Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtv069

J Plant Ecol ›› 2016, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (4): 421-433 .DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtv069

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Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM

Andraž Čarni^1,2,3,*, Vlado Matevski^3,4, Nina Juvan⁵, Mitko Kostadinovski⁴, Petra Košir⁶, Aleksander Marinšek⁷, Andrej Paušič⁸ and Urban Ŝilc^1,9

¹ Institute of Biology, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; ² University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, SI-5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia; ³ Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Bul. Krste Misirkov, 2, P.O. Box 428, MK-1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; ⁴ Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Biology, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Gazi Baba b/b - P.O.Box 162, MK-1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia; ⁵ Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; ⁶ Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia; ⁷ Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, SI-Ljubljana, Slovenia; ⁸ Kranjčeva 8, SI-9220 Lendava, Slovenia; ⁹ Biotechnical Centre Naklo, Strahinj 99, SI-4202 Naklo, Slovenia

Received:2015-04-16 Accepted:2015-10-08 Published:2016-07-19
Contact: Carni, Andraz

Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM

Abstract

Abstract: Aims The aim of the study was to discover what set of variables best explains the transition from warm to mesic forest vegetation. Based on various variables grouped into sets (geomorphological, ecological, structural, soil characteristics and chorological), six models were built and tested by generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). We assumed that each set of variables has different explanatory power. Our aim was to compare the six different models (sets of variables), to test which model best explains the species turnover in forest communities along the transition between warm and mesic temperate forests and to try to find reasons for the different explanatory power of the models.
Methods The research took place in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Field sampling was done according to standard methods. The gradient from warm to mesic forests was defined as the turnover of species and evaluated by projection of samples on the first unconstrained DCA axis. Geomorphological, ecological, structural and soil characteristics, together with chorological sets of variables, were regressed on the turnover of species composition. Based on the five sets of variables, six models were constructed and tested by generalized additive mixed models.
Important findings Ecological conditions best explain the change of forest communities along the gradient; evolution and the development of vegetation reflected in chorotypes are also of high importance; geomorphology and structure seem not to change so dramatically and soil shows the least significant differences of all. Ecological variables are the most important set of variables in the transition between warm and mesic temperate forests but eco-evolutionary dynamics after the Pleistocene should also be taken into consideration.

Key words: Balkan, chorotypes, life forms, ecology plant ecology, soil science, vegetation, evolution, refugium

摘要：
Aims The aim of the study was to discover what set of variables best explains the transition from warm to mesic forest vegetation. Based on various variables grouped into sets (geomorphological, ecological, structural, soil characteristics and chorological), six models were built and tested by generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). We assumed that each set of variables has different explanatory power. Our aim was to compare the six different models (sets of variables), to test which model best explains the species turnover in forest communities along the transition between warm and mesic temperate forests and to try to find reasons for the different explanatory power of the models.
Methods The research took place in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Field sampling was done according to standard methods. The gradient from warm to mesic forests was defined as the turnover of species and evaluated by projection of samples on the first unconstrained DCA axis. Geomorphological, ecological, structural and soil characteristics, together with chorological sets of variables, were regressed on the turnover of species composition. Based on the five sets of variables, six models were constructed and tested by generalized additive mixed models.
Important findings Ecological conditions best explain the change of forest communities along the gradient; evolution and the development of vegetation reflected in chorotypes are also of high importance; geomorphology and structure seem not to change so dramatically and soil shows the least significant differences of all. Ecological variables are the most important set of variables in the transition between warm and mesic temperate forests but eco-evolutionary dynamics after the Pleistocene should also be taken into consideration.

Andraž Čarni, Vlado Matevski, Nina Juvan, Mitko Kostadinovski, Petra Košir, Aleksander Marinšek, Andrej Paušič, Urban Ŝilc. Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM[J]. J Plant Ecol, 2016, 9(4): 421-433.

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Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM

Transition along gradient from warm to mesic temperate forests evaluated by GAMM

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