071 - 13 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2589

Abstract

Rivers and streams are heterogenous ecosystems that host a great number of vascular plant communities. The territory of Slovenia is highly diverse regarding geomorphologic, geologic, climatic, and edaphic conditions. We presumed that environmental variability will also affect the distribution of hygrophilous vascular plants in running waters and consequently the structure of plant communities they form. We analyzed macrophyte, spatial, and environmental parameters in 906 stretches of the watercourses occurring in the Dinaric, Pannonian, and Po lowland hydro-ecoregions. We determined 87 vascular plant taxa. The most abundant were Myriophyllum spicatum, Phalaris arundinacea, and Potamogeton nodosus. Submerged macrophytes presented about one third of total species abundance, while amphiphytes were somewhat less abundant. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that distance from the source explained 15.1% of the growth form type variability, and current velocity and latitude explained 4.1% each. With the assessed parameters, we explained 31.6% of the variability. When CCA was run with taxa, only 20.9% of their variability was explained with statistically significant parameters. We distinguished 25 different plant associations belonging to five classes and nine alliances. The majority of defined plant communities were distributed in different watercourses belonging to different hydro-ecoregions. Only seven communities had a narrower distribution range, three of them on karst poljes. Among them, the new association Mentho aquaticae-Oenanthetum fistulosae from the river Mali Obrh on the Loško polje was described in this contribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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24 pages, 2724 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Distribution of the Macrophyte Communities in the Danube Reflects River Serial Discontinuity

by Georg A. Janauer, Norbert Exler, Goran Anačkov, Veronika Barta, Árpád Berczik, Pal Boža, Mária Dinka, Valeri Georgiev, Mateja Germ, Matej Holcar, Richard Hrivnák, Ružica Igić, Siniša Ozimec, Anca Sârbu, Brigitte Schmidt, Udo Schmidt-Mumm, Wolfgang Schütz, Katalin Sipos, Elemér Szalma, Jasenka Topić, Sonya Tsoneva, Milan Valachovič, Vladimir Valchev, Dragana Vukov, Igor Zelnik and Alenka Gaberščik Show full author list Hide full author list

Water 2021, 13(7), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070918 - 27 Mar 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3325

Abstract

The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe that is subjected to various man-made alterations, including those related to hydro-power plants. We surveyed and analyzed the presence and abundance of macrophytes in the main channel from 2582 river kilometers (rkm) to 171 rkm. We also assessed selected habitat parameters in the sampled river stretches. Sixty-eight different plant species were recorded along the entire course. Among neophytes, we found Elodea nuttallii, E. canadensis, Vallisneriaspiralis and Azolla filiculoides. Based on similarity analysis, we distinguished 15 plant communities, most of which were defined as associations, which were classified into 5 alliances and represented three vegetation classes, namely vegetation of rooted hydrophytes Potamogetonetea, the vegetation of pleustophytes Lemnetea and vegetation of marshes Phragmitetea. The number and abundance of plant species, as well as plant communities recorded in single stretches, varied along the course. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that environmental parameters explained 21% of plant species composition. CCA runs with neophytes explained 41% of the variance, and current velocity, water transparency, species number and bank structure were significant variables. The present study revealed that the free-running sections of the river are poor in number and abundance of plant species, whereas impounded reaches mainly show an opposite result. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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23 pages, 2180 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Dynamic of Dominant Plant Communities in Kettle Holes (Northeast Germany) during a Five-Year Period of Extreme Weather Conditions

by Marlene Pätzig and Eveline Düker

Water 2021, 13(5), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050688 - 03 Mar 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Understanding the ecosystem functions and services of central European kettle holes (small wetlands) requires knowledge about their spatiotemporal dynamics. A lot of existing research has been conducted on the wet–dry cycles of North American potholes, but much less is known about kettle holes. Based on the extreme weather conditions between 2015 and 2020, we aimed to quantify differences among dominant plant communities of kettle holes using unmanned aerial systems. Different dominant plant communities were differently affected by dry and wet intervals with a major increase in terrestrial plants. Multivariate analysis showed strong variability in plant community composition for permanent and semi-permanent kettle holes, where hydrophytes decreased and nitrophilous perennials increased. Although we cannot provide quantitative results in succession over a five-year observation period, we found indications of progressive succession towards irreversible alternative stable states with woody plants for some kettle holes, especially of the “storage type”. Therefore, we assume stronger changes in proportion of wetland types in kettle holes compared to potholes and we expect the proportion of wood-dominated kettle holes to increase in the central European landscape in the future, leading to enhanced homogenization of the landscape accompanied by a loss of ecosystem functions and services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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16 pages, 2430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Stocks of Hardwood Floodplain Forests along the Middle Elbe: The Influence of Forest Age, Structure, Species, and Hydrological Conditions

by Heather A. Shupe, Timo Hartmann, Mathias Scholz, Kai Jensen and Kristin Ludewig

Water 2021, 13(5), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13050670 - 01 Mar 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2947

Abstract

Hardwood floodplain (HF) forests can store a considerable amount of carbon (C), and floodplains may be good candidates for reforestation to provide natural C sinks. In this study, we use nondestructive inventory methods to estimate the C stocks of different tree species and C pools within HF forests of varying age and structure and located at sites differing in hydrological conditions (low and high active floodplain, seepage water zone, tributaries). The study was carried out along the Elbe river (Germany). Average C stocks for young plantations in the active floodplain were significantly lower (50.2 ± 10.8 SE Mg ha⁻¹) than those of old dense (140.6 ± 11.6 SE Mg ha⁻¹) and old sparse forests (180.4 ± 26.6 SE Mg ha⁻¹) with comparable hydrological conditions. C stocks of old dense forests did not significantly vary from old sparse forests. Additionally, C stocks of old forests did not significantly vary according to hydrological conditions. The highest amount of C was stored in Quercus robur for all hydrological conditions. Ulmus laevis stored the second-highest amount of C on the active floodplain. We conclude that sparse and dense forests as well as forests under different hydrological conditions provide the same C storage function. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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19 pages, 5402 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Wet Meadow Plant Communities of the Alliance Trifolion pallidi on the Southeastern Margin of the Pannonian Plain

by Andraž Čarni, Mirjana Ćuk, Igor Zelnik, Jozo Franjić, Ružica Igić, Miloš Ilić, Daniel Krstonošić, Dragana Vukov and Željko Škvorc

Water 2021, 13(3), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030381 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2684

Abstract

The article deals with wet meadow plant communities of the alliance Trifolion pallidi that appear on the periodically inundated or waterlogged sites on the riverside terraces or gentle slopes along watercourses. These plant communities are often endangered by inappropriate hydrological interventions or management practices. All available vegetation plots representing this vegetation type were collected, organized in a database, and numerically elaborated. This vegetation type appears in the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain, which is still under the influence of the Mediterranean climate; its southern border is formed by southern outcrops of the Pannonian Plain and its northern border coincides with the influence of the Mediterranean climate (line Slavonsko Gorje-Fruška Gora-Vršačke Planine). Numerical analysis established four plant associations—Trifolio pallidi–Alopecuretum pratensis, Ventenato dubii–Trifolietum pallidi, Ranunculo strigulosi–Alopecuretum pratensis, and Ornithogalo pyramidale–Trifolietum pallidi. Each association was elaborated in detail: diagnostic plant species, nomenclature, geographical distribution, climatic and ecological conditions, and possible division into subassociations. Results are presented in a distribution map, figures resulting from numerical analysis, and a synoptic table. The hydrological gradient was found as the most important factor shaping the studied plant communities. The article also brings new field data on this vegetation type, which has not been sampled for decades and is in process of evaluation to be included as a special habitat type in the Habitat Directive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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18 pages, 2765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution of Charophyte Oospores in the Curonian Lagoon and their Relationship to Environmental Forcing

by Vaiva Stragauskaitė, Martynas Bučas and Georg Martin

Water 2021, 13(2), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13020117 - 06 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1826

Abstract

Lack of knowledge about distribution of charophyte fructifications and importance of environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea coastal waters fostered us to assess the spatial-temporal patterns of oospore bank in relationship with environmental factors in the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuanian part). We mapped the distribution of oospores in 2017–2019. The importance of environmental factors was determined by the cluster analysis and boosted regression trees. Four oospores species were recorded up to 4 m depth. The highest mean densities (58,000 ind·m⁻²) of viable fructifications were found along the eastern shore, where the densest charophyte stands were recorded. Viable fructifications showed a clear pattern of filling the oospore bank after the vegetation season and a depletion during the summer as they germinated. The distance from charophyte stands, salinity, bottom slope aspect, and wave exposure were the most important environmental variables. Full fructifications mostly occurred within <0.5 km distance from the charophyte stands restricted to flat and sheltered areas exposed to the northern and eastern slopes. Empty fructifications were mostly found within <2 km distance from the charophyte stands but their high density was limited to <1 km distance from the charophyte stands and on the northeastern bottom slopes and >1.5 salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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15 pages, 3529 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Water Level Fluctuations and Air Temperatures Affect Common Reed Habitus and Productivity in an Intermittent Wetland Ecosystem

by Alenka Gaberščik, Mateja Grašič, Dragan Abram and Igor Zelnik

Water 2020, 12(10), 2806; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102806 - 10 Oct 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2417

Abstract

Lake Cerknica is an intermittent wetland ecosystem with extreme water level fluctuations. It hosts extensive reed stands that have colonized different habitat types. Two different stands were compared: a lake stand not directly influenced by the intermittent River Stržen and a riparian stand near River Stržen. Reed productivity (growth and assimilate allocation) was monitored for these reed stand types over 13 years (2007–2019), and this measurement was compared to monthly water levels and air temperatures. Reeds from the lake reed stand were significantly shorter with a lower shoot density, overall biomass production, and ratio of flowering plants. A correlation analysis revealed stronger and more numerous significant correlations between environmental and reed productivity parameters for the lake reed stand compared to the riparian reed stand. The variabilities of the growth and assimilate allocation parameters in the lake reed stand were both mostly explained by the combined water levels for June and July, which explained 47% and 52% of the variability, respectively. The most influential temperatures were in May, which explained 29% and 19% of the variability of growth and assimilate allocation parameters, respectively. For the riparian reed stand, water levels and temperatures out of the vegetation season appeared more important. Therefore, habitats with permanent water are more suitable for reeds than those with fluctuating water. However, fluctuating water conditions are expected to become more common due to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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16 pages, 6783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long Term Aquatic Vegetation Dynamics in Longgan Lake Using Landsat Time Series and Their Responses to Water Level Fluctuation

by Wenxia Tan, Jindi Xing, Shao Yang, Gongliang Yu, Panpan Sun and Yan Jiang

Water 2020, 12(8), 2178; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082178 - 02 Aug 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3368

Abstract

Aquatic vegetation in shallow freshwater lakes are severely degraded worldwide, even though they are essential for inland ecosystem services. Detailed information about the long term variability of aquatic plants can help investigate the potential driving mechanisms and help mitigate the degradation. In this paper, based on Google Earth Engine cloud-computing platform, we made use of a 33-year (1987–2019) retrospective archive of moderate resolution Landsat TM, ETM + and OLI satellite images to estimate the extent changes in aquatic vegetation in Longgan Lake from Middle Yangtze River Basin in China using the modified enhanced vegetation index, including emerged, floating-leaved and floating macrophytes. The analysis of the long term dynamics of aquatic vegetation showed that aquatic vegetation were mainly distributed in the western part of the lake, where lake bottom elevation ranged from 11 to 12 m, with average water depth of less than 1 m in spring. The vegetation area variation for the 33-year period were divided into six stages. In years with heavy precipitation, the vegetation area decreased sharply. In the following years, the area normally restored. Aquatic vegetation area had a significant negative correlation with the spring water level and summer water level. The results showed that aquatic vegetation was negatively affected when water depth exceeded 2.5 m in May and 5 m in summer. It is recommended that water depth remain close to 1 m in spring and close to 3 m in summer for aquatic vegetation growth. Our study provide quantitative evidence that water-level fluctuations drive vegetation changes in Longgan Lake, and present a basis for sustainable lake restoration and management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function)

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