Forest Return on an Abandoned Field - Secondary Succession Under Monitored Conditions

The secondary succession pattern observed on an arable field abandoned since 1974 in Tilio-Carpinetum habitat is described and disscussed. Results obtained during 36 years of study confirm that succession on an abandoned field leads from a typical segetal community to the formation of a juvenile treestand composed of pioneer species. Our study supports the view that succession is a process which is largely dependent on the initial conditions and surrounding vegetation. The results indicate that some species can modify the course of this process, accelerating or slowing it down. Limitations of the method and prognosis of future vegetation development are also discussed

New distribution records of Solidago ×niederederi (Asteraceae) in Austria, Italy, and Poland

The paper presents a list of 23 new records of Solidago ×niederederi, a spontaneous hybrid between the North American S. canadensis and the European S. virgaurea. The list includes 8 records from Austria, 3 records from Italy and 12 records from Poland. An increase in the number of hybrid localities over the last 10 years in Europe is pointed out and discussed

An updated distribution of Solidago ×niederederi (Asteraceae) in Poland

In this paper, an updated map of the distribution of Solidago ×niederederi, a natural hybrid between S. canadensis and S. virgaurea, in Poland is presented using the ATPOL cartogram method. A compiled list of 55 localities of the hybrid within 40 cartogram units (10-km squares) is provided and its negative impact on S. virgaurea is highlighted

Impatiens tatoensis (Balsaminaceae): a new species from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India and notes on lectotypification of the name I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson

Impatiens tatoensis Gogoi & W.Adamowski, a new species from Northeast India with affinities to I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson is described and illustrated. We provide a lectotypification for the name I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson as well as a description and illustrations of the species

Phenotypic variation of Epipactis helleborine x E. atrorubens hybrids in anthropogenic conditions

Hybrid index has revealed the hybrid nature of helleborine populations growing on disturbed habitats in Białowieża Forest and its western foreland. An analysis of eight traits has revealed that hybrids are morphologically more similar to E. helleborine. Hybrids differ from the typical E. helleborine first of all by: a very pubescent inflorescence axis, a considerable length of the subinflorescence internode. Also the range of phenotypical variation in these populations is shown

Homogenization of Temperate Mixed Deciduous Forests in Białowieża Forest: Similar Communities Are Becoming More Similar

Many studies show the significant impact of direct and indirect human activity on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests. The increase in the number of invasive species, changes caused by climate change, or eutrophication of habitats resulting from air pollution can irrevocably affect biodiversity, species composition, or species interactions. Many of these effects cannot be seen in commercial forests due to the significant impact of direct human use of the forest and the high degree of transformation of forest ecosystems. In this work, we ask: how have forest communities changed over the past 70 years? What was the reason for these changes? To answer the above questions, we conducted research on repeated observations in the core area of the Białowieża National Park, which is characterized by one of the highest degrees of naturalness in Europe, where ecological processes have occurred without direct human intervention since the last glaciation. Studies have shown directional changes in species composition and biotic homogenization of three forest communities. Directional changes were found to be associated with both eutrophication of habitats as well as with changes in humidity and temperature. However, the observed changes in species composition were opposite to the hypotheses based on the observed global change. In contrast, changes in the species composition of the stand and the ability to shade and buffer the temperature and humidity under the canopy caused changes in the species composition of forest communities. In the mixed deciduous forest, homogenization occurred along with the simultaneous change of species composition of forest communities. This was caused by an increase in fertility caused by increased nitrogen deposition and changes in environmental conditions prevailing under the canopy of trees, which, however, were caused by changes in the species composition of the stand

Distribution, naturalization status, invasion history and plant communities of

All available data on the distribution of Impatiens glandulifera Royle in Siberia was analyzed. The species appeared in Siberia as an unpretentious ornamental plant around the middle of the 20th century. Cases of withdrawal from culture have been recorded since the 1970s and 1980s; mass naturalization began at the end of the 20th century. Currently, the species is common in many regions of Siberia, but the most active in the Altai Territory, the Altai Republic, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Irkutsk Regions. It is common in anthropogenic habitats; it can also often be found in suburban forests, ravines, along the banks of water bodies. It shows tolerance to habitat conditions, but is especially active in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater on humus-rich soils. The species richness of I. glandulifera communities is from 10-15 to 40 species. In total, about 100 species of vascular plants were recorded in I. glandulifera communities in Siberi