Abstract
Data on seasonal variability in emergent macrophyte communities in regard to the composition of statistically significant indicator species remain incomplete. It was recognized by the authors as a potentially significant scientific issue and was defined as the main objective of this study. Information on the floristic composition of the communities included in this paper were collected in the Central Balkan Peninsula. Using a combination of cluster analysis and indicator species analysis, 11 emergent macrophyte communities were established. The seasonal dynamic of these communities did not include statistically significant modification of either the floristic composition or the species abundances according to the results of permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Nevertheless, seasonal variability in three communities –the Sparganium erectum community, Scirpus lacustris community and Typha angustifolia community – was registered in regard to the composition of their statistically significant indicator species. Disturbances primarily related to water level fluctuation in their habitats initiated a significant increase or decrease in the abundances of particular species. These slight structural changes were sufficient to induce a changeability in these communities in terms of the composition of their statistically significant indicator species over the growing season without a significant impact on the PERMANOVA results. This relatively “concealed” changeability of plant communities could have serious consequences on the processes of both defining and describing vegetation units because the indicator species are often used as “diagnostic species”. Consequently, future ecological studies should be more focused on investigating seasonal variability in diverse vegetation types in order extend our knowledge in this area.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Project No. 173030). The authors are very grateful to anonymous reviewers for their critical and valuable comments on previous version of the manuscript. Also, the authors would like to acknowledge Marija Perković for significantly improving the English version of this paper and Sonja Stojanović (UK) for the final English corrections.
References
Anderson M.J., Gorley R.N. & Clarke K.R. 2007. Permanova+ for Primer: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods. PRIMER-E, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 214 pp.Search in Google Scholar
Anonymous 1992. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The Council of the European Communities.Search in Google Scholar
Babić N. 1971. Močvarna i livadska vegetacija Koviljskog rita. Zbornik Matice srpske, Ser. prirodnih nauka, Novi Sad 41: 19–87.Search in Google Scholar
Braun-Blanquet J. 1951. Pflanzensoziologie. Springer, Wien.10.1007/978-3-7091-4078-9Search in Google Scholar
Campbell C.J., Johns C.V. & Nielsen D.L. 2014. The value of plant functional groups in demonstrating and communicating vegetation responses to environmental flows. Freshwater Biol. 59: 858–869.10.1111/fwb.12309Search in Google Scholar
Casanova M.T. & Brock M.A. 2000. How do depth, duration and frequency of flooding influence the establishment of wetland plant communities? Plant Ecol. 147: 237–250.10.1023/A:1009875226637Search in Google Scholar
Chytrý M., Tichý L., Holt J. & Botta-Dukát Z. 2002. Determination of diagnostic species with statistical fidelity measures. J. Veg. Sci. 13: 79–90.10.1111/j.1654-1103.2002.tb02025.xSearch in Google Scholar
Davies C.E., Moss D. & Hill M.O. 2004. EUNIS habitat classification revised 2004. Report to European Environment Agency-European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity, pp. 127–143.Search in Google Scholar
Dufręne M. & Legendre P. 1997. Species assemblages and indicator species: the need for a flexible asymmetrical approach. Ecol. Monogr. 67: 345–366.10.2307/2963459Search in Google Scholar
Gradstein S.R. & Smittenberg J.H. 1977. The hydrophilous vegetation of western Crete. Vegetatio 34: 65–86.10.1007/BF00054476Search in Google Scholar
Greet J.O.E., Webb J.A. & Downes B.J. 2011. Flow variability maintains the structure and composition of in-channel riparian vegetation. Freshwater Biol. 56: 2514–2528.10.1111/j.1365-2427.2011.02676.xSearch in Google Scholar
Hejný S., Segal S. & Raspopov I.M. 1998. General ecology of wetlands, pp. 1–77. In: Westlake D.F., Květ J. & Szczepański L.A. (eds), The Production Ecology of Wetlands: the IBP synthesis, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.10.1017/CBO9780511549687.003Search in Google Scholar
Hrivnák R. 2004. The plant communities of Phragmitetalia in the catchment area of the Ipel’river (Slovakia and Hungary) 1. Reed wetlands (Phragmition communis). Biologia 59: 75–99.Search in Google Scholar
Hrivnák R. 2005. Effect of ecological factors on the zonation of wetland vegetation. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 74: 73–81.10.5586/asbp.2005.011Search in Google Scholar
Hrivnák R., Oťaheľová H. & Gömöry D. 2009. Seasonal dynamics of macrophyte abundance in two regulated streams. Cent. Eur. J. Biol. 4: 241–249.10.2478/s11535-009-0004-6Search in Google Scholar
Hroudová Z., Zákravský P., Ducháček M. & Marhold K. 2007. Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of Bolboschoenus in Europe. Ann.Bot.Fenn. 44: 81–102.Search in Google Scholar
Janković M. 1953. Vegetacija velikog blata. Glas. prirod. Muz. srp. Zem., ser. B, 5–6: 59–111.Search in Google Scholar
Jasprica N., Carić M. & Batistić M. 2003. The Marshland Vegetation (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Iso¨eto-Nanojuncetea)and Hydrology in the Hutovo Blato Natural Park (Neretva River Delta, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Phyton, Horn, Austria 43: 281–294.Search in Google Scholar
Jenačković D., Dimitrijević D. & Ranđelović V. 2010. Macrophytic flora and vegetation of the rivers Svrljiški and Beli Timok (Eastern Serbia). Biologica Nyssana 1: 23–26.Search in Google Scholar
Johnson R.K. 2001. Indicator metrics and detection of impact, pp. 41–44. In: Karttunen K. (ed.), Monitoring and Assessment of Ecological Status of Aquatic Environments, Nordic Council of Ministers.Search in Google Scholar
Jovanović R. 1958. Tipovi močvarne vegetacije u Jasenici. Zbornik Biol. Inst. NR Srbije 2: 1–36.Search in Google Scholar
Kamberović J., Barudanović S., Maši E. & Dedić A. 2014. Marshland vegetation of the order Phragmitetalia on shores of mine pit lakes in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Biologica Nyssana 5: 1–10.Search in Google Scholar
Karadžić B. 2013. FLORA: a Software Package for Statistical Analysis of Ecological Data. Water Res. Managem. 3: 45–54.Search in Google Scholar
Keddy P.A. & Reznicek A.A. 1986. Great Lakes vegetation dynamics: the role of fluctuating water levels and buried seeds. J. Great Lakes Res. 12: 25–36.10.1016/S0380-1330(86)71697-3Search in Google Scholar
Kochev H. & Jordanov D. 1981. Vegetation of water basins in Bulgaria. Ecology, protection and economic importance, Publishing House of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia.Search in Google Scholar
Lakušić R. & Pavlović D. 1976. Vegetacija Skadarskog jezera. Glas. Republ. zavoda za zaštitu prirode i prirodnjačkog muzeja Titograd 9: 45–50.Search in Google Scholar
Lakušić R., Pavlović D., Abadžić S. & Grgić P. 1977. Prodromus biljnih zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine. God. biol. Inst. Univ. Sarajevo 30: 1–87.Search in Google Scholar
Landucci F., Gigante D., Venanzoni R. & Chytrý M. 2013. Wetland vegetation of the class Phragmito-Magno-Caricetea in central Italy. Phytocoenologia 43: 67–102.10.1127/0340-269X/2013/0043-0545Search in Google Scholar
Lapointe L. 2001. How phenology influences physiology in deciduous forest spring ephemerals. Physiol. Plantarum 113: 151–157.10.1034/j.1399-3054.2001.1130201.xSearch in Google Scholar
Lepš J. & Šmilauer P. 2003. Multivariate analysis of ecological data using CANOCO. Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, Cambridge.10.1017/CBO9780511615146Search in Google Scholar
Mackey R.L. & Currie D.J. 2001. The diversity-disturbance relationship: is it generally strong and peaked? Ecology 82: 3479–3492.10.1890/0012-9658(2001)082[3479:TDDRII]2.0.CO;2Search in Google Scholar
McCune B. & Mefford M.J. 2011. PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data. Version 6. MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, United States of America.Search in Google Scholar
Micevski K. 1963. Tipološki istražuvanja na blatnata vegetacija vo Makedonija, God. zbor. PMF-biologija, Skopje, 14: 79–130.Search in Google Scholar
Molina J.A. & Moreno P.S. 2003. Diversity of the helophytic vegetation in Spain. Acta Bot. Gallica 150: 167–193.10.1080/12538078.2003.10515417Search in Google Scholar
Mucina L. 1997. Conspectus of classes of European vegetation. Folia Geobot. 32: 117–172.10.1007/BF02803738Search in Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois D. & Ellenberg H. 1974. Aims and methods of vegetation ecology. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 547 pp.Search in Google Scholar
Nowak A., Nowak S. & Nobis M. 2014. Diversity and distribution of rush communities from the Phragmito-Magno-Caricetea D.D. Jenačković et al. class in Pamir Alai mountains (Middle Asia: Tajikistan). Pakistan J. Bot. 46: 27–64.Search in Google Scholar
Nygaard B. & Ejrnès R. 2009. The impact of hydrology and nutrients on species composition and richness: evidence from a microcosm experiment. Wetlands 29: 187–195.10.1672/08-13.1Search in Google Scholar
O’Donnell J., Fryirs K. & Leishman M. 2014. Digging deep for diversity: riparian seed bank abundance and species richness in relation to burial depth. Freshwater Biol. 59: 100–113.10.1111/fwb.12249Search in Google Scholar
Ostendorp W., Jöhnk K.D. & Schmieder K. 2004. Assessment of human pressures and their hydromorphological impacts on lakeshores in Europe. Int. J. Ecohydrol. Hydrobiol. 4: 379–395.Search in Google Scholar
Pełechaty M. 2006. Spatial heterogeneity of physical-chemical properties of substratum and sediment of a shallow lake (Lake Jarosławieckie, Wielkopolski National Park). Limnol. Rev. 6: 247–254.Search in Google Scholar
Ranđelović V., Matejić J. & Zlatković B. 2007a. Flora and vegetation of Batušinačke swamps near Niš. Proceeding of the 9th Symposium on Flora of Southeastern Serbia and Neighbouring Regions, Niš (Serbia), pp. 19–40.Search in Google Scholar
Ranđelović V., Zlatković B. & Matejić J. 2007b. Swamp vegetation of order Phragmitetalia in southeastern Serbia. Proceeding of the 9th Symposium on Flora of Southeastern Serbia and Neighbouring Regions, Niš (Serbia), pp. 9–18.Search in Google Scholar
RanđelovićV. & Zlatković B. 2010. Flora i vegetacija Vlasinske visoravni. Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, 448 pp.Search in Google Scholar
Riis T. & Biggs B.J.F. 2001. Distribution of macrophytes in New Zealand streams and lakes in relation to disturbance frequency and resource supply-a synthesis and conceptual model. New Zeal. J. Mar. Fresh. 35: 255–267.10.1080/00288330.2001.9516996Search in Google Scholar
Rivas-Martínez S. 2004. Global bioclimatics (version 22-0404). Phytosociological Research Center. http://www.global bioclimatics.org/form/maps.htmSearch in Google Scholar
Santo D.E. & Arsénio P. 2005. Influence of land use on the composition of plant communities from seasonal pond ecosystems in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park (Portugal). Phytocoenologia 35: 267–281.10.1127/0340-269X/2005/0035-0267Search in Google Scholar
Slavnić Z. 1956. Vodena i barska vegetacija Vojvodine. Zbornik čMatice srpske, Ser.prirodnih nauka, NoviSad 10: 5–72.Search in Google Scholar
Stančić Z. 2007. Marshland vegetation of the class Phagmito-Magnocaricetea in Croatia. Biologia 62: 297–314.10.2478/s11756-007-0052-1Search in Google Scholar
Stančić Z. 2010. Marshland vegetation of the class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea in northwest Croatia (Krapina river valley). Biologia 65: 39–53.10.2478/s11756-009-0232-2Search in Google Scholar
StatSoft 2007. Statistica for Windows, version 8.0. StatSoft Inc., Tulsa.Search in Google Scholar
Stefanidis K. & Papastergiadou E. 2013. Effects of a long term water level reduction on the ecology and water quality in an eastern Mediterranean lake. Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ec. 411: 1–14.10.1051/kmae/2013072Search in Google Scholar
StojanovićS., ButoracB. & Vučković M. 1987. Pregled barske i močvarne vegetacije Vojvodine. Glas. Inst. Bot. Botan. Bašte Univ. Beograd 21: 41–47.Search in Google Scholar
Sutela T., Aroviita J. & Keto A. 2013. Assessing ecological status of regulated lakes with littoral macrophyte, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages. Ecol. Indic. 24: 185–192.10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.06.015Search in Google Scholar
Svitok M., Hrivnák R., Oťaheľová H., Dúbravková D., Paľove-Balang P. & Slobodník V. 2011. The importance of local and regional factors on the vegetation of created wetlands in central Europe. Wetlands 31: 663–674.10.1007/s13157-011-0182-7Search in Google Scholar
Tichý L. 2002. JUICE, software for vegetation classification. J. Veg. Sci. 13: 451–453.10.1111/j.1654-1103.2002.tb02069.xSearch in Google Scholar
Tutin T.G., Heywood V.H., Burges N.A., Moore D.M., Valentine D.H., Walters S.M. & Webb D.A. (eds), 1964–1980. Flora Europaea, I-V. Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.Search in Google Scholar
Van der Maarel E. 1979. Transformation of cover-abundance values in phytosociology and its effects on community similarity. Vegetatio 39: 97–144.10.1007/978-94-009-9194-1_17Search in Google Scholar
Van der Valk A.G. 2005. Water-level fluctuations in North American prairie wetlands. Hydrobiologia 539: 171–188.10.1007/s10750-004-4866-3Search in Google Scholar
Van Geest G.J., Coops H., Roijackers R.M.M., Buijse A.D. & Scheffer M. 2005. Succession of aquatic vegetation driven by reduced water-level fluctuations in floodplain lakes. J. Appl. Ecol. 42: 251–260.10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.00995.xSearch in Google Scholar
Venterink H.O., Davidsson T.E., Kiehl K. & Leonardson L. 2002. Impact of drying and re-wetting on N, P and K dynamics in a wetland soil. Plant Soil 243: 119–130.10.1023/A:1019993510737Search in Google Scholar
Vymazalová M., Axmanová I. & Tichý L. 2012. Effect of intra-seasonal variability on vegetation data. J. Veg. Sci. 23: 978–984.10.1111/j.1654-1103.2012.01416.xSearch in Google Scholar
Vymazalová M., Tichý L. & Axmanová I. 2014. How does vegetation sampling in different parts of the growing season influence classification results and analyses of beta diversity? Appl. Veg. Sci. 17: 556–566.10.1111/avsc.12087Search in Google Scholar
Wilcox D.A. & Nichols S.J. 2008. The effects of water-level fluctuations on vegetation in a lake Huron wetland. Wetlands 28: 487–501.10.1672/07-129.1Search in Google Scholar
Wilson J.B. 2012. Species presence/absence sometimes represents a plant community as well as species abundances do, or better. J. Veg. Sci. 23: 1013–1023.10.1111/j.1654-1103.2012.01430.xSearch in Google Scholar
Zohary T. & Ostrovsky I. 2011. Ecological impacts of excessive water level fluctuations in stratified freshwater lakes. Inland Waters 1: 47–59.10.5268/IW-1.1.406Search in Google Scholar
© 2016 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences
