6 research outputs found
Red-list of liverwort and hornwort species of Serbia: 2024 assessment
The new extinction risk assessments of hornwort and liverwort species of Serbia
have been completed. Based on the available data, 40% of Serbian liverwort flora is
under threat (status 2024). Additionally, 11% of Serbian liverwort flora is considered to be Data Deficient (DD) 11% Near Threatened (NT). These findings clearly
indicate the urgent need for field investigation and species biology research in order to define the major threats and adequate conservation measures
New national and regional bryophyte records, 72
ABSTRACT: New record of Sphagnum palustre L. to Graciosa Island (Azores).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Analyses of floristic composition of the abandoned Cu-dump field Piesky (Staré Hory Mountains, Slovakia)
The Cu-dump field Piesky is an important historical abandoned
mining area in the region of central Europe, well known for the high content
of heavy metals in its soil, especially copper, the content of which varies from
933.40 to 1485.40 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>. Floristic and phytosociological research
was carried out here during the vegetation seasons in 2011–2014. Altogether a total of 156 taxa of vascular plants were found. The most common species were
<i>Acetosella vulgaris</i>, <i>Agrostis</i> <i>capillaris</i>, <i>A</i>.
<i>stolonifera</i>, <i>Arabidopsis arenosa</i> and <i>Festuca rubra</i>,
which were important constituents of all mine heaps in
central Slovakia. We examined a total of 11 phytosociological relevés
at various sites, which were selected to capture the variability of plant
communities throughout topographical and ecological variability, various
successional stages and impacts from humans. They were classified into five
habitats: initial successional stages, grasslands, forest stands, wetland
and feeding grounds for wild animals.
<br><br>
Each site was evaluated in terms of its species richness, index of
diversity and the representation of metallophytic, alien invasive species,
synanthrophytes and native non-apophytes. This representation is based
on species number and abundance, and their ratios to all taxa abundance and
species richness are reflected by several indicators, which we have called
indexes of metallophytization, synanthropization and naturalness of the
vegetation (community) composition. In addition, indexes of invasive alien
taxa and native non-apophytes proportion were used. Furthermore, each of the 11 sites was
characterized by its basic topographic properties and climatic and edaphic
variables, using the phytoindication approach based on the Ellenberg
indicator values. The correlation analysis has uncovered several important
and significant associations between some of these indicators and the climatic
and edaphic variables. The negative correlations between the number
of native non-apophytes and temperature (and between their relative
abundances in the individual habitats and light) partially confirm that on
mine heaps the numbers of synanthrophytes retreat into climax forest stands.
Other correlations confirm that synanthropisation of the vegetation at a
site is also higher in more eutrophic and less acidic soils for mine heaps.
<br><br>
The species richness was highest in the grasslands and wetland and lowest in
the initial succession stages, while beta diversity decreased in an opposite
direction. Most synanthrophytes were found on grasslands, attracted by
higher amount of nutrients in the soil, brought by sewage sludge from
water treatment plants during partial recultivation of this mine heap in the
years 2000 and 2010. The idea behind it was to support and accelerate the
succession, however the use of the sludge may not have been the best option.
Despite strict control of its chemical content, a high input of nutrients
inevitably increases numbers of synanthrophytes in the
vegetation cover. Finally, planting deciduous trees on young mine heaps as a
method of directed succession is a better option than planting coniferous ones. The
latter trees create acidic litter, increasing heavy metal mobility in the soil.
We have found the dump heap Piesky to be a very suitable locality for
studying processes of primary and directed succession in extreme
environments and their impacts on the floristic composition of vegetation