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Background and Aims <p>We assessed how microtopography, soil properties and edge proximity relate to long-term taxonomic and functional vegetation change in species-rich dry grasslands in Central Germany. Specifically, we tested whether (i) taxonomic turnover is primarily associated with slope‒aspect variation, (ii) community-weighted functional-type metrics capture change more consistently than single leaf traits and (iii) soil‒topography interactions are associated with functional reorganisation.</p> Methods <p>We analysed resurvey data from rocky porphyry outcrops spanning gradients in slope, aspect, soil depth, soil chemistry and texture, as well as the distance to adjacent arable fields. We modelled Bray‒Curtis taxonomic turnover and Euclidean change in community-weighted means (life forms, longevity classes, Grime strategy types, LDMC, SLA and Ellenberg Indicator Value summaries) using Boosted Regression Trees with measured environmental predictors. Model performance was evaluated by cross-validation and interactions were explored using partial dependence plots.</p> Results <p>Taxonomic turnover was most strongly associated with slope and aspect, whereas soil properties and edge proximity had lower influence. Turnover peaked on flatter, non-south-facing microsites, particularly where soils had lower C/N ratios, indicating concentrated change in intermediate (‚mesic‘) positions within the outcrop gradients. Functional change was captured more consistently by aggregated functional-type metrics than by single traits or Ellenberg-based change metrics. Several functional responses showed non-additive patterns, most notably a pH × C/N interaction linked to overall functional change and additional soil‒topography combinations affecting selected functional components.</p> Conclusion <p>Vegetation change in the porphyry hillscape is structured by microtopographic gradients, with soil properties and their interactions contributing to functional reorganisation. Transitional microsites on the outcrops represent hotspots of turnover, and aggregated functional-type change metrics provide a complementary, community-level perspective alongside species-based assessments.</p>

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Shifts in dry grassland vegetation depend on soil and microtopography

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月16日

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  • Susanne Horka,
  • Larissa Frey,
  • Ute Jandt,
  • Helge Bruelheide

摘要

Background and Aims

We assessed how microtopography, soil properties and edge proximity relate to long-term taxonomic and functional vegetation change in species-rich dry grasslands in Central Germany. Specifically, we tested whether (i) taxonomic turnover is primarily associated with slope‒aspect variation, (ii) community-weighted functional-type metrics capture change more consistently than single leaf traits and (iii) soil‒topography interactions are associated with functional reorganisation.

Methods

We analysed resurvey data from rocky porphyry outcrops spanning gradients in slope, aspect, soil depth, soil chemistry and texture, as well as the distance to adjacent arable fields. We modelled Bray‒Curtis taxonomic turnover and Euclidean change in community-weighted means (life forms, longevity classes, Grime strategy types, LDMC, SLA and Ellenberg Indicator Value summaries) using Boosted Regression Trees with measured environmental predictors. Model performance was evaluated by cross-validation and interactions were explored using partial dependence plots.

Results

Taxonomic turnover was most strongly associated with slope and aspect, whereas soil properties and edge proximity had lower influence. Turnover peaked on flatter, non-south-facing microsites, particularly where soils had lower C/N ratios, indicating concentrated change in intermediate (‚mesic‘) positions within the outcrop gradients. Functional change was captured more consistently by aggregated functional-type metrics than by single traits or Ellenberg-based change metrics. Several functional responses showed non-additive patterns, most notably a pH × C/N interaction linked to overall functional change and additional soil‒topography combinations affecting selected functional components.

Conclusion

Vegetation change in the porphyry hillscape is structured by microtopographic gradients, with soil properties and their interactions contributing to functional reorganisation. Transitional microsites on the outcrops represent hotspots of turnover, and aggregated functional-type change metrics provide a complementary, community-level perspective alongside species-based assessments.