Experience with using Ellenberg's R indicator values in Slovakia: Oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests

Balkovič, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2955-4931, Kollar, J., & Simonovic, V. (2012). Experience with using Ellenberg's R indicator values in Slovakia: Oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests. Biologia 67 (3) 474-482. 10.2478/s11756-012-0027-8.

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Abstract

Ellenberg's indicator values have been suggested as useful method of estimating site conditions using plants. We examined whether Ellenberg's R values are suitable for indicating soil reaction and if calibration to physical pH measurements can improve bioindication in oligotrophic and mesotrophic submontane broad-leaved forests in Slovakia. Vegetation releves and pH-H 2O and pH-CaCl2 soil reaction were recorded for this purpose. Ellenberg's R values (R_e) were compared to Jurko's indicator values (R_j) and a set of species R values and tolerances (T), which were calibrated with physical pH data using the weighted averaging (R_w, T_w) and Huisman-Olff-Fresco modeling (R_h, T_h). Original R_e values were then recalibrated with measured pH data to establish new, adjusted set of scores (R_c, T_c) at Ellenberg's scale. The Re values are significantly correlated with the other R values, and they demonstrate similar frequency distribution to R_j and R_w values for the studied species pool. The frequency distribution becomes similar across all the R values when indifferent species were excluded. The performance of all the indicator values in terms of bioindication was tested. Releve means of the R values were regressed on the field pH measurements. The performance of bioindication varied from 36% to 49% of the explained variance for pH-CaCl2, with the R e and R c values yielding 46% and 49% respectively. The bioindication slightly improved for all calibrated methods (R_w, R_h and R_c) when species were weighed inversely with their tolerances - the performance varied from 42% to 51%, and the R c values performed most effectively. We concluded that Ellenberg's R values represent a powerful system for bioindicating soil acidity when compared to the other alternatives, with pH-CaCl2 showing better results than pH-H2O. Recalibration of Ellenberg's values to the measured data improved the indicator system.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Bioindication; HOF model; Soil acidity; Species indicator values; Weighted averaging
Research Programs: Ecosystems Services and Management (ESM)
Bibliographic Reference: Biologia; 67(3):474-482 (June 2012)
Depositing User: IIASA Import
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2016 08:46
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 17:22
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/9956

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