Search

11 Pág., Over the last 30 years, many studies have surveyed weed vegetation on arable land. The 'Arable Weeds and Management in Europe' (AWME) database is a collection of 36 of these surveys and the associated management data. Here, we review the challenges associated with combining disparate datasets and explore some of the opportunities for future research that present themselves thanks to the AWME database. We present three case studies repeating previously published national scale analyses with data from a larger spatial extent. The case studies, originally done in France, Germany and the UK, explore various aspects of weed ecology (community composition, management and environmental effects and within-field distributions) and use a range of statistical techniques (canonical correspondence analysis, redundancy analysis and generalised linear mixed models) to demonstrate the utility and versatility of the AWME database. We demonstrate that (i) the standardisation of abundance data to a common measure, before the analysis of the combined dataset, has little impact on the outcome of the analyses, (ii) the increased extent of environmental or management gradients allows for greater confidence in conclusions and (iii) the main conclusions of analyses done at different spatial scales remain consistent. These case studies demonstrate the utility of a Europe-wide weed survey database, for clarifying or extending results obtained from studies at smaller scales. This Europe-wide data collection offers many more opportunities for analysis that could not be addressed in smaller datasets; including questions about the effects of climate change, macro-ecological and biogeographical issues related to weed diversity as well as the dominance or rarity of specific weeds in Europe., This work was made possible via the Weeds and Biodiversity working group of the European Weed Research Society. This project was funded under a Rothamsted Research and BBSRC grant number BB/W510543/1. Helen Metcalfe was partly supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) research programme NE/N018125/1 LTS-M (ASSIST). Jana Bürger's work on this project was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG (grant number BU 3097/1-1).

Questions: Two scientific disciplines, vegetation science and weed science, study arable weed vegetation, which has seen a strong diversity decrease in Europe over the last decades. We compared two collections of plot-based vegetation records originating from these two disciplines. The aim was to check the suitability of the collections for joint analysis and for addressing research questions from the opposing domains. We asked: are these collections complementary? If so, how can they be used for joint analysis?. Location: Europe. Methods: We compared 13 311 phytosociological relevés and 13 328 records from weed science, concerning both data collection properties and the recorded species richness. To deal with bias in the data, we also analysed different subsets (i.e., crops, geographical regions, organic vs conventional fields, center vs edge plots). Results: Records from vegetation science have an average species number of 19.0 ± 10.4. Metadata on survey methodology or agronomic practices are rare in this collection. Records from weed science have an average species number of 8.5 ± 6.4. They are accompanied by extensive methodological information. Vegetation science records and the weed science records taken at field edges or from organic fields have similar species numbers. The collections cover different parts of Europe but the results are consistent in six geographical subsets and the overall data set. The difference in species numbers may be caused by differences in methodology between the disciplines, i.e., plot positioning within fields, plot sizes, or survey timing. Conclusion: This comparison of arable weed data that were originally sampled with a different purpose represents a new effort in connecting research between vegetation scientists and weed scientists. Both collections show different aspects of weed vegetation, which means the joint use of the data is valuable as it can contribute to a more complete picture of weed species diversity in European arable landscapes., The work on this project was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG (grant number BU 3097/1-1 for Jana Bürger), Czech Science Foundation (grant number 19-28491X for Milan Chytrý and Zdeňka Lososová), and by Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding No. P1-0236 for Urban Šilc and Young researcher programme for Filip Küzmič).

Avena fatua is an economically detrimental weed found in cereal growing areas worldwide. Knowledge about the variation of dormancy and germination characteristics, as well as of the genetic diversity and structure can provide additional information about different populations within a region. Identification and development of potential indicators or markers of seed germination behavior, would be useful for modelling emergence and seed bank dynamics. This study aimed to describe the initial germination, dormancy, and morphological characteristics of seeds from different Latvian populations of A. fatua and to investigate the genetic structure of local populations. Seed samples from 26 to 41 locations in different regions of Latvia were collected over three years. Seed morphology, initial germination, and the effect of dormancy-breaking treatments were determined. Seeds from 18 Latvian populations with contrasting seed dormancy characteristics were genotyped. Although morphological differences between seeds from different regions were revealed, genetic analysis of the selected populations indicated that the population structure was not related to geographical location, which probably reflects the impact of anthropogenic dispersal of A. fatua seeds. The effect of dormancy-breaking treatments varied between years, between climatic zones and between populations, indicating environmental influences as well as inherited dormancy.

Depending on the environment, sunlight can positively or negatively affect litter decomposition, through the ensemble of direct and indirect processes constituting photodegradation. Which of these processes predominate depends on the ecosystem studied and on the spectral composition of sunlight received. To examine the relevance of photodegradation for litter decomposition in forest understoreys, we filtered ultraviolet radiation (UV) and blue light from leaves of Fagus sylvatica and Bettda pendula at two different stages of senescence in both a controlled-environment experiment and outdoors in four different forest stands (Picea abies, Pagus sylvatica, Acer platanoides, Betula pendula). Controlling for leaf orientation and initial differences in leaf chlorophyll and flavonol concentrations; we measured mass loss at the end of each experiment and characterised the phenolic profile of the leaf litter following photodegradation. In most forest stands, less mass was lost from decomposing leaves that received solar UV radiation compared with those under UV-attenuating filters, while in the controlled environment UV-A radiation either slightly accelerated or had no significant effect on photodegradation, according to species identity. Only a few individual phenolic compounds were affected by our different filter treatments, but photodegradation did affect the phenolic profile. We can conclude that photodegradation has a small stand- and species-specific effect on the decomposition of surface leaf litter in forest understoreys during the winter following leaf fall in southern Finland. Photodegradation was wavelength-dependent and modulated by the canopy species filtering sunlight and likely creating different combinations of spectral composition, moisture, temperature and snowpack characteristics.

“Arable Weeds and Management in Europe” is a collection of weed vegetation records from arable fields in Europe, initiated within the Working Group Weeds and Biodiversity of the European Weed Research Society (EWRS). Vegetation-plot data from this scientific community was not previously contributed to databases. We aim to prove the usefulness of collection for large scale studies through some first analyses. We hope to assure other weed scientists who have signalled willingness to share data, and plan to construct a full data base, making the data available for easy sharing. Presently, the collection has over 60,000 records, taken between 1996 and 2015. Many more studies for potential inclusion exist. Data originate mostly from studies exploring the effect of agricultural management on weed vegetation. The database is accompanied with extensive meta-data on crop and weed management on the surveyed fields. The criteria for inclusion were a minimum amount of information on the cultivated crop, and a georeference. Most fields were surveyed repeatedly, i.e. transects, multiple random plots, or repeated visits. All surveys aimed to record the complete vegetation on the plots. Sometimes, taxa were identified only to genus level, due to survey dates very early in the vegetation period. Plant taxonomy is standardized to the Euro+Med PlantBase., B. was funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under the grant number BU 3097/1-1.

Eryngium maritimum is a perennial species growing exclusively in a coastal littoral zone both on sand dunes and shingle beach and indicated as declining in Northern Europe. The objective of the present study was to prove the use of nondestructive physiological measurement methods to access physiological status of endangered plants, using E. maritimum as a model species. Plants from two Latvian sites were studied in comparison with other populations in Northern Europe (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom) to find out if local differences in environmental factors affect vitality of E. maritimum individuals. Noninvasive chlorophyll analysis and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were used as indicators of plant physiological status through characterization of various aspects of photochemistry of photosystem II activity. Dynamics and morphology of individuals were investigated for evaluation of clonal growth potential of E. maritimum in natural conditions. Highly fluctuating trend of dynamics of individuals (within 40 groups at two Latvian sites) was established for E. maritimum in natural conditions over a five-year period. Disturbance of individuals lead to formation of new shoots from nodal root meristems. An exponential regression between fluorescence parameters FV/FM and Performance Index and summary monthly precipitation was found indicating that E. maritimum plants had significant tolerance to water shortage together with susceptibility to increased precipitation. Negative correlation between leaf chlorophyll content and more northern localization of individuals was found (r = 0.95 and r = 0.94, for generative and vegetative shoots, respectively). Northern populations of E. maritimum are endangered by high precipitation in conditions of low air temperature, leading to decrease of photosynthetic productivity and overall physiological status. High developmental plasticity at the root level leads to clonal growth and an efficient survival and relatively long life span of E. maritimum individuals. Chlorophyll a fluorescence is a useful method to search for the effect of suboptimal conditions on physiological status of endangered plant species without elimination and disturbance of individuals.

Integrated weed management (IWM) is a complex approach to weed control that is based on use of several different methods complementing each other, instead of relying on one single method, like chemical weed control. Weed control methods that can be used as parts of IWM strategy include mechanical weed control, application of herbicides, low tillage, changes in the rate and application time of fertilizers, use of undersown crops and crop rotation. Weed surveys were carried out in 2013 and 2014 in the southeastern part of Latvia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of crop rotation and other field management practices on weed density and weed species composition using the data collected in the surveys. Survey was carried out in the arable fields of conventional farms within four different size categories. One of the significant factors that explained the variation of weed composition within a field was a proportion of cereals in crop rotation within a four year period. Further surveys are required to estimate the effects of climatic variables. Density-dependence can also be important for practical management decisions for particular weed species and should be investigated.

Darba mērķis ir raksturot dažādu piekrastes biotopu augu sēklu miera periodu un dažādu vides faktoru ietekmi uz to dīgšanu. Augu sēklas ievāca Baltijas jūras piekrastē (Kurzeme) un Rīgas jūras līča piekrastē. Vienā no diedzēšanas eksperimentiem izmantoja sēklas no Millenium Seed Bank (RBG Kew, Lielbritānija) kolekcijas. Diedzēšanas eksperimentus veica LU Bioloģijas fakultātē no 2005. līdz 2009. gadam un MSB laboratorijā 2009. gadā. Ir noteikts un raksturots sēklu organiskā miera perioda (OMP) veids vairākām piejūras mitrāju un kāpu augu sugām, kā arī raksturota NaCl ietekme uz šo sugu sēklu dīgšanu. Juncus balticus un Triglochin maritima sēklām ir salīdzināta NaCl un polietilēnglikola (PEG) ietekme uz sēklu dīgšanu un dīgtspējas atjaunošanos. T. maritima sēklām noteica aukstās stratifikācijas ietekmi uz sēklu dīgtspēju dažādās NaCl un PEG koncentrācijās. Linaria loeselii un L. Vulgaris piemērā ir izpētītas minimālās dīgšanas temperatūras izmaiņas aukstās stratifikācijas procesā, kā arī vairāku Linaria ģints sugu sēklām ir noteikta NaCl ietekme uz minimālo un maksimālo dīgšanas temperatūru. Eryngium maritimum sēklām, kurām ir noteikts morfofizioloģiskais sēklu OMP izpētīja aukstās stratifikācijas un giberelskābes ietekmi uz dīgšanu, kā arī sēklu embriju attīstības dinamiku stratifikācijas laikā. Aukstā stratifikācija un NaCl ietekmē vairāku Linaria ģints sugu sēklu populāciju dīgšanu. Minimālās (Tb) un maksimālās (Tc) dīgšanas temperatūras noteikšana ļauj kvantitatīvi un kvalitatīvi novērtēt OMP izpausmes izmaiņas un NaCl izraisīto ietekmi uz dīgšanu sēklu populācijā. Salīdzinot L. Loeselii un L. Vulgaris piekrastes populāciju sēklas, ir noteiktas atšķirības to OMP izpausmē. Šīs atšķirības ilustrē abu sugu pielāgošanos noteikta veida biotopiem un dažādu ģeneratīvās vairošanās stratēģiju. L. Vulgaris sēklu populācijai ir raksturīga vājāka OMP izpausme un lielāka heterogenitāte, kas pieļauj dīgšanu dažādos apstākļos un var būt viens no faktoriem, kuri sekmē sugas plašāku ģeogrāfisko izplatību. Nosakot sāļuma ietekmi uz dažādu dzimtu sugu sēklu dīgšanu ir izveidots pamats turpmākiem detalizētākiem pētījumiem par osmotiskā potenciāla ietekmi uz piekrastes augu ekoloģiju. Parādīta sēklu OMP saistība ar sāļuma ietekmi, kā arī, pētīto sugu gadījumā, sakarība starp sēklu spēju dīgt NaCl ietekmē un attiecīgai sugai raksturīgo piekrastes biotopu., Germination ecophysiology of coastal plants: seed dormancy and the effect of environmental factors The aim of this study was to characterize seed dormancy and the effect of various environmental factors on seed germination in several coastal plant species. Dormancy types were characterized in dune and coastal marsh species: Juncus balticus, Triglochin maritimum, T. palustre, Eryngium maritimum, Anthyllis maritima, Linaria loeselii. The effect of NaCl on germination was determined in several plant species. The effect of NaCl and PEG on seed germination was compared in J. balticus and T. maritima. The results showed a relationship between the species‘ habitat and salinity tolerance of the seeds. In E. maritimum the effect of cold stratification on the development of seed embryos was measured. The effect of cold stratification and NaCl on changes in minimum and maximum germination temperature was measured. Dormancy levels were compared in L. loeselii and L. vulgaris. The results allow to quantify changes in dormancy level and help to describe different germination strategies. Keywords: seed germination, dormancy, coastal habitats