Publication details

Habitat diversity of central European fens in relation to environmental gradients and an effort to standardise fen terminology in ecological studies

Authors

HÁJEK Michal HORSÁK Michal HÁJKOVÁ Petra DÍTĚ Daniel

Year of publication 2006
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Field Ecology
Keywords Bog; Conductivity; Molluscs; Mire ecology; PH; Poor–rich gradient; Vegetation
Description In this paper, we demonstrated that the bog-fen boundary is clearly determinable not by pH, but by a set of nutrient-requiring species that avoid truly ombrotrophic conditions in central Europe. We therefore defined fens as groundwater-fed wetlands that host low productive nutrient-limited vegetation dominated by Cyperaceae and bryophytes. The fertility gradient within fens is easily distinguishable using both plant and animal data, but it appears primarily within calcium-richer fens. We suggest defining fen grasslands by the high abundance of nutrient-requiring grasses and forbs rather than purely by fen origin and management. The ecological differentiation of all proposed fen types was tested using a data set from two different regions. Both conductivity and pH differ significantly between pairs of vegetation types. All proposed fen types also markedly differ in molluscan assemblages.
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