0000000000187919
AUTHOR
Patryk Czortek
Benchmarking plant diversity of Palaearctic grasslands and other open habitats
© 2021 The Authors.
Scale dependence of species–area relationships is widespread but generally weak in Palaearctic grasslands
Questions: Species–area relationships (SARs) are fundamental for understanding biodiversity patterns and are generally well described by a power law with a constant exponent z. However, z-values sometimes vary across spatial scales. We asked whether there is a general scale dependence of z-values at fine spatial grains and which potential drivers influence it. Location: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We used 6,696 nested-plot series of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens from the GrassPlot database with two or more grain sizes, ranging from 0.0001 m² to 1,024 m² and covering diverse open habitats. The plots were recorded with two widespread sampling approaches (rooted presenc…
Is salvage logging a proper tool for restoration of forest ecosystems affected by bark beetle outbreak?
Is salvage logging on deciduous forest habitats essential in restoration of forest ecosystems affected by bark beetle outbreak? Biotic and abiotic disturbances are part of the life cycle of natural forests. They increase the structural and biotic diversity of forests ecosystems. Norway-spruce dominated stands of Central Europe are often affected by outbreaks of Ips typographus, which initiate "stand replacement" pathways of forest regeneration (sensu Veblen 1992). Such processes are difficult to accept from the point of view of forestry. Thus, in forest stands disturbed by the insect outbreaks, salvage logging and tree replanting are usually implemented, while natural processes leading to f…