The edge of two worlds: A new review and synthesis on Eurasian forest-steppes

Aims: Eurasian forest-steppes are among the most complex non-tropical terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their considerable scientific, ecological and economic importance, knowledge of forest-steppes is limited, particularly at the continental scale. Here we provide an overview of Eurasian forest-stepp...

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Vydané v:Applied vegetation science Ročník 21; číslo 3; s. 345 - 362
Hlavní autori: Erdős, László, Ambarlι, Didem, Anenkhonov, Oleg A., Bátori, Zoltán, Cserhalmi, Dániel, Kiss, Márton, Kröel-Dulay, György, Liu, Hongyan, Magnes, Martin, Molnár, Zsolt, Naqinezhad, Alireza, Semenishchenkov, Yury A., Tölgyesi, Csaba, Török, Péter
Médium: Journal Article
Jazyk:English
Vydavateľské údaje: Malden John Wiley & Sons Ltd 01.07.2018
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Predmet:
Abiotic factors
altitude
Arid climates
Aridity
Asia
basins
Biodiversity
Climate change
Conservation
Conservation status
Eastern European region
Economic importance
Eurasia
Flora
Forest management
forest steppe
forests
functional diversity
Grasslands
habitat complexity
habitats
landscape heterogeneity
landscapes
meadow steppe
Middle East
Mosaics
Mountain forests
Natural vegetation
prairie
semiarid zones
semi‐arid vegetation
Species diversity
steppe
Steppes
SYNTHESIS
temperate zones
Terrestrial ecosystems
vegetation mosaic
Wildlife conservation
wooded‐steppe
woodland
Woodlands
Middle East
Asia
Eurasia
Eastern European region
ISSN:1402-2001, 1654-109X
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Shrnutí:Aims: Eurasian forest-steppes are among the most complex non-tropical terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their considerable scientific, ecological and economic importance, knowledge of forest-steppes is limited, particularly at the continental scale. Here we provide an overview of Eurasian forest-steppes across the entire zone: (a) we propose an up-to-date definition of forest-steppes, (b) give a short physiogeographic outline, (c) delineate and briefly characterize the main forest-steppe regions, (d) explore forest-steppe biodiversity and conservation status, and (e) outline forest-steppe prospects under predicted climate change. Location: Eurasia (29°–56°N, 16°–139°E). Results and Conclusions: Forest-steppes are natural or near-natural vegetation complexes of arboreal and herbaceous components (typically distributed in a mosaic pattern) in the temperate zone, where the co-existence of forest and grassland is enabled primarily by the semi-humid to semi-arid climate, complemented by complex interactions of biotic and abiotic factors operating at multiple scales. This new definition includes lowland forest–grassland macromosaics (e.g. in Eastern Europe), exposure-related mountain forest-steppes (e.g. in Inner Asia), fine-scale forest-grassland mosaics (e.g. in the Carpathian Basin) and open woodlands (e.g. in the Middle East). Using criteria of flora, physiognomy, relief and climate, nine main forest-steppe regions are identified and characterized. Forest-steppes are not simple two-phase systems, as they show a high level of habitat diversity, with forest and grassland patches of varying types and sizes, connected by a network of differently oriented edges. Species diversity and functional diversity may also be exceptionally high in forest-steppes. Regarding conservation, we conclude that major knowledge gaps exist in determining priorities at the continental, regional, national and local levels, and in identifying clear target states and optimal management strategies. When combined with other threats, climate change may be particularly dangerous to forest-steppe survival, possibly resulting in compositional changes, rearrangement of the landscape mosaic or even the latitudinal or altitudinal shift of forest-steppes.
Bibliografia:www.catalogueoflife.org
accessed 15 Apr 2017
Nomenclature
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SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1402-2001
1654-109X
DOI:10.1111/avsc.12382