Article (Scientific journals)
Plant communities and species richness of the calcareous grasslands in southeast Belgium
Piqueray, Julien; Bisteau, Emmanuelle; Bottin, Gaëtan et al.
2007In Belgian Journal of Botany, 140 (2), p. 157-173
Peer reviewed
 

Files


Full Text
belgian-journal-2007.pdf
Publisher postprint (531.19 kB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
Belgium; Calcareous grasslands; Environmental variables; MANOVA; Phytosociology; Species richness; TWINSPAN
Abstract :
[en] Calcareous grasslands are biodiversity hotspots in Western Europe. In Belgium, a number of phytosociological surveys have been realized in these habitats, but none covers the whole range of calcareous grasslands at the regional scale. The aim of this study was (i) to provide a synthesis of the floristic variation of calcareous grasslands of the Calestienne natural region using a uniform methodology; (ii) to relate floristic variation to environmental variables, and (iii) to characterize the specific diversity of the different grassland communities that occur in the study region. Seven different communities were identified with the TWINSPAN method. The originality of the grasslands on calcareous and calcareo-siliceous rocks was statistically confirmed. Significant differences for environmental variables were identified among the seven communities by a MANOVA. Main differences between communities were related to xericity and pH, although a north-south gradient was also identified. More xeric grasslands were located in the southern part of the study region while northern part was occupied by more mesophilous grasslands. Multiple regressions were used to describe the influence of the environmental conditions on plant species richness. The most mesophilous grasslands appeared to be the most species-rich while soil acidity negatively affected species richness.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Piqueray, Julien ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Bisteau, Emmanuelle ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Bottin, Gaëtan
Mahy, Grégory ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Language :
English
Title :
Plant communities and species richness of the calcareous grasslands in southeast Belgium
Publication date :
2007
Journal title :
Belgian Journal of Botany
ISSN :
0778-4031
eISSN :
1781-8656
Publisher :
Société Royale de Botanique de Belgique, Belgium
Volume :
140
Issue :
2
Pages :
157-173
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBi :
since 07 September 2009

Statistics


Number of views
149 (35 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
389 (35 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
22
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
9

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi