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The variability of selected features of Gladiolus imbricatus L. in relation to successive stages of meadow communities following the mowing cessation

Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2014

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Vol. 62, nr 2

307--321

EN

Molinietum caeruleae meadows belong to the most endangered plant communities in Central Europe, nowadays suffering due to the lack of management. The land abandonment promotes strong secondary expansion of macroforbs, sedges or willows, contributing to decrease of the species diversity. In light of these findings very interesting seems to be the evaluation of the variability of features of populations of rare meadow species. In Poland one of strictly protected plant is Gladiolus imbricatus L. It is a tuberous, clonal plant with sword-like leaves and tall stalks bearing purple flowers collected in one-sided inflorescence. The studies of spatio-temporal variability of selected features of subpopoulations of Gladiolus imbricatus were carried out in the years 2009-2011 in Kraków-Kostrze (Southern Poland) in patches of Molinietum caeruleae with different species composition. In Patch I chiefly occurred small meadow species, Patch II was prevailed by shrub willow, Patch III was dominated by tallgrowing macroforbs, Patch IV was characterized by substantial share of large-tussock grasses, while Patch V was overgrown by tall rhizomatous grass Phragmites communis. The plant canopy height and ground moisture raised from Patch I, via Patches II, III and IV, to Patch V. Moreover, in all sites the above mentioned parameters increased moderately in consecutive seasons. The decline of abundance of subpopulations observed in the consecutive years and in the successive patches might be caused by a mortality of individuals, a physical damage of tubers, as well as a prolonged dormancy of genets. The structure of developmental stages were similar in consecutive years but differed significantly among Patches. The increasing trend toward senility noted in successive sites could be an effect of lack of microsites suitable for seedling recruitment or absence of vegetative regeneration. The dimensions of leaf blades, flowering stalks and inflorescences remained similar in the subsequent seasons, but they augmented significantly in the successive patches. The length and the width of capsules did not change significantly between seasons and sites. Concluding, it might be assumed, that the perspectives for survivability of subpopulations diminish gradually from Patch I, via Patches II, III and IV to Patch V. Simultaneously, it should be pointed out that prospects for persistence in each place steadily decrease in effect of continuous deterioration of site conditions.

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Are Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv. tussocks safe for seedling recruitment in the succession of wet meadows?

Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2014

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Vol. 62, nr 4

707--721

EN

In stressful and harsh environments, safe sites for seedling recruitment may be created by nurse plants, which accumulate propagules and subsequently facilitate the establishment of individuals. The main goal of the presented studies focused on observations of seedling recruitment in small and large tussocks of Deschampsia caespitosa derived from patches of unmanaged Molinietum caeruleae meadows situated along the successional gradient and dominated by small meadow species (Patch I), by macroforbs (Patch II), or overgrown by trees and shrubs (Patch III). The studies showed that, irrespective of patch character, Serratula tinctoria, Selinum carvifolia, Lysimachia vulgaris and Filipendula ulmaria are among the best colonizers of Deschampsia caespitosa tussocks. The gradual decrease in number of species and offspring abundance along the successional gradient may be connected with a prolonged period of water stagnation accelerating the development of fungal pathogens, a major cause of mortality for buried diaspores. The growing frequency of species present in standing vegetation and the gradually rising contribution of swamp and forest taxa in consecutive patches may be due to the production of non-persistent diaspores by early successional species, as well as reduced seed immigration from neighboring sites. The obtained results included evidence that, regardless of patch character, the percentage of seedlings representing species present in and absent from existing vegetation as well as taxa with various vegetation types is similar in small and large tussocks. Furthermore, in small tussocks, regardless of patch character, anemochorous and hydrochorous taxa dominated, the frequency of endo- and epizoochorous taxa was much lower, while the percentage of species characterized by other modes of diaspore dispersal attained the lowest rates. In large tussocks, anemochorous and epizoochorous species prevailed, the share of endozoochorous and hydrochorous taxa was lower, and the contribution of species characterized by other modes of dissemination was very scarce. On the basis of these studies it might be concluded that, despite the successive decrease of species and seedling abundance, and along with the increase in the recruitment of taxa resident in standing vegetation, especially woody species, the tussocks of Deschampsia caespitosa are reservoirs of meadow species even in advanced successional stages and may play a significant role in the process of long-term species turnover.

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The effect of gaps size on colonization process in Molinietum caeruleae meadows with different habitat conditions

Kostrakiewicz K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2011

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Vol. 59, nr 4

677-686

EN

The disturbances defined as an external factor causing biomass removal are a key component of all ecosystems. In phytocenoses with a continuous vegetation cover and a large proportion of perennial plants the fine-scale disturbances create gaps, which are the temporary competitor-free microsites suitable for plant recruitment. The investigations of natural colonization of different size gaps in Molinietum caeruleae meadows were carried out in patches dominated by small species creating delicate, erect or procumbent stems (MC), prevailed by large-tussock grasses (GR), and overgrown by willows (SA). Each patch was represented by ten plots, divided into four square subplots of 0.16 m2, 0.09 m2, 0.04 m2 and 0.01 m2. In each of them the aboveground parts of plants were clipped and removed with the litter. the seedlings recruitment was observed in 2007.2009. The highest species richness in gaps was observed in the MC patch and might be caused by week competition for light from neighbouring plants with delicate, procumbent stems and narrow leaves. The smaller rate of recruitment in SA and GR patches could be caused by overshading willows as well as by the competition from large and dense tussocks of Deschampsia caespitosa and Molinia caerulea. At all patches species richness declined with the decreasing gap size. The developed seedling pool represented both species occurring in the surrounding canopy and such which were not found there. However, their contribution varied between particular patches. Regardless gap size, the MC seedling pool was dominated by species which did not occur in the established vegetation, whereas in GR gaps both groups were represented by similar numbers of taxa and the SA gaps become dominated by species present in the surrounding canopy. Irrespective of patch character, in each subplot the medium-seeded species were represented most abundantly. The recruitment of genets of large-seeded species decreased, while the abundance of individuals ofsmall-seeded taxa increased with the increasing gap size. In the light of the performed study, one might suggest that extent-controlled disturbances can be used as an effective way of the conservation of Molinietum caeruleae patches dominated by small meadow species being outcompeted by large-tussock grasses and over-shaded by willows.