Phytocenotic Features of Calluna Vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie
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Ecological Questions 31 (2020) 3: 73– 107 http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2020.024 Phytocenotic features of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie Oleksandr Lukash1*, Viktor Melnyk2, Hanna Danko1, Oleksandr Rak2, Yurii Karpenko1, Petro Buzunko1 1Department of Ecology and Nature Conservation, T. H. Shevchenko National University “Chernihiv Collehium”, Hetman Polubotko Str., 53, 14013, Chernihiv, Ukraine 2Department of Natural flora, M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Timiriazievska Str., 1, 01014, Kyiv, Ukraine *corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] Received: 21 March 2020 / Accepted: 8 May 2020 The article is dedicated to the memory of the tireless researcher of the Ukrainian Polesie flora and vegetation Professor Tetiana Andrienko (1938-2016) Abstract. Middle-aged pine and birch-pine forests of the Dicrano-Pinenion suballiance are the most common biotopes of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie. This species occurs mostly as solitary plants in forest phytocenoses; rarely its projective coverage can reach 40-45%. C. vulgaris has the highest constancy in phytocenoses of the Peucedano-Pinetum association in Right- bank Polesie. The forests of the Piceo-Vaccinienion uliginosi Seibert in Oberd. (ed.) 1992 suballiance and the Piceion excelsae Pawłowski et al. 1928 alliance are rare habitats of C. vulgaris; they occur only in Right-bank Polesie of Ukraine. Heathlands are rare ecosystems for Ukrainian Polesie, their vegetation is represented by plant communities of the Calluno-Ulicetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944 and the Nardetea strictae Rivas Goday et Borja Carbonell in Rivas Goday et Mayor Lopez 1966 classes. They are forming in the significantly anthropogenically disrupted territories (e.g. areas after wildfires) or in the areas with intensive human activities, firstly in the military training areas. The phytocenoses of the Calluno-Genistetum pilosae R. Tx. 1937 association occur only in Right-bank Polesie and are the largest heathlands of Ukrainian Polesie in general. For example, in the Rivne region, their area is up to 20 km2. The area of heathlands, belonging to the Calluno-Nardetum strictae Hrync. 1959 association, does not ex- ceed several hectares. The phytocenoses of the Scabioso canescentis-Genistetum Balcerk. et Brzeg 1993 association are represented with small plots in landscapes of pine forests and less frequently in mixed forests on upland terraces of Left-bank Polesie rivers. The characteristic feature of Calluna vulgaris spreading in Right-bank Polesie of Ukraine is its large participation (sometimes with the projective cover up to 80%) and high constancy (92,7%) in phytocenoses of oligotrophic bogs of the Ledo-Sphagnetum magellanici (Malc. 1929) Kästner et Flössner 1933 association. The populations of Calluna vulgaris, explored in the forest phytocenoses of the Cladonio-Pinetum Juraszek 1927 association on the territory of Ukrainian Polesie, are incomplete. Their age spectrum maximum falls on generative individuals. The “Right-bank” population of Calluna vulgaris are characterized by more active proliferation of plants and spreading on new territories. Aging processes dominate among the “left-bank” populations. Generally, environmental conditions of Ukrainian Right-bank Polesie are more favorable to Calluna vulgaris, than conditions of Left-bank Polesie. Keywords: Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill., Polesie, plant communities, syntaxonomy, population. 1. Introduction Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill., European Boreo-temperate element of flora, has a large geographic 74 Oleksandr Lukash, Viktor Melnyk, Hanna Danko, Oleksandr Rak, Yurii Karpenko, Petro Buzunko distribution and is dominating in many heath ecosystems. Such a type of vegetation prevails in many heathlands of northern and western Europe. In Ukrainian Polesie Calluna vulgaris is at the 1. Introduction scapes. Poor sandy soils and marshiness favored the con- southern border of its distribution. Thatservation is whatof natural causes vegetation, the affectwhich occupies on the herespecies about distribution in the 2/3 of the area (Andrienko et al., 2006). During the maxi- Calluna vulgarisregion. (L.) Hill., The European purpose Boreo-temperate of our study el- wasmum to glaciations investigate most of the Ukrainian cenotic Polesie features was covered of the by Calluna vulgaris ement of flora, has a large geographic distribution and is glacier. In modern relief glacial forms are most noticeable dominating in habitatsmany heath and ecosystems. its population Such a type structure of veg- in in the Ukrainian west of Polesie. Polesie. etation prevails in many heathlands of northern and west- The Dnieper is the main waterway of Ukrainian Pole- ern Europe. In UkrainianHeathlands Polesie Calluna are vulgaris highly is at the dynamic sie. The habitats,Dnieper divides with Ukrainian strong Polesiebiotic into and Right- abiotic interactions southern border of its distribution. That is what causes the bank (Fig.1: 1a) and Left-bank Polesie (Fig.1: 1b). There affect on the speciesaffected distribution by external in the region.drivers, The despite pur- are their no significant appearance differences as a betweenhomogeneous, Right-bank stablePolesie ecosystem. All of pose of our studythe was factors to investigate studied the cenoticinfluence features diversity of and Left-Bank patterns, Polesie community in the amount structure of weather and elements. general quality of the the Calluna vulgaris habitats and its population structure However, Left-bank Polesie has more continental climate in Ukrainian Polesie.habitat (Fagúndez, 2013). As experiencein comparison of withEuropean Right-bank (in Polesie. particula Karst processesr, Polish) are scientists shows Heathlands are highly dynamic habitats, with strong observed in some regions of Right-bank Polesie. So-called biotic and abiotic(Adamska interactions et affectedal., 2015 by ),external study driv of- mainloess heath“islands” formations are available and in Left-bank accompanying Polesie, where plant communities is ers, despite their appearance as a homogeneous, stable erosion processes take place (Lukash et al., 2018, 2019). ecosystem. Allvery of the important factors studied for influence management, diversity Soilstreatment of Polesie and are highlyalso patternconservation structured. Riseof ofthe the Calluna vulgaris patterns, community structure and general quality of the ground level by only a few decimeters in Polesie usually habitat (Fagúndez,ecological 2013). As systems experience. of European (in causes major changes in soil-forming processes and veg- particular, Polish) scientists shows (Adamska et al., 2015), etation. Sod-podzolic soils are most common. They oc- study of main heath formations and accompanying plant cupy about 70% of the territory of Ukrainian Polesie. The communities is very important for management, treatment sod-podzolic soils vary greatly in mechanical composition, and also conservation of the Calluna vulgaris ecological humidity2. and Study trophicity. area Sandy-loam and clayish sandy- systems. loam soils dominate by mechanical composition. Both pine Ukrainian Polesie is the southern partand deciduous of the Polessianforests are forming lowland on those within types Ukraineof soils. (Fig. 1). Poorly Gray forest soils are common on loamy loessial sediments, defined2. Study relief, area considerable distributionmainly inof Left-bank water- icePolesie. deposits of sand, and high marshiness are According to various literature sources, forest areas Ukrainian Polesiecharacteristic is the southern partfeatures of the Polessian of Polesie low- occupylandscapes. 26-29% ofPoor the territory sandy of Ukrainiansoils and Polesie marshi (An- ness favored the land within Ukraineconservation (Fig. 1). Poorly of natural defined vegetation,relief, con- drienkowhich et occupiesal., 2006). The here considerable about 2/3 distribution of the of area sand (Andrienko et al., siderable distribution of water-ice deposits of sand, and deposits in Ukrainian Polesie causes large areas of pine high marshiness2006) are characteristic. During featuresthe maximum of Polesie land glaciations- forests. Climatic most ofconditions Ukrainian of Polesie Polesie are favorable was forcovered the by glacier. In modern relief glacial forms are most noticeable in the west of Polesie. FigureFigure 1. Schematic1. Schematic map of Polesie. map Mapof Polesie.symbols: 1 Map– Ukrainian symbols: Polesie (1a1 – – Right-bank,Ukrainian 1b– Polesie Left- (1a – Right-bank, 1b– Left- bank),bank) 2 – Lublin, 2 Polesie,– Lublin 3 – Belarusian Polesie, Polesie, 3 – Belarusian 4 – Nerissa and Polesie Desna ,Polesie 4 – Nerissa and Desna Polesie The Dnieper is the main waterway of Ukrainian Polesie. The Dnieper divides Ukrainian Polesie into Right-bank (Fig.1: 1a) and Left-bank Polesie (Fig.1: 1b). There are no significant 2 Phytocenotic features of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill. in Ukrainian Polesie 75 growth of deciduous forests, which are local climax zonal lomeshch (2003). Syntax names are ordered according to communities. However, there are differences in distribu- Mucina et al. (2016). tion of deciduous forests between Right-bank and Left- The field populations studies were carried out accord- bank Polesie. For example, the areal of the Carpinion betuli ing to Rabotnov (1964). The Calluna vulgaris ontogenetic Issler 1931 alliance forests includes all Right-bank Polesie stages and evaluation indexes of the general ontogenetic and only part of Left-bank