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Land
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Vegetation Spatial Dynamics and Plant Diversity Trends of Natural and...
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Vegetation Spatial Dynamics and Plant Diversity Trends of Natural and Urban Landscapes

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Systems and Global Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3022

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gianmarco Tavilla

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Guest Editor
National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), c/o Interateneo Physics Department, Via Amendola 173, 70126 Bari, Italy
Interests: vegetation ecology; invasive alien species; plant conservation; phytosociology; plant taxonomy; floristic studies; botanical nomenclature; habitat monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mauro André Maurício Raposo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of landscape, Environment and Planning(DPAO), University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, nº 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Interests: biogeography; flora, geobotany, landscape architecture; sustainability, vegetation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Carlos José Pinto Gomes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of landscape, Environment and Planning(DPAO), University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, nº 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Interests: flora; geobotany; management of natural plant heritage; natural and seminatural habitats; vegetation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sandro Lanfranco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Interests: environmental impact assessment; environmental management,ecology; climate change; seed germination; vegetation; taxonomy; conservation; species diversity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the dynamics of vegetation and plant diversity trends is crucial amidst rapid urbanization and environmental change. As environments are modified and fragmented due to several drivers (e.g., urban expansion, climate change, invasive alien species), it is fundamental to comprehend how flora, vegetation and habitats respond to preserve environmental quality. In the context of global environmental changes, it is significant to analyze these fluctuations in their current state and across different spatial and temporal scales. Detecting changes and understanding the dynamics of vegetation cover is a major research challenge for contemporary societies. Improving knowledge about changes in vegetation cover in the landscape will allow territorial managers and political authorities to identify more rational and appropriate management methods.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to give insights into vegetation science, land use change and plant diversity analysis of specific case studies that cover different territories and spatial and temporal scales.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link (but are not limited to) the following themes:

  • Vegetation ecology;
  • Plant diversity;
  • Geobotany surveys;
  • Urban management;
  • Landscape panning;
  • Invasive plants;
  • Climate change effects on vegetation;
  • Habitat changes;
  • Mapping habitats.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Gianmarco Tavilla
Dr. Mauro André Maurício Raposo
Prof. Dr. Carlos José Pinto Gomes
Dr. Sandro Lanfranco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate changes
  • phytosociology
  • geobotany
  • vascular flora
  • plant chorology
  • plant biodiversity
  • alpha diversity
  • vegetation
  • invasive alien species
  • ecological data analysis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
Scale-Dependent Diversity Patterns in Subalpine Grasslands: Homogenization vs. Complexity
by Tsvetelina Terziyska, James Tsakalos, Sándor Bartha, Iva Apostolova and Desislava Sopotlieva
Land 2025, 14(4), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040823 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 319
Abstract
This study investigates the scale-dependent alpha and beta diversity patterns in the subalpine grasslands of the Central Balkan Mountains following decades of reduced grazing. We examined two distinct vegetation patches: pure grasslands (N-type) and grasslands mixed with dwarf shrubs (V-type), focusing on coarse-scale [...] Read more.
This study investigates the scale-dependent alpha and beta diversity patterns in the subalpine grasslands of the Central Balkan Mountains following decades of reduced grazing. We examined two distinct vegetation patches: pure grasslands (N-type) and grasslands mixed with dwarf shrubs (V-type), focusing on coarse-scale (among stands) and fine-scale (within stands) heterogeneity. Using micro-quadrat transects and dissimilarity analyses, we assessed the species composition variability and spatial complexity of the two vegetation patches. The results showed that the N-type exhibited higher coarse-scale beta diversity, attributed to fluctuating dominant grass proportions, and lower fine-scale diversity due to competitive exclusion. Conversely, V-type vegetation displayed lower coarse-scale but higher fine-scale diversity, reflecting the heterogeneous spatial matrix created by dwarf-shrub encroachment. Fine-scale spatial complexity, quantified by the compositional diversity of dominants, strongly correlated with species richness and diversity. Two main conclusions emerged: (a) Grazing decline-driven succession toward grass–dwarf shrub mixtures enhanced local diversity while reducing landscape heterogeneity. Conversely, regeneration toward typical dominant grasses diminished local diversity but increased landscape heterogeneity. (b) A balanced fine-scale spatial mixture of dominant species was found to reduce their individual negative impact on other species’ diversity. Effective high-mountain pasture management requires the consideration of scale and local plant co-existence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Spatial Dynamics and Plant Diversity Trends of Natural and Urban Landscapes)
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27 pages, 5844 KiB  
Article
Phytoplankton Diversity, Abundance and Toxin Synthesis Potential in the Lakes of Natural and Urban Landscapes in Permafrost Conditions
by Sophia Barinova, Viktor A. Gabyshev, Olga I. Gabysheva, Yanzhima A. Naidanova and Ekaterina G. Sorokovikova
Land 2025, 14(4), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040721 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 380
Abstract
The region of Eastern Siberia that we have been studying is situated in Yakutia in the permafrost area. We studied five lakes of various geneses, located both in the urbanized territory of Yakutsk city and its suburbs and in natural landscapes at a [...] Read more.
The region of Eastern Siberia that we have been studying is situated in Yakutia in the permafrost area. We studied five lakes of various geneses, located both in the urbanized territory of Yakutsk city and its suburbs and in natural landscapes at a distance from the impacted area. All lakes were found to have high levels of ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus and total iron. The lakes’ plankton was found to contain 92 species of algae and cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria in most lakes accounted for 53 to 98% of the biomass. In one of the natural lakes, 95% of the total biomass was Dinoflagellata. Bioindication, statistics and ecological mapping methods revealed correlations between cyanobacterial production intensity, landscape runoff and lake trophic state. Potentially toxic cyanobacteria containing microcystin and saxitoxin synthesis genes were found in four lakes. Our previous studies established that cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (CyanoHABs) with microcystin production are characteristic only for lakes in urbanized areas that experience the input of nutrients and organic matter due to anthropogenic runoff. This study indicates that CyanoHABs are possible in lakes in natural areas that are permafrost-dune-type lakes according to their genesis. For the first time in the region, potentially toxic cyanobacteria with saxitoxin synthesis genes have been found. Dune-type lakes do not freeze to the bottom during winter due to taliks underneath them, which provides advantages for cyanobacteria vegetation. Dune-type lakes are very common in the permafrost area, so the extent of CyanoHAB’s distribution in this region may be underestimated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Spatial Dynamics and Plant Diversity Trends of Natural and Urban Landscapes)
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22 pages, 11906 KiB  
Article
Phytosociological Investigations on the Afroalpine Vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains (Uganda)
by Salvatore Cambria, Pietro Minissale and Gianmarco Tavilla
Land 2024, 13(11), 1752; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111752 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1098
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a phytosociological study on the Afroalpine vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains, one of the most prominent mountain ranges in Africa. This study marks the pioneering comprehensive investigation into the plant communities of this region, which holds significant [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of a phytosociological study on the Afroalpine vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains, one of the most prominent mountain ranges in Africa. This study marks the pioneering comprehensive investigation into the plant communities of this region, which holds significant phytogeographic importance. Through statistical analyses, eight distinct plant communities, three new alliances, two new orders, and one new class were identified within the altitudinal range of 3500 to 4600 m above sea level. These communities are well-defined from both floristic and ecological perspectives. Hierarchical classification was conducted using the quantitative Sørensen (Bray-Curtis) distance measure and the beta flexible linkage method. Furthermore, indicator species for each group were determined by calculating fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) within the classified dataset. To assess the validity of the classification results, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was carried out. These analyses provide the first phytosociological arrangement of the Afroalpine vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains, providing a solid framework and valuable insights into its floristic and ecological characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Spatial Dynamics and Plant Diversity Trends of Natural and Urban Landscapes)
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