Tuexenia

Repeated surveys on permanent plots in the strict forest reserves Schrofen and Wettersteinwald (Bava-rian Alps) have revealed some significant changes in the vegetation structure and composition of these mountain forests since the mid-1980s. The gradient covered by the investigations ranges from mixed mountain forests of the montane zone to natural spruce forests of the lower subalpine zone and larch-pine forests of the upper subalpine zone. Particularly noticeable changes were an increase in the canopy closure of the stands and the establishment of a shrub layer. In addition, an increase in frequency was observed for many species of the herb layer, resulting in an increase in alpha diversity. The species with apositivereactioninthestudyperiod("winners")werepredominantlycompetitiveand vigorous species with comparatively higher nutrient and lower light requirements. In many cases, the increase in the fre-quency of species was accompanied by an expansion of their occurrence to higher (but also lower) alti-tudes. As a result, the relev & eacute;s of the subalpine coniferous forests and the mixed mountain forests today show an overall higher floristic similarity than in the 1980s, which can be interpreted as a homogeniza-tion of the species composition of the understorey vegetation. However, not a single relev & eacute; changed its affiliation to a vegetation type. In our opinion, the main driving forces behind the changes are the sig-nificantriseintemperatureduetoclimatechange,changesinlandusepractices(cessationofforestman-agement, intensification of hunting, reduction in grazing intensity) and continued high nitrogen inputs

Peri-Pannonian Bosnia was a forest-dominated landscape in the past. However, it has experienced extensive and continuous negative anthropogenic influence for over 200 years resulting in significant reduction and fragmentation of forest area. The remaining forests are not sufficiently studied, and little is known about their floristic composition, ecology and classification. In order to study the lowland forest from this area, Lijev & ccaron;e Polje (central part of the area) was chosen because of the relatively large patches of preserved forest. Phytosociological research was carried out from 2016 to 2023 using the Braun-Blanquet method, resulting in the compilation of a dataset consisting of 73 relev & eacute;s of forest vegetation. These relev & eacute;s were classified using TWINSPAN into 15 units and afterwards merged into 8 groups, representing associations that were floristically and ecologically analyzed. One group, encompassing swamp alder forest, was identified as Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae. Two groups represented forests with yearly fluctuations in soil moisture ranging from water-saturated to very dry soils. One of those groups, characterized by extreme soil moisture fluctuation, was attributed to Pseudostellario-Quercetum roboris, while the other group, with mild soil moisture fluctuation, was attributed to Genistoelatae-Quercetum roboris. Three groups were documented along streams and were attributed to: Salicetum albae, occupying the lowest river terraces; Fraxino pannonicae-Ulmetum glabrae, occurring on elevated river terraces; and Stellarionemorum-Alnetum glutinosae, confined to smaller streams. Two groups positioned in areas outside the flood zone were identified: Convallario-Carpinetum, occurring on old river terraces, and Stellario-Carpinetum, found on mountain foothills. Ellenberg indicator values were used to detect significant factors that shape the floristic composition of the analyzed plant communities. The distance from the nearest river and elevation were also useful in understanding ecological and topographic attributes of the communities. The driest and most wide-spread communities are those dominated by Carpinus betulus and Quercus robur. Riparian forests are confined to riverbanks while swamp forests are found in microdepressions that were not meliorated in the past. These findings contribute to the phytosociological understanding and classification of forest vegetation in peri-Pannonian Bosnia, providing a basis for future conservation efforts and classification

Unmulched lawns in cemeteries in the western Ruhr area are characterised by an exceptionally high species richness of over 400 vascular plant species in total. 242 species were recorded in vegetation releves with up to 34 plant species in a survey area of 8 m(2) (9 m(2) area size was aimed for as standard). In addition, a total of 38 species occur in all the releves that are on the federal state or regional Red List, with up to six species occurring in individual releves. Particularly noteworthy is the occurrence of some rare species belonging to the arable flora, sandy grassland and heathland vegetation. The association of these species could also be documented phytosociologically by vegetation releves on the cemetery lawns. Some of these areas are located in cemeteries in the centre of urban agglomerations, where they have been preserved as relics of a pre-industrial landscape. In addition, typical lawn vegetation from the Crepido-Festucetum association was recorded in many of the cemeteries, but a fragment community was also differentiated, which was essentially created by mulching the lawns.The vegetation of non-mulched cemetery lawns varies considerably depending on altitude, soil type, cemetery age and burial use in the surrounding of the plot. Mulched areas, however, have a highly uni-form species composition. Not only are they floristically impoverished and Red List species are largely absent, they also form a homogeneous unit without regional or area-specific differences. Their flora consists of a few grasses and undemanding ubiquists. Against this background, a switch to mulching should be avoided at all costs, especially on the remaining areas of high floristic value

Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris is an endangered species in large parts of Central Europe. In the upper Rhine floodplains, Germany, less than 100 individuals have survived until the middle of the 20th cen-tury. Local reintroduction approaches began in 1967 and increased the number of individuals to 1.075 in 2018. However, the current population status and the success of these long-term reintroduction efforts are, so far, unknown, although they represent an important basis for the future conservation of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris. For this study, all known sites of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris. in the upper Rhine valley were surveyed in 2017-2018. The vitality of the individuals, their growing conditions, and local threats were assessed to evaluate establishment chances, and time series of vitality data (2012, 2013, and 2018) were analyzed for reintroduction sites in Leimersheim, Lingenfeld, and R & ouml;merberg. In the most recent survey in 2018, we found 482 individuals from previous reintroduction efforts (1974 to 2016). Overall, 55% of the individuals introduced since 2012 had died. Only 16% of 456 planted individuals (for which vitality data and planting year were available) showed high vitality and reproduction potential and were therefore considered established. The remaining 84% (mostly planted in 2016) had not reached the canopy and were therefore subjected to unsuitable light conditions, with low to medium vitality. The number of adult, reproducing individuals of the total population had decreased. The risk factors that have led to the massive decline of the species are still existing in 2018. In particular, in the massively degraded Upper Rhine floodplains, the species-specific habitat requirements are largely no longer met and must be restored as part of renaturation measures to facilitate the establishment of this species. Focus should be placed on the creation of natural flooding dynamics in selected areas.Currently, the reintroduction of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris.is particularly difficult due to a lack of suitable habitats. Added to this are the long establishment period, the late reproductive age, dioecy, and hybridization with Vitiscultivars, wild Vitis individuals, and vine rootstocks. Due to a combination of these factors, this species is threatened with extinction in Germany and must be protected throughappropriate nature conservation and forestry strategies. The success of reintroduction efforts, the effect-tiveness of protective measures, and the status of the population must be monitored regularly

In recent years, forests in Germany have experienced considerable disturbances, yet there is limitedinformation on the extent to which forests within the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network of protected areas (Directive 92/43/ECC) have also been affected. However, calls for greater flexibility of the Habitats Directive to address potential climate change effects have already been made.The objective of this study was to analyze changes in selected forest habitat types by comparing current recording results with those from approximately ten years ago. We analyzed a selection of forest stands (n = 224) encompassing the forest habitat types 9110, 9130, 9170, 9180*, and 91E0* within four Natura 2000 sites in the Harz Mountains and Harz Foothills in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and focused on stand structure and tree species composition. The following parameters were recorded and evaluated: (1) canopy layer cover, (2) large deadwood pieces per hectare, (3) tree species compo-sition and (4) vitality of selected individual trees by recording crown defoliation. The study revealed (1) a decline in the upper canopy layer cover, consisting of older and larger trees, as well as an increase in tree regeneration. In addition, (2) greater large deadwood density per hectare and (3) a change in tree species composition were observed. Our analysis indicates that (4) forest stand structure has a greater influence on crown defoliation than site characteristics. Our study shows that forest habitat types studied in the Harz region have changed significantly over the course of a decade. However, we contend that there is currently no compelling rationale to chal-lenge the protective status of the forests examined at the regional level or the delineations of forest habitat types at the European level. To effectively address climate change impacts, it is essential to ex-pand the methodological approach in the future, e.g. by incorporating satellite data into regular moni-toring activities

Dry (xerothermic) grasslands are biodiversity hotspots, but at the same time threatened throughout Europe by abandonment, land-use intensification or eutrophication. Dry grasslands in temperate Europe belong to the phytosociological classes Festuco-Brometea(on loamy soils) and Koelerio-Corynephoretea(on sandy soils). While the Festuco-Brometeahave generally received much more attention in both conservation and syntaxonomy, the Koelerio-Corynephoreteaare often largely neglected. We thus conducted a regional survey of all dry grassland types of the Lesser Polish Upland. We sampled 70 10-m2vegetation plots with careful treatment of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens and extensive soil analyses. Given the relatively low number of plots, we assigned them to well-established syntaxa of neighbouring regions and countries by expert assessment. For the resulting units we determined diagnostic species numerically based on standardized phi-values at all main syn-taxonomic ranks. We found that all the stands fit very well into modern classification systems of the two classes, as they have been established based on large datasets in neighbouring countries. We distinguished two classes, four orders, six alliances and nine association-rank units, of which eight matched existing associations. The Koelerio-Corynephoreteawere represented by the orders Cory-nephoretalia canescentis (xeric acidic) with the alliance Corynephorion canescentis (Cetrario aculeatae-Corynephoretum canescentis), the Festuco-Sedetalia acris(xeric more base-rich) with the alliances Sileno conicae-Cerastion semidecandri (Sileno conicae-Cerastietum semidecandri) and Koelerion glaucae (Helichryso arenarii-Jasionetum montanae and Festuco psammophilae-Koelerietum glaucae) and the Trifolio arvensis-Festucetalia ovinae(meso-xeric) with the alliance Armerionelongatae (Diantho deltoidis-Armerietum elongatae and Sileno otitae-Festucetum trachyphyllae). The Festuco-Brometeawere only represented by the meso-xeric order Brachypodietalia pinnati, but with two alliances, the floristically impoverished Nordic-Baltic Filipendulo vulgaris-Helictochloion pratensis (Peucedanum oreoselinum-Briza mediacommunity) and the subcontinental Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati (Scabioso ochroleucae-Brachypodietum pinnati and Inuletum ensifoliae). The syntaxa on all four ranks were floristically well characterised, with most of the regional diagnostic species matching those established in neighbouring countries. The mean species richness of all taxonomic groups was lower in the Koelerio-Corynephoretea (29.4) than in the Festuco-Brometea(44.8), while the lichen richness was higher in the former. The stands in the study region were on average more diverse than those in NE Germany, which could be attributed to more southern location combined with the latitudinal diversity gradient. The Koelerio-Corynephoretea inhabited the sandy deposits along the rivers, the Festuco-Brometeamostly occurred on limestone bedrock on the hills of the region, except for the Filipendulo vulgaris-Helictochloion pratensisin the Nida valley. This study is an important step toward a data-driven modern syntaxonomic overview of all dry grasslands in Poland and helpsto bring some "neglected" types into focus.

A study of the vegetation of limestone rock shelters in the Haut-Jura has revealed a new specialised association, Chenopodio boni-henrici-Arabidetum alpinae. The ecological factors that determine its presence are of zoogenic origin (mammalian resting place), leading to a moderate input of nutrients and an input of diaspores (endozoochory) and a combination of stratigraphic (contact of a soft layer overlaid by a hard layer), petrographic (rock fragments) and geomorphological (export and dispersal of frag-ments) factors. From a symphytosociological point of view, the association belongs to the described landscape unit of limestone cliffs, which corresponds to a hypogeosigmassociation. A comparison is made with other rock shelter plant communities in Europe. The nomenclature of the names of several syntaxa of the classes Sisymbrietea sophiae, Artemisietea vulgaris, Epilobietea angustifoliiand Mulgedio-Aconitetea in relation to these communities is reviewed, leading to the validation of the name Hackelio deflexae-Blitetalia virgati retained in the EuroVegChecklist, but currently invalid, as well as some lectotypifications

Members of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and its predecessor organizations have been publishing grassland Special Features in Tuexenia since 2005. This year's Special Feature includes five articles highlighting different aspects of grassland research in Europe. In grasslands across different European countries, Seiler et al. (2025) investigated whether the occurrence of mycotoxins produced by grass endophytes are affected by environmental conditions and plant diversity. Boch et al. (2025) experimentally tested the effects of disturbance and seed addition on bryophyte communities along a gradient in land-use intensity in 72 agricultural grasslands in Germany. Blank-Pachlatko et al. (2025) investigated how restoration success in alpine grasslands is related to soil alterations. Genucchi et al. (2025) studied the potential impact of increasing cover of Erigeron annuuson native plant diversity in Switzerland. Finally, Dembicz et al. (2025) provide a syntaxonomic synthe-sis of the Koelerio-Corynephoretea and Festuco-Brometea communities of the Lesser Polish Upland

Chalk rocky grasslands of the arid Eastern European Plain are endangered and highly important for biodiversity protection. This study aimed to revise previous syntaxonomic concepts, compare chalk rocky grasslands with other calcareous rocky grasslands and provide a unified classification of chalk rocky grasslands. We extracted relev & eacute;s from the European Vegetation Archive and added relev & eacute;s from protologues and papers describing chalk rocky grasslands within the study area. We pre-selected an initial dataset of calcareous rocky grasslands, which we narrowed down to the orderStipo pulcher-rimae-Festucetalia pallentis. These were further classified using a modified TWINSPAN algorithm. We classified them as Anabasio cretaceae-Agropyrion desertori, Sileno fruticulosae-Nanophytion erinacei, Anthemido trotzkianae-Artemision salsoloides, Sileno supinae-Artemision hololeucae, Euphorbio cretophilae-Thymion cretacei and transitional communities of the Centaureo carbonatae-Koelerion talievii allianceswithintwo orders with validation of some syntaxa. The communities are clearly differentiated from each other along gradients of climate and edaphic properties. Differences to other European limestome communities are given. We provide the first unified European classification of continental chalk rocky grasslands, including Ukrainian, Russian and Kazakh communities

In light of ongoing threats to European grasslands, grazing by livestock such as horses can contribute to biodiversity conservation. An emerging field of research relevant to both grassland ecosystems and animal husbandry has focused on grass-endophyte symbioses between Epichloe fungi and grasses of the genera Festuca, Lolium, and Schedonorus. These endophytes produce toxic alkaloids and have been associated with certain fitness benefits to host grasses, possibly leading to diminished grassland diversity. However, these grass-endophyte symbioses have rarely been studied in (semi-) natural settings. In this study we explored the prevalence of mycotoxins produced by fungal endophytes in temperate European grasslands, testing for possible links between mycotoxin occurrence and eco-logical conditions or land use.We sampled 310 vegetation plots of 10 m2 at seven horse sanctuaries ("sites") in France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. In a subset of 204 plots, we collected and tested 372 samples of the target grass genera for the mycotoxins ergovaline and lolitrem B using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). For all plots, we calculated plant diversity measures and meanEcological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVEs). Differences in the vegetation and mycotoxin preva-lence were tested using linear mixed-effects models. To explore ecological effects on mycotoxin preva-lence, we calculated generalized mixed models at plot and sample level Plant diversity was similar to averages for the countries studied, with maxima and Red List species occurring in dryer and wetter conditions. Mycotoxins occurred at all sites under a broad range of environmental conditions. Mycotoxin occurrence was comparable to endophyte infection rates from the literature. Festuca rubra aggr. tested positive at rates exceeding twice that of Lolium perenne and Schedonorus arundinaceus. Infection was associated with higher soil moisture and lower nitrogen EIVEs, in contrast to the literature showing benefits to hosts primarily in dry and nutrient-rich conditions. Grass cover and host dominance showed contrasting effects on mycotoxin prevalence in host species. There was no relationship between mycotoxin prevalence and temperature, biodiversity, or land-use type.From our results, we conclude that endophyte infection is common in semi-natural grasslands in temperate Europe but appears to currently present only a limited risk to livestock. We find no strong or consistent relationships between mycotoxin occurrence and ecological conditions or plant diversity. This is consistent with evidence that the effects of infection on hosts are context-dependent and complex. Species-rich grasslands may provide a protective effect against endophyte toxicosis in livestock by diluting mycotoxin concentrations where endophyte infection occurs

The current decline of ruderal plant species in central European villages might be caused by urban-ization replacing historical rural management. However, the extent and speed of this development are poorly studied, and urbanization as a complex of several factors is hard to analyze. We used age of age of village parts (< 1945, 1945-1990, > 1990) as a proxy for urbanization and studied its impact on the population numbers of 13 ruderal plant species. We investigated seven villages in NE Germany in 2011 and again in 2022. The age of village parts had a positive impact on population numbers, with the old-est parts harboring the most populations and the youngest parts the fewest. The number of species, as well as the abundance of their populations, decreased from 2011 to 2022. We assume that declining traditional land use with farm gardens and animal husbandry is the main driver for the loss of ruderal diversity. We could show that the age of village parts is a useful proxy for urbanization, and that the negative impact of urbanization on diversity and abundance of ruderal plant species in villages is al-ready seen after one decade

In Switzerland, the neophyte Erigeron annuus is considered to be harmful to the environment, particularly to native plant diversity and thus is listed as "invasive alien species" (IAS) in the normative sense. Since the evidence for this listing is limited and contradictory, we studied it empirically. We searched for sites in which the species occurs with high local cover values, irrespective of the vegetation type. We sampled clusters of four 1-m2 plots in 10 different sites around Zurich, Northern Switzerland. Each cluster represented a local "invasion gradient" from no (or very low) to the maximum Erigeron annuus cover of the site, within the same plant community and all other factors being as similar as possible. We then applied (generalised) linear mixed-effect models to test whether plant diversity, mean ecological indicator values (temperature, light, moisture, reaction, nutrients) or CSR strategy types are influenced by the cover of Erigeron annuus. All response variables were calculated without Erigeron annuus ("resident community") and diversity indices additionally without all neophytes ("native community"). Most of the sites belonged to grasslands of the Arrhenatherion elatioris, the Erigeron annuus cover ranged from 0% to 55% and the mean vascular plant species richness was 24.6. We found that the cover of Erigeron annuus did not influence native and resident species richness or Shannon evenness, nor native Shannon diversity significantly. Only on resident Shannon diversity it had a minimal positive effect. None of the tested mean ecological indicator values or CSR strategies was influenced by the cover of Erigeron annuus. Our results demonstrate that Erigeron annuus regularly invades relatively species rich grassland communities, but its effect on the resident vascular plant community in our study region remains negligible. This is consistent with our literature review according to which other studies with sound methodology either found no or even a positive effect of Erigeron annuus on native plant diversity. As our sample is limited in size and geographic scope, we recommend repeating such impact studies in other regions with similar methods to test for the generality of our results. Beyond Erigeron annuus, our results suggest that the determination of "invasive alien neophytes" should be based on solid scientific evidence to spend conservation money effectively on measures that improve the state of native biodiversity

In 2021 vegetation plots were surveyed before the onset of grazing on eight mountain pastures situated in the biosphere region Berchtesgadener Land. In each pasture, 13 plots were surveyed for plant species composition and cover and soil chemistry was measured on one central plot. Additionally, the total pool of vascular plant species (gamma-diversity) was qualitatively recorded along transects between the vegetation plots around mid-summer. Vegetation plots were subjected to NMDS-ordination and numerical agglomerative classification (Ward-method) to define eight vegetation types. The latter were characterized by diagnostic species (indicator species analysis) and in terms of species richness, average Ellenberg indicator values, average feed values and the cover of indicator species of legally protected grassland biotopes. The ordination scores (local) were compared to a NMDS ordination of 771 reference plots (regional; 54 with measurements of soil chemistry) from the larger bio-sphere region. The main gradient of plant species composition (NMDS-axis 1) was closely related to decreasing site moisture and increasing soil pH and appeared to be induced by bedrock geology. While the majority of pastures developed on mixed talus material of intermediate chemistry, the pastures on acidic radiolarian (Ruhpolding formation) and dolomite rocks (Hauptdolomit) formed the endpoints of the axis. A second orthogonal gradient ordered plots according to increasing macronutrient (P, N) avail-ability and feed value. Along the pH-gradient, eight vegetation types were distinguished: Geo montani-Nardetum on acidic radiolarian and sandstone rocks, Crepido-Festucetum rumicetosum arifolii, Crepido-Festucetum typicum, Caricetum ferrugineae und Lolio-Cynosuretum (the latter with two local forms on low elevation pastures) on mixed talus substrates, and Seslerio-Caricetum silenetosumon dolomite. Crepido-Festucetum und Lolio-Cynosuretum were distinguished as cultivated grasslands by higher feed values in contrast to the oligotrophic grasslands and fallows with high nature value. Two pastures turned out to be composed of heterogeneous plant communities resulting in high beta- and gamma-diversity. Oligotrophic grasslands had the highest richness of nature value indicators, but not the highest overall plant richness on the plot (alpha) and pasture level (gamma). The knowledge of plant communities and their respective ecology provides an important baseline for interpreting the sub-sequent experiments performed on the pastures.

The feather grass steppe (Festucion valesiacae) was chosen as the Plant Community of the Year 2026 by the Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft. In Central Europe, the feather grass steppe is a rare and endangered type of dry grassland, characterised by plant species with subcontinental to continental distribution. In Germany, it is limited to dry and warm areas where it grows on nutrient-poor soils, particularly on dry southern slopes. Here, the largest populations are found in the Central German Dry Region in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, followed by the dry regions of eastern Brandenburg and the northern Upper Rhine Valley in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. Smaller stands occur in Main-Franconia in Bavaria. In Central Europe, the feather grass steppe represents remnants of the late Pleistocene to early Holocene steppe, which persisted during the Holocene forest expansion in special edaphic and microclimatic locations supported by grazing of large herbivores. From the Neolithic period onwards, it was mainly humans with their grazing animals who preserved and promoted the feather grass steppe. With around 400 vascular plant species regularly occurring in German stands, and with sometimes over 40 species per 10-20 m(2) plot, the feather grass steppe is very species-rich. Characteristic vascular plants are, in particular, Hairlike feather grass (Stipa capillata), European feather grass (S. pennata) and Wallis fescue (Festuca valesiaca), as well as numerous herbs. Many of these species are more prevalent in the steppes of Eastern Europe. Some species, such as Stemless milkvetch (Astragalus exscapus), are restricted to the Central European steppes and thus are among Germany's responsibility species. The feather grass steppe is a hotspot for rare and endangered species. Of the 58 vascular plant species characteristic of the feather grass steppe in Germany, 89% have been classified as rare, very rare or extremely rare, and 81% as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered. The feather grass steppe is also an important habitat for bryophytes, lichens and fungi as well as animals, especially insects. At least 20 species of phytoparasitic smut and rust fungi are exclusively associated with the vascular plant species characteristic of the feather grass steppe, and are therefore themselves characteristic. With the introduction of industrial agriculture, the feather grass steppe declined sharply. Despite being under special protection under both the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the European Habitats Directive (Habitat type 6240, Sub-Pannonic steppic grass-lands), and often being located in protected areas, the feather grass steppe continues to deteriorate and is declining rapidly. This is due to insufficient management, inadequate management, and the input of atmospheric nitrogen and fertilisers from intensively used neighbouring areas. All these factors favours Upright brome (Bromus erectus), which is currently invading the feather grass steppe of central Germany. As this species did not occur in the Central German Dry Region in the past, it must be considered a neophyte here. Another problem is the fragmentation of the feather grass steppe, which can lead to genetic erosion of small populations of the character species. In order to halt succession and prevent B. erectus from becoming dominant, a more intensive management is required. To this end, programmes that promote extensive grazing should receive greater support. However, management strategies must be adapted to account for changes in climate and nitrogen input. The rarest and most endangered species often require special habitat and population management

Alpine ecosystems face increasing disturbances from construction activities, prompting restoration efforts to mitigate soil erosion and biodiversity loss. We investigated the short-term outcomes of alpine grassland restoration measures at Curtinella, Corvatsch (canton of Grisons, Switzerland), comparing vegetation composition, soil properties, and soil bacterial communities of two restored sites - one seeded (2017) and one restored by turf transplantation (2020) - against an undisturbed reference site.Vegetation analysis revealed significant floristic differences between restored and undisturbed sites. Seeded plots showed reduced species diversity, richness, and dominance by non-native and compete-tively strong species, whereas turf transplantation plots demonstrated improved establishment of native species but featured considerable vegetative gaps indicative of slow recovery. Restoration substantially modified soil properties: shallower soils with higher gravel cover, elevated pH, and lower microbial biomass, likely influencing long-term vegetation patterns.Microbial community analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated distinct bacterial com-munity shifts due to restoration measures, with increased diversity linked to altered soil conditions. Eight bacterial genera were identified as putative bioindicators for undisturbed alpine soils. These find-ings underscore the critical importance of topsoil conservation during alpine restoration.We recommend prioritizing spontaneous vegetation establishment over extensive seeding, limiting seeding primarily to erosion control, and preserving topsoil to sustain alpine biodiversity. Future re-search should explore microbial-plant interactions further and include additional taxonomic groups to strengthen ecological assessments and restoration practices in alpine regions

In semi-natural grasslands, land-use intensification is considered as one of the major drivers of habitat degradation, leading to biodiversity decline. The recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in grasslands after disturbances, i.e. the ability to return to previous conditions, is of particular importance from an economical but also a conservational point of view, as ecosystem functions ensure the provision of ecosystem services. Accordingly, sowing of seed mixtures is widely used to restore grasslands, often combined with sward disturbances to increase the establishment success. However, while sward disturbances initially affect vascular plants drastically, the effects on the bryophytes are largely unclear. Moreover, it is unclear whether seed addition affects bryophyte recovery and species richness and whether land-use intensity interacts with the recovery of bryophyte communities after disturbances. To test the effects of disturbance, separately and in combination with seeding, along a gradient in land-use intensity on bryophyte communities, we established a full factorial experiment with each four 7 m x 7 m treatment subplots (control, seeding only, seeding and disturbance, distur-bance only) in 72 agricultural grasslands in Germany. In 2 m x 2 m quadrats per treatment subplot, we monitored the recovery of bryophyte communities over two years. Disturbances strongly decreased bryophyte richness and cover and led to a high S & oslash;rensen dissimilarity between disturbed and un-disturbed subplots. While richness and cover in general strongly decreased with increasing land-use intensity, the decrease in richness due to disturbance was strongest at low land-use intensity, where bryophyte richness was generally higher. In the second year of the experiment, species richness did not differ anymore between disturbed and undisturbed subplots, and species composition became more similar between disturbed and undisturbed subplots, indicating a recovery of the communities. How-ever, bryophyte cover did not recover. Interestingly, land-use intensity and seeding in general had no significant effect on the recovery of bryophyte species richness and cover. The quick recovery of bryophyte species richness indicates that grassland-restoration measures including disturbances and seed addition seem to have no detrimental effects on bryophyte diversity. However, ecosystem func-tions provided by bryophytes might be limited until bryophyte cover is fully restored.

Warty-cabbage (Bunias orientalis L.) is a invasive neophyte in Germany, spreading along roadsides and ditches, colonizing ruderal areas and invading grassland. Dominance of the species has a negative impact on species diversity. The species is also common in south-western Saxony-Anhalt and populations are markedly increasing, making appropriate control measures necessary. The present study investigated the effect of five mechanical treatments (pricking out two or three times, hoeing, covering with foil, cutting) on B. orientalis and the accompanying vegetation in summer 2022. In May, eight replicates consisting of the five treatment variants and one control variant were established in the southern Harz mountains. Until September, the success of the treatments was measured based on cover, number of individuals and flowers of B. orientalis as well as the cover of accompanying species. Pricking out, hoeing and the use of the foil were most effective in reducing cover and the number of adult Bunias individuals; at the same time, most seedlings emerged on these variants. Seed formation was completely prevented by the foil, while on all other treatments some shoots reached seed maturity. Selective pricking was the least detrimental treatment for the accompanying vegetation. In contrast, all other variants significantly reduced vegetation cover. The cutting variant had similar effects as the control regarding cover, number of individuals (adults and seedlings) and accompanying vegetation, and did not cause any change compared to the other treatments tested. Based on the results of this study, it can be assumed that only pricking out three times, hoeing and covering with foil could eliminate B. orientalis effectively within a few years. On the contrary, the implementation of pricking out twice as well as cutting requires many years of treatment, while for all treatments, a multi-year and regular repetition is essential. Therefore, the long-term effect of the tested treatments cannot be assessed conclusively. To protect the accompanying vegetation, especially on species-rich sites, pricking out is recommended, while the application of foil should be limited to species-poor sites.

This study deals with the phytosociological classification of the grassland plant communities of the Madonie Mountains (Sicily, Italy). We combined data from 185 vegetation plots obtained from scientific literature, with 42 plots sampled, in summit areas above 1900 m a.s.l. Only vascular plants were recorded, and soil samples were collected to analyse the main substrate parameters. Using the TWINSPAN classification, 15 clusters were identified, interpreted and classified at the association level. Four distinct vegetation units were recognized: (1) mesohygrophilous and subacidophilous meadows, (2) gorse vegetation dominated by pulvinate chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes on windswept ridges, (3) petrophytic vegetation on eroded soils, and (4) grasslands on slopes of carbonate rocks soils. Two newly described associations, Androsaco breistrofferi-Potentilletum calabrae (Cl.: MolinioArrhenatheretea, Ord.: Cirsietalia vallis-demonis, All.: Plantaginion cupanii) and Helianthemo tomentosi-Festucetum crassifoliae (Cl.: Rumici-Astragaletea siculi; Ord.: Erysimo bonanniani-Jurinetalia bocconei; All.: Cerastio tomentosi-Astragalion nebrodensis), occupy the highest elevations and exhibit unique ecological features: temperature and water potential data revealed differences between these two communities, with the former thriving in sinkholes (karst dolines) with long-lasting snow cover and extended water availability, while the latte withstands fluctuations in temperature and water availability on windy ridges. Significant differences in topography and soil properties occurred between the new associations. Finally, we highlighted the classification challenges existing at higher hierarchical levels within the studied communities of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Rumici-Astragaletea siculi, emphasising the need to address these issues beyond the Madonie Mountains to encompass the broader Mediterranean region.

One of the most endangered plant communities in Germany, and one that is on the verge of extinction, is the lichen pine forest (Cladino-Pinetum sylvestris, syn. Cladonio-Pinetum sylvestris). For this reason, it has been selected by the Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft as the "Plant Community of the Year 2025". Lichen pine forests are unproductive, sparse and understorey-poor coniferous forest ecosystems, mainly in the planar and colline altitudinal zone. The soils are extremely nutrient-poor and acidic, usually very dry with a poorly developed humus layer. Lichen pine forests occur on outwash plains, moraines, dunes and valley sands, but also in mountainous areas with granite, quartzite or sandstone as parent rock. In Germany, this forest type is currently found only in small areas, mainly in sub-continental regions. Lichen pine forests occur mainly in the northeastern German inland lowlands from the Elbe valley in Lower Saxony eastward (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg) as well as in Middle Franconia and Upper Palatinate (Bavaria). In addi-tion to open woodlands with species of grey hair-grass swards (Corynephorion), there are lichen pine forests with almost no vascular plants and others with Vaccinium species, transitioning to the more widespread blueberry pine forests. Lichen pine forests represent a biodiversity hotspot in Central Europe for ground-dwelling fruticose lichens, especially reindeer lichens and other members of the genus Cladonia. They also host a variety of other lichens, bryophytes and macrofungi, and are impor-tant for faunal biodiversity. They represent an Annex I habitat type under the EU Habitats Directive (code 91T0). Lichen pine forests are at the beginning of natural forest development on immature soils on sand or quartz-rich rocks and have been strongly promoted by litter-raking and sod-cutting, and sometimes by grazing. They probably reached their greatest extent in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the abandonment of the historical forest use, current stands are highly endangered, mainly by eutrophication due to natural succession and airborne nitrogen loads. Since the 1990s lichen pine forests in Germany have lost about 90 % of their former area. With an increased nutrient availability, com-petitive pleurocarpous mosses, sometimes dwarf shrubs and the wavy hair-grass, spread and displace the typical lichens and small-growing bryophytes. Other threats include land use (sand and stone mining, building areas), active forest conversion, a lack of morphodynamics and, in recent years, prolonged periods of heat and drought. Existing stands, some of which on the verge of extinction, must not only be protected from direct destruction, but also require active protection measures, similar to many open-land habitats. The restoration of lichen pine forests is only possible by removing the litter (together with the humus layer) and subsequently inoculating the raw soil with lichen fragments. First results from restoration projects in the Elbe valley of Lower Saxony and in Middle Franconia are presented. With these, we would like to encourage local and regional actors and conservationists to take appropriate action. In sand pits and quarries, refraining from recultivation measures can promote the formation of new lichen pine forests.

We compiled a list of the known maxima of vascular plant species richness in the steppe zone of Ukraine at different sampling scales (0.0001-100 m(2)) and compared them with the world records. Detailed information on each of the identified species-rich grassland plots is provided, including site descriptions, plot characteristics, coordinates, and species lists. Most of the small-scale records (up to 0.1 m(2)) were found in mesic grasslands in southern Ukraine (Kherson region) with a high abundance of annual grasses and forbs: 9 and 11 vascular plant species in 0.0001 m(2) and 0.001 m(2), respectively, in the steppe depression Chorna Dolyna, and 26 species in 0.1 m(2) in a mesic psammophytic grassland in the Dzharylhach National Nature Park. Most of the records at larger scales were made in the northern part of the steppe zone, in forb-rich and forb-grass steppes: 15, 39, 73, and 107 species in 0.01, 1, 10, and 100 m(2), respectively. All richness records were characterised by neutral to slightly alkaline sub-strates (soil pH 7.0-7.7) and low-intensity management. These characteristics are consistent with the known patterns from world records of species richness. Our inventory provides baseline knowledge for studies on the high species richness in the steppe zone and can stimulate the further investigation of identified species-rich grasslands, as well as the search for new ones. Since we did not specifically search for species-rich sites, and our dataset includes only a relatively small number of plots compared to similar studies in other regions, we expect that more species-rich vegetation will be found with further research. This study highlights the importance of steppe grasslands as global biodiversity hotspots and draws attention to their protection in the context of land-use changes and the consequences of the war in Ukraine