Central Pamir-Alai, which is located almost entirely within the area of Tajikistan, is one of the world hotspots of biodiversity, harbouring ca. 4,300 species and 1,400 endemic plants. The first application of the IUCN Red List criteria reveals that among all native species occurring in Tajikistan 1,627 taxa (38.11%) are threatened, including 23 extinct (0.54%), 271 (6.34%) critically endangered (CR), 717 (16.79%) endangered (EN) and 639 (14.96%) vulnerable (VU). Globally, 20 taxa are extinct, 711 (16.65%) threatened, including 144 (3.37%) critically endangered, 322 (7.54%) endangered and 245 (5.73%) vulnerable. As we found positive correlation between human density and the number of threatened species, we suspect this indirect factor responsible for the species diversity decline. Extinct or threatened taxa have short blooming periods in spring or early summer, have limited geographical range and inhabit mainly valley bottoms at lower altitudes. Threatened taxa occupy extremely dry or wet habitats, such as deserts, semi-deserts, water reservoirs and fens. The group of threatened plants consists mostly of Central Asian, Indo-Indochinese and Arctic species. Ornamental plants have a higher extinction risk than other plants, but species collected for medicinal reasons and used for forage or food reveal lower retreatment rate. Our assessment fills a gap for important plant area and provides the data for raising the effectiveness of plant diversity conservation. Species diversity loss still remains one of the main imperatives of our time and therefore one of the main topics of scientific studies. Currently, hundreds of plant species and many habitat types are globally threatened 1,2. A range of factors are responsible for these declines, with human population growth, habitat fragmentation and climate change regarded as the most crucial 3. The continuing decline of plant diversity demands continuous research on evaluation of the conservation status of flora with the use of comprehensive International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria (www.iucnredlist.org). These criteria are widely recognised as the most comprehensive tool for assessing the global conservation status of species and categorising plants according to their estimated risk of extinction (e.g. Orsenigo et al. 4 , Maes et al. 5). As the most effective conservation actions, policies and law implementation take place at the national scale, numerous countries have established national lists of threatened species with the use of IUCN criteria and guidelines at regional levels (Rossi et al. 6). Despite some biases and shortcomings of scientific foundations 7 , red lists are widely accepted as an appropriate measure for setting conservation priorities. In some countries, including Tajikistan, they also have a legal status and directly influence the state governance of the plant diversity 8. However, based on the information available in the National Red List Database 9 , almost 20% of Eurasian countries still have no available red lists for vascular p...

Aims Understanding fine‐grain diversity patterns across large spatial extents is fundamental for macroecological research and biodiversity conservation. Using the GrassPlot database, we provide benchmarks of fine‐grain richness values of Palaearctic open habitats for vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and complete vegetation (i.e., the sum of the former three groups). Location Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods We used 126,524 plots of eight standard grain sizes from the GrassPlot database: 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 m2 and calculated the mean richness and standard deviations, as well as maximum, minimum, median, and first and third quartiles for each combination of grain size, taxonomic group, biome, region, vegetation type and phytosociological class. Results Patterns of plant diversity in vegetation types and biomes differ across grain sizes and taxonomic groups. Overall, secondary (mostly semi‐natural) grasslands and natural grasslands are the richest vegetation type. The open‐access file ”GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks” and the web tool “GrassPlot Diversity Explorer” are now available online (https://edgg.org/databases/GrasslandDiversityExplorer) and provide more insights into species richness patterns in the Palaearctic open habitats. Conclusions The GrassPlot Diversity Benchmarks provide high‐quality data on species richness in open habitat types across the Palaearctic. These benchmark data can be used in vegetation ecology, macroecology, biodiversity conservation and data quality checking. While the amount of data in the underlying GrassPlot database and their spatial coverage are smaller than in other extensive vegetation‐plot databases, species recordings in GrassPlot are on average more complete, making it a valuable complementary data source in macroecology.

Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic scheme for tall-forb vegetation of the montane and alpine belts in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with some remarks on its environmental predictors. Study area: Middle Asia: Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Methods: A total of 244 relevés were sampled in 2013–2019 using the seven-degree cover-abundance scale of the Braun-Blanquet approach. These were classified with a modified TWINSPAN algorithm with pseudospecies cut-levels 0%, 5% and 25%, and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. NMDS was used to explore the relationships between the distinguished groups. Results: Our classification revealed 19 clusters of tall-forb vegetation in Middle Asia. Among others we found forb communities typical for Tian Shan, western Pamir-Alai, forb-scree vegetation of Pamir-Alai, dry tall-forbs and typical forbs of the alpine belt. A total of eight new tall-forb associations and five communities were distinguished. The forb vegetation of Middle Asia has been assigned to the class Prangetea ulopterae Klein. The main factors differentiating the species composition of the researched vegetation are elevation, mean annual temperature, sum of annual precipitation and inclination of the slope. Conclusions: The paper presents the first insight into the comprehensive classification of the alpine forb vegetation in Middle Asia and fosters progress in explaining the relationship of boreo-temperate and Mediterranean-like (Irano-Turanian) vegetation in western Asian and central Asian subregions of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Taxonomic references: The nomenclature of the vascular plants follows generally Cherepanov (1995) and for Bromus spp. The Plant List (2020) Version 1.1. http://www.theplantlist.org/. Syntaxonomic references: The names of syntaxa are used in accordance with Ermakov (2012), Gadghiev et al. (2002) and Nowak et al. (2018). Abbreviation: NMDS = Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling.

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Invasion by alien species is a serious threat to the biodiversity and function of semi-natural grasslands and may impede restoration efforts in degraded meadows due to high competitiveness. Goldenrods (Solidago and Euthamia species) are considered among the most injurious invaders of grasslands in Central Europe. We tested the hypothesis that native grass species are able to outcompete the invasive goldenrods. A replacement series experiment was established to determine levels of interference between native grass taxa and goldenrods. In the experiment, four alien goldenrod species (Solidago altissima, Solidago canadensis, Solidago gigantea and Euthamia graminifolia) and one native species (Solidago virgaurea) were studied. The native grasses were represented by Lolium perenne (forage and turf varieties) and Festuca pratensis (forage variety). Total biomass was higher in the mixture of species compared with that in monoculture. The higher total biomass was due to higher productivity of the goldenrod species, whereas that of the grasses was reduced. These results demonstrated the high competitiveness of alien goldenrods compared with native grass species.

Exotic plant species that spread into natural and seminatural plant communities are a serious threat to native species and affect the structure and dynamics of the vegetation [1]. The majority of invasive plant species are strong competitors that displace native species, decrease biodiversity, and alter ecosystem services [2][3].Traditional grasslands in Europe include some of the most species-rich habitats and richest soil biodiversity. A grassland provides a range of ecosystem services, from meat and dairy products to recreational and tourism opportunities, and also creates a considerable carbon sink. More than 80% of semi-natural grasslands have been Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 26, No. 3 (2017), [1251][1252][1253][1254][1255][1256][1257][1258] *e-mail: sebastian.swierszcz@upwr.edu.pl DOI: 10.15244/pjoes/67338 Original Research Comparison of methods for restoring meadowsInvaded by Solidago species AbstractSemi-natural meadows are valuable for maintaining biodiversity and providing a range of ecosystem services. The majority of these communities are protected by the European Natura 2000 system. However, grasslands are threatened by invasions by alien species, particularly Solidago spp. The invaders should be eradicated because of their negative impact on biodiversity, the environment, and the economy. A field experiment was conducted to compare the effect of different treatments (scalping, rototilling, and use of herbicide) on restoration of a meadow seriously invaded by Solidago spp. Fresh hay was transferred to the experimental plots to provide target meadow species seeds. Significant differences in species composition and coverage were detected between the herbicide-treated and plots that received other treatments and between the use of a rototiller and the control. Applying the herbicide glyphosate quickly reduced the cover of Solidago spp. (0.5±0.4%) and increased target species cover (84.8±13.6%). The Solidago spp. cover rates were 79.5±17.1% and 65±31.4% when scalping and rototilling were used, respectively, whereas the target species cover rates were 25.8±16% and 30±15.8%, respectively. The sward that grew after applying glyphosate had the highest forage value and resistance to cutting. These results show that short-term eradication of invasive Solidago spp. and restoration of a meadow are possible using glyphosate. However, use of a herbicide may have a negative impact on the environment and native species.Keywords: invasive species, semi-natural meadows, species composition, hay transfer, restoration 1252 Świerszcz S., et al. lost in the last 100 years due to intensified production or abandonment. A large number of grassland species have declined or become extinct [4][5][6][7]. Therefore, many semi-natural grasslands in the pan-European Nature 2000 network are protected, as specified in Annex I of the Habitat Directive. Despite this protection, the effects of abandoning agriculture remain visible in Central and Eastern Europe. It is an effect of the collapse of the socialist regime in the early...

Biological invasions are considered a major threat to biodiversity on a global scale. In this study, we examined the effect of landscape structure and socioeconomic variables on the invasion pattern of alien Solidago species. Field data were collected in a set of 309 sampling plots, regularly placed on the intersecting lines of a 10 × 10-km grid, in south-western Poland (Silesia, Central Europe). Landscape characteristics and average values of socio-economic variables, such as human population density and total income per capita, were calculated. To examine the effect of landscape structure across different spatial extents, the landscape characteristics were analysed for three different buffers (radius: 500 m, 2 km and 5 km). A model explaining the pattern of the invasion was developed using a univariate, binary classification (decision) tree. The results show that both landscape structure and density of human population explain the spatial pattern of the invasion by alien Solidago species. The pattern was mostly shaped by the presence of unsuitable (forests) and suitable (roadsides) habitats for Solidago. The influence of percentage forest cover and road length was the strongest at the small spatial extent (radius = 500 m). The sum of linear elements length, percentage of urban areas and human population density calculated at the large extent (radius = 5 km) significantly improved the model. However, the predictive ability of these variables was less accurate. The model can be used by local authorities and land managers for modelling/predicting the hazards of invasion and elaborating a landscapelevel system of Solidago control.

Aims To develop the first comprehensive syntaxonomic classification for patchy montane mire and spring vegetation across the Irano‐Turanian phytogeographical region in Iran, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and to explore the effects of the main environmental and geographic gradients on their distribution. Location Alborz Mountain range (Iran), Pamir‐Alai Mountains (Tajikistan) and Tian Shan Mountains (Kyrgyzstan); total area about 3,000,000 km2. Methods A database of 1,015 vegetation relevés including a total of 675 vascular and bryophyte taxa was established, covering the large mountains ranges of the Irano‐Turanian regions in Iran, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, at altitudes ranging from 1,300 to 4,505 m a.s.l. A semi‐supervised k‐means analysis was performed. Additional analyses were carried out to show differences among predefined vegetation groups in terms of phytogeographical, climatic and compositional factors. Results Two large groups of mire communities, referable to mires and springs were identified. Twenty associations, one subassociation and four alliances of these wetlands, belonging to three orders and three classes, were defined. Among them, ten associations, one subassociation and two alliances were formally described as new syntaxa. Moreover, a new order Caricetalia orbicularis, that comprises phytogeographically unique vegetation of the Irano‐Turanian mires, is proposed. Conclusions Based on our results and comparison between the Irano‐Turanian and other phytogeographical regions, we propose a first comprehensive syntaxonomic synopsis for the Irano‐Turanian mires and springs. Despite some identical character species and their vicariant nature, the Irano‐Turanian, Euro‐Siberian and Mediterranean mires and springs show considerable compositional differences. Irano‐Turanian wetlands contain a large and distinct set of endemic plant species, which are mixed with Euro‐Siberian species in the west and north, but predominate in the eastern locations. They have a patchy pattern and scattered distribution and serve as inland hotspots of wetland vegetation in the vast dry landscape of southwest and Central Asia.