The vegetation on railway embankments of the Kursk region

2017 ◽  
pp. 3-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Arepieva

The present paper deals with the classification of the plant communities developed on the railway embankments in Kursk region. This type of vegetation is still poorly studied in Russia although some floristic information is available for various regions. Kursk region is located between 50°542–52°262 N and 34°052–38°312 E. Its area is 29 800 km2. Zonal vegetation is represented by broad-leaved forests on dark-gray forest soils and meadow steppes on chernozems. The vegetation of the railway embankments was being studied in Kursk region since 2003. Railway embankment sections were surveyed in the city of Kursk, the towns of Dmitriev, Lgov, Oboyan, Rylsk, Shchigry, and urban settlements of Konyshevka, Kshenskiy, Ponyri, Pristen. The upper parts of railway embankments, slopes and nearby sites, stations, and areas between roadbeds were studied. Classification according to Braun-Blanquet approach, with the use of “deductive method” (Kopeсký, Hejný, 1974), is based upon 120 relevés. The data were treated by software package IBIS 7.2 (Zverev, 2007). The names of the higher syntaxa are given according to “Vegetation of Europe…” (Mucina et al., 2016). Direct ordination of relevés by soil moisture and nitrogen content factors (scales after H. Ellenberg et al. (1992)) was conducted to distinguish ecological specificity of the communities on railway embankment and those outside railways. The vegetation of the urbanized territories under strong man impact in general and in particular around railway stations is highly diverse. The plant cover regularly destroyed by herbicides re-establishes in different ways depending on the distance from the stations. The mostly diverse are communities on the railway slopes wh ere the late successional stages are present due to the poorer pressure, These communities were compared with the undestroyed ones occurring beyond railways (Arepieva, 2015). Syntaxonomy of railway embankment vegetation in Kursk region includes 3 classes, 4 orders, 4 alliances, 9 associations, 2 subassociations, 4 variants and 3 communities. Phytocoenoses of the railway embankments are formed under specific conditions resulting in their floristic composition and structure being different from those beyond the railways due to the man impact, moisture, trophicity and substrate mechanical composition. The suggested syntaxonomy of the vegetation of railway embankments is not yet complete. New syntaxa would be established along with the data accumulation.

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 3-14
Author(s):  
Ivana Kirchmair ◽  
Marco Schmidt ◽  
Georg Zizka ◽  
Arne Erpenbach ◽  
Karen Hahn

Termite mounds represent abundant microhabitats of high biodiversity in tropical savanna ecosystems and are an important source of landscape heterogeneity in Sub–Saharan West Africa. Floristic composition as well as density, structure and zonation of plant cover on the mounds were investigated in northern Benin and compared to the adjacent savanna vegetation. A total of 57 abandoned and densely vegetated termite mounds of comparable size and similarly affected by erosion  located  in different types of savannas inside and outside of the W National Park and in cotton fields were studied. This study revealed that termitaria are special habitats differing in density, composition and structure from surrounding savannas. The plant cover of termite mounds showed a distinctive zonation. Succulents, geophytes, and lianas were much more abundant on mounds, the family Capparaceae was found exclusively on mounds. The floristic composition and vegetation on termitaria proved to be rather homogeneous; although those mounds located in cotton fields differed by higher abundance of Poaceae and lower species richness.


2003 ◽  
pp. 50-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Smagin ◽  
M. G. Napreenko

The paper characterizes the 3 associations comprising plant communities with Sphagnum rubellum in the south-eastern part of the Baltic region. The new syntaxa differ from each other both in their floristic characters and the pronounced affinity to definite regional mire types and particular habitats. The ass. Drosero-Sphagnetum rubelli is typical of the relatively most thorough ranges. It is observed from the Kaliningrad region to the Karelian Isthmus and, according to the published reference, occurs even throughout the whole area around the Baltic Sea. Its most typical habitat is that of margins of mire lakes and pools. The ass. Eriophoro-Sphagnetum rubelli occurs in central plateaus of convex plateau-like bogs, typical of the areas adjacent to the Baltic Sea coast. It occupies extended flat mire ecotopes with the water level 0.2–0.25 m deep. The ass. Empetro-Sphagnetum rubelli is characteristic of the retrogressive complex in the convex bogs of the East-Baltic Province. It is mostly observed along the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Its stands are rather dynamic and unstable in both space and time. The presence of communities comprised by these 3 associations is an important vegetation character of the series of regional mire types. Assuming an association level of the respective syntaxa seems rational for the purposes of adequate reflection of plant cover diversity.


2019 ◽  
pp. 91-94
Author(s):  
T. M. Lysenko ◽  
V. Yu. Neshatayeva ◽  
Z. V. Dutova

The International conference “Flora and conservation in the Caucasus: history and current state of knowledge” dedicated to the 130-year anniversary of the Perkalsky Arboretum took place at 22–25 of May 2019 in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory) on the base of the Pyatigorsk Museum of local lore and natural history. The participants were from 11 cities of Russia and 7 Republics of the Caucasus and represented 14 institutions. Proceedings of the conference were published by the beginning of the meeting the book of abstracts includes 49 papers on the study of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and fungi, plant communities, as well as the protection of rare and endangered species, unique plant communities, and ecological problems in the Caucasus. The following geobotanical topics were highlighted in 13 papers: forest communities (3 reports), meadow and steppe vegetation (2), xeric open forests (2), communities of ecotone areas (1), structure of populations of rare plant species (3), as well as the history and current status of nature protected areas (2). The great emphasis has been focused on the study of floristic composition and plant populations. Thus, the conference showed that very few studies от vegetation are currently carried out in the Caucasus, and a lot of districts are not affected by the research. The greatest attention is paid to forest vegetation while meadow, steppe, alpine heath and xerophytic communities are studied rather poorly. Besides, there are “white spots” — mire, floodplain and aquatic vegetation. In nowadays, when the anthropogenic impact on the plant cover of the Caucasus is intensively increasing, it is especially important to study natural undisturbed communities preserved in protected natural areas. Another important issue is the conservation of the unique vegetation cover of the whole Caucasus. Thus, the study of vegetation of this region opens a wide field for researchers using various methods of modern plant science.


2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 888-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. C. C. Xavier ◽  
F. Scherner ◽  
D. C. Burgos ◽  
R. C. Barreto ◽  
S. M. B. Pereira

Abstract Population growth in urban areas changes freshwater ecosystems, and this can have consequences for macrophyte communities as can be seen in the municipalities that border the Capibaribe River, Pernambuco, Brazil. This study reports the effects of urbanization on the composition and structure of macrophyte communities in areas along that river. The following urbanized and non-urbanized sampling sites were chosen: Sites 1 and 2 (municipality of Santa Cruz do Capibaribe), Sites 3 and 4 (municipality of Toritama), and Sites 5 and 6 (metropolitan region of Recife). These sites were visited every two months from January to July 2013 to observe seasonal variation (wet and dry seasons). Thirty-one species were identified. Generally, the non-urbanized sites had a higher number of species. Multivariate analyses indicated significant overall differences between urbanized and non-urbanized areas (R = 0.044; p < 0.001) and between seasons (R = 0.018; p < 0.019). Owing to the large variation in physical, chemical, and biological characteristics between urbanized and non-urbanized areas, we found that urbanization significantly influenced the floristic composition and structure of macrophyte communities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Radmila Stankovic-Kalezic ◽  
Slobodan Jovanovic ◽  
Vaskrsija Janjic ◽  
Ljiljana Radivojevic

A several-year investigation of distribution, phytocoenological differentiation, floristic composition and structure of the ruderal flora and vegetation, and relative anthropogenic influences was conducted in the area of Pancevacki rit. The study focused on the ruderal community Arctio-Artemisetum vulgaris, the most widespread of 10 ruderal communities identified in a detailed phytocoenological analysis of the location of Pancevacki rit.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Luzia Santos de Oliveira Faro ◽  
Priscila Sanjuan de Medeiros-Sarmento ◽  
Norma Ely Santos Beltrão ◽  
Paulo Weslem Portal Gomes ◽  
Ana Cláudia Caldeira Tavares-Martins

Abstract Mangroves in the Amazon are influenced by several environmental conditions that determine the composition and structural development of the arboreal flora, which results in different distribution patterns. In this study, we sought to answer two questions: (1) what is the composition and structure of the mangroves near the mouth of the Amazon River in Marajó Island? (2) Are the fringe and inland mangroves more similar or dissimilar in terms of floristic composition? For this, we delimited a fringe zone and an inland zone about 1 km apart from each other. In each zone, we distributed five 400-m2 plots. The individuals were grouped into diameter and height classes and structural and phytosociological parameters were calculated. Ten species were recorded in the mangroves, of which seven are typical of white-water (várzea) and black-water (igapó) flooded forest ecosystems. We believed the adjacent ecosystems and the hydrological network are inducing the establishment of such species. The composition and structure of mangroves did not differ statistically between zones, and the degree of similarity may be a result of similar environmental factors in these zones such as low relief and high frequency of macrotides. We conclude that the vegetation of the studied mangroves has a major influence of the fluvial-marine system of the great rivers of the Amazon associated with a diversity of ecosystems that, together, generate greater floristic richness when compared to mangroves in other regions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Purwaningsih Purwaningsih ◽  
Tika D. Atikah

A floristic diversity and vegetation forest structure was carried out on the Mount Payung, Ujung Kulon National Park. The objective was to floristic composition and structure of the forest located at the peninsula of Ujung Kulon, Banten. The study was conducted using the quadrat method by establishing plots of 5000 m2 each at two locations Pasir Ipis and Gunung Keneng, thus the total area sampled was 1 ha. They were Plot Pasir Ipis and Plot Gunung Keneng. A total of 1898 trees comprising 105 species of 74 genera and 43 families were recorded. The number of species at Pasir Ipis higher (90 species) than plot Gn Keneng (61 species). Based on calculation the important value indexes (IVI), there were some dominan species with IVI >10 at Pasir Ipis Neesia altissima (IV=21,55), Barringtonia racemosa (17,89), Payena acuminata (13,35) and Neonauclea lanceolata (12,37). The dominated species at Plot Gn Kendeng were Pseuduvaria reticulata (IV= 34,30), Dillenia excelsa (27,62), Lagerstroemia speciosa (20,89), Popowia pisocarpa (17,57). The structure of forest could be inferred from the diameter and height of trees. The diameter measurements showed that 75,57 % of trees in plot Pasir Ipis and 80,51 % in plot Gunung Kendeng consist of small individuals with diameters between 10-20 cm. Trees with large diameters of >100 cm occurred in two plots among them Barringtonia racemosa, Polyalthia lateriflora, Popowia pisocarpa, Artocarpus elasticus. The presence of large numbers of small trees and lesser numbers of trees with large diameters in a forest stand indicated that the stand was regenerating after heavy disturbance. The presence of the majority of trees with height of < 20 m (99 %) further confirmed the forest’s dynamic status.


1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 809-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. James ◽  
G. M. Courtin

The anthropogenic birch transition community has developed in the vicinity of Sudbury, Ont., as a result of base-metal mining and smelting, logging, and forest fires over the past century. This study investigates the floristic composition and structure of an exposed ridge site and a protected woodland site in this community, a coppice woodland dominated by Betulapapyrifera Marsh. and Acerrubrum L. For convenience in the field, vegetation was classified into growth forms I to V on the basis of morphological development and stem diameter to separate multiple-stemmed stools from single-stemmed individuals and seedlings from saplings of seedling size but older than 1 year. The ridge was dominated by small stools (growth form II) of B. papyrifera, whereas both large stools (growth form I) and small stools of B. papyrifera and A. rubrum characterized the woodland. No A. rubrum and only a few B. papyrifera seedlings became established at the ridge. Seedlings that survive develop into growth form II while still less than 1 m high. At the woodland, regeneration also was low, but A. rubrum seedlings were more frequent than those of B. papyrifera. Lack of seedlings, the persistence of coppicing, and periodic crown dieback maintain this coppice woodland in its present form so that little change with time is expected.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith L. McDougall

The floristic composition and structure of peatland vegetation in adjoining subalpine catchments of the Bogong High Plains (north-eastern Victoria) were monitored between 1979 and 2006. Grazing by cattle had been excluded from one catchment since 1946, when it was fenced. Peatland vegetation in both catchments was partially burnt in a wildfire in 2003. Between 1979 and 1999, in the ungrazed peatland, the cover of Sphagnum cristatum Hampe and Baeckea gunniana Schauer increased and the cover of pools decreased, whereas in the grazed peatland the cover of B. gunniana and Epacris paludosa R.Br. decreased and the cover of Empodisma minus (Hook.f.) L.A.S.Johnson & D.F.Cutler increased. The cover of all recorded species decreased following a fire in 2003. Between 2004 and 2006, a significant increase in cover was detected in two of eight species measured in burnt areas. In burnt areas, the number of native species per quadrat increased in the grazed peatland and the numbers of exotic species per quadrat increased in both peatlands over that period. By 2006, the peatlands had largely recovered floristically from the 2003 fires but it is likely to be decades before the cover of S. cristatum and Richea continentis B.L.Burtt. reaches pre-fire levels. Control of several exotic species that established after the fire (especially Salix cinerea L. and Juncus spp.) may be required.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
H SJ Kearns ◽  
W R Jacobi

Thirty discrete black stain root disease (BSRD) mortality centers, caused by Leptographium wageneri (Kendr.) Wingf. var. wageneri, were examined in 1999 to determine the effects of BSRD on the composition and structure of piñon–juniper woodlands at the tree, shrub, and herbaceous plant levels and on tree-seedling regeneration. In these recently formed mortality centers, the majority (68%) of all piñon (Pinus edulis Engelm.) was dead, 76% of piñon were affected by BSRD, and 70% had evidence of piñon ips bark beetle (Ips confusus Leconte) attack. BSRD mortality centers had a mean area of 0.28 ha (range 0.07 to 0.63 ha). There were no statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences in shrub composition, cover, or diversity between mortality centers and the unaffected surrounding woodlands. Herbaceous plant cover was significantly greater (p < 0.001) within mortality centers and frequency responses were species specific. There were no significant (p = 0.629) differences in the density of piñon regeneration inside mortality centers compared with outside mortality centers. The pathogen was regularly isolated from piñon roots dead for 5–8 years and once from a root dead for 16 years. The rate of radial expansion of mortality centers averaged 1.1 m/year (0.07 SE). The rate of mortality center expansion was not significantly (p > 0.05) related to available water-holding capacity, percent organic matter, pH of soils, piñon density, or any other site data recorded.


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