LANDSCAPE AND COENOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF BRACHYPODIUM PINNATUM GRASSLANDS IN HUNGARY

Secondary Brachypodium pinnatum grasslands are typical in low precipitation areas of Hungary after clearing of the oak forest. These grasslands contain steppe species and shade tolerant forest species in varying proportions. Quantitative results from the Institute of Ecology and Botany research site...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cœnoses 1998-04, Vol.13 (1), p.39-53
Main Authors: Fekete, G., Virágh, K., Aszalós, R., Orlóci, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chalk grasslands
Dry forests
Forest habitats
Forest steppes
Grassland management
Plants
Semiarid grasslands
Steppes
Vegetation
Woodland grasslands
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Summary:Secondary Brachypodium pinnatum grasslands are typical in low precipitation areas of Hungary after clearing of the oak forest. These grasslands contain steppe species and shade tolerant forest species in varying proportions. Quantitative results from the Institute of Ecology and Botany research site in the Gödöllõ Hills support the proposition of an intense differentiation. For one thing, a spatial-floristic gradient is revealed. Along this, the representation of the forest species and that of the steppe species show opposite trends. A sharp hierarchical group structure is also revealed. This is characterised by the separation of the types dominated by forest species from other types dominated by the steppe species. While the two species groups tend to mutual exclusion under strong coenological and environmental selective pressures, interestingly, no evidence suggests that the species of the Brachypodium pinnatum grassland have an aggressive trait sufficient to endanger biodiversity. The paper presents the detailed results and also the description of analytical techniques.
ISSN:0393-9154