Southern Aegean Indicator Values

Derivation, Application and Perspectives

Dr Niels BöhlingInstitute of landscape and plant ecology

University Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

What is an “indicator value”?

Indicator values (IV) reflect the ecological presence ranges of species in a numerical way

Indicator values build an eco-table or eco-code of relative valuesrepresenting the conditions of the species‘ realised ecologicalniche

Basis: the ecological behaviour, not the physiological demands

Which eco-factors have been “indicated”?

Following the established Ellenberg indicator value system („Zeigerwerte“; 1952 - 2002):

- Light, L- Temperature, T- Continentality, K- Moisture, F- Soil reaction, R- Nutrient supply, N- Salt tolerance, S

Perspective: an European indicator value system

Basic principle of indicator value deduction

- Ordination of species along a gradient of an eco-factor- Defining classes of the eco-factor- Defining an indicator figures scale, especially the maximum allowable

ecological range- Assigning a specific indicator value according the ecological optimum

Eco-table of the S Aegean flora N ame L T K F R N S Familie

A butilon theophrasti 6 8 6 5 7 8 1 m alv A cantholim on androsaceum 9 2 4# 4 7 4 0 plum [A . echinus subsp. creticum , A . ulicinum ] A canthus spinosus 7 8° 5 4 x 7 0 acan A cer sem pervirens (5 ) x 4# 5 7 4 0 acer [A . creticum, A . orientale] A ceras anthropophorum 7 6° 3 4 7# 4 0 orch [O rchis anthropophora] A chillea cretica 8 8 5# 3 8 6 3 aste A chillea ligustica ? 7 3# ? 5 ? 0 aste A diantum capillus-veneris 4 7° 3 8 7 2 0 adia A donis annua subsp. cupaniana 8 8 6 4 7 6 0 ran u A donis m icrocarpa subsp. cretica 8 8 5# 3 8 7 0 ran u A donis m icrocarpa subsp. m icrocarpa 8 8 5 3 8 7 0 ran u A egilops biuncialis subsp. archipelagica 8 ? 5 ? ? ? ? poac [Triticum ovatum subsp. archipelagicum , T . m acrochaetum subsp. archipelagica] A egilops biuncialis subsp. biuncialis 7 7° 6 5 7 5 0 poac [A . lorentii, Triticum lorentii, T . ovatum subsp. biunciale, Triticum m acrochaetum ] A egilops caudata subsp. caudata 8 8° 5 4 8 3 0 poac [A . m arkgrafii, A . dichasians] A egilops caudata subsp. polyathera 8 8 7 5 7 5 0 poac [A . caudata var. polyathera, A . m arkgrafii var. polyathera]

Eco-codes / Eco-formulas

examples of ecological fingerprints:

Abutilon theophrasti 6-8-6 5-7-8-1

Acantholimon androsaceum 9-2-4 4-7-4-0

Achillea cretica 8-8-5 3-8-6-3

IV systems

“GDR”Frank & Klotz 1989, 1990

Norway Vevle 1985

NetherlandsLoopstra & van der Maarel 1984, Runhaar & al. 1987

Poland; 5 Hauptstufen, 4 Zwischenstufen: L, T, K, W (F), R, Tr (N), D (Dispersität)

Zarzycki 1984

RomaniaKovacs 1979

Switzerland; 5-stufig: L, T, K, F, R, N, H (Humus), D (Dispersität)

Landolt 1977

Hungary; no „x“Zolyomi 1967, Borhidi 1993, 1995

C EuropeEllenberg 1950, 1952, 1974, 1979, 1991, 1992, (2002)

IV systems

S Aegean (Greece)Böhling, Greuter & Raus (2002)

Great Britain, Ireland; kein „x“, T u. K, S neu definiert

Hill, Mountford, Roy & Bunce 1999

Asturias (Spain); 5-stufig, kein „x“ (1996)Mayor-Lopez 1996, 1999

Naxos (Greece); W (4), F (8), R (5), S (4), Verbiss- u. Feuertoleranz (4)

Böhling 1994, 1995

AustriaKarrer & al. 1990 - 1992, Karrer & Englisch in Vorbereitung

Schoa (Ethiopia); 3-4-stufig mit Zwischenstufen: HL, R, B (Textur), H (Humus), P, K

Pülschen 1990

Czechoslovakia; 5-6 Hauptstufen, 4-5 Zwischenstufen: Pv (6, F), Pr (5, R), Pd (5, N)

Jurko 1990

W British Columbia (Kanada); Climate (6), soil moisture (6), soil nitrogen (3), ground surface materials (5)

Klinka, Krajina, Ceska & Scagel1989

The Southern Aegean investigation area

Akr. Tigani, NW Crete

S Argos, Kasos

Attaviros, Rhodes

Lefka Ori, W Crete

Lefka Ori, W Crete

Xerokambos, SE Crete

Preveli, SC Crete

Basics of S Aegean IV (Böhling, Greuter & Raus 2002)

long-term experience of the working group concerning flora and ecology of Greece, especially the Aegean

extensive basic literature (e.g. Carlström 1987, Turland, Chilton & Press 1995, Jahn & Schönfelder 1995, Strid & Tan 1997, Rechinger 1943)

3 years of granted special research in cooperation with Patras University (German research foundation; 3/1997 to 02/2001)

1. extensive field studies

new data on geography and ecology of many plantscombining relevees with complex site analysiscomplementary studies at different seasons of the yearherbarisation of critical plants

Basics of S Aegean IV

2. Determinations

thorough determination of c. 6.000 vouchers in Bnomenclature after Med-Checklist (Greuter & al. 1984, 1986, 1989) and other up-to-date literaturedescription of new taxa Trifolium phitosianum, Ranunculus veronicae, Cerastium deschatresii, C. scaposum subsp. peninsularum, Viscum album subsp. creticum, Phragmites frutescens

Basics of S Aegean IV

3. Soils analysis

394 mixed samples, top soil

analysis at the agronomic research institute (LUFA) Augustenberg, Karlsruhe

Basics of S Aegean IV

soil analysis: measured parameters

pH (CaCl2) in 0,01 molarer CaCl2-Suspension (Methode A5.1., VDLUFA-Methodenbuchs, Bd. I, 1991)

soil texture (AG Boden 1996, DIN ISO 19683, Teil 2, April 1973)

specific electric conductivity, mS/m (DIN ISO 11265)

easily available carbonates, %

organic carbon, % (DIN ISO 10694)

total nitrogen, % (DIN ISO 13878)

CAL soluble Phosphorous (P2O5) and Potassium (K2O), mg/100g (method A6.2.1.1, VDLUFA-Methodenbuch, Bd. I (1991))

Basics of S Aegean IV

4. pc data base (Access97)

existing of 4 connected tables on:taxonomy „Nomen“ecology „Ökologie“soil analytical results „Boden“plant records „Pflanzen“: > 16.450 records (e.g. Sarcopoterium spinosum: 147)

connecting via Sippencode, Standortnr., Vegetationsaufnahmennr.

data administrationlabellingdata analysis

Basics of S Aegean IV

5. additional sources

herbarium data checking the extensive collections in Berlin botanical museum, BGBM

literature dataespecially as regards rare plants not investigated in the field

Basics of S Aegean IV

Derivation of S Aegean Indicator Values (SAIV) general approach

principle: adapting and improving the Ellenberg IV system

relative ordination along site gradients on the basis of ecological experience

enabling connection of IV scales in case of scales to beexpanded

modification of indicator figure definitions as regardsadditional site qualities and to make the figures morereproducible

work steps to assign IV scales:

assessing the ecological site spectrum of the S Aegean

deduction of the ecological behaviour / the occupiedecological niche of plants

Derivation of S Aegean Indicator Values (SAIV) general approach

work steps to assign IV scales:

defining IV scales

defining single indicator figures

delimitation of indifferent behaviour

differentiation of indicator qualities

Derivation of S Aegean Indicator Values (SAIV) general approach

detection of the specific ecological amplitudeif amplitude width within limits to indifference: detection of the amplitude‘s peakassignment of a concrete IV designation of IV quality (good, medium or weak indicator function)or designation as “indifferent”eventually characterisation as less reliable IVeventually no assignemnt of an IV (if data base to weak)

Derivation of S Aegean Indicator Values (SAIV) concrete SAIV assignment

SAIV: overviewarea: S Aegean (Kythira, Crete, Karpathos archipelago, Rhodes)

taxonomic group: 2448 vascular plant taxa: species, subspecies, varieties (14), aggregates

eco-factor scale range

Light, L: irradiance

1 plant in deep shade - 9 plant in full light, found only in full sun, e.g., in high mountains and insolation-rich south exposed areas near sea

Temperature, T: Occurrence along a temperature gradient from the alti-mediterranean level to the N African-thermomediterranean level

1 plants of cool sites; mean annual temperature < 8,5 °C; centre of occurrence over 1950 m (max. 2456 m) a.s.l. -- 9 plants of hot sites; mean annual temperature c. 20 °C and more; centre of occurrence between 0 and 50 m a.s.l., mainly in southern Crete and the southern offshore islets; many southern Mediterranean and N African species #: narrow amplitude (1 t-class), °: more broad amplitude (4 bis 5 t-classes)

Continentality, K: Occurrence in the oceanity gradient from the Atlantic to C Eurasia and Africa

1 extreme oceanic: oz1-(2) (extreme Atlantic plants) -- 9 extreme continental: oz(3)-k1 (Saharo-Sindian and Irano-Turanian plants) # °

Moisture, F: Gradient from shallow soil of rocky slopes under arid climate to swampy ground (F 0-9; terrestrial plants) and from shallow or fluctuating to deep waters (F10-12; aquatic plants)

0 indicator of extremly dry sites; exclusively on driest (shallow soil with low field capacity) substrates without water inflow at precipitation-lowest, potential evaporation-highest sites in the southern, xero-thermo-Mediterranean zone; many plants with mainly N African or SW Asian distribution; not occurring in C Europe

-- 12 submerged aquatic plant; permanently or almost constantly under water) °: broad amplitude

Reaction, R: Occurrence in the gradient of soil acidity

1 indicator of extreme acidity, never found on weakly acid or basic soils (plants only at pH <6, centre at pH 3.0 - 4.9)

-- 9 lime indicator, always found on basic soils with pH > 7.6 (highest pH in the area 8.9) #: narrow amplitude (behaviour reflects bold printed characters)

Nutrient supply, N: Occurrence along the gradient of nutrient supply

1 indicator of sites extremely poor in nutrients; on soils with very high C/N ratio (17 - >20)

-- 9 indicator of extremely rich situations (such as cattle resting places and near polluted rivers); on soils with low C/N, low C/P and higher P content (>6,0 mg P2O5/100 g)

Salt, S: Occurrence depending on mean maximum salt concentration of sites

0 halophobe (glycophyte); absent from saline sites because not supporting salt, if in coastal situations, only accidental

-- 9 eu- to hyperhaline; at sites with extremely high concentration of chloride; halophytes with temporary extremely high concentrations of chloride in their rooting zone (early crystallization of chlorides at soil surface, no sweet groundwater), e.g., plants of salt puddles, plants of small islets under arid climatic conditions

SAIV: overview

additional symbols and particularities x: indifferent behaviour: no indicator properties IV in small font: less reliable classification ?: IV assignment recently not possible due to weak data base Using indicator ecological species groups (IESG) for defining indicator figures

SAIV: overview

IV reflect the ecological behaviour of plants: the ecological optimum may differ from the physiological one

IV are primarily valid for the area they are defined for. Under different competitive conditions the ecological behaviour may change. In partial areas more precise local IV are expected to be detectable.

IV reflect primarily statistical interdependencies not generally causal ones

Limitations of IV

Application of IV

ecological characterisation of a flora- eco-tables, eco-formulas/fingerprints- advices for cultivation- consideration of ecological properties in taxonomy

geographic and dynamic comparative studies- ecological characterisation of plant communities- ecological site mapping and classification- environmental monitoring

develop hypotheses to explain the causes of change in flora and ecosystems

landscape planning- detect areas of special site qualities and potentials (specialised crop

introduction, afforestation, browsing, water management, tourism)

Ways of utilising IV

calculating mean IV or weighted mean IV of a stand

analysing IV spectra (comparing rates of specific IV)

they transfer the ecological behaviour in an operational form to be used in statistics

they reduce complex factors to single terms valuable forpractical uses

they indicate the biological effect of eco-factors (expressed by plants)

it is a relatively simple method for evaluating a flora

Advances of utilising IV

SAIV offer new perspectives in ecological research (synecological as well as autecological)

SAIV offer new perspectives in applied science

SAIV offer the opportunity to close IV gaps especially in S Europe

SAIV would allow a Pan-European IV system on a homogenous basis

SAIV offers methods to create IV in other parts of the world

Perspectives of SAIV

Southern Aegean Indicator Values

Dr Niels BöhlingInstitute of landscape and plant ecology

University Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany