TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, Rene
A1  - Schulz, Tim Julius
A1  - Voigt, Aanja
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Isken, F.
A1  - Pfeiffer, Andreas F. H.
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
T1  - Targeted disruption of frataxin in hepatocytes causes spontaneous neoplasia accompanied by increased ROS formation
Y1  - 2004
SN  - 0028-1298
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, Renè
A1  - Schulz, Tim Julius
A1  - Isken, Frank
A1  - Voigt, Aanja
A1  - Mietzner, Brun
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - von Kleist-Retzow, Jürgen-Christoph
A1  - Wiesner, Rudolf J.
A1  - Magnuson, Mark A.
A1  - Puccio, Helene
A1  - Pfeiffer, Andreas F. H.
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - Targeted disruption of hepatic frataxin expression causes impaired mitochondrial function, decreased life span and tumor growth in mice
N2  - We have disrupted expression of the mitochondrial Friedreich ataxia protein frataxin specifically in murine hepatocytes to generate mice with impaired mitochondrial function and decreased oxidative phosphorylation. These animals have a reduced life span and develop multiple hepatic tumors. Livers also show increased oxidative stress, impaired respiration and reduced ATP levels paralleled by reduced activity of iron-sulfur cluster (Fe/S) containing proteins (ISP), which all leads to increased hepatocyte turnover by promoting both apoptosis and proliferation. Accordingly, phosphorylation of the stress-inducible p38 MAP kinase was found to be specifically impaired following disruption of frataxin. Taken together, these findings indicate that frataxin may act as a mitochondrial tumor suppressor protein in mammals
Y1  - 2005
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schulz, Tim Julius
A1  - Thierbach, Renè
A1  - Voigt, Anja
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Mietzner, Brun
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
A1  - Pfeiffer, Andreas F. H.
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - Induction of oxidative metabolism by mitochondrial frataxin inhibits cancer growth : Otto Warburg revisited
N2  - More than 80 years ago Otto Warburg suggested that cancer might be caused by a decrease in mitochondrial energy metabolism paralleled by an increase in glycolytic flux. In later years, it was shown that cancer cells exhibit multiple alterations in mitochondrial content, structure, function, and activity. We have stably overexpressed the Friedreich ataxia-associated protein frataxin in several colon cancer cell lines. These cells have increased oxidative metabolism, as shown by concurrent increases in aconitase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, cellular respiration, and ATP content. Consistent with Warburg's hypothesis, we found that frataxin-overexpressing cells also have decreased growth rates and increased population doubling times, show inhibited colony formation capacity in soft agar assays, and exhibit a reduced capacity for tumor formation when injected into nude mice. Furthermore, overexpression of frataxin leads to an increased phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, as well as decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Taken together, these results support the view that an increase in oxidative metabolism induced by mitochondrial frataxin may inhibit cancer growth in mammals
Y1  - 2006
UR  - http://www.jbc.org/content/281/2/977.full.pdf+html
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M511064200
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bleeker, Walter
A1  - Schmitz, Ulf
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - Interspecific hybridisation between alien and native plant species in Germany and its consequences for native biodiversity
N2  - We explored the extent of interspecific hybridisation between alien and native plant species in Germany with a special focus on the potential threat for native biodiversity. In total we listed 134 hybrids which are interpreted as products of hybridisation between 81 alien and 109 native plant species (including 13 archeophytes) that occur in Germany Seventy-five of these hybrids have been recorded in Germany, while the remaining 59 hybrids have not been detected in Germany yet, although both parental species currently occur in Germany. Interspecific hybridisation between abundant alien and rare native species can threaten populations of the native species through outbreeding depression and/ or through high rates of gene flow swamping native populations. We identified 37 threatened native plant species which hybridise with aliens. Seventeen of these threatened plant species may suffer from outbreeding depression when hybridising with a more abundant alien invader (minority disadvantage). Using hybrid abundance as an indicator of hybrid fitness we argue that introgression of alien genes may affect the gene pool of eight threatened native plant species. Consequently, hybridisation with aliens has to be considered as an additional risk potentially leading to a loss of biodiversity and should be included in the repertoire of causes for rare species extinction in German Red Lists of threatened plant species.
Y1  - 2007
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00063207
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2007.02.004
SN  - 0006-3207
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, René
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Fusser, Markus
A1  - Wolfrum, Kathrin
A1  - Epe, Bernd
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
T1  - A role for iron-sulfur cluster proteins in DNA repair
Y1  - 2009
UR  - http://www.springerlink.com/content/100530
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-009-0404-1
SN  - 0028-1298
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, René
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Fusser, Markus
A1  - Voigt, Anja
A1  - Kuhlow, Doreen
A1  - Blume, Urte
A1  - Schulz, Tim Julius
A1  - Reiche, Carina
A1  - Glatt, Hansruedi
A1  - Epe, Bernd
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - The Friedreich's ataxia protein frataxin modulates DNA base excision repair in prokaryotes and mammals
N2  - DNA-repair mechanisms enable cells to maintain their genetic information by protecting it from mutations that may cause malignant growth. Recent evidence suggests that specific DNA-repair enzymes contain ISCs (iron-sulfur clusters). The nuclear-encoded protein frataxin is essential for the mitochondrial biosynthesis of ISCs. Frataxin deficiency causes a neurodegenerative disorder named Friedreich's ataxia in humans. Various types of cancer occurring at young age are associated with this disease, and hence with frataxin deficiency. Mice carrying a hepatocyte- specific disruption of the frataxin gene develop multiple liver tumours for unresolved reasons. In the present study, we show that frataxin deficiency in murine liver is associated with increased basal levels of oxidative DNA base damage. Accordingly, eukaryotic V79 fibroblasts overexpressing human frataxin show decreased basal levels of these modifications, while prokaryotic Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium TA 104 strains transformed with human frataxin show decreased mutation rates. The repair rates of oxidative DNA base modifications in V79 cells overexpressing frataxin were significantly higher than in control cells. Lastly, cleavage activity related to the ISC-independent repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine glycosylase was found to be unaltered by frataxin overexpression. These findings indicate that frataxin modulates DNA-repair mechanisms probably due to its impact on ISC-dependent repair proteins, linking mitochondrial dysfunction to DNA repair and tumour initiation.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www.biochemj.org/bj/toc.htm
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1042/Bj20101116
SN  - 0264-6021
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, René
A1  - Blume, Urte
A1  - Wolfrum, K.
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Voigt, Anja
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
T1  - Altered carbohydrate metabolism in a tumour developing knock-out mice model
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www.springerlink.com/content/100530
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-010-0508-7
SN  - 0028-1298
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wagner, Viktoria
A1  - Antunes, Pedro M.
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Lechner, Ute
A1  - Hensen, Isabell
T1  - Prevailing negative soil biota effect and no evidence for local adaptation in a widespread eurasian grass
JF  - PLoS one
N2  - Background: Soil biota effects are increasingly accepted as an important driver of the abundance and distribution of plants. While biogeographical studies on alien invasive plant species have indicated coevolution with soil biota in their native distribution range, it is unknown whether adaptation to soil biota varies among populations within the native distribution range. The question of local adaptation between plants and their soil biota has important implications for conservation of biodiversity and may justify the use of seed material from local provenances in restoration campaigns.
 Methodology/Principal Findings: We studied soil biota effects in ten populations of the steppe grass Stipa capillata from two distinct regions, Europe and Asia. We tested for local adaptation at two different scales, both within (ca. 10-80 km) and between (ca. 3300 km) regions, using a reciprocal inoculation experiment in the greenhouse for nine months. Generally, negative soil biota effects were consistent. However, we did not find evidence for local adaptation: both within and between regions, growth of plants in their 'home soil' was not significantly larger relative to that in soil from other, more distant, populations.
 Conclusions/Significance: Our study suggests that negative soil biota effects can prevail in different parts of a plant species' range. Absence of local adaptation points to the possibility of similar rhizosphere biota composition across populations and regions, sufficient gene flow to prevent coevolution, selection in favor of plasticity, or functional redundancy among different soil biota. From the point of view of plant - soil biota interactions, our findings indicate that the current practice of using seeds exclusively from local provenances in ecosystem restoration campaigns may not be justified.
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0017580
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 6
IS  - 3
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Fransisco
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lauterbach, Dirk
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Gemeinholzer, B.
T1  - Genetic population structure, fitness variation and the importance of population history in remnant populations of the endangered plant Silene chlorantha (Willd.) Ehrh. (Caryophyllaceae)
JF  - Plant biology
N2  - Habitat fragmentation can lead to a decline of genetic diversity, a potential risk for the survival of natural populations. Fragmented populations can become highly differentiated due to reduced gene flow and genetic drift. A decline in number of individuals can result in lower reproductive fitness due to inbreeding effects. We investigated genetic variation within and between 11 populations of the rare and endangered plant Silene chlorantha in northeastern Germany to support conservation strategies. Genetic diversity was evaluated using AFLP techniques and the results were correlated to fitness traits. Fitness evaluation in nature and in a common garden approach was conducted. Our analysis revealed population differentiation was high and within population genetic diversity was intermediate. A clear population structure was supported by a Bayesian approach, AMOVA and neighbour-joining analysis. No correlation between genetic and geographic distance was found. Our results indicate that patterns of population differentiation were mainly caused by temporal and/or spatial isolation and genetic drift. The fitness evaluation revealed that pollinator limitation and habitat quality seem, at present, to be more important to reproductive fitness than genetic diversity by itself. Populations of S. chlorantha with low genetic diversity have the potential to increase in individual number if habitat conditions improve. This was detected in a single large population in the investigation area, which was formerly affected by bottleneck effects.
KW  - AFLP
KW  - fitness
KW  - population genetic structure
KW  - population history
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00418.x
SN  - 1435-8603
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
SP  - 667
EP  - 677
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Thierbach, Rene
A1  - Florian, Simone
A1  - Wolfrum, Katharina
A1  - Voigt, Anja
A1  - Drewes, Gunnar
A1  - Blume, Urte
A1  - Bannasch, Peter
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Steinberg, Pablo
T1  - Specific alterations of carbohydrate metabolism are associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in mitochondrially impaired mice
JF  - Human molecular genetics
N2  - Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the reduced expression of the mitochondrially active protein frataxin. We have previously shown that mice with a hepatocyte-specific frataxin knockout (AlbFxn(-/-)) develop multiple hepatic tumors in later life. In the present study, hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in AlbFxn(-/-) mice at an early and late life stage was analyzed. In young (5-week-old) AlbFxn(-/-) mice hepatic ATP, glucose-6-phosphate and glycogen levels were found to be reduced by similar to 74, 80 and 88%, respectively, when compared with control animals. This pronounced ATP, G6P and glycogen depletion in the livers of young mice reverted in older animals: while half of the mice die before 30 weeks of age, the other half reaches 17 months of age and exhibits glycogen, G6P and ATP levels similar to those in age-matched controls. A key event in this respect seems to be the up-regulation of GLUT1, the predominant glucose transporter in fetal liver parenchyma, which became evident in AlbFxn(-/-) mice being 5-12 weeks of age. The most significant histological findings in animals being 17 or 22 months of age were the appearance of multiple clear cell, mixed cell and basophilic foci throughout the liver parenchyma as well as the development of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. The hepatocarcinogenic process in AlbFxn 2/2 mice shows remarkable differences regarding carbohydrate metabolism alterations when compared with all other chemically and virally driven liver cancer models described up to now.
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddr499
SN  - 0964-6906
VL  - 21
IS  - 3
SP  - 656
EP  - 663
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lauterbach, Daniel
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Gemeinholzer, Birgit
T1  - Population genetics and fitness in fragmented populations of the dioecious and endangered Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae)
JF  - Plant systematics and evolution
N2  - Population fragmentation is often correlated with loss of genetic diversity and reduced fitness. Obligate out-crossing (dioecy) is expected to enhance genetic diversity, reduce genetic differentiation, and avoid inbreeding depression through frequent gene flow. However, in highly fragmented populations dioecy has only diminishing effects upon genetic structure as pollination limitations (e.g. flight distance of pollinators) most often restrict inter-population gene flow in insect pollinated species. In fragmented dry grasslands in northeastern Germany, we analysed genetic structure, fitness, and habitat quality of the endangered dioecious Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae). Using AFLP markers, a high level of differentiation among ten populations was found (F (st) = 0.36), while the intra-population genetic diversities (H (E) = 0.165-0.240) were similar as compared to hermaphroditic species. There was neither a correlation between geographic and genetic distance nor between genetic diversity and population size, which indicates reduced gene flow among populations and random genetic drift. Plant size was positively correlated with genetic diversity. Seed set and number of juveniles were positively related to population size. Higher total coverage resulted in reduced plant fitness, and the number of juveniles was negatively correlated to cryptogam cover. Additionally, we found a sex ratio bias towards more male plants in larger populations. Overall, our results indicate that on a regional geographic scale dioecy does not necessarily prevent genetic erosion in the case of habitat fragmentation, especially in the absence of long distance seed and pollen dispersal capacity.
KW  - AFLP
KW  - Population size
KW  - Mating system
KW  - Isolation by distance
KW  - Sex ratio
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0533-0
SN  - 0378-2697
VL  - 298
IS  - 1
SP  - 155
EP  - 164
PB  - Springer
CY  - Wien
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gemeinholzer, B.
A1  - May, F.
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Batsch, C.
A1  - Lauterbach, D.
T1  - Strong genetic differentiation on a fragmentation gradient among populations of the heterocarpic annual Catananche lutea L. (Asteraceae)
JF  - Plant systematics and evolution
N2  - In landscapes which are predominately characterised by agriculture, natural ecosystems are often reduced to a mosaic of scattered patches of natural vegetation. Species with formerly connected distribution ranges now have restricted gene flow among populations. This has isolating effects upon population structure, because species are often confined by their limited dispersal capabilities. In this study, we test the effects of habitat fragmentation, precipitation, and isolation of populations on the genetic structure (AFLP) and fitness of the Asteraceae Catananche lutea. Our study area is an agro-dominated ecosystem in the desert-Mediterranean transition zone of the Southern Judea Lowlands in Israel. Our analysis revealed an intermediate level of intra-population genetic diversity across the study site with reduced genetic diversity on smaller scale. Although the size of the whole study area was relatively small (20 x 45 km), we found isolation by distance to be effective. We detected a high level of genetic differentiation among populations but genetic structure did not reflect spatial patterns. Population genetic diversity was correlated neither with position along the precipitation gradient nor with different seed types or other plant fitness variables in C. lutea.
KW  - AFLP
KW  - Heterocarpy
KW  - Population structure
KW  - Precipitation gradient
KW  - Asteraceae
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-012-0661-1
SN  - 0378-2697
VL  - 298
IS  - 8
SP  - 1585
EP  - 1596
PB  - Springer
CY  - Wien
ER  - 
TY  - INPR
A1  - Cierjacks, Arne
A1  - Kowarik, Ingo
A1  - Joshi, Jasmin Radha
A1  - Hempel, Stefan
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - von der Lippe, Moritz
A1  - Weber, Ewald
T1  - Biological flora of the british isles: robinia pseudoacacia
T2  - The journal of ecology
N2  - This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Robinia pseudoacacia L. that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, and history and conservation.Robinia pseudoacacia, false acacia or black locust, is a deciduous, broad-leaved tree native to North America. The medium-sized, fast-growing tree is armed with spines, and extensively suckering. It has become naturalized in grassland, semi-natural woodlands and urban habitats. The tree is common in the south of the British Isles and in many other regions of Europe.Robinia pseudoacacia is a light-demanding pioneer species, which occurs primarily in disturbed sites on fertile to poor soils. The tree does not tolerate wet or compacted soils. In contrast to its native range, where it rapidly colonizes forest gaps and is replaced after 15-30years by more competitive tree species, populations in the secondary range can persist for a longer time, probably due to release from natural enemies.Robinia pseudoacacia reproduces sexually, and asexually by underground runners. Disturbance favours clonal growth and leads to an increase in the number of ramets. Mechanical stem damage and fires also lead to increased clonal recruitment. The tree benefits from di-nitrogen fixation associated with symbiotic rhizobia in root nodules. Estimated symbiotic nitrogen fixation rates range widely from 23 to 300kgha(-1)year(-1). The nitrogen becomes available to other plants mainly by the rapid decay of nitrogen-rich leaves.Robinia pseudoacacia is host to a wide range of fungi both in the native and introduced ranges. Megaherbivores are of minor significance in Europe but browsing by ungulates occurs in the native range. Among insects, the North American black locust gall midge (Obolodiplosis robiniae) is specific to Robinia and is spreading rapidly throughout Europe. In parts of Europe, Robinia pseudoacacia is considered an invasive non-indigenous plant and the tree is controlled. Negative impacts include shading and changes of soil conditions as a result of nitrogen fixation.
KW  - climatic limitation
KW  - ecophysiology
KW  - geographical and altitudinal distribution
KW  - germination
KW  - invasive
KW  - mycorrhiza
KW  - nitrogen fixation
KW  - parasites and diseases
KW  - reproductive biology
KW  - soils
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12162
SN  - 0022-0477
SN  - 1365-2745
VL  - 101
IS  - 6
SP  - 1623
EP  - 1640
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Giladi, Itamar
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Ziv, Yaron
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
T1  - Metacommunity, mainland-island system or island communities? : assessing the regional dynamics of plant communities in a fragmented landscape
JF  - Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology ; research papers forum
N2  - Understanding the regional dynamics of plant communities is crucial for predicting the response of plant diversity to habitat fragmentation. However, for fragmented landscapes the importance of regional processes, such as seed dispersal among isolated habitat patches, has been controversially debated. Due to the stochasticity and rarity of among-patch dispersal and colonization events, we still lack a quantitative understanding of the consequences of these processes at the landscape-scale. In this study, we used extensive field data from a fragmented, semi-arid landscape in Israel to parameterize a multi-species incidence-function model. This model simulates species occupancy pattern based on patch areas and habitat configuration and explicitly considers the locations and the shapes of habitat patches for the derivation of patch connectivity. We implemented an approximate Bayesian computation approach for parameter inference and uncertainty assessment. We tested which of the three types of regional dynamics - the metacommunity, the mainland-island, or the island communities type - best represents the community dynamics in the study area and applied the simulation model to estimate the extinction debt in the investigated landscape. We found that the regional dynamics in the patch-matrix study landscape is best represented as a system of highly isolated island' communities with low rates of propagule exchange among habitat patches and consequently low colonization rates in local communities. Accordingly, the extinction rates in the local communities are the main drivers of community dynamics. Our findings indicate that the landscape carries a significant extinction debt and in model projections 33-60% of all species went extinct within 1000 yr. Our study demonstrates that the combination of dynamic simulation models with field data provides a promising approach for understanding regional community dynamics and for projecting community responses to habitat fragmentation. The approach bears the potential for efficient tests of conservation activities aimed at mitigating future losses of biodiversity.
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2012.07793.x
SN  - 0906-7590
VL  - 36
IS  - 7
SP  - 842
EP  - 853
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Giladi, Itamar
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Ziv, Yaron
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
T1  - Plant functional traits and community assembly along interacting gradients of productivity and fragmentation
JF  - Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics
N2  - Quantifying the association of plant functional traits to environmental gradients is a promising approach for understanding and projecting community responses to land use and climatic changes. Although habitat fragmentation and climate are expected to affect plant communities interactively, there is a lack of empirical studies addressing trait associations to fragmentation in different climatic regimes.
 In this study, we analyse data on the key functional traits: specific leaf area (SLA), plant height, seed mass and seed number. First, we assess the evidence for the community assembly mechanisms habitat filtering and competition at different spatial scales, using several null-models and a comprehensive set of community-level trait convergence and divergence indices. Second, we analyse the association of community-mean traits with patch area and connectivity along a south-north productivity gradient.
 We found clear evidence for trait convergence due to habitat filtering. In contrast, the evidence for trait divergence due to competition fundamentally depended on the null-model used. When the null-model controlled for habitat filtering, there was only evidence for trait divergence at the smallest sampling scale (0.25 m x 0.25 m). All traits varied significantly along the S-N productivity gradient. While plant height and SLA were consistently associated with fragmentation, the association of seed mass and seed number with fragmentation changed along the S-N gradient.
 Our findings indicate trait convergence due to drought stress in the arid sites and due to higher productivity in the mesic sites. The association of plant traits to fragmentation is likely driven by increased colonization ability in small and/or isolated patches (plant height, seed number) or increased persistence ability in isolated patches (seed mass).
 Our study provides the first empirical test of trait associations with fragmentation along a productivity gradient. We conclude that it is crucial to study the interactive effects of different ecological drivers on plant functional traits.
KW  - Connectivity
KW  - Drought-stress
KW  - Habitat filtering
KW  - Limiting similarity
KW  - Null models
KW  - Plant height
KW  - Seed mass
KW  - Seed number
KW  - Specific leaf area (SLA)
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2013.08.002
SN  - 1433-8319
VL  - 15
IS  - 6
SP  - 304
EP  - 318
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Jena
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lauterbach, D.
A1  - Roemermann, C.
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - Factors driving plant rarity in dry grasslands on different spatial
 scales: a functional trait approach
JF  - BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
N2  - In European dry grasslands land-use changes affect plant species performance and frequency. Potential driving forces are eutrophication and habitat fragmentation. The importance of these factors is presumably scale dependent. We used a functional trait approach to detect processes that influence species frequency and endangerment on different spatial scales. We tested for associations between functional traits and (1) frequency and (2) degree of endangerment on local, regional and national scales. We focussed on five selected traits that describe the life-history of plant species and that are related to competition, dispersal ability and habitat specificity. Trait data on plant height, SLA, plant coverage, peak of flowering and diaspore mass were measured for 28 perennials from common to rare and endangered to non-endangered on 59 dry grassland sites in north-eastern Germany. Multiple regression models revealed that species frequency is positively and species endangerment negatively related to plant height, plant coverage and SLA on more than one spatial scale. On the local scale, diaspore mass has a negative effect on species frequency. More frequent and less endangered species show a later peak of flowering on nationwide and regional scales. We concluded that competition traits are more important on larger scales, whereas dispersal traits are more important for species frequency on the smaller scale. On national and regional scales, eutrophication and habitat loss may be the main drivers of species threat, whereas on the local scale fragmentation plays a crucial role for the performance of dry grassland species.
KW  - Species frequency
KW  - Species endangerment
KW  - Fragmentation
KW  - Eutrophication
KW  - SLA
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0455-y
SN  - 0960-3115
VL  - 22
IS  - 10
SP  - 2337
EP  - 2352
PB  - SPRINGER
CY  - DORDRECHT
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Giladi, Itamar
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Ziv, Yaron
T1  - Scale-dependent species-area and species-isolation relationships: a review and a test study from a fragmented semi-arid agro-ecosystem
JF  - Journal of biogeography
N2  - Aim Patterns that relate species richness with fragment area (the species-area relationship, SAR) and with isolation (the species-isolation relationship, SIR) are well documented. However, those that relate species density - the number of species within a standardized area - with fragment area (D-SAR) or isolation (D-SIR) have not been sufficiently explored, despite the potential for such an analysis to disentangle the underlying mechanisms of SARs and SIRs. Previous spatial theory predicts that a significant D-SAR or D-SIR is unlikely to emerge in taxa with high dispersal limitation, such as plants. Furthermore, a recent model predicts that the detection and the significance of D-SARs or D-SIRs may decrease with grain size. We combined a literature review with grain size-dependent sampling in a fragmented landscape to evaluate the prevalence and grain size-dependent nature of D-SARs and D-SIRs in plants. Location Worldwide (review) and a semi-arid agro-ecosystem in Israel (case study). Methods We combined an extensive literature review of 31 D-SAR studies of plants in fragmented landscapes with an empirical study in which we analysed grain size-dependent D-SARs and D-SIRs using a grain size-dependent hierarchical sampling of species density and species richness in a fragmented, semi-arid agro-ecosystem. Results We found that significantly increasing D-SARs are rare in plant studies. Furthermore, we found that the detection of a significant D-SAR is often possible only after the data have been stratified by species, habitat or landscape characteristics. The results from our case study indicated that the significance and the slopes of both D-SARs and D-SIRs increase as grain size decreases. Main conclusions These results call for a careful consideration of scale while analysing and interpreting the responses of species richness and species density to fragmentation. Our results suggest that grain size-dependent analyses of D-SARs and D-SIRs may help to disentangle the mechanisms that generate SARs and SIRs and may enable early detection of the effects of fragmentation on plant biodiversity.
KW  - species density
KW  - isolation
KW  - scale-dependence
KW  - habitat fragmentation
KW  - extinction debt
KW  - Conservation biogeography
KW  - species-area relationship
KW  - island ecology
KW  - habitat islands
KW  - island biogeography theory
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12299
SN  - 0305-0270
SN  - 1365-2699
VL  - 41
IS  - 6
SP  - 1055
EP  - 1069
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Horn, Sebastian
A1  - Hempel, Stefan
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Rillig, Matthias C.
A1  - Kowarik, Ingo
A1  - Caruso, Tancredi
T1  - Plant community assembly at small scales: Spatial vs. environmental factors in a European grassland
JF  - Acta oecologica : international journal of ecology
N2  - Dispersal limitation and environmental conditions are crucial drivers of plant species distribution and establishment. As these factors operate at different spatial scales, we asked: Do the environmental factors known to determine community assembly at broad scales operate at fine scales (few meters)? How much do these factors account for community variation at fine scales? In which way do biotic and abiotic interactions drive changes in species composition?
 We surveyed the plant community within a dry grassland along a very steep gradient of soil characteristics like pH and nutrients. We used a spatially explicit sampling design, based on three replicated macroplots of 15 x 15, 12 x 12 and 12 x 12 m in extent. Soil samples were taken to quantify several soil properties (carbon, nitrogen, plant available phosphorus, pH, water content and dehydrogenase activity as a proxy for overall microbial activity). We performed variance partitioning to assess the effect of these variables on plant composition and statistically controlled for spatial autocorrelation via eigenvector mapping. We also applied null model analysis to test for non-random patterns in species co-occurrence using randomization schemes that account for patterns expected under species interactions.
 At a fine spatial scale, environmental factors explained 18% of variation when controlling for spatial autocorrelation in the distribution of plant species, whereas purely spatial processes accounted for 14% variation. Null model analysis showed that species spatially segregated in a non-random way and these spatial patterns could be due to a combination of environmental filtering and biotic interactions. Our grassland study suggests that environmental factors found to be directly relevant in broad scale studies are present also at small scales, but are supplemented by spatial processes and more direct interactions like competition. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
KW  - Assembly pattern
KW  - Dispersal limitation
KW  - Festuca brevipila
KW  - Niche partitioning
KW  - Null model
KW  - Plant community ecology
KW  - Variance partitioning
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.01.004
SN  - 1146-609X
SN  - 1873-6238
VL  - 63
SP  - 56
EP  - 62
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Paris
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Weiß, Lina
A1  - Pottek, Janine
A1  - Geißler, Katja
A1  - Ristow, Michael
T1  - Fertilization affects the establishment ability of species differing in seed mass via direct nutrient addition and indirect competition effects
JF  - Oikos
N2  - Fertilization causes species loss and species dominance changes in plant communities worldwide. However, it still remains unclear how fertilization acts upon species functional traits, e.g. seed mass. Seed mass is a key trait of the regeneration strategy of plants, which influences a range of processes during the seedling establishment phase. Fertilization may select upon seed mass, either directly by increased nutrient availability or indirectly by increased competition. Since previous research has mainly analyzed the indirect effects of fertilization, we disentangled the direct and indirect effects to examine how nutrient availability and competition influence the seed mass relationships on four key components during seedling establishment: seedling emergence, time of seedling emergence, seedling survival and seedling growth. We conducted a common garden experiment with 22 dry grassland species with a two-way full factorial design that simulated additional nutrient supply and increased competition. While we found no evidence that fertilization either directly by additional nutrient supply or indirectly by increased competition alters the relationship between seed mass and (time of) seedling emergence, we revealed that large seed mass is beneficial under nutrient-poor conditions (seedlings have greater chances of survival, particularly in nutrient-poor soils) as well as under competition (large-seeded species produced larger seedlings, which suffered less from competition than small-seeded species). Based on these findings, we argue that both factors, i.e. nutrient availability and competition intensity, ought to be considered to understand how fertilization influences seedling establishment and species composition with respect to seed mass in natural communities. We propose a simple conceptual model, in which seed mass in natural communities is determined by competition intensity and nutrient availability. Here, we hypothesize that seed mass shows a U-shaped pattern along gradients of soil fertility, which may explain the contrasting soil fertility-seed mass relationships found in the recent literature.
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.02193
SN  - 0030-1299
SN  - 1600-0706
VL  - 124
IS  - 11
SP  - 1547
EP  - 1554
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Müller, Christina M.
A1  - Schulz, Benjamin
A1  - Lauterbach, Daniel
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Wissemann, Volker
A1  - Gemeinholzer, Birgit
T1  - Geropogon hybridus (L.) Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae) exhibits micro-geographic genetic divergence at ecological range limits along a steep precipitation gradient
T2  - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe
N2  - We analyzed the population genetic pattern of 12 fragmented Geropogon hybridus ecological range edge populations in Israel along a steep precipitation gradient. In the investigation area (45 x 20 km(2)), the annual mean precipitation changes rapidly from 450 mm in the north (Mediterranean-influenced climate zone) to 300 mm in the south (semiarid climate zone) without significant temperature changes. Our analysis (91 individuals, 12 populations, 123 polymorphic loci) revealed strongly structured populations (AMOVA I broken vertical bar(ST) = 0.35; P < 0.001); however, differentiation did not change gradually toward range edge. IBD was significant (Mantel test r = 0.81; P = 0.001) and derived from sharply divided groups between the northernmost populations and the others further south, due to dispersal or environmental limitations. This was corroborated by the PCA and STRUCTURE analyses. IBD and IBE were significant despite the micro-geographic scale of the study area, which indicates that reduced precipitation toward range edge leads to population genetic divergence. However, this pattern diminished when the hypothesized gene flow barrier was taken into account. Applying the spatial analysis method revealed 11 outlier loci that were correlated to annual precipitation and, moreover, were indicative for putative precipitation-related adaptation (BAYESCAN, MCHEZA). The results suggest that even on micro-geographic scales, environmental factors play prominent roles in population divergence, genetic drift, and directional selection. The pattern is typical for strong environmental gradients, e.g., at species range edges and ecological limits, and if gene flow barriers and mosaic-like structures of fragmented habitats hamper dispersal.
KW  - environmental association studies
KW  - fragmented habitats
KW  - isolation by distance (IBD)
KW  - isolation by environment (IBE)
KW  - range edge populations
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-427061
SN  - 1866-8372
IS  - 832
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Giladi, Itamar
A1  - Ziv, Yaron
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
T1  - Two Mediterranean annuals feature high within-population trait variability and respond differently to a precipitation gradient
JF  - Basic and applied ecology : Journal of the Gesellschaft für Ökologie
N2  - Intraspecific trait variability plays an important role in species adaptation to climate change. However, it still remains unclear how plants in semi-arid environments respond to increasing aridity. We investigated the intraspecific trait variability of two common Mediterranean annuals (Geropogon hybridus and Crupina crupinastrum) with similar habitat preferences. They were studied along a steep precipitation gradient in Israel similar to the maximum predicted precipitation changes in the eastern Mediterranean basin (i.e. -30% until 2100). We expected a shift from competitive ability to stress tolerance with decreasing precipitation and tested this expectation by measuring key functional traits (canopy and seed release height, specific leaf area, N-and P-leaf content, seed mass). Further, we evaluated generative bet-hedging strategies by different seed traits. Both species showed different responses along the precipitation gradient. C. crupinastrum exhibited only decreased plant height toward saridity, while G. hybridus showed strong trends of generative adaptation to aridity. Different seed trait indices suggest increased bet-hedging of G. hybridus in arid environments. However, no clear trends along the precipitation gradient were observed in leaf traits (specific leaf area and leaf N-/P-content) in both species. Moreover, variance decomposition revealed that most of the observed trait variation (>> 50%) is found within populations. The findings of our study suggest that responses to increased aridity are highly species-specific and local environmental factors may have a stronger effect on intraspecific trait variation than shifts in annual precipitation. We therefore argue that trait-based analyses should focus on precipitation gradients that are comparable to predicted precipitation changes and compare precipitation effects to effects of local environmental factors. (C) 2017 Gesellschaft fur Okologie. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
KW  - Climate change
KW  - Functional ecology
KW  - Plant height
KW  - Drought stress
KW  - Rainfall gradient
KW  - Trait-environment relationship
KW  - Local adaptation
KW  - Phenotypic plasticity
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2017.11.001
SN  - 1439-1791
SN  - 1618-0089
VL  - 25
SP  - 48
EP  - 58
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Jena
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - May, Felix
A1  - Giladi, Itamar
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Ziv, Yaron
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
T1  - Environmental heterogeneity drives fine-scale species assembly and functional diversity of annual plants in a semi-arid environment
JF  - Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics
N2  - Spatial environmental heterogeneity is considered a fundamental factor for the maintenance of plant species richness. However, it still remains unclear whether heterogeneity may also facilitate coexistence at fine grain sizes or whether other processes, like mass effects and source sink dynamics due to dispersal, control species composition and diversity at these scales. In this study, we used two complimentary analyses to identify the role of heterogeneity within 15 m x 15 m plots for the coexistence of species-rich annual communities in a semi-arid environment along a steep precipitation gradient. Specifically, we: (a) analyzed the effect of environmental heterogeneity on species, functional and phylogenetic diversity within microsites (alpha diversity, 0.06 m(2) and 1 m(2)), across microsites (beta diversity), and diversity at the entire plot (gamma diversity); (b) further we used two null models to detect non-random trait and phylogenetic patterns in order to infer assembly processes, i.e. whether co-occurring species tend to share similar traits (trait convergence) or dissimilar traits (trait divergence). In general, our results showed that heterogeneity had a positive effect on community diversity. Specifically, for alpha diversity, the effect was significant for functional diversity, and not significant for either species or phylogenetic diversities. For beta diversity, all three measures of community diversity (species, functional, and phylogenetic) increased significantly, as they also did for gamma diversity, where functional measures were again stronger than for species or phylogenetic measures. In addition, the null model approach consistently detected trait convergence, indicating that species with similar traits tended to co-occur and had high abundances in a given microsite. While null model analysis across the phylogeny partly supported these trait findings, showing phylogenetic underdispersion at the 1m(2) grain size, surprisingly when species abundances in microsites were analyzed they were more evenly distributed across the phylogenetic tress than expected (phylogenetic overdispersion). In conclusion, our results provide compelling support that environmental heterogeneity at a relatively fine scale is an important factor for species co-existence as it positively affects diversity as well as influences species assembly. Our study underlines the need for trait-based approaches conducted at fine grain sizes in order to better understand species coexistence and community assembly. (C) 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
KW  - Community assembly
KW  - Plant functional trait
KW  - Habitat heterogeneity
KW  - Limiting similarity
KW  - Environmental filtering
KW  - Heterogeneity species diversity relationship
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2017.01.001
SN  - 1433-8319
VL  - 24
SP  - 138
EP  - 146
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Jena
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Von Raab-Straube, Eckhard
A1  - Raus, Thomas
A1  - Bazos, Ioannis
A1  - Cornec, J. P.
A1  - De Belair, Gerard.
A1  - Dimitrakopoulos, P. G.
A1  - El Mokni, Ridha
A1  - Fateryga, Alexander V.
A1  - Fateryga, Valentina V.
A1  - Fridlender, Alain
A1  - Gil, Jaime
A1  - Grigorenko, V. N.
A1  - Hand, Ralf
A1  - Kovalchuk, A.
A1  - Mastrogianni, A.
A1  - Otto, R.
A1  - Rätzel, Stefan
A1  - Raus, Th.
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Salas Pascual, M.
A1  - Strid, Arne
A1  - Svirin, S. A.
A1  - Tsiripidis, Ioannis.
A1  - Uhlich, Holger
A1  - Vela, Errol
A1  - Verloove, Filip
A1  - Vidakis, K.
A1  - Yena, Andriy Vasylyovych
A1  - Yevseyenkov, P. E.
A1  - Zeddam, A.
T1  - Euro plus Med-Checklist Notulae, 11
JF  - Willdenowia
N2  - This is the eleventh of a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to both the Med-Checklist and the Euro+Med (or Sisyphus) projects are presented. This instalment deals with the families Anacardiaceae, Asparagaceae (incl. Hyacinthaceae), Bignoniaceae, Cactaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Cyperaceae, Ericaceae, Gramineae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Orobanchaceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Staphyleaceae. It includes new country and area records and taxonomic and distributional considerations for taxa in Bidens, Campsis, Centaurea, Cyperus, Drymocallis, Engem, Hoffmannseggia, Hypopitys, Lavandula, Lithraea, Melilotus, Nicotiana, Olimarabidopsis, Opuntia, Orobanche, Phelipanche, Phragmites, Rumex, Salvia, Schinus, Staphylea, and a new combination in Drimia.
KW  - distribution
KW  - Euro plus Med PlantBase
KW  - Europe
KW  - Med-Checklist
KW  - Mediterranean
KW  - new combination
KW  - new record
KW  - taxonomy
KW  - vascular plants
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.49.49312
SN  - 0511-9618
VL  - 49
IS  - 3
SP  - 421
EP  - 445
PB  - Botanischer Garten & botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem
CY  - Berlin
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - Sittel, Lara-Pauline
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Weiss, Lina
T1  - Pollinator guilds respond contrastingly at different scales to landscape parameters of land-use intensity
JF  - Ecology and evolution
N2  - Land-use intensification is the main factor for the catastrophic decline of insect pollinators. However, land-use intensification includes multiple processes that act across various scales and should affect pollinator guilds differently depending on their ecology. We aimed to reveal how two main pollinator guilds, wild bees and hoverflies, respond to different land-use intensification measures, that is, arable field cover (AFC), landscape heterogeneity (LH), and functional flower composition of local plant communities as a measure of habitat quality. We sampled wild bees and hoverflies on 22 dry grassland sites within a highly intensified landscape (NE Germany) within three campaigns using pan traps. We estimated AFC and LH on consecutive radii (60-3000 m) around the dry grassland sites and estimated the local functional flower composition. Wild bee species richness and abundance was positively affected by LH and negatively by AFC at small scales (140-400 m). In contrast, hoverflies were positively affected by AFC and negatively by LH at larger scales (500-3000 m), where both landscape parameters were negatively correlated to each other. At small spatial scales, though, LH had a positive effect on hoverfly abundance. Functional flower diversity had no positive effect on pollinators, but conspicuous flowers seem to attract abundance of hoverflies. In conclusion, landscape parameters contrarily affect two pollinator guilds at different scales. The correlation of landscape parameters may influence the observed relationships between landscape parameters and pollinators. Hence, effects of land-use intensification seem to be highly landscape-specific.
KW  - hoverflies
KW  - landscape homogenization
KW  - plant functional trait
KW  - syrphids
KW  - wild bees
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8708
SN  - 2045-7758
VL  - 12
IS  - 3
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - Sittel, Lara-Pauline
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Weiß, Lina
T1  - Pollinator guilds respond contrastingly at different scales to landscape parameters of land-use intensity
JF  - Ecology and Evolution
N2  - Land-use intensification is the main factor for the catastrophic decline of insect pollinators. However, land-use intensification includes multiple processes that act across various scales and should affect pollinator guilds differently depending on their ecology. We aimed to reveal how two main pollinator guilds, wild bees and hoverflies, respond to different land-use intensification measures, that is, arable field cover (AFC), landscape heterogeneity (LH), and functional flower composition of local plant communities as a measure of habitat quality. We sampled wild bees and hoverflies on 22 dry grassland sites within a highly intensified landscape (NE Germany) within three campaigns using pan traps. We estimated AFC and LH on consecutive radii (60–3000 m) around the dry grassland sites and estimated the local functional flower composition. Wild bee species richness and abundance was positively affected by LH and negatively by AFC at small scales (140–400 m). In contrast, hoverflies were positively affected by AFC and negatively by LH at larger scales (500–3000 m), where both landscape parameters were negatively correlated to each other. At small spatial scales, though, LH had a positive effect on hoverfly abundance. Functional flower diversity had no positive effect on pollinators, but conspicuous flowers seem to attract abundance of hoverflies. In conclusion, landscape parameters contrarily affect two pollinator guilds at different scales. The correlation of landscape parameters may influence the observed relationships between landscape parameters and pollinators. Hence, effects of land-use intensification seem to be highly landscape-specific.
KW  - hoverflies
KW  - landscape homogenization
KW  - plant functional trait
KW  - syrphids
KW  - wild bees
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8708
SN  - 2045-7758
VL  - 12
IS  - 3
PB  - John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
CY  - Hoboken (New Jersey)
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Bergholz, Kolja
A1  - Sittel, Lara-Pauline
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Jeltsch, Florian
A1  - Weiß, Lina
T1  - Pollinator guilds respond contrastingly at different scales to landscape parameters of land-use intensity
T2  - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe
N2  - Land-use intensification is the main factor for the catastrophic decline of insect pollinators. However, land-use intensification includes multiple processes that act across various scales and should affect pollinator guilds differently depending on their ecology. We aimed to reveal how two main pollinator guilds, wild bees and hoverflies, respond to different land-use intensification measures, that is, arable field cover (AFC), landscape heterogeneity (LH), and functional flower composition of local plant communities as a measure of habitat quality. We sampled wild bees and hoverflies on 22 dry grassland sites within a highly intensified landscape (NE Germany) within three campaigns using pan traps. We estimated AFC and LH on consecutive radii (60–3000 m) around the dry grassland sites and estimated the local functional flower composition. Wild bee species richness and abundance was positively affected by LH and negatively by AFC at small scales (140–400 m). In contrast, hoverflies were positively affected by AFC and negatively by LH at larger scales (500–3000 m), where both landscape parameters were negatively correlated to each other. At small spatial scales, though, LH had a positive effect on hoverfly abundance. Functional flower diversity had no positive effect on pollinators, but conspicuous flowers seem to attract abundance of hoverflies. In conclusion, landscape parameters contrarily affect two pollinator guilds at different scales. The correlation of landscape parameters may influence the observed relationships between landscape parameters and pollinators. Hence, effects of land-use intensification seem to be highly landscape-specific.
T3  - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1298 
KW  - hoverflies
KW  - landscape homogenization
KW  - plant functional trait
KW  - syrphids
KW  - wild bees
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-577307
SN  - 1866-8372
IS  - 1298
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ristow, Michael
A1  - Panitsa, Maria
A1  - Meyer, Stefan
A1  - Bergmeier, Erwin
T1  - Factors of detection deficits in vascular plant inventories - an island case study
JF  - Diversity
N2  - The degree of completeness of large-scale floristic inventories is often difficult to judge. We compared prior vascular plant species inventories of the Mediterranean island of Limnos (North Aegean, Greece) with 231 recent records from 2016-2021. Together with the recent records, the known number of vascular plant species on the island is 960 native taxa, 63 established neophytes, and 27 species of as yet casual status for a total of 1050 taxa. We looked at a number of traits (plant family, size, flower color, perceptibility, habitat, reproduction period, rarity, and status) to investigate whether they were overrepresented in the dataset of the newly found taxa. Overrepresentation was found in some plant families (e.g., Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae) and for traits such as hydrophytic life form, unobtrusive flower color, coastal as well as agricultural and ruderal habitats, and late (summer/autumn) reproduction period. Apart from the well-known fact of esthetic bias, we found evidence for ecological and perceptibility biases. Plant species inventories based on prior piecemeal collated data should focus on regionally specific species groups and underrepresented and rare habitats.
KW  - Aegean flora
KW  - floristic survey
KW  - Mediterranean island
KW  - perceptibility
KW  - habitat
KW  - plant traits
KW  - rarity
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040303
SN  - 1424-2818
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -