Impact of different levels of anthropogenic pressure on the plant species composition in woodland sites

Abstract

Urban forests constitute very important green elements in the metropolitan areas. Comparing the plant species composition of urban forests and other woodland habitats across varying degrees of anthropogenic influence may provide important information for management of such areas. Therefore, each 90 study plots were studied in urban forests, manor parks and nature reserves with the aim to analyse the impact of the different levels of anthropogenic pressure on the overall plant species composition of these forest types. We compared total species numbers, types of vegetation, share of Tilio-Carpinetum class species and ancient forest species, life forms and ecological characteristics of the plants.The highest total numbers of species were detected in the urban forests. However, as expected, regarding different types of vegetation - the lowest number of forest species and highest numbers of synanthropical species were observed in the urban forests. Tilio-Carpinetum class species were the lowest in the urban forests and the highest in the nature reserves. Ancient forest species were also the lowest in the urban forests and had a comparable share in manor parks and nature reserves. Geophytes were the lowest in urban forests, but contrary to our expectations hemicryptophytes were the highest. Species characteristic for half-shadow and moderate light on fertile soils dominated in the urban forests.We conclude that it is important to keep urban forest patches with valuable plant species in the city structure, thus some proper guidelines for their management are necessary. Nature conservation and management cannot be restricted only to protected areas like nature reserves but must integrate urban forests involving the enhancement of species migration between isolated habitat fragments. Management strategies should furthermore take into account urban land use types and the recreational values of the forests.