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The genus Stipa L. comprises over 150 species, all native to the Old World, where they grow in warm temperate regions throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is one of the largest genera in the family Poaceae in Middle Asia, where one of its diversity hotspots is located. However, identification of Middle Asian Stipa species is difficult because of the lack of new, comprehensive taxonomic studies including all of the species recorded in the region. We present a critical review of the Mid-Asian representatives of Stipa, together with an identification key and taxonomic listing. We relied on both published and unpublished information for the taxa involved, many of which are poorly known. For each taxon, we present a taxonomic and nomenclatural overview, habitat preferences, distribution, altitudinal range, and additional notes as deemed appropriate. We describe four new nothospecies: S. 3balkanabatica M. Nobis & P. D. Gudkova, S. 3dzungarica M. Nobis, S. 3pseudomacroglossa M. Nobis, S. 3subdrobovii M. Nobis & A. Nowak, one subspecies S. caucasica Schmalh. subsp. nikolai M. Nobis, A. Nobis&A. Nowak, and eight varieties: S. araxensis Grossh. var. mikojanovica M. Nobis, S. caucasica var. fanicaM. Nobis, P. D. Gudkova&A.Nowak, S. drobovii (Tzvelev) Czerep. var. jarmica M. Nobis, S. drobovii var. persicorumM. Nobis, S. glareosa P.A. Smirn. var. nemegetica M. Nobis, S. kirghisorum P. A. Smirn. var. balkhashensis M. Nobis&P. D. Gudkova, S. richteriana Kar. & Kir. var. hirtifolia M. Nobis & A. Nowak, and S. 3subdrobovii var. pubescens M. Nobis & A. Nowak. Additionally, 12 new combinations, Achnatherum haussknechtii (Boiss.) M. Nobis, A. mandavillei (Freitag) M. Nobis, A. parviflorum (Desf.)M. Nobis, Neotrinia chitralensis (Bor) M. Nobis, S. badachschanica Roshev. var. pamirica (Roshev.) M. Nobis, S. borysthenica Klokov ex Prokudin var. anomala (P. A. Smirn.) M. Nobis, S. holosericea Trin. var. transcaucasica (Grossh.) M. Nobis, S. kirghisorum P. A. Smirn. var. ikonnikovii (Tzvelev) M. Nobis, S. macroglossa P. A. Smirn. var. kazachstanica (Kotuchov) M. Nobis, S. macroglossa var. kungeica (Golosk.)M. Nobis, S. richteriana var. jagnobica (Ovcz. & Czukav.)M. Nobis & A. Nowak, and S. zalesskii Wilensky var. turcomanica (P. A. Smirn.)M. Nobis are proposed, and the lectotypes for 14 taxa (S. arabica Trin. & Rupr., S. bungeana Trin. ex Bunge, S. caspia K. Koch, S.3consanguinea Trin. & Rupr., S. effusa Mez, S. 3heptapotamica Golosk., S. jacquemontii Jaub. & Spach., S. kungeica Golosk., S. margelanica P. A. Smirn., S. richteriana, S. rubentiformis P. A. Smirn., S. sareptana A. K. Becker, S. tibetica Mez, and Timouria saposhnikovii Roshev.) are designated. InMiddle Asia the genus Stipa comprises 98 taxa, including 72 species, four subspecies, and 22 varieties. Of the 72 species of feather grasses, 23 are of hybrid origin (nothospecies). InMiddle Asia, feather grasses can be found at elevations from (0 to)300 to 4500(to 5000)m, but most aremontane species. The greatest species richness is observed at altitudes between 1000 and 2500m. Nineteen species grow above 3000 m, but only nine above 4000 m. The number of taxa (species and subspecies) growing in each country also varies considerably, with the highest noted in Kazakhstan (42), Tajikistan (40), and Kyrgyzstan (35). Of the 76 taxa of Stipa (species and subspecies) recorded inMiddle Asia, 41 are confined to the region, with some being known only from a single country or mountain range. Distribution maps of selected species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the fact that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide water and elements (e.g. phosphorus) to the host, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is considered to be an important plant-fungi interaction and can be helpful for plants occupying extreme habitats. Such habitats include Central European semi-natural dry feathergrass grasslands. One of the main components of feathergrass steppes in Eurasia is Stipa pennata (Poaceae). Currently, because of a lack of land use leading to the overgrowth of grasslands and consequently to habitat deterioration, this species is rare and protected in many European countries. No information regarding the simultaneous impact of vegetation, topography, soil and climatic factors on the AMF–feathergrass relationship has been published to date. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate factors that shape AMF root colonisation and AMF community composition in different types of European semi-natural feathergrass niches occupied by S. pennata. To do that, we collected roots and soil samples along with data about topography, soil chemical and physical properties, climate and vegetation cover from three different types of edaphic niches. We found that AMF root colonisation was lower in sand than in gypsum or limestone soils and was largely explained by environmental factors. AMF root colonisation degree was predominantly influenced by soil nitrogen content, and increased along with pH. Soil physical stress disrupted relationships between AMF root colonisation degree and soil pH. The largest percentage of variance in the composition of AMF communities was explained by soil factors, followed by climate, topography and vegetation. AMF communities associated with S. pennata were composed mainly of 'generalists' species. Unlabelled Image • Soil factors are primarily responsible for shaping AMF–feathergrass relationship. • Soil physical stress disrupt relationships between AMF colonisation degree and soil pH. • AMF communities associated with S. pennata are composed mainly of 'generalists'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functional diversity of meadows changes at most after translocation from rural areas to the city. •.The most essential changes were observed for life strategies, seed dispersal and response to anthropogenic pressure. •.The city microclimate promotes earlier flowering onset and a shorter blooming period on translocated vegetation. • The translocation can effectively support landscape reclamation and promote biodiversity in degraded ecosystems. The anthropogenic impact on natural environments and the loss of species diversity along with changes in functional diversity call for effective steps to ensure habitat conservation. The functional diversity in particular has suffered in recent decades due to investment and land use changes. The translocation of whole turfs of certain vegetation plots prior to being destroyed is one possible solution for maintaining habitat functional diversity. In the presented paper, we analyse the functional changes in adaptive, regeneration and urbanity plant traits for meadow, heath and fen that were translocated from a rural site to a post-industrial site in a city. After five years of monitoring, we checked the changes in the functional diversity (FD) and community weighted means with the adoption of nine traits and Rao's quadratic entropy for calculating the FD and the relative treatment effect (RTE) to evaluate the influence of time. We found that the overall FD of that trait set was not significantly changed. The FD of the seed dispersal type significantly increased. The means of autochoric, anemochoric and hemerochoric species decreased, and nautochoric and zoochoric species increased significantly, with respect to the frequency and abundance. The flowering season was shorter for meadows and heaths with earlier start and termination. The most important factors of the FD changes are probably linked to the microclimate of the urbanized area and the cessation of grazing. Our study demonstrated that translocation of vegetation plots from rural to urbanized environments can be a fairly effective measure in landscape shaping and in promoting biodiversity in urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ptilagrostis (false needlegrass) is a genus of high-mountain grasses distributed in Central and North-East Asia, as well as in North America. The phylogenetic position of the genus Ptilagrostis within the Stipeae is well defined based on micromorphological patterns of lemma epidermis and moleculs. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus in its entire distribution range. In this study, we performed comprehensive analyses using integrative taxonomic methods, aiming at both micromorphological and macromorphological analyses, and molecular analyses based on SNPs obtained from DArT genome-wide sequencing, in which we considered all taxa representing the genus in order to establish phylogenetic relationships between its members. We analysed all species possessing the characteristic 'Ptilagrostis pattern' of the lemma epidermis, with a particular reference to species possessing the terminal segment of the awn (seta) covered by short (up to 1 mm long) hairs that, until now, were treated as representatives of the genus Achnatherum. Following with the result of our molecular, morphological and anatomical analyses, the genus Ptilagrostis is represented by 15 species, one subspecies and five varieties organised in three well supported phylogenetic clades corresponding to the three sections: Ptilagrostis, Barkworthia and Chenella. In this paper, we provide an original key to identifying false needlegrass species, together with a checklist containing the intrageneric species-organisation. In addition, for each species, we present the data regarding nomenclatural types, morphological description, and information on the geographical distribution, habitat preferences and altitudinal ranges. We proposed two new varieties within the genus Ptilagrostis, P. glabrifolia var. himalayensis and P. concinna var. xizangensis, and the new section Chenella comprising three species with awns scabrous or covered by very short hairs up to 0.3 mm long. Additionally, we transfer Stipa chingii to Ptilagrostis chingii, Achnatherum chingii var. laxum to P. chingii var. laxum, and Ptilagrostis concinna subsp. schischkinii to P. junatovii var. schischkinii. Lectotypification was made for three taxa, Stipa mongholica var. minutiflora, P. czekanowskii, and P. tibetica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: How does species composition of different vegetation types respond to translocation? How do they respond to encroachment of expansive native or alien species? Location: Meadow, heath and fen plots in Radzionków Habitat Botanical Garden, Poland. Methods: In 2013, between June and October, 16,500 pieces of turf blocks from three communities, each 80 × 120 cm in size and 40–50 cm deep, were transferred from a donor site to newly constructed artificial basins. Temporal changes of species composition were observed in 163 permanent plots 2 × 2 m from 2013 to 2016. To analyse compositional changes, we carried out constrained ordination with time as explanatory variable. For changes in species richness, diversity, herb and shrub layers, contribution of woody species, diagnostic taxa, archaeophytes, neophytes, native expansive taxa and ruderal plants, a one‐way ANOVA was applied. Results: We found that only 35%–39% of species had a positive correlation with time. The total number of species significantly decreased only within the meadow plots. The fen and heath only experienced a slight decrease in species number. Significant changes in abundance of diagnostic species were observed in all plant communities. The abundances of diagnostic taxa were maintained during the first 2 year, then dropped considerably. The highest decrease was noted in the heathland community. Conclusions: Turf translocation appeared to be only partially effective as a compensatory measure. Four years after the translocation, the three different habitats still maintained their specific structural features, however the number of diagnostic taxa considerably decreased, particularly in the heathland and the wet meadow. Given the high financial and logistical effort required, translocation measures are questionable and should only be applied as an exceptional last resort method. We analysed the changes in species composition in meadow, heath and fen plots after translocation to artificial basins in Habitat Botanical Garden. After 4 years of experiment we found that the most sensitive vegetation type in terms of species decrease was meadow. All habitats suffer from diagnostic species decline with heathland as the most impoverished. Despite the three plant communities still maintained their specific structural features, turf translocation appeared only partially to be an effective compensatory measure. Given the high financial and logistical effort translocations remain controversial and should only be applied as exceptional last chance method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stipa pennata (Poaceae), has become a rare and endangered species in Central Europe due habitat loss and fragmentation. This species is characterized by high morphological variability, which has resulted in the description of numerous intraspecific taxa. The aim of present work is to develop microsatellite markers useful in population genetics studies as well as in intraspecific taxonomy of S. pennata s.l. We developed ten microsatellite markers using Illumina high-throughput. Polymorphism at each marker was evaluated using 4-15 individuals from four morphotypes of S. pennata s.l. Seven markers showed polymorphism while three were monomorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 to 12, and the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.000 to 0.8670, respectively. Our results confirm that three of four studied morphotypes are genetically distinct. The microsatellite markers developed here will be useful for evaluating levels of genetic diversity and differentiation, to study gene flow, population dynamics and in future conservation studies as well as for intraspecific delimitation of morphologically similar taxa within S. pennata s.l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies have compared so far the effects of alien invasive and expansive native (widespread, mono-dominant) plants on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Four global or European most successful invaders (Impatiens glandulifera, Reynoutria japonica, Rudbeckia laciniata, Solidago gigantea) and two expansive plants native to Europe (Artemisia vulgaris, Phalaris arundinacea) were grown in pots to elucidate the magnitude and direction of changes in AMF abundance, species richness, and species composition in soils from under multispecies native vegetation. In a second stage, the effects of these changes on a native plant, Plantago lanceolata, were assessed. Plant species identity had larger impact on AMF abundance, species richness, and species composition as well as on P. lanceolata than origin of the species (alien vs. native). This could be due to the character of AMF relationships with the plants, i.e., their mycorrhizal status and dependency on AMF. However, the alterations induced by the plant species in soil chemical properties rather than in AMF community were the major drivers of differences in shoot mass and photosynthetic performance of P. lanceolata. We determined that the plants produced species-specific effects on soil properties that, in turn, resulted in species-specific soil feedbacks on the native plant. These effects were not consistent within groups of invaders or natives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study compared the effects of four invasive plants, namely Impatiens glandulifera, Reynoutria japonica, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Solidago gigantea, as well as two native species—Artemisia vulgaris, Phalaris arundinacea, and their mixture on soil physicochemical properties in a pot experiment.Materials and methods: Plants were planted in pots in two loamy sand soils. The soils were collected from fallows located outside (fallow soil) and within river valley (valley soil) under native plant communities. Aboveground plant biomass, cover, and soil physicochemical properties such as nutrient concentrations, pH, and water holding capacity (WHC) were measured after two growing seasons. Discriminant analysis (DA) was used to identify soil variables responsible for the discrimination between plant treatments. Identified variables were further compared between treatments using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD test.Results and discussion: Plant biomass, cover, and soil parameters depended on species and soil type. DA effectively separated soils under different plant species. DA on fallow soil data separated R. laciniata from all other treatments, especially I. glandulifera, native species and bare soil, along axis 1 (related mainly to exchangeable K, N-NH4, total P, N-NO3, and WHC). Large differences were found between R. laciniata and S. gigantea as indicated by axis 2 (S-SO4, exchangeable Mg, total P, exchangeable Ca, and total Mg). DA on valley soil data separated R. japonica from all other treatments, particularly S. gigantea, R. laciniata, and native mixture, along axis 1 (N-NO3, total N, S-SO4, total P, pH). Along axis 2 (N-NO3, N-NH4, Olsen P, exchangeable K, WHC), large differences were observed between I. glandulifera and all other invaders.Conclusions: Plant influence on soil differed both among invasive species and between invasive and native species. Impatiens glandulifera had a relatively weak effect and its soil was similar to both native and bare soils. Multidirectional effects of different invaders resulted in a considerable divergence in soil characteristics. Invasion-driven changes in the soil environment may trigger feedbacks that stabilize or accelerate invasion and hinder re-colonization by native vegetation, which has implications for the restoration of invaded habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]