Open AccessThe succession of abandoned glades and its impact on the diversity of flora in Beskid Mały Mountains (Southern Poland)
Author(s) -
Jan Przemysław Kubik,
Beata BarabaszKrasny
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
annales universitatis paedagogicae cracoviensis. studia naturae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2545-0999
pISSN - 2543-8832
DOI - 10.24917/25438832.2.1
Subject(s) - floristics , flora (microbiology) , grazing , species richness , geography , ecological succession , forestry , ecology , species diversity , pteridium aquilinum , agroforestry , biology , bacteria , genetics , fern
The influence of grazing, mowing, and other usable treatments on the flora diversity of glades in the Beskid Mały in southern Poland was investigated. The field research was carried out between 2015 and 2016. Flora analysis consisted mainly of comparing the botanical composition of glades abandoned for several decades with the botanical composition of glades currently used as pastures. On selected plots, botanical composition was determined using the Klapp (1965) estimation method. All floristic lists from the study plots were analysed by using hierarchical numerical classification. Based on the numerical classification of plots on analysed glades in the Beskid Mały, four utility-floristic groups were distinguished: pasture with Nardus stricta, hay-meadow, unused plots with Pteridium aquilinum, and unused plots with shrubs. The results of studies confirm the thesis that species composition is a reflection of management practices or lack thereof. It was demonstrated that the cessation of the grazing and mowing on the mountain glades of Beskidy caused adverse changes in the structure of species composition and a reduction in floristic diversity. Initially, it causes an increase in the number of species in the sward, followed by elimination of the photophilous species, which lowers general species richness.