Effect of Changes in Land Use During the 20th Century on Woodland and Calcareous Grassland Vegetation in Southern Poland

Abstract

<jats:p>In the modern agricultural landscape major threats to plant species diversity are loss and fragmentation of habitats and communities. During the last century natural and semi-natural communities have faced also cessation of tradition management and increased load of nutrients. This paper presents a survey of studies on vegetation dynamics of woodlands in the northern part of the Carpathian foothills and of calcareous grasslands on limestone hills near Kraków. The causes of fargoing changes observed in communities of these types and possible management for their conservation are discussed. The nature conservation value of woods can be assessed by means of ancient woodland plant species indicators.</jats:p>

Impact of Secondary Succession in the Xerothermic Grassland on the Population of the Eastern Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla patens)—Preliminary Studies

“…Xerothermic grasslands are among the ecosystems currently undergoing the most profound transformation [35,36]. These phytocoenoses are threatened by advancing succession in many countries [36,37]. One of the results of succession is the disappearance of heliophilous species and the formation of shrubs and forest species more adapted to poor light conditions [38,39].…”

Changing Land Use in Recent Decades and Its Impact on Plant Cover in Agricultural and Forest Landscapes in Poland

“…2011;TOWPASZ, STACHURSKA-SWAKOŃ 2011). Advancing fragmentation of the landscape, and isolation of old forest patches is a vital aspect in the formation of species composition in forest Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/13/18 2:42 AM phytocenoses (DZWONKO 2011;WILCZEK et al 2011). Interesting results were provide the application of new measures and analysis methods of floristic transformations in forest phytocoenoses (WILCZEK et al 2011;SKOWRONEK et.…”

“…Unauthenticated Download Date | 5/13/18 2:42 AM Therefore, the process of secondary succession is one of the most frequently studied problems in the presented papers. Detailed data on changes in species composition during secondary succession were obtained from permanent study plots (ADAMOWSKI, BOMANOWSKA 2011;DZWONKO 2011). Data from multi-annual observational series presented in the listed papers are highly valuable, as they explain in detail the reasons for and mechanisms of dynamics in contemporary plant cover on various scales, and also enable the development of models and the testing of ecological hypotheses.…”

Humped-back shaped response of plant species richness to increasing shrub encroachment in calcareous grasslands

“…Those grasslands are strongly affected by abandonment of agricultural management. In consequence, woody plants invade the grassland and the area of typical species rich vegetation decreases (Dierschke 2006, Galvanek and Leps 2008, Dzwonko 2011, Ratajczak 2012, Habel et al 2013. To preserve such habitats of high ecological value, maintenance of grassland management is required.…”