NDLI: Changes in species density along the soil pH gradient — evidence from German plant communities

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Schuster, Brigitte Diekmann, Martin
Copyright Year	2003
Abstract	The relationship between small-scale species richness and soil pH in plant communities was reviewed using 40 (mainly phytosociological) studies primarily from the northern parts of Germany. Four formations were distinguished (forest, grassland, mire and sand). To examine the above relationship, two approaches were applied: (a) regression analysis using linear and quadratic models, and (b) calculation of the mean pH of the five plots with the highest species density. Despite methodological problems (lack of single plot data in some studies, varying plot sizes, different ways of measuring pH) some general patterns could be identified. In forests, the regressions in most cases indicated a linear or curved increase in species density with increasing pH, whereas maximum species density was, except in one case, found at an intermediate pH of around 5. In contrast, in grasslands and mires, most studies showed hump-backed relationships between species density and soil acidity, and, accordingly, maximum species density was found at moderately high pH between 5 and 6. For sand vegetation, the few studies available revealed an increase in species density with increasing pH. The findings imply that the predominance of calciphilous speciesvs. acidophilous species in the Central European flora does not always translate into positive relationships between plant species density and pH on a local plot scale. The hump-backed species density-pH pattern may be explained by confounding effects of other environmental factors and of productivity, but also by the large overlap of species tolerances in the middle of the acidity gradient.
Starting Page	367
Ending Page	379
Page Count	13
File Format	PDF
ISSN	12119520
Journal	Folia Geobotanica
Volume Number	38
Issue Number	4
e-ISSN	18749348
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2003-01-01
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Calciphilous species Hump-backed model pH amplitude Physiological tolerance Regional species pool Soil acidity Species tolerance Life Sciences Plant Sciences Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography Plant Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Plant Science Paleontology

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

The calcareous riddle: Why are there so many calciphilous species in the Central European flora?

Variation in species richness and species pool size across a pH gradient in forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

Local and regional patterns of species richness in Central European vegetation types along the pH/calcium gradient

Species Richness Pattern along Altitudinal Gradient in Central European Beech Forests

Indicating Soil Acidity Using Vegetation Relevés in Spatially Limited Areas – Case Study from the Považský Inovec, Slovakia

Local plant species richness increases with regional habitat commonness across a gradient of forest productivity

Forum : Species-pool hypothesis

Magellanic Wetlands: More than Moor

PH optima for Danish forest species compared with Ellenberg reaction values

Changes in species density along the soil pH gradient — evidence from German plant communities

Similar Documents

The calcareous riddle: Why are there so many calciphilous species in the Central European flora?

Variation in species richness and species pool size across a pH gradient in forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains

Local and regional patterns of species richness in Central European vegetation types along the pH/calcium gradient

Species Richness Pattern along Altitudinal Gradient in Central European Beech Forests

Indicating Soil Acidity Using Vegetation Relevés in Spatially Limited Areas – Case Study from the Považský Inovec, Slovakia

Local plant species richness increases with regional habitat commonness across a gradient of forest productivity

Forum : Species-pool hypothesis

Magellanic Wetlands: More than Moor

PH optima for Danish forest species compared with Ellenberg reaction values

Changes in species density along the soil pH gradient — evidence from German plant communities