Publication details

Diversity and distribution of Raunkiær's life forms in European vegetation

Authors

MIDOLO Gabriele AXMANOVÁ Irena DIVÍŠEK Jan DŘEVOJAN Pavel LOSOSOVÁ Zdeňka VEČEŘA Martin KARGER Dirk Nikolaus THUILLER Wilfried BRUELHEIDE Helge ACIC Svetlana ATTORRE Fabio BIURRUN Idoia BOCH Steffen BONARI Gianmaria CARNI Andraz CHIARUCCI Alessandro CUSTEREVSKA Renata DENGLER Juergen DZIUBA Tetiana GARBOLINO Emmanuel JANDT Ute LENOIR Jonathan MARCENO Corrado RUSINA Solvita SIBIK Jozef SKVORC Zeljko STANCIC Zvjezdana STANISIC-VUJACIC Milica SVENNING Jens-Christian SWACHA Grzegorz VASSILEV Kiril CHYTRÝ Milan

Year of publication 2024
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of Vegetation Science
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13229
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13229
Keywords annual plant; growth form; plant functional trait; plant life span; shrub; species richness; tree
Description AimsThe Raunki AE r's system classifies vascular plants into life forms based on the position of renewal buds during periods unfavourable for plant growth. Despite the importance of Raunki AE r's system for ecological research, a study exploring the diversity and distribution of life forms on a continental scale is missing. We aim to (i) map the diversity and distribution of life forms in European vegetation and (ii) test for effects of bioclimatic variables while controlling for habitat-specific responses.LocationEurope.MethodsWe used data on life forms of 8883 species recorded in 546,501 vegetation plots of different habitats (forest, grassland, scrub and wetland). For each plot, we calculated: (i) the proportion of species of each life form and (ii) the richness and evenness of life forms. We mapped these plot-level metrics averaged across 50 km x 50 km grid cells and modelled their response to bioclimatic variables.ResultsHemicryptophytes were the most widespread life form, especially in the temperate zone of Central Europe. Conversely, therophyte and chamaephyte species were more common in the Mediterranean as well as in the dry temperate regions. Moreover, chamaephytes were also more common in the boreal and arctic zones. Higher proportions of phanerophytes were found in the Mediterranean. Overall, a higher richness of life forms was found at lower latitudes while evenness showed more spatially heterogeneous patterns. Habitat type was the main discriminator for most of the responses analysed, but several moisture-related predictors still showed a marked effect on the diversity of therophytes and chamaephytes.ConclusionsOur maps can be used as a tool for future biogeographic and macro-ecological research at a continental scale. Habitat type and bioclimatic conditions are key for regulating the diversity and distribution of plant life forms, with concomitant consequences for the response of functional diversity in European vegetation to global environmental changes.
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