Nature valuation of plant communities in the Zagórów polder including water content parameters

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Geobotanical studies conducted in spring in 2011-2012 in the Zagórów polder washland, covered by the ecological restoration programme, provided assessment of current nature value of plant communities and indicated potential directions of their further transformations as a result of changes in habitat water content levels. Based on the analyses of 77 relevés of 50-100 m 2 each, prepared following the Braun-Blanquet method, water levels were assessed by phytoindication using moisture indicator values (F) according to ellenBerg et al. (1992). Moreover, nature value of vegetation was assessed based on the botanical structure, geo-historical spectrum, life form structure as well as the nature valuation index in the 10-point scale according to oświt (2000). Based on relevés the area was valuated using the point score method according to Mahon & Miller (2003). An attempt was made to indicate potential directions of changes in vegetation, based on the determination of dependencies between certain parameters assessing its current condition and habitat conditions. Habitat water content connected with the supply of water through a network of culverts, geomorphology of the area and land use, affects the distribution of phytocenoses in the polder and their considerable diversity, which was confirmed by the identification of 19 plant communities from six phytosociological classes. Further maintenance of water relations and land use results in the transformation of plant communities: in the vicinity of culverts -towards the class Phragmitetea, in swamps and around small water bodies -towards communities of the classes Salicetea purpurea or Alnetea glutinosae, at longer distances from culverts in leveled and agriculturally utilised areas -towards the orders Trifolio fragiferae-Agrostietalia stoloniferae and Molinietalia, while in areas at valley margins the succession progresses towards communities of the class Nardo-Callunetea.

Restoration of ecologically valuable grassland on sites degraded by invasive Solidago: lessons from a 6‐year experiment

“…In intensively managed Arrhenatheretum elatioris meadows, the average FUV was 7.9 with approximately 80% of grass cover. By contrast, in extensively used meadows with a high nature conservation value and herb cover, the FUV is 6.8 with 60% of grass cover (Kryszak et al, 2010). A positive correlation between biomass production and the FUV has been found…”

Studia Quaternaria

“…In the analyzed decade, low precipitation and reduced flows in the Supraśl River were found on the site, limiting the irrigation of adjacent meadows (Kiryluk, 2019). Research by Kryszak et al (2011) also showed that the factor determining the floristic diversity of plant com- munities in drainage canals and ditches are water relations, depending e.g. on a current state of land reclamation devices and their maintenance.…”

“…The occurrence of drainage ditches in protected areas may interfere with the performance of their irrigation and drainage functions (Grzywna and Szajda, 2008;Kiryluk, 2007). Conservation measures in ditches and canals, progressive eutrophication of waters contribute to the formation of anthropogenic succession in plant communities occurring there (Kryszak et al, 2011). Proper selection of the type and timing of maintenance works on the bottom and the slopes of the watercourse may reduce changes in the composition of communities and the number of taxa (Bondar-Nowakowska et al, 1997;Przybyła et al, 2011).…”

“…The several-meter wide buffer zones near the ditches are very effective barriers that stop biogens from migrating from higher-lying areas (Dajdok and Wuczyński, 2005). The effectiveness of buffer zones' functioning depends on the species composition of communities and the width of the barrier (Gamrat et al, 2008;Kryszak et al, 2011). Buffer zones with a width of 2 to 5 m, located on agricultural land, along drainage ditches, streams, ponds, springs, small water reservoirs, may be the basis for receiving subsidies under agri-environmental and climate packages (www.arimr.gov.pl).…”