Karstic microrefugia reflect diverse biogeographic affinities of vascular plant species

Zoltán Bátori; Kata Frei; Gábor Li; Orsolya Valkó; András Vojtkó; Csaba Tölgyesi; Tünde Farkas; Alida Anna Hábenczyus; Ágnes Tóth; László Erdős; Zsófia Krivács; Balázs Deák

doi:10.3986/AGS.14564

Authors

Zoltán Bátori University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9915-5309
Kata Frei University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary; University of Szeged, Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7585-7613
Gábor Li University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary; University of Szeged, Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2655-2194
Orsolya Valkó HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, ‘Lendület’ Seed Ecology Research Group, Vácrátót, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7919-6293
András Vojtkó Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Department of Botany, Eger, Hungary https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9925-3981
Csaba Tölgyesi University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary; University of Szeged, MTA‑SZTE ‘Momentum’ Applied Ecology Research Group, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0770-2107
Tünde Farkas Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4500-5011
Alida Anna Hábenczyus University of Szeged, MTA‑SZTE ‘Momentum’ Applied Ecology Research Group, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0905-6724
Ágnes Tóth University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary; University of Szeged, Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Szeged, Hungary; HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, ‘Lendület’ Seed Ecology Research Group, Vácrátót, Hungary https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4681-4274
László Erdős HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, ‘Lendület’ Seed Ecology Research Group, Vácrátót, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6750-0961
Zsófia Krivács University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2422-6973
Balázs Deák HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, ‘Lendület’ Seed Ecology Research Group, Vácrátót, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6938-1997

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.14564

Keywords:

doline, environmental heterogeneity, grassland, mountain species, topography, Bükk Plateau, Hungary

Abstract

Microrefugia are small areas that allow species to persist in changing environments. Dolines in karst landscapes may function as such safe havens. By analysing vegetation data from 270 plots collected within nine large dolines and on the surrounding plateau in Northern Hungary, we found that topographic complexity in dolines has the potential to support a wide array of plant species with diverse biogeographic affinities. To safeguard the large number of endangered plant species and the high biodiversity associated with dolines, conservation management should take into account the complex interactions among topographic complexity, environmental conditions, and species distributions in karstic microrefugia and their surrounding areas.

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