Volume 47 (2017): Issue 1 (September 2017)

Chemical and genetic characterization of Veratrum species deposited in European collections is important for genepool preservation and identification of populations with desired metabolic properties. Veratrum album, V. lobelianum and V. nigrum are native to Europe, and in Poland are ranked as rare or threatened. Genetic variation of European Veratrum species was characterized by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The accumulation of jervine as a representative of steroidal alkaloids was measured in seeds. Distribution of 380 markers generated from eight primer combinations was useful for studying genetic relationships among and within species in the Veratrum genus and the most divergent populations were identified. Genetic variation between 12 populations of Veratrum species supports the classification of V. lobelianum as a subspecies of V. album. However, the results need further validation on extended material. A higher genetic diversity (22.3%) was observed between populations of V. nigrum as compared to V. album (14.5%). Contents of jervine allowed for discrimination of the studied Veratrum species and can be used as a potential chemotaxonomic marker. The highest jervine levels were found in V. album. V. nigrum seeds had only trace amounts and no jervine was detected in seeds of V. lobelianum.

The paper discusses the question whether geographical information systems (GIS) and digital elevation models (DEM) are useful tools for studying correlations between topographic attributes of a given area, and vascular flora requirements reflected by ecological indicator values (EIVs). The model object was a 4-km-long gorge section of the Sopot river valley (80.5 ha), the Central Roztocze Highlands, South-East Poland. Species lists for 40 ca. 200-m-long and 100-350-m-wide sections, according to the river course, separately for the left and right riverbanks, were made. The analysis of the area was based on a 3-meter resolution DEM. We applied primary topographic attributes: slope, and planar, vertical, and total curvatures and also secondary topographic attributes: solar radiation (SRAD) and topographic wetness index (TWI), as well as other terrain characters: denivelation, total, flat and upslope area of each section. Using the multivariate analyses, we analysed relationships between weighted averages of EIVs for each species and topographic attributes.

The GIS and DEM became useful tools for the detection of patterns of species with different habitat requirements. The species number correlated positively with the total and flat area of a section and the TWI, while the denivelation, mean slope and upslope area had a reverse vector. Among the most frequent and abundant herb species, we found several spatial patterns of distribution, namely those of: Maianthemum bifolium, Carex remota, C. acutiformis, Filipendula ulmaria, Dryopteris filixmas, and Urtica dioica. The rarest species represented Ajuga genevensis, Scorzonera humilis, and Stachys palustris patterns.

Chalk mining industry in Western Pomerania reflects a history of almost 300 years, and has left behind a typical post-mining landscape. Thus, more than 50 formerly exploited areas are known on the islands of Rügen and Wolin. Historical quarry sizes range from 0.1 to 42 hectares, the median is 1.3. Chalk quarries are recolonised by a wide range of species and develop attractive and species-rich communities. To the extent that recolonisation progresses, they act as refugia for rare or local species. Currently, a total of 543 vascular plant species are found in these chalk quarries. Species number ranges from 97 to 218 in thoroughly studied sites, with a median of 138. Of the total floristic inventory, 67% are indigenous species, 18% are archaeophytes and 12% neophytes. Quarries abandoned long ago and remotely situated are home to nearly 90% indigenophytes, whereas those quarries close to settlements or with easy access are tendentially characterised by numerous synanthropic plants. 100 species overall (= 18.4%) belong to Red List categories of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In 22 quarries studied in more detail, Red List percentages show a spectrum from 3.7 to 23.5%, and higher values are found in sites with open habitats and considerable biotope diversity. Among vegetation types, the anthropo-zoogenic heathland and grassland harbours 40% Red List species and occupies the first place concerning nature conservation aspects. A noteworthy percentage of endangered plants is found in fresh-water and bog vegetation, as some quarries are in contact with the aquifer. Succession was and is the impetus for vegetation development. A transect exemplarily demonstrates the vegetation zonation within a chalk quarry and distinguishes headslope, backslope, and footslope and the quarry floor. The respective plant communities are classified into Cornus sanguinea bush stage, Picris hieracioides-Daucus carota community, and basiphilous mesoxerophytic grassland.

Vegetation of Isoëto-Nano-Juncetea class has been investigated in the Sluch River valley within the forest-steppe zone. We distinguished three associations belonging to Verbenion supinae (Pulicario vulgaris-Menthetum pulegii Slavnić 1951), Eleocharition ovatae (Cyperetum micheliani Horvatić 1931 and Veronico anagalloidis-Lythretum hyssopifoliae Wagner ex Holzner 1973) alliances. The floristic composition of these syntaxa, is rich in diagnostic species of Bidentetea tripartitae and Phragmito-Magnocaricetea classes, which could indicate a transition to more sustainable communities in the succession row. Our current work is a small portion of a large task to clarify the location of ‘hot spots’ across the overall diversity of Isoëto-Nano-Juncetea, and to identify where and how this diversity can be maintained best.