Teresa Skrajna

The Transformations of Field Communities with Illecebrum verticillatum L. (Cariophyllaceae) on the Borderlands of Its European Range (Central-Eastern Poland)

ABSTRACT: Changes in field communities with Illecebrum verticillatum at the north-eastern limits of the species range in Poland were recorded with the phytosociological method over the years 1994–2010. The material studied consisted of 136 phytosociological relevés which were subjected to numerical classification and ordination according to habitat gradients by the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). Changes in communities and habitats were assessed using the following indicators: species richness, the Shannon-Weiner index of biodiversity (H), Simpsons index of domination (C) and floristic value (FV). The values of these indicators were statistically analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test at P <0.05. Spearmans rank correlations were calculated using Statistica 10 to determine relationships between the indicators analysed. On the basis of numerical classification 7 types of phytocoenoses were identified, representing communities at the initial and final phases of the study. At the beginning the communities included: Arnoserido-Scleranthetum with Illecebrum verticillatum, in stubble fields and Spergulario-Illecebretum verticillatum and Digitarietum ischaemi with Illecebrum verticillatum in root crops; at the end of the study they included: Vicietum tetraspermae and the community with Aperion spica-venti in cereals and the diverse, floristically common association Echinochloo-Setarietum. The communities identified reflected changes in the phytocenoses of the permanent sites due to intensification of field production. The comparison of indicators of species number, index of biodiversity and index of domination revealed significant differences. The analysis of habitat indicators according to Ellenberg demonstrated that soil temperature and moisture decreased whereas soil pH and nitrogen increased. The comparison of the taxonomic value of a species group for the association Radiolion linoidis and floristic value of communities revealed that species from the from the alliance R. linoidis were disappearing at a rapid rate.

Morphological diversity of Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium in the agrocenoses of the Wigry National Park and its buffer zone / Zróżnicowanie morfologiczne Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium w agrocenozach Wigierskiego Parku Narodowego i jego otuliny

Abstract In the years 2009 and 2010, studies were carried out on Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium population established in the cultivated fields of the Wigry National Park and its buffer zone. Every year, 30 plants of the Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium were picked and collected from each of the three habitats: potato fields, winter and spring cereals. The following traits were examined: plant height, stem length to the first branching, number of internodes and their length, number of first-order branches and their length, number of leaves, number of spikelet-like inflorescences (spikelets) and their average length, the top inflorescence (spikelet) length, seed number per plant and 1000-seed weight. The analysis of the obtained results indicated large morphological variability of plants, which depended on the type of cultivated land. The most favourable conditions for weed growth and development occurred in potato fields, where Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium plants were the highest, most branched and productive. The opposite result was noticed in winter cereals, where Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium managed to produce the least seeds. Comparisons of the results of morphological measurements for Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium taken in the same sites during two growing seasons demonstrated relatively small variation of the analysed traits. Streszczenie W latach 2009-2010 badano populacje Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium zachwaszczające uprawy rolnicze Wigierskiego Parku Narodowego i jego otuliny. Każdego roku zebrano po 30 roślin analizowanego taksonu z trzech siedlisk: upraw ziemniaka, zbóż ozimych oraz jarych. Wykonano pomiary biometryczne następujących cech: wysokość rośliny, długość łodygi do I odgałęzienia, liczba międzywęźli i ich długość, liczba odgałęzień I rzędu i ich długość, liczba liści, liczba kłosokształtnych kwiatostanów (kłosków) i ich średnia długość, długość kwiatostanu (kłoska) szczytowego, liczba nasion z jednej rośliny i masa 1000 nasion. Analiza wyników wykazała dużą zmienność morfologiczną wśród roślin Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium w zależności od uprawy, w której rosły. Najkorzystniejsze warunki do wzrostu i rozwoju tego podgatunku występowały w uprawach ziemniaka, gdzie wśród pobranych roślin stwierdzono największe rozmiary, największą ilość rozgałęzień i największą plenność. Natomiast najbardziej konkurencyjnym wobec badanego chwastu okazały się zboża ozime, w których to uprawach rośliny Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium wytwarzały najmniej nasion. Porównanie uzyskanych wyników pomiarów cech morfologicznych Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium z tych samych stanowisk z dwóch badanych sezonów wegetacyjnych wykazało niewielkie zróżnicowanie analizowanych cech.

Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Isopyrum thalictroides L. (Ranunculaceae) Populations of Isolated Forest Fragments of Different Sizes in East Central Poland

ABSTRACT Isopyrum thalictroides is classified as an indicator species of the so-called ‘old-growth forests’. It occurs in shady deciduous forests and is a characteristic species of the order Fagetalia silvaticae. In many parts of Europe and Poland, it is classified in Red Lists of endangered species with different threat levels. Studies of an occurrence of I. thalictroides were carried out in the years 2000–2002 and 2010–2012 to examine changes in the abundance and morphological and genetic diversity of populations inhabiting small mid-field forest fragments (populations 2–4) and a compact forest (1 population), all located in east central Poland. Isopyrum thalictroides cover declined drastically at all isolated sites (from 83 to 93%) whereas the whole species diversity of these phytocenoses increased. By contrast, in the compact forest both, the area occupied by I. thalictroides population and the total community composition only slightly changed over time. When I. thalictroides plants sampled from all studied sites were compared in terms of the biometrical characteristics, populations 3 and 4 were found to be most similar, population 1 was less similar and population 2 was the most different of all populations, probably due to strong anthropogenic pressure. Electrophoretic analysis of seed and leaf storage proteins of Isopyrum thalictroides obtained from the four sites demonstrated that the populations were quite similar genetically, no matter how distant they were from each another. Population 2 was the most diverse, followed by population 1 whereas populations 3 and 4 were the most similar. A decreasing genetic distance in the I. thalictroides population would lead to inbreeding as seed setting by the plants will be poorer and the seeds will be less viable, which will result in a lower number of plants per a given area. The decreased gene pool indicates that the population of I. thalictroides is threatened with extinction in this area. Therefore, it is warranted to undertake some conservation measures to protect the species; hence the need arises to monitor it.

Therapeutic plants found in agrocenoses of the Middle Vistula River Valley mesoregion.

Therapeutic plants found in agrocenoses of the middle Vistula River Valley mesoregion Studies on the segetal flora of the Middle Vistula River Valley mesoregion were carried out between 2003 and 2006 in cereal and potato crops and in stubble fields (117 localities). A total of 184 medicinal vascular plant species were noted in the studied agrocenoses. Native plants (68%) dominated over species brought to Poland (32%). Hemicryptophytes (83 spp.), therophytes (74 spp.) and geophytes (26 spp.) were the most numerous groups of life forms. Perennials (55%) prevailed over short-lived plants (45%). Very rare and rare species (61%) built up the most numerous group of species. Their populations usually consisted of single specimens. Only a few of the medicinal plant species occured as larger populations. They were Aphanes arvensis, Stellaria media and Galium aparine in cereals, Equisetum arvense, Stellaria media, Chenopodium album, Elymus repens, Plantago major, Polygonum amphibium, Mentha arvensis, Plantago intermedia, Polygonum hydropiper and Gypsophila muralis in stubble fields, as well as Stellaria media in potato cultivations.

The segetal flora of the Mazowiecki Landscape Park.

The segetal flora of the Mazowiecki Landscape Park The present state and characteristics of the segetal flora of the Mazowiecki Landscape Park and its buffer zone are described. Flora of the agrocenoses of the Park and its buffer zone is rich and includes 221 species. A large differentiation of habitats, A wide contact zone with natural communities and traditional methods of cultivation affect its biodiversity. Rare species constitute more than half of the total species recorded in the agrocenoses of the Park and its buffer zone. In total, 25 of them are included in various categories of threat (Zarzycki, Wojewoda, Heinrich 1992). Among the most endangered are such plants, as, Helichrisum arenarium, Aphanes arvensis, Melandrium noctiflorum, Bromus secalinus, Agrostemma githago, Lathytus tuberosus, Kickxia elatine, Centunculus minimus, Hypericum humifusum, Peplis portula, Centaurium pulchellum, Radiola linoides and Myosurus minimus. Apophytes (142 species) prevail over anthropophytes (76 species) in the studied flora. Species of meadow and waterside communities (93 species) predominate among apophytes, whereas in the group of anthropophytes, archaeophytes (59 species) are the most numerous. Analysis of persistence and biological types showed domination of short-lived species over perennials and therophytes over other life forms.