THE MACROPHYTE FLORA AND VEGETATION OF THE PAUČKO LAKE (MT. KONJUH)

UDK: 581.9:574.5 (497.6) (285) The study presents the first data on biodiversity of macrophyte flora and vegetation of Paučko Lake, which is recognized as an area of great natural, landscape and hydrological value in the Protected Landscape “Konjuh”. Paučko Lake has a small surface and it’s located at 711 m a.s.l. in the catchment area of the Drinjača River. The aquatic and marsh vegetation were studied during spring and summer in 2018 using the traditional Zürich-Montpellier approach. The vegetation of Paučko Lake is comprised of aquatic and marsh associations of the classes Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 and Phragmito-Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941. The following aquatic and marsh plant associations were identified: Myriophyllo-Potametum Soó 1934, Scirpo-Phragmitetum australis W. Koch 1926, Thelypterido palustris-Phragmitetum australis Kuiperex van Donselaar et al. 1961, Schoenoplectetum lacustris Chouard 1924, Typhetum latipholiae Lang. 1973 and Scirpetum silvatici Ht et H-ić prov. (in Ht et al.1974). Rare vulnerable taxa Thelypteris palustris Schott and Menyanthes trifoliata L. were recorded in emerged littoral communities, whose habitats are under successional changes caused by excessive macrophyte overgrowth by competitor species. Restoration measures are necessary to be taken to preserve the habitats of endangered species of the Paučko Lake.

Unexpected Discovery of Thelypteris palustris (Thelypteridaceae) in Sicily (Italy): Morphological, Ecological Analysis and Habitat Characterization

Thelypteris palustris Schott (Thelypteridaceae), known as “marsh fern”, is infrequent in the Mediterranean area. The occurrence of this species is known for almost all the Italian regions (except for Sardinia and Sicily), but with rare and declining populations. During floristic fieldwork on the Sicilian wetlands, a new unknown population was found. The aim of this paper is to analyze the morphological traits of the species, as well as its ecological features and the floristic composition of the plant communities where it lives. According to IUCN guidelines, here we provide the regional assessment (Sicily) of T. palustris. To analyze its morphological features, many living plants were examined, with particular attention to the spore structure. A total of 179 plots (110 species) and 34 pools were sampled. Our results highlight the relic character of the species which is at the southernmost border of its distribution range. The micro-morphological investigations on the spores show that the Sicilian population belongs to the subsp. palustris. The floristic analysis confirms the clear dominance of perennial temperate-cold zones Eurasian taxa. Finally, a new association, Thelypterido palustris-Caricetum paniculatae, within the Caricion gracilis alliance (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class) is described.

Forest typological and botanical features of «Mozh river valley» as the object of Emerald Network

Ecological and coenotic properties are given and the environmental importance of natural complexes of the Emerald Network of Ukraine «Mozh river valley» (UA0000299 Mozh river valley) in Kharkiv region is highlighted. The object is located in the valley of the Mozh River — a right-bank tributary of the Siverskyi Donets River (Don River Basin) and covers 12658.48 hectares; moreover this area has hardly undergone changes due to land reclamation measures. In addition, the emerald object includes the reserves of local significance «Mirgorodsky» and «Merefyansky», as well as the wetland «Zaplava r. Mzha». The investigated object currently represents a complex of various identified settlements from Resolution 4 of the Berne Convention (C1.222, C1.224, C1.225, C1.32, C1.33, C2.33, C2.34, D5.2, D6.1, E2.2, E3.4, E5.4, F9.1, F3.247, F3.4, G1.11, G1.36, G1.414, G1.51, G3.4232, G1.A1), which have natural-historical and geomorphological dependance. The main ecological and biotic features, areas and list of main plant species are given for them. In the studied area there are populations of rare species of vascular plants that have different sozological status. Annex I to Resolution 6 of the Bern Convention includes Jurinea cyanoides and Pulsatilla patens, and a number of species have state preservation status in Ukraine (Salvinia natans, Dactylorhisa incarnatа, D. fuchsia, D. majalis, Orchis palustris, Gladiolus tenius, Fritillaria ruthenica, Tulipa quercetorum, Stipa borysthenica, Pulsatilla pratensis) and at the regional level (Polygonum bistorta, Valeriana officinalis, Parnassia palustris, Veratrum lobelianum, Thelypteris palustris, Dryopteris cristata, D. carthusiana, Athyrium filix-femina, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Comarum palustre, Carex pseudocyperus, Lycopodium clavatum, Orthila secunda, Rubus saxatilis, Dianthus stenocalyx). In case of increasing economic impact, the main conditions for the existence of natural complexes in this area is the necessity to streamline forest use, reduce the impact of a number of invasive tree and shrub species, and minimize the impact of drainage and plowing of floodplains. It is also necessary to regulate the stream of vacationers and reduce the degree of anthropogenic pressure on natural complexes.

Effect of Soil Characteristics on Arsenic Accumulation in Phytolith of Gramineae (Phragmites japonica) and Fern (Thelypteris palustris) Near the Gilgok Gold Mine

In South Korea, most metal mines were abandoned and caused contamination for more than 30 years. Even the soil is highly contaminated with trace elements, plants still grow in the area and can affect the contamination. Phytolith is amorphous silica in the plant body. Phytolith is resistant to decomposition, and the stabilization of carbon, nutrients, and toxic substances accumulated in the phytolith is being studied. In this study, the Gilgok gold mine, which is contaminated with arsenic was selected as the research site. We selected Phragmites japonica and Thelypteris palustris as targets for the analysis of arsenic accumulation in plants and phytolith. Plants accumulate more phytolith at the riverside. The higher water content of soil increased the Arsenic (As) concentration in the frond of the T. palustris. Soil available silicon (Si) did not affect phytolith accumulation but increased As accumulation in the plant and phytolith. The research result showed that P. japonica and T. palustris have the ability to accumulate As in phytolith and the accumulation can be changed with soil characteristics and plant species. This As accumulation in phytolith can affect plant tolerance in contaminated areas and change the As availability in the soil. The result of the research can be used as a database to build a sustainable environment.

Rare plants and plant communities of rich fens of “Malaya Sosva” Nature Reserve (Western Siberia)

A geobotanical survey of rich fens on the left-bank terraces of the Em-Egan River, the right tributary of the Malaya Sosva River in the southern part of the nature reserve “Malaya Sosva” (61.79° - 62.05° N, 64.06° - 64.55° E). 179 species have been identified, including 84 species of higher vascular plants, 69 species of mosses and 26 types of liverworts. Of these, 11 species are included in the Red Data Book of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, including 9 species of higher vascular plants and 2 species of mosses: Baeothryon alpinum, Cardamine nymanii, Dactylorhiza traunsteineri, D. incarnata, Hammarbya paludosa, Huperzia selago, Saxifraga hirculus, Thelypteris palustris, Triglochin palustre, Meesia triquetra, Paludella squarrosa. Three more species – Corallorrhiza trifida, Calliergon richardsonii, Meesia uliginosa are included in the list of species whose condition in the natural environment requires special attention. In addition, such rare species as Eriophorum brachyantherum, Stellaria crassifolia, Bistorta major, rare species of mosses such as Bryum bimum, Calliergonella cuspidata, Campylium pretense, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Scorpidium cossonii, Tomentypnum nitens are listed in the mire plant communities. On the basis of the ecological-floral approach of the J. Brown-Blanke school, 8 associations, 6 subassociations and 3 communities from 5 unions, 3 orders and 3 classes of vegetation were allocated in the vegetation cover of rich fens. The belonging of one more vegetation community type of the Bistorta major–Sphagnum fuscum dwarf birch community with the sparse fir (Picea obovata) to the class and the order is not established. The highest phytocenotic diversity and the highest concentration of rare and protected species are found in communities of the order Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypneetalia. Phytocenotic association and frequency of occurrence of rare species in different types of plant communities are established.

A belső-somogyi homokvidék égerlápjainak cönológiai vizsgálata (Carici elongatae-Alnetum glutinosae W. Koch 1926)

The studied alder swamps are situated in SW Hungary on aeolian sand. Its canopy is dominated by Alnus glutinosa. Statistics of flora elements, life forms, phytosociological characters and social behaviour types are given. The surveyed stands are characterised by following specialists: Carex elongata, Hottonia palustris, Thelypteris palustris, Dryopteris carthusiana, D. dilatata, D. cristata, Urtica kioviensis, Ludwigia palustris, Leucobryum glaucum, Sphagnum palustre.

Flora of the settlement Lukh of Ivanovo Region

In the article the floristic data of Lukh, one of the ancient Ivanovo region settlements, are given. The present Lukh settlement flora consists of 402 vascular plant species from 4 classes, 76 families and 255 genera. Compositae - 53 species (13,2%), Rosaceae - 39 species (9,7%), Poaceae - 27 species (6,9%), Fabaceae - 23 species (5,7%), Cruciferae - 18 species (4,2%) are leading families of the flora. The basis of biomorphological structure of the Luch flora is made up by the perennial grass plants (233 species; 57,9%), arboreous plants include 60 species (14,9%), among which 23 species are trees, 33 species are shrubs. Geographical analysis ascertained prevalence of native species. The native component of Lukh flora comprises 247 species (61,6%), the аlien component - 153 species (38,4%). The adventivity index is 0,38 which is typical for the small towns and large settlements of the Upper Volga region. 2 rare species ( Gerntiana pneumonanthe , Populus nigra ) included in the regional red data book, some native ( Thelypteris palustris, Juniperus communis , Dactulorhiza fuchii, Platanthera bifolia, Convallaria majalis, Carex pilosa, Trollius earopaeus, Daphne mezerum) and alien (Atriрlex patens, Symphytum x uplandicum, Hesperis matronalis, Veronica persica, Zizania latifolia) rare plant species are briefly characterized