@article{WulfRujner2011, author = {Wulf, Monika and Rujner, Hendrik}, title = {A GIS-based method for the reconstruction of the late eighteenth century forest vegetation in the Prignitz region (NE Germany)}, series = {Landscape ecology}, volume = {26}, journal = {Landscape ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2973}, doi = {10.1007/s10980-010-9555-1}, pages = {153 -- 168}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Our goal was to reconstruct the late eighteenth century forest vegetation of the Prignitz region (NE Germany) at a scale of 1:50,000. We also wanted to relate the historical forest vegetation to the actual and potential natural vegetation. For these purposes, we selected 15 woody species and transferred relevant data found in historical records from various sources together with the recent localities of (very) old individuals belonging to these woody species into ArcView GIS. Following multi-step data processing including the generation of a point density layer using a moving window with kernel estimation and derivation of vegetation units applying Boolean algebra rules together with information on site conditions, we derived 17 forest communities corresponding to the potential natural vegetation. We were able to reconstruct the historical forest vegetation for 90\% of the forest area ca. 1780. Only two of the 17 forest communities covered large parts of the forested area. The oak forest with Agrostis capillaris covered about 44\% of the total forest area, and alder forests on fenland made up about 37\%. Oak-hornbeam forests with Stellaria holostea comprised slightly less than 6\% of the forest area, while all other forest communities comprised less than 1\%. The historical forest vegetation is more similar to the potential forest vegetation and quite different from the actual forest vegetation because coniferous tree species currently cover approximately two-thirds of the actual forest area. The most beneficial result of this study is the map of high-resolution historical vegetation units that may serve as the basis for various further studies, e.g., modelling long-term changes in biodiversity at the landscape scale.}, language = {en} } @article{WulfKolk2014, author = {Wulf, Monika and Kolk, Jens}, title = {Plant species richness of very small forests related to patch configuration, quality, heterogeneity and history}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {25}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/jvs.12172}, pages = {1267 -- 1277}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Questions: (i) Is plant species richness related to patch configuration, quality, heterogeneity and history in very small forest patches? (ii) Is there a similar effect of patch configuration, quality, heterogeneity and history on all plant species or does it vary for different plant groups? (iii) Does the importance of patch configuration, quality, heterogeneity and history vary for plant species richness between patch size classes? Location: Prignitz region, western part of Brandenburg, Germany Methods: Plant species lists for 183 forest patches (0.08-12.7 ha) were compiled. We conducted a hierarchical partitioning analysis to test which of the four patch variables - configuration, quality, heterogeneity and history - explained most of the variance in plant species richness and richness of various plant groups. Results: Irrespective of patch size class, species richness is mainly predicted by patch quality and heterogeneity. In particular, generalists are primarily affected by the soil moisture and nutrient level, and specialists additionally by patch heterogeneity and history. A higher historical habitat quality, together with long habitat continuity, led to an increase in forest specialists and geophytes in all patches. In the >5-ha patches only historical habitat quality accounted for a significant increase in the number of species with short-distance dispersal capacity in all species. Regardless of patch size, the number of locally infrequent species increased significantly with historical habitat quality. The effect of patch configuration was negligible, except for space-filling trees and shrubs, when considering all patches. Conclusions: Our more comprehensive statistical approach shows, in general, that all complex variables have an effect on species richness and should be considered in future studies. The fact that patch heterogeneity and quality are the main predictors of species richness indicates that very small forest patches covered a range of highly structured patches and sites having various growth conditions. We assume that the century-old tradition of private ownership with smallholder social structure is the main reason for variability in stand structure and species assemblage, resulting in the uniqueness of each patch. Since the number of locally infrequent plant species increases significantly with historical habitat quality, we suggest that it is particularly important to consider this variable in future studies on the decline of infrequent plant species.}, language = {en} } @article{WasofLenoirGalletMoronetal.2013, author = {Wasof, Safaa and Lenoir, Jonathan and Gallet-Moron, Emilie and Jamoneau, Aurelien and Brunet, J{\"o}rg and Cousins, Sara A. O. and De Frenne, Pieter and Diekmann, Martin and Hermy, Martin and Kolb, Annette and Liira, Jaan and Verheyen, Kris and Wulf, Monika and Decocq, Guillaume}, title = {Ecological niche shifts of understorey plants along a latitudinal gradient of temperate forests in north-western Europe}, series = {Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology}, volume = {22}, journal = {Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology}, number = {10}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1466-822X}, doi = {10.1111/geb.12073}, pages = {1130 -- 1140}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Aim In response to environmental changes and to avoid extinction, species may either track suitable environmental conditions or adapt to the modified environment. However, whether and how species adapt to environmental changes remains unclear. By focusing on the realized niche (i.e. the actual space that a species inhabits and the resources it can access as a result of limiting biotic factors present in its habitat), we here examine shifts in the realized-niche width (i.e. ecological amplitude) and position (i.e. ecological optimum) of 26 common and widespread forest understorey plants across their distributional ranges. Location Temperate forests along a ca. 1800-km-long latitudinal gradient from northern France to central Sweden and Estonia. Methods We derived species' realized-niche width from a -diversity metric, which increases if the focal species co-occurs with more species. Based on the concept that species' scores in a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) represent the locations of their realized-niche positions, we developed a novel approach to run species-specific DCAs allowing the focal species to shift its realized-niche position along the studied latitudinal gradient while the realized-niche positions of other species were held constant. Results None of the 26 species maintained both their realized-niche width and position along the latitudinal gradient. Few species (9 of 26: 35\%) shifted their realized-niche width, but all shifted their realized-niche position. With increasing latitude, most species (22 of 26: 85\%) shifted their realized-niche position for soil nutrients and pH towards nutrient-poorer and more acidic soils. Main conclusions Forest understorey plants shifted their realized niche along the latitudinal gradient, suggesting local adaptation and/or plasticity. This macroecological pattern casts doubt on the idea that the realized niche is stable in space and time, which is a key assumption of species distribution models used to predict the future of biodiversity, hence raising concern about predicted extinction rates.}, language = {en} } @article{VerheyenBaetenDeFrenneetal.2012, author = {Verheyen, Kris and Baeten, Lander and De Frenne, Pieter and Bernhardt-R{\"o}mermann, Markus and Brunet, Jorg and Cornelis, Johnny and Decocq, Guillaume and Dierschke, Hartmut and Eriksson, Ove and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Hommel, Patrick and Kirby, Keith J. and Naaf, Tobias and Peterken, George and Petrik, Petr and Pfadenhauer, Joerg and Van Calster, Hans and Walther, Gian-Reto and Wulf, Monika and Verstraeten, Gorik}, title = {Driving factors behind the eutrophication signal in understorey plant communities of deciduous temperate forests}, series = {The journal of ecology}, volume = {100}, journal = {The journal of ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0022-0477}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01928.x}, pages = {352 -- 365}, year = {2012}, abstract = {1. Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to change forest understorey plant community composition and diversity, but results of experimental addition studies and observational studies are not yet conclusive. A shortcoming of observational studies, which are generally based on resurveys or sampling along large deposition gradients, is the occurrence of temporal or spatial confounding factors. 2. We were able to assess the contribution of N deposition versus other ecological drivers on forest understorey plant communities by combining a temporal and spatial approach. Data from 1205 (semi-)permanent vegetation plots taken from 23 rigorously selected understorey resurvey studies along a large deposition gradient across deciduous temperate forest in Europe were compiled and related to various local and regional driving factors, including the rate of atmospheric N deposition, the change in large herbivore densities and the change in canopy cover and composition. 3. Although no directional change in species richness occurred, there was considerable floristic turnover in the understorey plant community and a shift in species composition towards more shade-tolerant and nutrient-demanding species. However, atmospheric N deposition was not important in explaining the observed eutrophication signal. This signal seemed mainly related to a shift towards a denser canopy cover and a changed canopy species composition with a higher share of species with more easily decomposed litter. 4. Synthesis. Our multi-site approach clearly demonstrates that one should be cautious when drawing conclusions about the impact of atmospheric N deposition based on the interpretation of plant community shifts in single sites or regions due to other, concurrent, ecological changes. Even though the effects of chronically increased N deposition on the forest plant communities are apparently obscured by the effects of canopy changes, the accumulated N might still have a significant impact. However, more research is needed to assess whether this N time bomb will indeed explode when canopies will open up again.}, language = {en} } @article{VannesteValdesVerheyenetal.2018, author = {Vanneste, Thomas and Valdes, Alicia and Verheyen, Kris and Perring, Michael P. and Bernhardt-Roemermann, Markus and Andrieu, Emilie and Brunet, Jorg and Cousins, Sara A. O. and Deconchat, Marc and De Smedt, Pallieter and Diekmann, Martin and Ehrmann, Steffen and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Kolb, Annette and Lenoir, Jonathan and Liira, Jaan and Naaf, Tobias and Paal, Taavi and Wulf, Monika and Decocq, Guillaume and De Frenne, Pieter}, title = {Functional trait variation of forest understorey plant communities across Europe}, series = {Basic and applied ecology : Journal of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r {\"O}kologie}, volume = {34}, journal = {Basic and applied ecology : Journal of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r {\"O}kologie}, publisher = {Elsevier GmbH}, address = {M{\"u}nchen}, issn = {1439-1791}, doi = {10.1016/j.baae.2018.09.004}, pages = {1 -- 14}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Global environmental changes are expected to alter the functional characteristics of understorey herb-layer communities, potentially affecting forest ecosystem functioning. However, little is known about what drives the variability of functional traits in forest understories. Here, we assessed the role of different environmental drivers in shaping the functional trait distribution of understorey herbs in fragmented forests across three spatial scales. We focused on 708 small, deciduous forest patches located in 16 agricultural landscape windows, spanning a 2500-km macroclimatic gradient across the temperate forest biome in Europe. We estimated the relative effect of patch-scale, landscape-scale and macroclimatic variables on the community mean and variation of plant height, specific leaf area and seed mass. Macroclimatic variables (monthly temperature and precipitation extremes) explained the largest proportion of variation in community trait means (on average 77\% of the explained variation). In contrast, patch-scale factors dominated in explaining community trait variation (on average 68\% of the explained variation). Notably, patch age, size and internal heterogeneity had a positive effect on the community-level variability. Landscape-scale variables explained only a minor part of the variation in both trait distribution properties. The variation explained by shared combinations of the variable groups was generally negligible. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple spatial scales in predictions of environmental-change effects on the functionality of forest understories. We propose that forest management sustainability could benefit from conserving larger, historically continuous and internally heterogeneous forest patches to maximise ecosystem service diversity in rural landscapes. (C) 2018 Gesellschaft fur Okologie. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{PlueDeFrenneAcharyaetal.2013, author = {Plue, Jan and De Frenne, Pieter and Acharya, Kamal P. and Brunet, Jorg and Chabrerie, Olivier and Decocq, Guillaume and Diekmann, Martin and Graae, Bente J. and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Kolb, Annette and Lemke, Isgard and Liira, Jaan and Naaf, Tobias and Shevtsova, Anna and Verheyen, Kris and Wulf, Monika and Cousins, Sara A. O.}, title = {Climatic control of forest herb seed banks along a latitudinal gradient}, series = {Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology}, volume = {22}, journal = {Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology}, number = {10}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1466-822X}, doi = {10.1111/geb.12068}, pages = {1106 -- 1117}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Aim Seed banks are central to the regeneration strategy of many plant species. Any factor altering seed bank density thus affects plant regeneration and population dynamics. Although seed banks are dynamic entities controlled by multiple environmental drivers, climatic factors are the most comprehensive, but still poorly understood. This study investigates how climatic variation structures seed production and resulting seed bank patterns. Location Temperate forests along a 1900km latitudinal gradient in north-western (NW) Europe. Methods Seed production and seed bank density were quantified in 153 plots along the gradient for four forest herbs with different seed longevity: Geum urbanum, Milium effusum, Poa nemoralis and Stachys sylvatica. We tested the importance of climatic and local environmental factors in shaping seed production and seed bank density. Results Seed production was determined by population size, and not by climatic factors. G.urbanum and M.effusum seed bank density declined with decreasing temperature (growing degree days) and/or increasing temperature range (maximum-minimum temperature). P.nemoralis and S.sylvatica seed bank density were limited by population size and not by climatic variables. Seed bank density was also influenced by other, local environmental factors such as soil pH or light availability. Different seed bank patterns emerged due to differential seed longevities. Species with long-lived seeds maintained constant seed bank densities by counteracting the reduced chance of regular years with high seed production at colder northern latitudes. Main conclusions Seed bank patterns show clear interspecific variation in response to climate across the distribution range. Not all seed banking species may be as well equipped to buffer climate change via their seed bank, notably in short-term persistent species. Since the buffering capacity of seed banks is key to species persistence, these results provide crucial information to advance climatic change predictions on range shifts, community and biodiversity responses.}, language = {en} } @article{PlueDeFrenneAcharyaetal.2017, author = {Plue, Jan and De Frenne, Pieter and Acharya, Kamal and Brunet, J{\"o}rg and Chabrerie, Olivier and Decocq, Guillaume and Diekmann, Martin and Graae, Bente J. and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Kolb, Annette and Lemke, Isgard and Liira, Jaan and Naaf, Tobias and Verheyen, Kris and Wulf, Monika and Cousins, Sara A. O.}, title = {Where does the community start, and where does it end?}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {28}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/jvs.12493}, pages = {424 -- 435}, year = {2017}, abstract = {QuestionBelow-ground processes are key determinants of above-ground plant population and community dynamics. Still, our understanding of how environmental drivers shape plant communities is mostly based on above-ground diversity patterns, bypassing below-ground plant diversity stored in seed banks. As seed banks may shape above-ground plant communities, we question whether concurrently analysing the above- and below-ground species assemblages may potentially enhance our understanding of community responses to environmental variation. LocationTemperate deciduous forests along a 2000km latitudinal gradient in NW Europe. MethodsHerb layer, seed bank and local environmental data including soil pH, canopy cover, forest cover continuity and time since last canopy disturbance were collected in 129 temperate deciduous forest plots. We quantified herb layer and seed bank diversity per plot and evaluated how environmental variation structured community diversity in the herb layer, seed bank and the combined herb layer-seed bank community. ResultsSeed banks consistently held more plant species than the herb layer. How local plot diversity was partitioned across the herb layer and seed bank was mediated by environmental variation in drivers serving as proxies of light availability. The herb layer and seed bank contained an ever smaller and ever larger share of local diversity, respectively, as both canopy cover and time since last canopy disturbance decreased. Species richness and -diversity of the combined herb layer-seed bank community responded distinctly differently compared to the separate assemblages in response to environmental variation in, e.g. forest cover continuity and canopy cover. ConclusionsThe seed bank is a below-ground diversity reservoir of the herbaceous forest community, which interacts with the herb layer, although constrained by environmental variation in e.g. light availability. The herb layer and seed bank co-exist as a single community by means of the so-called storage effect, resulting in distinct responses to environmental variation not necessarily recorded in the individual herb layer or seed bank assemblages. Thus, concurrently analysing above- and below-ground diversity will improve our ecological understanding of how understorey plant communities respond to environmental variation.}, language = {en} } @article{PerringBernhardtRoemermannBaetenetal.2018, author = {Perring, Michael P. and Bernhardt-Roemermann, Markus and Baeten, Lander and Midolo, Gabriele and Blondeel, Haben and Depauw, Leen and Landuyt, Dries and Maes, Sybryn L. and De Lombaerde, Emiel and Caron, Maria Mercedes and Vellend, Mark and Brunet, Joerg and Chudomelova, Marketa and Decocq, Guillaume and Diekmann, Martin and Dirnboeck, Thomas and Doerfler, Inken and Durak, Tomasz and De Frenne, Pieter and Gilliam, Frank S. and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Hommel, Patrick and Jaroszewicz, Bogdan and Kirby, Keith J. and Kopecky, Martin and Lenoir, Jonathan and Li, Daijiang and Malis, Frantisek and Mitchell, Fraser J. G. and Naaf, Tobias and Newman, Miles and Petrik, Petr and Reczynska, Kamila and Schmidt, Wolfgang and Standovar, Tibor and Swierkosz, Krzysztof and Van Calster, Hans and Vild, Ondrej and Wagner, Eva Rosa and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Global environmental change effects on plant community composition trajectories depend upon management legacies}, series = {Global change biology}, volume = {24}, journal = {Global change biology}, number = {4}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1354-1013}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14030}, pages = {1722 -- 1740}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The contemporary state of functional traits and species richness in plant communities depends on legacy effects of past disturbances. Whether temporal responses of community properties to current environmental changes are altered by such legacies is, however, unknown. We expect global environmental changes to interact with land-use legacies given different community trajectories initiated by prior management, and subsequent responses to altered resources and conditions. We tested this expectation for species richness and functional traits using 1814 survey-resurvey plot pairs of understorey communities from 40 European temperate forest datasets, syntheses of management transitions since the year 1800, and a trait database. We also examined how plant community indicators of resources and conditions changed in response to management legacies and environmental change. Community trajectories were clearly influenced by interactions between management legacies from over 200 years ago and environmental change. Importantly, higher rates of nitrogen deposition led to increased species richness and plant height in forests managed less intensively in 1800 (i.e., high forests), and to decreases in forests with a more intensive historical management in 1800 (i.e., coppiced forests). There was evidence that these declines in community variables in formerly coppiced forests were ameliorated by increased rates of temperature change between surveys. Responses were generally apparent regardless of sites' contemporary management classifications, although sometimes the management transition itself, rather than historic or contemporary management types, better explained understorey responses. Main effects of environmental change were rare, although higher rates of precipitation change increased plant height, accompanied by increases in fertility indicator values. Analysis of indicator values suggested the importance of directly characterising resources and conditions to better understand legacy and environmental change effects. Accounting for legacies of past disturbance can reconcile contradictory literature results and appears crucial to anticipating future responses to global environmental change.}, language = {en} } @article{NitschKaupenjohannWulf2018, author = {Nitsch, Paula and Kaupenjohann, Martin and Wulf, Monika}, title = {Forest continuity, soil depth and tree species are important parameters for SOC stocks in an old forest (Templiner Buchheide, northeast Germany)}, series = {Geoderma : an international journal of soil science}, volume = {310}, journal = {Geoderma : an international journal of soil science}, publisher = {Elsevier Science}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0016-7061}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.08.041}, pages = {65 -- 76}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Forest mineral soils have the potential to accumulate large amounts of carbon (C). Numerous factors, which have often been insufficiently studied, affect soil organic C (SOC) stocks. Detailed knowledge of variation in SOC storage is important to assess the C accumulation potential of forest soils. To examine the impacts of forest continuity, soil depth and tree species on SOC stocks, 15 ancient ( > 230 years of forest continuity) and 15 old ( > 100 but < 200 years of forest continuity) forest soils, topsoil and subsoil in the Templiner Buchheide (Brandenburg, NE Germany) were compared. The old forest sites were afforested on former grassland or wasteland. On all sites grew one of three dominant tree species: European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) or oak (Quercus spec.). Pine forest sites had been underplanted with beech and were mixed-species stands. Soil samples were taken down to a mean depth of 55 cm. Total contents of SOC, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg); soil pH; and bulk densities were determined. The soils of ancient forest sites stored significantly more total SOC, N, P, S, K and Mg than did the old ones. Mean total SOC stocks in ancient forests of all three tree species were 12-17\% larger compared with those in old forests. Significant differences in SOC stocks between the two forest continuity groups appeared only in subsoil and not in topsoil. Pine forest stored larger SOC stocks than did beech and oak forests. Significant differences were found between ancient pine and oak forests and between ancient beech and oak forests. Soils in ancient beech and pine forests at depths of between 29 and 55 cm contained, on average, even 50\% larger SOC stocks than did soils at the same depths in ancient oak forests and in all old forests. Forest continuity significantly affected SOC stocks. These results support previous studies that old forests are still able to enrich SOC. Although soil samples were carried out to a mean depth of only 55 cm, the results indicate that differences in SOC stocks between ancient and old forest could also be found in deeper soil layers. It was suggested that beech and mixed-species stands of beech and pine and total soil P stocks had a positive effect on SOC stocks in subsoil. To understand SOC accumulation in forests, especially in subsoil, with a forest continuity of > 100 years, the role of different tree species and of total P cycling in forests, deeper sampling depths and repeated sampling would be required.}, language = {en} } @article{NaafWulf2012, author = {Naaf, Tobias and Wulf, Monika}, title = {Plant community assembly in temperate forests along gradients of soil fertility and disturbance}, series = {Acta oecologica : international journal of ecology}, volume = {39}, journal = {Acta oecologica : international journal of ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Paris}, issn = {1146-609X}, doi = {10.1016/j.actao.2012.01.009}, pages = {101 -- 108}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Plant community assembly from a regional pool is largely driven by two mechanisms: environmental filtering and niche partitioning, which result in trait convergence or divergence, respectively. Although empirical evidence for both assembly mechanisms exists, the environmental conditions and traits where each of the two assembly patterns is prevalent remain unclear. We studied community assembly mechanisms in herb layer communities of temperate forest patches in NW Germany, looking at distributions of competitive and reproductive traits along gradients of soil fertility and disturbance. We also examined how community assembly patterns changed over a time span of two decades. Canopy height converged toward taller species with increasing soil fertility and increasing light availability. Most reproductive traits diverged with an increasing degree of disturbance and with increasing fertility. Comparisons over time indicated that disturbance events induced the coexistence of species with different reproductive strategies and also selected for tall species as a result of enhanced competitive pressure. Our study demonstrates that in accordance with existing hypotheses, competitive traits (e.g., canopy height) can be convergent in favorable environments. However, this convergence is associated with a divergence of traits related to other challenges (e.g., reproduction), indicating that true functional redundancy within communities does not exist. Moreover, our study shows that the expected divergence of reproductive traits at disturbed sites can be accompanied by a convergence of other traits (e.g., canopy height), indicating that several assembly mechanisms can operate simultaneously.}, language = {en} } @article{NaafWulf2011, author = {Naaf, Tobias and Wulf, Monika}, title = {Traits of winner and loser species indicate drivers of herb layer changes over two decades in forests of NW Germany}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {22}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Malden}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/j.1654-1103.2011.01267.x}, pages = {516 -- 527}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Questions What are the most likely environmental drivers for compositional herb layer changes as indicated by trait differences between winner and loser species? Location Weser-Elbe region (NW Germany). Methods We resurveyed the herb layer communities of ancient forest patches on base-rich sites of 175 semi-permanent plots. Species traits were tested for their ability to discriminate between winner and loser species using logistic regression analyses and deviance partitioning. Results Of 115 species tested, 31 were identified as winner species and 30 as loser species. Winner species had higher seed longevity, flowered later in the season and more often had an oceanic distribution compared to loser species. Loser species tended to have a higher specific leaf area, were more susceptible to deer browsing and had a performance optimum at higher soil pH compared to winner species. The loser species also represented several ancient forest and threatened species. Deviance partitioning indicated that local drivers (i.e. disturbance due to forest management) were primarily responsible for the species shifts, while regional drivers (i.e. browsing pressure and acidification from atmospheric deposition) and global drivers (i.e. climate warming) had moderate effects. There was no evidence that canopy closure, drainage or eutrophication contributed to herb layer changes. Conclusions The relative importance of the different drivers as indicated by the winner and loser species differs from that found in previous long-term studies. Relating species traits to species performance is a valuable tool that provides insight into the environmental drivers that are most likely responsible for herb layer changes.}, language = {en} } @article{NaafWulf2012, author = {Naaf, Tobias and Wulf, Monika}, title = {Does taxonomic homogenization imply functional homogenization in temperate forest herb layer communities?}, series = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, volume = {213}, journal = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1385-0237}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-011-9990-3}, pages = {431 -- 443}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Biotic homogenization, the decrease in beta diversity among formerly distinct species assemblages, has been recognized as an important form of biotic impoverishment for more than a decade. Although researchers have stressed the importance of the functional dimension to understand its potential ecological consequences, biotic homogenization has mostly been studied at a taxonomic level. Here, we explore the relationship between taxonomic and functional homogenization using data on temperate forest herb layer communities in NW Germany, for which taxonomic homogenization has recently been demonstrated. We quantified beta diversity by partitioning Rao's quadratic entropy. We found a general positive relationship between changes in taxonomic and functional beta diversity. This relationship was stronger if multiple functional traits were taken into account. Averaged across sites, however, taxonomic homogenization was not consistently accompanied by functional homogenization. Depending on the traits considered, taxonomic homogenization occurred also together with functional differentiation or no change in functional beta diversity. The species shifts responsible for changes in beta diversity differed substantially between taxonomic and functional beta diversity measures and also among functional beta diversity measures based on different traits. We discuss likely environmental drivers for species shifts. Our study demonstrates that functional homogenization must be explicitly studied as an independent phenomenon that cannot be inferred from taxonomic homogenization.}, language = {en} } @article{MaesPerringVanhellemontetal.2018, author = {Maes, Sybryn L. and Perring, Michael P. and Vanhellemont, Margot and Depauw, Leen and Van den Bulcke, Jan and Brumelis, Guntis and Brunet, Jorg and Decocq, Guillaume and den Ouden, Jan and H{\"a}rdtle, Werner and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Heinrichs, Steffi and Jaroszewicz, Bogdan and Kopeck{\´y}, Martin and Malis, Frantisek and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Environmental drivers interactively affect individual tree growth across temperate European forests}, series = {Global change biology}, volume = {25}, journal = {Global change biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1354-1013}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.14493}, pages = {201 -- 217}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Forecasting the growth of tree species to future environmental changes requires abetter understanding of its determinants. Tree growth is known to respond to global-change drivers such as climate change or atmospheric deposition, as well as to localland-use drivers such as forest management. Yet, large geographical scale studiesexamining interactive growth responses to multiple global-change drivers are relativelyscarce and rarely consider management effects. Here, we assessed the interactiveeffects of three global-change drivers (temperature, precipitation and nitrogen deposi-tion) on individual tree growth of three study species (Quercus robur/petraea, Fagus syl-vatica and Fraxinus excelsior). We sampled trees along spatial environmental gradientsacross Europe and accounted for the effects of management for Quercus. We collectedincrement cores from 267 trees distributed over 151 plots in 19 forest regions andcharacterized their neighbouring environment to take into account potentially confounding factors such as tree size, competition, soil conditions and elevation. Wedemonstrate that growth responds interactively to global-change drivers, with species -specific sensitivities to the combined factors. Simultaneously high levels of precipita-tion and deposition benefited Fraxinus, but negatively affected Quercus' growth, high-lighting species-specific interactive tree growth responses to combined drivers. ForFagus, a stronger growth response to higher temperatures was found when precipita-tion was also higher, illustrating the potential negative effects of drought stress underwarming for this species. Furthermore, we show that past forest management canmodulate the effects of changing temperatures on Quercus' growth; individuals in plotswith a coppicing history showed stronger growth responses to higher temperatures.Overall, our findings highlight how tree growth can be interactively determined by glo-bal-change drivers, and how these growth responses might be modulated by past for-est management. By showing future growth changes for scenarios of environmentalchange, we stress the importance of considering multiple drivers, including past man-agement and their interactions, when predicting tree growth.}, language = {en} } @article{MaesBlondeelPerringetal.2019, author = {Maes, Sybryn L. and Blondeel, Haben and Perring, Michael P. and Depauw, Leen and Brumelis, Guntis and Brunet, J{\"o}rg and Decocq, Guillaume and den Ouden, Jan and Haerdtle, Werner and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Heinrichs, Steffi and Jaroszewicz, Bogdan and Kirby, Keith J. and Kopecky, Martin and Malis, Frantisek and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Litter quality, land-use history, and nitrogen deposition effects on topsoil conditions across European temperate deciduous forests}, series = {Forest ecology and management}, volume = {433}, journal = {Forest ecology and management}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0378-1127}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.056}, pages = {405 -- 418}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Topsoil conditions in temperate forests are influenced by several soil-forming factors, such as canopy composition (e.g. through litter quality), land-use history, atmospheric deposition, and the parent material. Many studies have evaluated the effects of single factors on physicochemical topsoil conditions, but few have assessed the simultaneous effects of multiple drivers. Here, we evaluate the combined effects of litter quality, land-use history (past land cover as well as past forest management), and atmospheric deposition on several physicochemical topsoil conditions of European temperate deciduous forest soils: bulk density, proportion of exchangeable base cations, carbon/nitrogen-ratio (C/N), litter mass, bio-available and total phosphorus, pH(KCI)and soil organic matter. We collected mineral soil and litter layer samples, and measured site characteristics for 190 20 x 20 m European mixed forest plots across gradients of litter quality (derived from the canopy species composition) and atmospheric deposition, and for different categories of past land cover and past forest management. We accounted for the effects of parent material on topsoil conditions by clustering our plots into three soil type groups based on texture and carbonate concentration. We found that litter quality was a stronger driver of topsoil conditions compared to land-use history or atmospheric deposition, while the soil type also affected several topsoil conditions here. Plots with higher litter quality had soils with a higher proportion of exchangeable base cations, and total phosphorus, and lower C/N-ratios and litter mass. Furthermore, the observed litter quality effects on the topsoil were independent from the regional nitrogen deposition or the soil type, although the soil type likely (co)-determined canopy composition and thus litter quality to some extent in the investigated plots. Litter quality effects on topsoil phosphorus concentrations did interact with past land cover, highlighting the need to consider land-use history when evaluating canopy effects on soil conditions. We conclude that forest managers can use the canopy composition as an important tool for influencing topsoil conditions, although soil type remains an important factor to consider.}, language = {en} } @article{LeuschnerWulfBaeuchleretal.2013, author = {Leuschner, Christoph and Wulf, Monika and B{\"a}uchler, Patricia and Hertel, Dietrich}, title = {Soil C and nutrient stores under Scots pine afforestations compared to ancient beech forests in the German Pleistocene - the role of tree species and forest history}, series = {Forest ecology and management}, volume = {310}, journal = {Forest ecology and management}, number = {6}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0378-1127}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2013.08.043}, pages = {405 -- 415}, year = {2013}, abstract = {In the diluvial lowlands of northern Germany, the Netherlands and northern Poland, an estimated similar to 5 Mio ha of Scots pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris) has been established on sandy soil in the last 250 years replacing the former temperate broad-leaved forests after extended periods of cultivation in the Middle Ages. We examined the effect of variable stand continuity of pine plantations (recent vs. ancient: 51-128 vs. >230 years) on the soil organic carbon (SOC) store and soil nutrient capital in comparison to ancient beech forests (>230 years of continuity) which represent the potential natural forest vegetation. Recent and ancient pine stands had c. 75\% larger organic layer C stores than ancient beech forests, while the total C stock in the soil (organic layer and mineral soil to 100 cm) was similar to 25\% larger in the beech forests due to higher C concentrations in 0-50 cm depth of the mineral soil. The soil stores of N-tot were similar to 50\% and the exchangeable Ca, K and Mg pools about three times larger under beech than under the pine stands. Resin-exchangeable P was enriched in the soils under ancient pine stands probably due to manuring in the past. After clear-cut and long cultivation, it may take >230 years of forest presence to restore the greatly reduced mineral soil C and N pools. The C and N sequestration potential of the soils appeared to be particularly small under pine indicating a pronounced tree species (pine vs. beech) effect on soil C and N dynamics. We conclude that, in the face of rising greenhouse gas emissions, the limited soil C and nutrient storage potential of Scots pine plantations on sandy soils needs consideration when selecting suitable tree species for future forestry. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{LeuschnerWulfBaeuchleretal.2014, author = {Leuschner, Christoph and Wulf, Monika and Baeuchler, Patricia and Hertel, Dietrich}, title = {Forest continuity as a key determinant of soil carbon and nutrient storage in beech forests on sandy soils in Northern Germany}, series = {Ecosystems}, volume = {17}, journal = {Ecosystems}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1432-9840}, doi = {10.1007/s10021-013-9738-0}, pages = {497 -- 511}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Forest (or tree) age has been identified as an important determinant of the carbon (C) storage potential of forest soils. A large part of Central Europe's current forested area was affected by land use change with long periods of cultivation in past centuries suggesting that the organic C stocks in the soil (SOC) under recent forest may partly be legacies of the past and that stand age effects have to be distinguished from forest continuity effects (that is, the time since re-afforestation). We examined the influence of mean tree age and forest continuity on the SOC pool and the stores of total N and available P, Ca, Mg, and K in the soil (mineral soil and organic layer) across a sample of 14 beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests on sandy soil with variable tree age (23-189 years) and forest continuity (50-year-old afforestation to ancient ('permanent') forest, that is, > 230 years of proven continuity). Ancient beech forests (> 230 years of continuity) stored on average 47 and 44\% more organic C and total N in the soil than recent beech afforestation (50-128 years of continuity). Contrary to expectation, we found large and significant C and N pool differences between the forest categories in the mineral soil but not in the organic layer indicating that decade- or century-long cultivation has reduced the subsoil C and nutrient stores while the organic layer element pools have approached a new equilibrium after only 50-128 years. PCA and correlation analyses suggest that forest continuity cannot be ignored when trying to understand the variation in soil C stocks between different stands. Forest clearing, subsequent cultivation, and eventual re-afforestation with beech resulted in similar relative stock reductions of C and N and, thus, no change in soil C/N ratio. We conclude that the continuity of forest cover, which may or may not be related to tree age, is a key determinant of the soil C and nutrient stores of beech forests in the old cultural landscape of Central Europe.}, language = {en} } @article{KolkNaafWulf2017, author = {Kolk, Jens and Naaf, Tobias and Wulf, Monika}, title = {Paying the colonization credit}, series = {Biodiversity and conservation}, volume = {26}, journal = {Biodiversity and conservation}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0960-3115}, doi = {10.1007/s10531-016-1271-y}, pages = {735 -- 755}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Massive historical land cover changes in the Central European lowlands have resulted in a forest distribution that now comprises small remnants of ancient forests and more recently established post-agricultural forests. Here, land-use history is considered a key driver of recent herb-layer community changes, where an extinction debt in ancient forest remnants and/or a colonization credit in post-agricultural forests are being paid over time. On a regional scale, these payments should in theory lead toward a convergence in species richness between ancient and post-agricultural forests over time. In this study, we tested this assumption with a resurvey of 117 semi-permanent plots in the well-studied deciduous forests of the Prignitz region (Brandenburg, NE Germany), where we knew that the plant communities of post-agricultural stands exhibit a colonization credit while the extinction debt in ancient stands has largely been paid. We compared changes in the species richness of all herb layer species, forest specialists and ancient forest indicator species between ancient and post-agricultural stands with linear mixed effect models and determined the influence of patch connectivity on the magnitude of species richness changes. Species richness increased overall, but the richness of forest specialists increased significantly more in post-agricultural stands and was positively influenced by higher patch connectivity, indicating a convergence in species richness between the ancient and postagricultural stands. Furthermore, the richness of ancient forest indicator species only increased significantly in post-agricultural stands. For the first time, we were able to verify a gradual payment of the colonization credit in post-agricultural forest stands using a comparison of actual changes in temporal species richness.}, language = {en} } @article{KerneckerFienitzNendeletal.2022, author = {Kernecker, Maria and Fienitz, Meike and Nendel, Claas and Paetzig, Marlene and Walzl, Karin Pirhofer and Raatz, Larissa and Schmidt, Martin and Wulf, Monika and Zscheischler, Jana}, title = {Transition zones across agricultural field boundaries for integrated landscape research and management of biodiversity and yields}, series = {Ecological solutions and evidence}, volume = {3}, journal = {Ecological solutions and evidence}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {2688-8319}, doi = {10.1002/2688-8319.12122}, pages = {7}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Biodiversity conservation and agricultural production have been largely framed as separate goals for landscapes in the discourse on land use. Although there is an increasing tendency to move away from this dichotomy in theory, the tendency is perpetuated by the spatially explicit approaches used in research and management practice. Transition zones (TZ) have previously been defined as areas where two adjacent fields or patches interact, and so they occur abundantly throughout agricultural landscapes. Biodiversity patterns in TZ have been extensively studied, but their relationship to yield patterns and social-ecological dimensions has been largely neglected. Focusing on European, temperate agricultural landscapes, we outline three areas of research and management that together demonstrate how TZ might be used to facilitate an integrated landscape approach: (i) plant and animal species' use and response to boundaries and the resulting effects on yield, for a deeper understanding of how landscape structure shapes quantity and quality of TZ; (ii) local knowledge on field or patch-level management and its interactions with biodiversity and yield in TZ, and (iii) conflict prevention and collaborative management across land-use boundaries.}, language = {en} } @article{DeLombaerdeVerheyenPerringetal.2018, author = {De Lombaerde, Emiel and Verheyen, Kris and Perring, Michael P. and Bernhardt-Roemermann, Markus and Van Calster, Hans and Brunet, Jorg and Chudomelova, Marketa and Decocq, Guillaume and Diekmann, Martin and Durak, Tomasz and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Hommel, Patrick and Jaroszewicz, Bogdan and Kopecky, Martin and Lenoir, Jonathan and Macek, Martin and M{\´a}liš, František and Mitchell, Fraser J. G. and Naaf, Tobias and Newman, Miles and Petř{\´i}k, Petr and Reczyńska, Kamila and Schmidt, Wolfgang and Swierkosz, Krzysztof and Vild, Ondrej and Wulf, Monika and Baetena, Lander}, title = {Responses of competitive understorey species to spatial environmental gradients inaccurately explain temporal changes}, series = {Basic and applied ecology : Journal of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r {\"O}kologie}, volume = {30}, journal = {Basic and applied ecology : Journal of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r {\"O}kologie}, publisher = {Elsevier GMBH}, address = {M{\"u}nchen}, issn = {1439-1791}, doi = {10.1016/j.baae.2018.05.013}, pages = {52 -- 64}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Understorey plant communities play a key role in the functioning of forest ecosystems. Under favourable environmental conditions, competitive understorey species may develop high abundances and influence important ecosystem processes such as tree regeneration. Thus, understanding and predicting the response of competitive understorey species as a function of changing environmental conditions is important for forest managers. In the absence of sufficient temporal data to quantify actual vegetation changes, space-for-time (SFT) substitution is often used, i.e. studies that use environmental gradients across space to infer vegetation responses to environmental change over time. Here we assess the validity of such SFT approaches and analysed 36 resurvey studies from ancient forests with low levels of recent disturbances across temperate Europe to assess how six competitive understorey plant species respond to gradients of overstorey cover, soil conditions, atmospheric N deposition and climatic conditions over space and time. The combination of historical and contemporary surveys allows (i) to test if observed contemporary patterns across space are consistent at the time of the historical survey, and, crucially, (ii) to assess whether changes in abundance over time given recorded environmental change match expectations from patterns recorded along environmental gradients in space. We found consistent spatial relationships at the two periods: local variation in soil variables and overstorey cover were the best predictors of individual species' cover while interregional variation in coarse-scale variables, i.e. N deposition and climate, was less important. However, we found that our SFT approach could not accurately explain the large variation in abundance changes over time. We thus recommend to be cautious when using SFT substitution to infer species responses to temporal changes.}, language = {en} } @article{DeFrenneRodriguezSanchezCoomesetal.2013, author = {De Frenne, Pieter and Rodriguez-Sanchez, Francisco and Coomes, David Anthony and B{\"a}ten, Lander and Verstr{\"a}ten, Gorik and Vellend, Mark and Bernhardt-R{\"o}mermann, Markus and Brown, Carissa D. and Brunet, J{\"o}rg and Cornelis, Johnny and Decocq, Guillaume M. and Dierschke, Hartmut and Eriksson, Ove and Gilliam, Frank S. and Hedl, Radim and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Hommel, Patrick and Jenkins, Michael A. and Kelly, Daniel L. and Kirby, Keith J. and Mitchell, Fraser J. G. and Naaf, Tobias and Newman, Miles and Peterken, George and Petrik, Petr and Schultz, Jan and Sonnier, Gregory and Van Calster, Hans and Waller, Donald M. and Walther, Gian-Reto and White, Peter S. and Woods, Kerry D. and Wulf, Monika and Graae, Bente Jessen and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Microclimate moderates plant responses to macroclimate warming}, series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {110}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {46}, publisher = {National Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1311190110}, pages = {18561 -- 18565}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Recent global warming is acting across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems to favor species adapted to warmer conditions and/or reduce the abundance of cold-adapted organisms (i.e., "thermophilization" of communities). Lack of community responses to increased temperature, however, has also been reported for several taxa and regions, suggesting that "climatic lags" may be frequent. Here we show that microclimatic effects brought about by forest canopy closure can buffer biotic responses to macroclimate warming, thus explaining an apparent climatic lag. Using data from 1,409 vegetation plots in European and North American temperate forests, each surveyed at least twice over an interval of 12-67 y, we document significant thermophilization of ground-layer plant communities. These changes reflect concurrent declines in species adapted to cooler conditions and increases in species adapted to warmer conditions. However, thermophilization, particularly the increase of warm-adapted species, is attenuated in forests whose canopies have become denser, probably reflecting cooler growing-season ground temperatures via increased shading. As standing stocks of trees have increased in many temperate forests in recent decades, local microclimatic effects may commonly be moderating the impacts of macroclimate warming on forest understories. Conversely, increases in harvesting woody biomass-e.g., for bioenergy-may open forest canopies and accelerate thermophilization of temperate forest biodiversity.}, language = {en} } @article{DeFrenneBaetenGraaeetal.2011, author = {De Frenne, Pieter and Baeten, Lander and Graae, Bente J. and Brunet, Jorg and Wulf, Monika and Orczewska, Anna and Kolb, Annette and Jansen, Ivy and Jamoneau, Aurelien and Jacquemyn, Hans and Hermy, Martin and Diekmann, Martin and De Schrijver, An and De Sanctis, Michele and Decocq, Guillaume and Cousins, Sara A. O. and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Interregional variation in the floristic recovery of post-agricultural forests}, series = {The journal of ecology}, volume = {99}, journal = {The journal of ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Malden}, issn = {0022-0477}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01768.x}, pages = {600 -- 609}, year = {2011}, abstract = {1. Worldwide, the floristic composition of temperate forests bears the imprint of past land use for decades to centuries as forests regrow on agricultural land. Many species, however, display significant interregional variation in their ability to (re)colonize post-agricultural forests. This variation in colonization across regions and the underlying factors remain largely unexplored. 2. We compiled data on 90 species and 812 species x study combinations from 18 studies across Europe that determined species' distribution patterns in ancient (i.e. continuously forested since the first available land use maps) and post-agricultural forests. The recovery rate (RR) of species in each landscape was quantified as the log-response ratio of the percentage occurrence in post-agricultural over ancient forest and related to the species-specific life-history traits and local (soil characteristics and light availability) and regional factors (landscape properties as habitat availability, time available for colonization, and climate). 3. For the herb species, we demonstrate a strong (interactive) effect of species' life-history traits and forest habitat availability on the RR of post-agricultural forest. In graminoids, however, none of the investigated variables were significantly related to the RR. 4. The better colonizing species that mainly belonged to the short-lived herbs group showed the largest interregional variability. Their recovery significantly increased with the amount of forest habitat within the landscape, whereas, surprisingly, the time available for colonization, climate, soil characteristics and light availability had no effect. 5. Synthesis. By analysing 18 independent studies across Europe, we clearly showed for the first time on a continental scale that the recovery of short-lived forest herbs increased with the forest habitat availability in the landscape. Small perennial forest herbs, however, were generally unsuccessful in colonizing post-agricultural forest even in relatively densely forested landscapes. Hence, our results stress the need to avoid ancient forest clearance to preserve the typical woodland flora.}, language = {en} } @article{CaronDeFrenneBrunetetal.2015, author = {Caron, Maria Mercedes and De Frenne, Pieter and Brunet, J{\"o}rg and Chabrerie, Olivier and Cousins, Sara A. O. and Decocq, Guillaume and Diekmann, Martin and Graae, Bente Jessen and Heinken, Thilo and Kolb, Annette and Lenoir, Jonathan and Naaf, Tobias and Plue, Jan and Selvi, Federico and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Divergent regeneration responses of two closely related tree species to direct abiotic and indirect biotic effects of climate change}, series = {Forest ecology and management}, volume = {342}, journal = {Forest ecology and management}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0378-1127}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2015.01.003}, pages = {21 -- 29}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Changing temperature and precipitation can strongly influence plant reproduction. However, also biotic interactions might indirectly affect the reproduction and recruitment success of plants in the context of climate change. Information about the interactive effects of changes in abiotic and biotic factors is essential, but still largely lacking, to better understand the potential effects of a changing climate on plant populations. Here we analyze the regeneration from seeds of Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus, two currently secondary forest tree species from seven regions along a 2200 km-wide latitudinal gradient in Europe. We assessed the germination, seedling survival and growth during two years in a common garden experiment where temperature, precipitation and competition with the understory vegetation were manipulated. A. platanoides was more sensitive to changes in biotic conditions while A. pseudoplatanus was affected by both abiotic and biotic changes. In general, competition reduced (in A. platanoides) and warming enhanced (in A. pseudoplatanus) germination and survival, respectively. Reduced competition strongly increased the growth of A. platanoides seedlings. Seedling responses were independent of the conditions experienced by the mother tree during seed production and maturation. Our results indicate that, due to the negative effects of competition on the regeneration of A. platanoides, it is likely that under stronger competition (projected under future climatic conditions) this species will be negatively affected in terms of germination, survival and seedling biomass. Climate-change experiments including both abiotic and biotic factors constitute a key step forward to better understand the response of tree species' regeneration to climate change. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{CaronDeFrenneBrunetetal.2015, author = {Caron, Maria Mercedes and De Frenne, Pieter and Brunet, J. and Chabrerie, Olivier and Cousins, S. A. O. and De Backer, L. and Decocq, G. and Diekmann, M. and Heinken, Thilo and Kolb, A. and Naaf, T. and Plue, J. and Selvi, Federico and Strimbeck, G. R. and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Interacting effects of warming and drought on regeneration and early growth of Acer pseudoplatanus and A. platanoides}, series = {Plant biology}, volume = {17}, journal = {Plant biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1435-8603}, doi = {10.1111/plb.12177}, pages = {52 -- 62}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Climate change is acting on several aspects of plant life cycles, including the sexual reproductive stage, which is considered amongst the most sensitive life-cycle phases. In temperate forests, it is expected that climate change will lead to a compositional change in community structure due to changes in the dominance of currently more abundant forest tree species. Increasing our understanding of the effects of climate change on currently secondary tree species recruitment is therefore important to better understand and forecast population and community dynamics in forests. Here, we analyse the interactive effects of rising temperatures and soil moisture reduction on germination, seedling survival and early growth of two important secondary European tree species, Acer pseudoplatanus and A.platanoides. Additionally, we analyse the effect of the temperature experienced by the mother tree during seed production by collecting seeds of both species along a 2200-km long latitudinal gradient. For most of the responses, A.platanoides showed higher sensitivity to the treatments applied, and especially to its joint manipulation, which for some variables resulted in additive effects while for others only partial compensation. In both species, germination and survival decreased with rising temperatures and/or soil moisture reduction while early growth decreased with declining soil moisture content. We conclude that although A.platanoides germination and survival were more affected after the applied treatments, its initial higher germination and larger seedlings might allow this species to be relatively more successful than A.pseudoplatanus in the face of climate change.}, language = {en} } @article{CaronDeFrenneBrunetetal.2014, author = {Caron, Maria Mercedes and De Frenne, P. and Brunet, J. and Chabrerie, Olivier and Cousins, S. A. O. and De Backer, L. and Diekmann, M. and Graae, B. J. and Heinken, Thilo and Kolb, A. and Naaf, T. and Plue, J. and Selvi, F. and Strimbeck, G. R. and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Latitudinal variation in seeds characteristics of Acer platanoides and A. pseudoplatanus}, series = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, volume = {215}, journal = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, number = {8}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1385-0237}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-014-0343-x}, pages = {911 -- 925}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Climate change will likely affect population dynamics of numerous plant species by modifying several aspects of the life cycle. Because plant regeneration from seeds may be particularly vulnerable, here we assess the possible effects of climate change on seed characteristics and present an integrated analysis of seven seed traits (nutrient concentrations, samara mass, seed mass, wing length, seed viability, germination percentage, and seedling biomass) of Acer platanoides and A. pseudoplatanus seeds collected along a wide latitudinal gradient from Italy to Norway. Seed traits were analyzed in relation to the environmental conditions experienced by the mother trees along the latitudinal gradient. We found that seed traits of A. platanoides were more influenced by the climatic conditions than those of A. pseudoplatanus. Additionally, seed viability, germination percentage, and seedling biomass of A. platanoides were strongly related to the seed mass and nutrient concentration. While A. platanoides seeds were more influenced by the environmental conditions (generally negatively affected by rising temperatures), compared to A. pseudoplatanus, A. platanoides still showed higher germination percentage and seedling biomass than A. pseudoplatanus. Thus, further research on subsequent life-history stages of both species is needed. The variation in seed quality observed along the climatic gradient highlights the importance of studying the possible impact of climate change on seed production and species demography.}, language = {en} } @article{BernhardtRoemermannBaetenCravenetal.2015, author = {Bernhardt-R{\"o}mermann, Markus and Baeten, Lander and Craven, Dylan and De Frenne, Pieter and Hedl, Radim and Lenoir, Jonathan and Bert, Didier and Brunet, Jorg and Chudomelova, Marketa and Decocq, Guillaume and Dierschke, Hartmut and Dirnboeck, Thomas and D{\"o}rfler, Inken and Heinken, Thilo and Hermy, Martin and Hommel, Patrick and Jaroszewicz, Bogdan and Keczynski, Andrzej and Kelly, Daniel L. and Kirby, Keith J. and Kopecky, Martin and Macek, Martin and Malis, Frantisek and Mirtl, Michael and Mitchell, Fraser J. G. and Naaf, Tobias and Newman, Miles and Peterken, George and Petrik, Petr and Schmidt, Wolfgang and Standovar, Tibor and Toth, Zoltan and Van Calster, Hans and Verstraeten, Gorik and Vladovic, Jozef and Vild, Ondrej and Wulf, Monika and Verheyen, Kris}, title = {Drivers of temporal changes in temperate forest plant diversity vary across spatial scales}, series = {Global change biology}, volume = {21}, journal = {Global change biology}, number = {10}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1354-1013}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12993}, pages = {3726 -- 3737}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Global biodiversity is affected by numerous environmental drivers. Yet, the extent to which global environmental changes contribute to changes in local diversity is poorly understood. We investigated biodiversity changes in a meta-analysis of 39 resurvey studies in European temperate forests (3988 vegetation records in total, 17-75years between the two surveys) by assessing the importance of (i) coarse-resolution (i.e., among sites) vs. fine-resolution (i.e., within sites) environmental differences and (ii) changing environmental conditions between surveys. Our results clarify the mechanisms underlying the direction and magnitude of local-scale biodiversity changes. While not detecting any net local diversity loss, we observed considerable among-site variation, partly explained by temporal changes in light availability (a local driver) and density of large herbivores (a regional driver). Furthermore, strong evidence was found that presurvey levels of nitrogen deposition determined subsequent diversity changes. We conclude that models forecasting future biodiversity changes should consider coarse-resolution environmental changes, account for differences in baseline environmental conditions and for local changes in fine-resolution environmental conditions.}, language = {en} }