Distribution of habitat specialists in semi-natural grasslands

• Authors: FAJMONOVÁ Zuzana; ZELENÝ David; SYROVÁTKA Vít; VONČINA Grzegorz; HÁJEK Michal
• Year of publication: 2013
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Journal of Vegetation Science
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Science
• Web: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvs.12005/abstract
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12005
• Field: Ecology
• Keywords: Community specificity;Habitat history;Habitat specialist;Hay meadow;Nutrient availability;Pasture;Vegetation;West Carpathians
• Description: We found that some plant communities have higher representation of habitat specialists than expected by chance, mainly semi-dry grasslands in the Outer West Carpathians, and calcareous fens and higher-altitude meadows in the Inner West Carpathians. Habitats that have occurred in the region since the early postglacial period are rich in habitat-specialized grassland species. Habitat specialists tend to occur in nutrient-poor habitats and generalists in nutrient-rich habitats. Nevertheless, some communities on productive habitats and with a relatively short history also show high level of community specificity.

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