The floristic lists as a source to characterize environment conditions of habitats using phytoindication methods: A case study for Iris aphylla (Iridaceae) and Lilium martagon (Liliaceae) in central Russia

Abstract

Floristic lists are often considered only as a source of information for general comparison of floras in different localities or for comparison of flora within the same locality at different times. However, pure floristic lists may be useful to estimate environmental conditions in natural habitats using phytoindication methods. We showed here that if we have a set of floristic lists of certain region, we can use phytoindication methods to establish coenotical confinement of certain species and environmental factors which are most important for its existence. As example, we showed that it is possible to separate habitats with favourable and unfavourable environmental conditions for certain plant species (Iris aphylla) using phytoindication methods. We also proposed three recommendations for regional researchers which will contribute qualitatively to data collection and further analysis of existing floristic lists. At first, each floristic list must be confined to separate plant communities. Secondly, in order to increase accuracy of results, sampling should be carried out as much as possible. At third, botanists should add qualitative data in floristic lists: e.g., projective cover percentage of each species.