Phytosociology, Distribution and Ecology of a Willow Community with False Tamarisk from the Lotru Valley (Romanian Carpathians)

Ilie Silvestru Nuță,Mariana Niculescu

doi:10.15835/nbha47311400

Ilie Silvestru Nuță, Mariana Niculescu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha47311400

Copy DOI

Abstract

The overall objective of this research was to contribute to a better knowledge of the phytosociology, ecology and distribution of the plant community formed by Myricaria germanica (false tamarisk) and the willow species Salix purpurea. This plant community has an important role in reducing the speed and strength of the water flow during floods. The description was based on cover‐abundance data for the faithful, dominant, characteristic and companion species of this plant community. A predominance of Myricaria germanica was observed when analysing the phytocoenoses, as the species finds in this area favourable ecological conditions for an abundant development. Salix purpurea presents a small abundance-dominance or in some phytocoenoses may even lack. The field research also revealed the excessive development of the species Calamagrostis pseudophragmites in some areas, related mostly with the effect of human activities. The anthropogenic disorders have induced modifications in the floristic physiognomy and compositions of the phytocoenoses, favouring also the invasion of opportunistic species such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Impatiens glandulifera, Phytolacca amearicana, Amorpha fruticosa, Erigeron annuus, which continuously extend in the studied territory. As Myricaria germanica and Salix purpurea phytocoenoses suffer a great decline throughout Europe, the habitat built by these species was declared of interest and was included in the Habitats Directive.  ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Highlights

A good knowledge of plant communities is essential for the conservation of the natural heritage and for developing sustainable landscape management strategies
This paper describes an analysis of the physiognomy, floristic composition, distribution and ecology of the Salici purpureae-Myricarietum germanicae Moor 1958 plant community from the Lotru Valley
The plant community edified by willow with false tamarisk was identified in several locations in the area of study

Summary

Introduction

A good knowledge of plant communities is essential for the conservation of the natural heritage and for developing sustainable landscape management strategies. The diversity of the relief, climate and soil types in Romania determine a high diversity of species, habitats, and landscapes. The identification of the plant communities from an area and their description and analysis from ecological, chorological, syntaxonomical, and sindynamical perspectives has a great importance from the scientific and practical point of view. The flora and vegetation of the study area is characteristic to the Carpathians Mountains, with some particularities related to the local conditions (relief, altitude, climate, nature of rocks and soil). The stands with false tamarisk are 1-2.5 m high. They occur on gravelly river terraces, especially on those that are not affected by the strongest current during floods (Chytrý, 2013)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion