Roczniki Akademii Rolniczej w Poznaniu CCCLXXXVIII

Botanika – Steciana , , - www.up.poznan.pl/steciana ISSN -

RARE AND THREATENED PLANTS OF THE MIRES IN THE INTENSIVELY MANAGED LANDSCAPE OF THE GÓRY REGION NORTH‐EASTERN

PAWEŁ PAWLIKOWSKI, FILIP JARZOMBKOWSKI, DAN WOŁKOWYCKI, ŁUKASZ KOZUB, PIOTR ZANIEWSKI, OLGA BAKANOWSKA, ŁUKASZ BANASIAK, KATARZYNA BARAŃSKA, ANNA BIELSKA, URSZULA BIEREŻNOJ, MAGDALENA GALUS, MARLENA GRZYBOWSKA, ADAM KAPLER, JUSTYNA KARPOWICZ, IWONA SADOWSKA, RAFAŁ ZARZECKI

P. Pawlikowski, Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] F. Jarzombkowski, Department of Nature Protection and Rural Landscape, Institute of Technology and Life Sciences, Falenty, al. Hrabska , - Raszyn, Poland, e-mail: fj [email protected] D. Wołkowycki, Department of Environmental Conservation and Management, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] Ł. Kozub, Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] P. Zaniewski, Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] O. Bakanowska, Student Scientifi c Circle of Inter-Faculty Study Programme in Environmental Protection, Żwirki i Wigury , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] Ł. Banasiak, Department of Systematics and Plant Geography, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] K. Barańska, Naturalists’ Club, Maja , - Świebodzin, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] A. Bielska, Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland U. Biereżnoj, Naturalists’ Club, Maja , - Świebodzin, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] M. Galus, Student Scientifi c Circle of Inter-Faculty Study Programme in Environmental Protection, Żwirki i Wigury , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] M. Grzybowska, Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland A. Kapler, Department of the Evaluation and Plant-Biodiversity Conservation, Botanical Garden – Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prawdziwka , - Warsaw, Poland, e-mail: [email protected] J. Karpowicz, Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland I. Sadowska, Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland R. Zarzecki, Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation, Białystok Technical University, Wiejska A, - Białystok, Poland

(Received: March , . Accepted: September , )

ABSTRACT. During the fi eld survey of small, predominantly Sphagnum-dominated mires, occupying de- pressions in the intensively managed landscape of the Góry Sudawskie region (NE Poland, Lithuanian Lake District), the localities of rare and threatened plant species were recorded. The most valuable of them were: Baeothryon alpinum, Carex chordorrhiza, C. paucifl ora, Cinclidium stygium, Dactylorhiza bal- tica, D. ruthei, Eriophorum gracile, Hammarbya paludosa, Lycopodiella inundata, Oxycoccus microcarpus, Pseudocalliergon trifarium and Salix lapponum. Several red-listed species (like Carex chordorrhiza, C. li- mosa, Drosera rotundifolia, Epipactis palustris, Scheuchzeria palustris and Utricularia minor) were quite common and should not be considered threatened in the studied area. A striking feature was an abundant presence of species that are considered calciphilous (like E. palustris, Carex dioica and Dactylorhiza spp.). Species-rich fl ora of the mires is threatened fi rst of all due to non-forest vegetation being overgrown with shrubs. It needs conservation measures (removal of shrubs). The presence of such species-rich ecosystems in highly transformed landscape is hard to explain and puts a new light on the importance of key habitats protection even in typical agricultural areas. Mechanisms protecting the mire ecosystems from external disturbances (e.g. eutrophication) are very important in this case and need detailed studies. The unique natural values of the studied area have remained undiscovered until now and are revealed for the fi rst time.

KEY WORDS: red list species, threatened species, mire plants, distribution, eutrophication P. Pawlikowski ...

INTRODUCTION majority of them used to be extensively managed in the past. Traditional, handheld peat extraction had the During recent decades, the intensifi cation of land most important impact on the plant cover. The mires use (including fertilization and drainage) has increas- used to be irregularly aff ected by mowing, grazing and ingly threatened the remnants of natural and semi- cranberry-picking. The last activity still takes place at natural ecosystems in agricultural landscapes (AGGER some sites, as well as occasional grazing of mire margins and BRANDT , BOERS , WALDHARDT et AL. by cows. Some of the peatlands are (or were in the past) ). The leaching of fertilizers (including phospho- aff ected by direct or non-direct draining. Apart from rus, nitrogen and potassium) from agricultural fi elds anthropogenic impacts, beaver activity is an important into groundwater results in the shift in vegetation of natural factor infl uencing mire ecosystems. On the one groundwater-fed mires. This includes the replacement hand, beavers inhibit the development of trees and wil- of species-rich, low-productive vegetation with highly low shrubs, but on the other hand, they dig canals or productive, rare species-poor patches (OLDE VENTERINK dam outfl ows which results in hydrological changes and et AL. ), especially when eutrophication is accom- alteration of vegetation. panied by hydrological disturbances (ENDLER and DZIE- Surrounded by agricultural land, the mires of the DZIC , BOLLENS et AL. , KOŁOS , WILHELM Góry Sudawskie region range in size from ca. . to ). In Poland, dozens of wetland species are decreas- a dozen of hectares. They have diverse stratigraphy and ing and consequently included in the Polish red data thickness of organic deposits. The majority of them book (POLSKA CZERWONA KSIĘGA... ). developed in the place of former lakes overgrown with The Góry Sudawskie (the Sudawskie Mountains), peat-forming vegetation. Thus, in peat profi les lake which are situated in the north-easternmost Poland gyttjas (usually: detritus-rich) are common. At several near the Lithuanian border, is an agricultural, inten- sites, the remnants of natural or man-made reservoirs sively managed area. An abundance of small peatlands (small lakes or peat cuttings with an open water) still due to a landscape that is geomorphologically very di- persist. Topogenous character and usually very limited verse is a typical characteristic of the north-easternmost catchment area are the common features of these peat- part of Poland (ŻUREK ). Peatlands in the studied lands. Many of them are hydrologically disturbed and area are scattered among arable fi elds and pastures. Ag- overgrown entirely with forest or shrub vegetation. In ricultural management of the area includes fertilization, some places, non-forest mire vegetation persists, which drainage by drains and ditches, as well as pasture grass includes fi rst of all Sphagnum-dominated communities. sawing. Thus, the Góry Sudawskie region gives an excel- Poor fens predominate, but Sphagnum teres-dominated lent opportunity to observe the impact of intensive land moderately rich fens are present as well. Extremely rich management on the fl ora of mires. fens and ombrotrophic bogs are very rare in the studied The plant cover of the Góry Sudawskie region is very area. Other vegetation types include forest, shrub, rush, poorly recognised although the fi rst information on the tall-sedge and aquatic phytocoenoses. In the marginal fl ora of the area was published as early as in XIX century zone of almost all the peatlands, a willow and birch- (ROSTAFIŃSKI ). Some data on the fl ora and vegeta- covered belt is developed (PAWLIKOWSKI and JARZOMB- tion of several sites are found in the papers of KAWECKA KOWSKI, unpublished data). () and KAWECKA and KARCZMARZ (). The aim of the study is to determine the role of the Field survey mires in the intensively managed landscape of the Góry Floristic data from the peatlands of the Góry Sudaw- Sudawskie region for conservation and maintenance skie area and neighbouring regions to the south-east of rare and threatened species of vascular plants and were collected during the student scientifi c camp of the bryophytes. Student Scientifi c Circle of Geobotany, the Student Sci- entifi c Circle of Inter-Faculty Study Programme in Envi- ronmental Protection (both at the University of Warsaw) MATERIAL AND METHODS and the Student Scientifi c Circle of Environmental Conservation (the Białystok Technical University). The Description of the study area fi eld survey took place in July . Additionally, un- According to the division of the territory of Poland published data of Paweł Pawlikowski and Filip Jarzomb- into physico-geographical regions by KONDRACKI (), kowski from the years - were used. the Góry Sudawskie area is defi ned as Wiżajny Elevation The attention was paid only to species from the microregion, where numerous glacial landforms (espe- Polish “red book” (POLSKA CZERWONA KSIĘGA... ) cially kames) are aggregated. The adjacent areas located and “red lists” (ŻARNOWIEC et AL. , ZARZYCKI and south of the Góry Sudawskie microregion are defi ned as SZELĄG ). The collected specimens of selected Jeleniewo Hills microregion. Both microregions are in- plant species were deposited in the herbarium of the cluded into East Suwałki Lakeland, a mesoregion within Department of Systematics and Plant Geography of the the Lithuanian Lake District. University of Warsaw, herbarium of the Department The Góry Sudawskie area has been largely deforest- of Environmental Conservation and Management of ed and agriculturally managed, apart from the mires, Białystok Technical University (vascular plants) and many of which escaped severe human impact. Small, Bryological Herbarium of the W. Szafer Botanical In- scattered patches of mire vegetation are surrounded stitute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (bryophytes). by arable fi elds and artifi cial pastures, and constitute Since selected peatlands of the studied area were ‘habitat islands’. However, it should be noted that the a subject of a fl oristic survey in the years - Rare and threatened plants of the mires in the intensively managed landscape ...

(KAWECKA , KAWECKA and KARCZMARZ ), it RESULTS was also possible to determine the changes in the fl ora during the last years. List of localities Every locality described below was assigned to an Nomenclature used appropriate ATPOL grid square (ZAJĄC and ZAJĄC ). The poor-rich gradient typology was applied to the Apart from the km x km squares, smaller km × mire vegetation types (e.g. SJÖRS , VITT ). Plant km quarters (one-fourth of the big square) were ap- names of vascular plants and mosses follow, respectively, plied. For example, letter “A” denotes north-west quarter, MIREK et AL. (), and OCHYRA et AL. (). letter “B” denotes north-east quarter and so on. ATPOL grid square codes are given in bold. Numbers in brack- ets refer to site numbers on the map (Fig. ).

FIG. . Distribution of the surveyed mires in the Góry Sudawskie region and adjacent areas P. Pawlikowski ...

[] FAD. Predominantly wooded peatland adja- , next to the small forest complex; area cent to the village of ; area of ca. ha. Non- of ca. ha. Covered by well-preserved Sphagnum-do- -forest mire vegetation (including various patches from minated moderately poor fen and moderately rich fen. extremely poor fen to moderately rich fen) is restricted [] FAB. Predominantly wooded peatland bor- to small clearings. Numerous peat cuttings of various dering a small lake near the village of Wingrany west age are present. of Łopuszek Lake; area of nearly ha. The area situated [] FAD. Moderately drained peatland near the next to the lake is covered by brown moss-dominat- village of , predominantly wooded, partially ed rich fen and rush vegetation. It is intensively fl ooded converted into meadows; area of ca. ha. Remnants of due to beavers activity. non-forest vegetation (poor fen, as well as rich fen) cover [] FAB. Predominantly wooded peatland bor- very limited areas of clearings and former peat cuttings. dering the northern part of the Samanin Lake; area of [] FAC. Peatland near the village of ; nearly ha. Near the lake shore small patches of brown area of ca. . ha. Covered by well-preserved Sphagnum- moss- and Sphagnum-dominated rich fen exist. -dominated mire (from extremely poor fen to moder- [] FAD. Peatland adjacent to the village of Ko- ately rich fen) and woodland, as well as small patches ciołki; area of ca. ha. Covered by woodland and a very of the rush vegetation. well-preserved non-forested mire with diverse Spha- [] FAC. Intensively drained and predominantly gnum- and (locally) brown moss-dominated vegetation wooded peatland with numerous old peat cuttings, ad- (from extremely poor fen to extremely rich fen). [] FAD. Predominantly wooded peatland be- jacent to the cemetery in the town of Wiżajny; area of tween the villages of Andrzejewo and Jeziorki; area of nearly ha. In the eastern part small non-forest om- ca. . ha. In the central part a small clearing with bog- brotrophic bog still exists. like vegetation still persists. [] FAC. Peatland bordering a small lake near the [] FAD. Predominantly wooded and moderately settlement of Kolonia Wiżajny; area of ca. . ha. Cov- drained peatland between the villages of Andrzejewo ered by very well-preserved Sphagnum-dominated mire and Szymanowizna; area of ca. ha. Non-forest mire (from extremely poor fen to moderately rich fen, includ- vegetation (from extremely poor fen to moderately rich ing bog-like vegetation) and willow-shrubland. fen) is restricted to small clearings. [] FAC. Predominantly shrub-covered peatland [] FAD. Shrub-covered and moderately drained bordering the northern part of Kuprelek Lake; area of peatland between the villages of Andrzejewo and Sa- nearly ha. Small patches of brown moss- and Spha- dzawki; area of ca. . ha. Non-forest fen vegetation cov- gnum-dominated rich fen are present. ers very small clearings only. Numerous peat cuttings [] FAC. Treeless peatland bordering the south- are present. eastern part of Prudel Lake near the village of Podsu- [] GAA. Predominantly wooded peatland adja- dawskie; area of ca. ha. Covered by well-preserved cent to the village of Węgielnia; area of ca. ha. Non- Sphagnum-dominated moderately rich fen. -forest mire vegetation (poor fen) develops in former [] FAC. Peatland near the town of Wiżajny, south peat cuttings. of Staneluszki Lake; area of ca. ha. Covered by willow [] GAA. Almost treeless peatland west of the shrubland and poor fen vegetation. town of Puńsk; area of ca. . ha. Covered by a very [] FAC. Predominantly shrubland-covered peat- well-preserved poor fen vegetation. land between the town of Wiżajny and the village of [] GAC. Peatland adjacent to the settlement of Kamionka; area of ca. ha. In the central part extremely Święciszki; area of ca. ha. Covered by woodland and poor fen develops in a former peat cuttings. non-forest poor fen (including bog-like vegetation). Nu- [] FAD. Treeless peatland bordering a small lake merous peat cuttings of various age are present. near the villages of Makowszczyzna and ; area of ca. ha. Dominated by open poor fen (includ- List of the species ing bog-like) vegetation. On the shore of the lake and in Species are grouped into taxonomic units and listed small pools within poor fen area, brown moss-dominat- in alphabetic order. Additional information given next ed patches of rich fen vegetation are present. to the species names includes: [] FAD. Peatland “Plinia” adjacent to the village – category from “red book” (POLSKA CZERWONA of Ejszeryszki, next to the state border; area of ca. . KSIĘGA... ): CR – critically endangered spe- ha. Covered by woodland and well-preserved Sphagnum- cies, EN – endangered species, VU – vulnerable -dominated mire (from extremely poor fen to moderate- species, LR – lower risk species; ly rich fen). Next to small pools small patches of brown – category from “red list” (ŻARNOWIEC et AL. , moss-dominated rich fen exist. ZARZYCKI and SZELĄG ): E – species on verge [] FAA. Treeless peatland south-east of Wistuć of extinction, V – threatened species, [V] – threat- Lake, near the settlement of Kolonia Wiżajny; area of ca. ened species at isolated stands far from the main . ha. Covered entirely by poor fen vegetation. occurrence area. [] FAA. Peatland near the villages of Marianka Localities of species recorded earlier by KAWECKA () or KAWECKA and KARCZMARZ () are indi- and Rogożajny Wielkie; area of ca. ha. Covered by cated with an asterisk (“*”). woodland as well as well-preserved Sphagnum-domi- nated poor fen (including bog-like vegetation) that de- velops mainly in former peat cuttings. Mosses [] FAB. Sparsely wooded peatland border- Cinclidium stygium – E. Brown moss-dominated rich fen: ing a small lake between the villages of Rowele and [], moderately numerous (leg. ). Rare and threatened plants of the mires in the intensively managed landscape ...

Helodium blandowii – E. Fens: [], scarce in willow-birch [], single individual by a ditch next to the peatland shrubland in moderately drained fen (leg. ); [], margin; this site was recorded earlier by Bernacki rather abundant in Sphagnum-dominated moder- (); [], several dozens of individuals; [], several ately poor and moderately rich fen, also in patches dozens of individuals. with Salix repens ssp. rosmarinifolia (leg. ); [], D. ruthei – EN. Sphagnum-dominated moderately rich moderately abundant in brown moss-dominated rich fens as well as Salix repens ssp. rosmarinifolia low fen (leg. ); [], moderately abundant in brown shrublands; rarely in poor fens: [], several individu- moss-dominated rich fen and in Thelypteris palu- als; [], ca. individuals. stris-dominated vegetation. Drosera rotundifolia – V. Usually abundant in Sphagnum- Pseudobryum cinclidioides – E. Willow-birch thickets in -dominated non-forest mires, rarely in shrublands moderately drained fen, also in former peat cuttings: and brown moss rich fens: []; []*; [-]; [-]; [], moderately abundant (leg. ). []*; []*; []; []; []*. Pseudocalliergon trifarium – E. Very wet rich fen, among Dryopteris cristata – V. Scarce in willow-birch shrubs Scorpidium scorpioides and Limprichtia cossonii: [], and forests at the mire edges, less often among poor rather scarce (leg. ). fen vegetation: []; []; [], (leg. ); []. Scorpidium scorpioides – E. Very wet fens: [], scarce in Empetrum nigrum – [V]. Usually in poor fens and among small pools among poor fen vegetation (leg. ); bog (or bog-like) vegetation: []; []*; []; [], very [], scarce in small pools (leg. ); [], moder- abundant; []; []; []. ately abundant on the lake shore (leg. ); [], Epipactis palustris – V. Usually moderately abundant in very abundant in brown moss-dominated rich fen moss-dominated, non-forest mire vegetation, most (leg. ). often along with very low Salix repens ssp. rosmarini- Sphagnum fuscum – V. Usually in poor fens, abundant: folia and next to the willow-birch shrublands at mire [], (leg. ); [], scarce; [], bog; [], very abun- margins: [-]; []; []; []; []; []. dant (leg. ); [], (leg. ); [], (leg. ); Eriophorum gracile – CR. Brown moss-dominated rich []; []. fen: []: scarce (leg. ). Tomentypnum nitens – V. Brown moss- and Sphagnum Hammarbya paludosa – EN, E. Sphagnum-dominated, teres-dominated moderately rich fens: []*, scarce non-forest moderately poor and moderately rich fens, (leg. ); [], rather abundant (leg. ). among Sphagnum teres, Sph. fallax and Sph. warn- storfi i: [], ca. individuals; [], several individuals. Vascular plants Huperzia selago – [V]. Birch-alder forest in drained peat- Baeothryon alpinum – EN, V. Usually rather abundant in land: [], moderately abundant. moss-dominated non-forest mire vegetation, most Lycopodiella inundata – V. Sphagnum-dominated poor frequent among calcitolerant Sphagnum species (like fen: [], about stems within an area of m. Sphagnum teres, Sph. contortum and Sph. subsecun- Oxycoccus microcarpus – V. Poor fen and bog-like non- dum), less often among brown mosses. (e.g. Campy- forest vegetation, usually in Sphagnum fuscum hum- lium stellatum): [], (leg. ); [], (leg. ); [], mocks, more rarely on Sph. magellanicum and other (leg. ); []; [], (leg. ); [], (leg. ); []*, species: [], abundant (leg. ); [], moderately scarce (leg. , ). abundant. Carex chordorrhiza – VU, V. Usually abundant in moss- Pedicularis palustris – V. Scarce in moss-dominated, dominated non-forest mire vegetation among Spha- non-forest mires: []; [], poor fen; [], moder- gnum species (Sphagnum teres and Sph. fallax s.l.), ately poor fen; [], brown moss-dominated rich fen. rarely among brown mosses: [], very abundant (leg. Ranunculus lingua – V. Rather abundant in brown moss- ); [], (leg. ); [], (leg. ); [], very abun- -dominated rich fen, rush and tall sedge vegetation: dant (leg. ); [], (leg. ); [], scarce; [], []; []; []. (leg. ); [], (leg. ); []; []*, scarce (leg. Salix lapponum – EN, V. Sphagnum-dominated fens ); []. (moderately poor and moderately rich) especially C. dioica – VU. Usually abundant in moss-dominated near the mire margins: [], several hundreds of non-forest mire vegetation, among Sphagnum, as shoots; [], several dozens of shoots. well as brown moss species: [], (leg. ); []; [], Scheuchzeria palustris – E. Usually abundant in poor (leg. ); [], (leg. ); []; []. fens: []; []; []; [-]; []; []*. C. limosa – LR, V. Usually abundant in moss-dominated Utricularia intermedia – V. Usually abundant in very wet non-forest vegetation, among Sphagnum as well as depressions and small pools in moss-dominated non- brown moss species: []; [-]; []*; []; []; []; []; -forest mires: []; []; []; [], very abundant; [], []; []; []; []*; []. abundant; [], quite abundant. C. paucifl ora – V. Non-forest poor fen (and bog-like) U. minor – V. Scarce in very wet depressions in moss- vegetation, usually among Sphagnum fallax and Sph. -dominated mires and adjacent lakes and pools: []; fuscum: [], several dozens of clumps (leg. ); [], []; []; []; []; []; []; [], abundant; []; []; []. ca. a dozen of clumps (leg. ). Apart from the plants listed above, some other rare Dactylorhiza baltica – V. Sphagnum-dominated moder- species were recorded at fi eld-surrounded mires in the ately-rich fens as well as Salix repens ssp. rosmarini- Góry Sudawskie region. These included: Dactylorhiza folia low shrublands; rarely in poor fens and brown incarnata (sites [-], [], [], [], [], [], [], []), moss-dominated rich fens: [] a dozen of individuals; Juncus fi liformis ([], []), Parnassia palustris ([], []*, [], ca. individuals [], more than individuals, [], []), Phegopteris connectilis ([]), Platanthera bifolia P. Pawlikowski ...

([]), Rhynchospora alba ([], [], [], []), Sanguisor- Several red-listed species (Baeothryon alpinum, Ca- ba offi cinalis ([]*) and Sparganium minimum ([], [], [], rex chordorrhiza, C. limosa, Drosera rotundifolia, Empe- [], [], [], [-], []. trum nigrum, Epipactis palustris, Scheuchzeria palustris, Sphagnum fuscum and Utricularia minor (ŻARNOWIEC Remarks on results of the fl oristic survey et al. , ZARZYCKI and SZELĄG ) were record- As a result of the fi eld survey, peatlands with lo- ed in quite numerous localities. They do not seem to calities of rare and threatened species were encountered. be threatened in the Góry Sudawskie region. Most of Among them, sites belonged to the Góry Sudawskie them are known to occur at numerous sites in other region and seven sites were from the area located south- parts of the Lithuanian Lake District as well (see e.g. east of the above-mentioned area. SOKOŁOWSKI , , KAWECKA , PAWLIKOW- The localities of plant species considered rare and SKI a, b). Their high conservation status in Poland threatened were recorded. Among them were vascu- seems to be inadequate when considering the situation lar plants and seven mosses. Some species considered in the north-easternmost part of Poland. This is par- to be endangered – Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia ticularly true of C. limosa, D. rotundifolia, E. palustris, minor, Carex limosa, C. chordorrhiza and Scheuchze- S. palustris and U. minor. By contrast, Ranunculus lingua, ria palustris – were quite common in the studied area a species common and beyond any doubt not threatened and were recorded in more than / of all the surveyed in the whole north-eastern Poland (especially in more mires. Twelve species were found to occur in one or two fertile wetland habitats – e.g. SOKOŁOWSKI , , localities only. The fl ora of six mires was strikingly rich PAWLIKOWSKI b), is hardly present in the studied in species of special concern. These included: mires. – [] – a mire near the settlement of Kolonia Wi- żajny ( rare or endangered species); Why do calciphilous species occur in Sphagnum-mires? – [], [], [], [] – mires near the villages of Grzy- A striking feature of the fl ora of the studied Spha- bina, Stankuny, Ejszeryszki and Kociołki () gnum-dominated mires is the abundant presence of – [] – a mire near the village of Wingrany (). vascular plant species that are considered calciphilous, such as Epipactis palustris, Carex dioica and Dactylorhi- Changes in the fl ora during last years za spp.). The existence of species typical of calcium-rich After years the fl ora of six previously investigat- habitats can be explained fi rst of all by the water feeding ed mires ([], [], [], [], [], []) has changed only system. Most of the described mires are of topogenous slightly, except for a single peatland where almost all the type, thus the quaternary sediments (mainly gyttja but rare species were extinct (site []). Furthermore, the also clay sediments), rich in lime and often located un- localities of new species were recorded presently. Among der the peat, can be in hydrological contact with surface the species previously recorded but not confi rmed nowa- waters used by plants. In contrast to bryophytes (which days are: Baeothryon alpinum (peatland []), Viola epip- form a layer in close contact with the peat surface), sila ([]; only the hybrids with V. palustris were found), vascular plants receive water through roots from the Carex dioica ([]), Tomentypnum nitens ([]), Sparganium deeper peat layers. Therefore they demonstrate diff er- minimum ([]), Utricularia intermedia ([] and []), ent responses to hydrochemical conditions in mires (see Carex chordorrhiza ([]), Pedicularis palustris ([]) and HÁJKOVÁ and HÁJEK ). Due to evaporation and cap- Eriophorum gracile ([]). illary rise of water (BREHM ), in mires of the Góry Sudawskie region calciphilous plants can be fed by at least slightly alkaline waters, and, therefore, they can DISCUSSION coexist with typical poor fen species on the mire surface.

The fl ora of threatened species and species considered Why do the threatened species persist? threatened HERBICHOWA and JĄKALSKA () indicated that The number of rare species in the small mires of the mires in forested areas of the Kaszuby Lakeland were Góry Sudawskie region is outstanding. Among the species richer in rare plant species than similar mires in an ag- recorded, fi ve vascular plants are given very high IUCN ricultural landscape. They claimed that it was due to categories according to the Polish red data book (POL- the buff ering function of the forests, protecting mires SKA CZERWONA KSIĘGA... ). These are endangered from nutrient infl ow (mainly nitrogen) from agricultural species (EN category: Baeothryon alpinum, Dactylorhiza land. HARAGUCHI et AL. () showed that farms could ruthei, Hammarbya paludosa, Salix lapponum) and criti- aff ect mires directly. They indicated three ways in which cally endangered species (CR category: Eriophorum gra- the nutrients are supplied to the mire: through drain- cile). The other most valuable vascular plant species are: age ditches, surface runoff and groundwater. Nutrient Carex paucifl ora, C. chordorrhiza, Dactylorhiza baltica, enrichment of agricultural areas due to wet and dry pre- Oxycoccus microcarpus, Lycopodiella inundata, Pseudo- cipitation was also well described (AERTS et AL. , calliergon trifarium and Cinclidium stygium. Up to now, GALLOWAY , BOBBINK et AL. ). several of them have been recorded in the Polish part of Despite the fact that the landscape is intensively the Lithuanian Lake District macroregion in a few locali- managed, in predominantly non-forested the Góry Su- ties only (C. paucifl ora, E. gracile, S. lapponum and D. ru- dawskie region the rich mire fl ora consisting of rare thei), while L. inundata is a species new to that region. vascular plant and moss species is still present and the Moreover, C. paucifl ora has not been previously recorded vegetation seems to be relatively natural. It is still un- in the Podlasie Province (ZAJĄC and ZAJĄC ). clear, why they persist. Moreover, the lack of intensive Rare and threatened plants of the mires in the intensively managed landscape ... dynamics in the fl ora of some of the investigated mires VIROLAINEN et AL. () stated that while the pres- during the last years suggests that the high species ence of single, more extensive mire ecosystem minimiz- diversity in these mires is quite stable. es the probability of species extinction, the presence of There are diff erent possible explanations of the above several smaller patches of such vegetation maximizes observation. The drainage system does not exist or is overall species diversity. JÄRVINEN () showed that not active, therefore pollution can reach the mires only in order to maintain species richness no direct connec- through surface infl ow or indirectly with groundwater. tion between patches is necessary. Thus, it would be The described peatlands have a topogenous origin, where advisable to follow Scandinavian examples of estab- feeding with groundwater and precipitation is of minor lishing a network of very small but species-rich and di- importance (see LANDSCHAFTSÖKOLOGISCHE MOOR- verse protected sites on private land, which can be very KUNDE ). The catchments in the Góry Sudawskie benefi cial in protection of biodiversity (plants, fungi, region are not large (with maximum size of a few km) lichens, invertebrates and small birds) at a regional scale and a certain amount of fertilizers supplied with run- (PYKALA ). The unique aggregation of rare and en- off is possibly trapped by shrubs forming thicket around dangered species in the Góry Sudawskie region shows persisting mires and in beaver pools fringing the mires that this area is important for the conservation of mire as well. Another reason of the observed persistence of plant species in Poland. natural vegetation in the mires surveyed is connected with the lack of air-borne pollution. In north-eastern Po- Acknowledgements land atmospheric pollution is very low (BOK et AL. ), We would like to thank the local administration of thus it does not signifi cantly aff ect ecosystems. the commune of Wiżajny for providing us with accom- Moreover, the specifi c geomorphology, which in- modation during the student scientifi c camp in Smolniki. cludes numerous small basins and big altitude gradi- ent has restricted intensive land use. It seems that the degree of intensifi cation of land use and the landscape REFERENCES homogeneity in the described area are still lower than reported in Western and many parts of Central Europe AERTS R., WALLEN B., MALMER N. (): Growth-limit- (AGGER and BRANDT , BOERS , WALDHARDT ing nutrients in Sphagnum-dominated bogs subjects et AL. ). to low and high atmospheric nitrogen supply. J. 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