Diversity of Ruderal Communities in Urban Environments—A Case Study from Serbia (SE Europe)

The high diversity of ruderal vegetation in urban environments is well known. Although it has been a subject of numerous studies in Serbia, in recent years it has been slightly overlooked, although, due to the dynamics of ruderal habitats, constant research is required. We investigated ruderal vegetation in 20 cities across Serbia during a period of 5 years. Most of the relevés were collected during the summer months, and within 712 relevés, 422 taxa were recorded. Results of the cluster analyses and identified diagnostic species revealed 26 plant communities, of which nine are dominated or co-dominated by aliens. The relevés can be grouped into six ecologically well-differentiated major vegetation groups. Our study revealed the ruderal communities which are the most widespread in urban environments in Serbia. Additionally, some communities were registered for the first time in the country.

Ruderal vegetation of Kyiv City. I. Class Stellarietea mediae Tx. et al. in Tx. 1950

This article, which is the first contribution in a series on the ruderal vegetation of the city of Kyiv, presents results of our studies of Stellarietea mediae plant communities occurring in the city. Their current state and phytocoenotic diversity has been determined. Based on modern methods of statistical data analyses, a classification scheme of Stellarietea mediae vegetation in the study area was developed and the leading factors of territorial and ecological differentiation of phytocoenoses were identified. It has been established that within Kyiv City, this class is represented by 24 associations and 3 basal communities belonging to 8 alliances and 4 orders. Their territorial distribution determines the types and intensity of anthropogenic disturbances, as well as the types of soil and its mechanical structure. Selected syntaxa are characterized and compared with their equivalents from other areas of Ukraine. It has been found that the main differences are at the level of co-occurring species, the composition of which mostly correlates with the types of anthropogenic disturbances and availability of water and mineral nutrients. According to the results of the ordination, it has been found that the distribution patterns of plant communities of Stellarietea mediae occur along the salt regime gradient of the edaphotope, as well as of ombro-, cryo-, and thermal regimes of the climate. Based on the phytoindication analysis, the ecological optimums of the plant communities in relation to the leading ecological factors were determined. The performed research supplements the available information about the presence and distribution of such associations as: Digitarietum ischaemii, Setario viridis-Erigeronetum canadensis, and Ambrosietum artemisiifoliae, in the territory of Ukraine. The proposed syntaxonomic scheme should become a basis of typological developments for strategic planning and practical implementation of activities for optimizing the urban environment and for sustainable development of the Kyiv urban agglomeration.

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF PHYTOGENIC FIELDS FORMATION ON COAL MINES TAILINGS

Objective of the study is to research peculiarities of phytogenic fields formation of natural and artificial plantations of shrub and ruderal vegetation on coal mining waste heaps within the Novovolynsk mining area (Ukraine). The biometric analysis of the growth of artificial plantations on tailings has been carried out applying forest inventory methodology, which involves laying temporary experimental areas, measuring the diameter of tree species at a height of 1.3 m, the total height of trees and the parameters of crowns. Variation was applied to study the spatial structure of vegetation on reclaimed and damped waste heaps. The models of artificial phytocenoses and ameliorants on waste heaps of coal mines, which are formed during forest reclamation, have been described. The paper presents an analysis of forest inventory characteristics of the crops phytocenosis on waste heaps. The spatial structure of phytogenic fields basing on variation of the most common species in natural and artificial plantations on waste heaps has been established. This allows us to select an assortment of species to conduct effective vegetative reclamation on the surface of tailings. The article presents result of studies on the formation of phytogenic fields on waste heaps of coal mines, which presuppose formation of aggregations. It has been proved that formation of phytogenic fields is inextricably connected with vegetative reclamation. The conducted research of the origin and distribution of phytogenic fields makes it possible to assess the degree of suitability of tailings for afforestation, regardless of the country in which they are formed. Research of phytogenic fields on tailings and waste heaps of coal mines will improve bioindication research methodology for studying forest crops on their surface and suggest innovative methods of handling. In particular, it is possible to raise the level of environmental safety and aesthetics of the devastated territories, and to reduce cost of vegetative reclamation.

Ruderal vegetation in Serbia - diversity and floristic composition

This study represents the first data gathering and analysis of the floristic composition of ruderal vegetation in Serbia, published over the last 70 years. The dataset included 748 relev?s of ruderal communities and a total of 716 plant species and subspecies. The study showed that the most abundant were widespread taxa, especially taxa of the Eurasian area type, while alien species accounted for a relatively small proportion of the ruderal flora (about 10%). Therophytes and hemicryptophytes were most abundant in the life form spectra. Five vegetation groups were identified, corresponding to the following vegetation classes: Bidentetea, Sisymbrietea, Digitario sanguinalis-Eragrostietea minoris, Artemisietea vulgaris and Polygono-Poetea annuae. The analysis of similarity showed that there are small floristic differences between particular vegetation groups. The determined diagnostic species for the vegetation groups were compared with those of the corresponding anthropogenic vegetation classes, and a high degree of similarity was found for all but one group. The most frequent taxa in all five groups were Polygonum aviculare, Convolvulus arvensis, Plantago major subsp. major and Chenopodium album.

ЕКОЛОГО-ЦЕНОТИЧНА СТРУКТУРА ФЛОРИ ЗАКАРПАТСЬКОЇ РІВНИНИ

The Transcarpathian plain is the northeastern part of the large Middle Danube lowland in the Transcarpathian region. The length of the plain is 80–90 km, the width is 22–23 km, the height is 102–120 m asl. Within the Transcarpathian plain stands out the Berehiv hills, represented by single volcanic mountains of 300-500 m altitude (Black Mountain – 568 m asl, Shalanka – 372 m asl. and other). The Transcarpathian plain is located mainly on the right bank of the Tisza River. Soil-forming rocks are mostly acidic. The climate of the Transcarpathian plain is humid, temperate and continental. The spontaneous flora of the Transcarpathian plain consists of 1209 species of higher vascular plants. Depending on the ecological and coenotic affiliation of flora species to the main zonal vegetation types, seven florencoenotypes were identified in the territory of the studied region: 1) Immoral (Nemoralophyton) – 375 coenoelements (33.33% of the total number of species). In the composition of the Nemoralophyton the florencoenosvites are distinguished: a) oak-hornbeam (Querceto-carpinetophytum) – 130 coenoelements (10.75%); b) helio-quercetal (Quercetophytum) – 171 coenoelements (14.14%); c) fagetal (Fagetophytum) – 74 coenoelements (6.12%); 2) Meadow (Pratophyton) – 220 coenoelements (18.2%). As a part of the Pratophyton the florencoenosvites are: а) flood-meadow (Humidopratophytum) – 92 coenoelements (8.02%); b) land-meadow (Mesopratophytum) – 132 coenoelements (10.92%); 3) Meadow-steppe (Prato-Steppophyton) – 164 coenoelements (13.56%); 4) Xerothermic shrub (Xerothamnophyton) – 32 coenoelements (2.65% ); 5) Marsh (Paludophyton) – 31 coenoelements (2.56%); 6) Hygro-hydrophilic (Hyhro-Hydrophyton) – 129 coenoelements (10.67%). As a part of the Hygro-Hydrophyton the florencoenosvites are: a) coastal-water (Hygrophytum) – 79 coenoelements (6.53%); b) aqueous (Hygrophytum) – 50 coenoelements (4.13%); 7) Synanthropic (Synantropophyton) – 285 coenoelements (23.57%). In the composition of the Syntantropophyton the florencenosvites are as follows: a) vegetative vegetation (Segetalophytum) – 132 coenoelements (10.92%) and b) ruderal vegetation (Ruderalophytum) – 153 coenoelements (12.65%). The results of the analysis of the ecological-coenotic structure of the flora of the Transcarpathian plain showed that the leading position is occupied by species of the immoral florenceonotype (Nemoralophyton) (with the predominance of the helio-quercetal florencoenosvita (Quercetophytum); meadow (Pratophyton) (with the predominance of land-meadow florencoenosvita (Mesopratophytum) and meadow-steppe (Prato-Steppophyton) florencoenotypes. The distribution of species by major ecological-coenotic groups reflect the features of the main genetic types of vegetation, climatic, edaphic conditions and terrain of the territory under study

Effects of invasive plant species on species diversity: implications on ruderal vegetation in Bratislava City, Slovakia, Central Europe

Invasive species pose one of the most serious global environmental threats. Our study aimed to examine the correlation between the proportion of invasive alien taxa and species diversity of ruderal vegetation in the urban ecosystem of Bratislava, located in Central Europe. Ruderal habitats serve as the means of spread of invasive species to seminatural and natural habitats. Twenty-six invasive taxa were recorded among the ruderal vegetation of Bratislava. The majority of the recorded invasive species were neophytes, which came from North America and represent the Asteraceae family. Half of them were introduced accidentally, whereas the remaining species were introduced deliberately. Correlation and regression analyses showed that the proportion of invasive taxa has a negative effect on the species diversity of all the analyzed syntaxa in the ruderal vegetation of Bratislava.

Ruderal vegetation in Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine) – the class of Robinietea

The present paper studies the ruderal vegetation of the class of Robinietea in Kryvyi Rih. We present the spontaneous woody vegetation of parks and other artificial plantations. Urban landscapes remain unstudied phytosociologically despite the highly diverse habitat niches. We have carried out the comparisons of communities from other regions of Ukraine and adjacent territories. In total, four associations and one derivate community, belonging to three alliances, were identified and categorized as follows: Chelidonio-Acerion negundi (synanthropic tree communities with Acer negundo), Chelidonio majoris-Robinion pseudoacaciae (artificial and spontaneous plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia), Geo-Acerion platanoidis (artificial plantations of broad-leaved tree species). The ordination analysis indicates ecological differentiation of syntaxa investigated in Kryvyi Rih. The most important of them are soil aeration (Ae), the cryo-climate (Cr) and nitrogen content in soil (Nt). Critical revision of the class Robinietea syntaxonomy demands further current research.