Abstract
The break section of the Szum river and the mouth part of its left tributary, Miedzianka (Roztocze, SE Poland) were the object of the research conducted in the years 1999-2001. The aim of the study was to establish the abiotic conditions of the diversity of vegetation and the richness of vascular flora in a small lowland river valley. A real vegetation map was drawn in the scale 1:5000. The syntaxonomic classification of plant communities and habitat trophism were established on the basis of 120 phytosociological relevés and 160 soil samples, respectively. On the area of barely 35.4 ha identified were 48 plant associations and communities representing 11 phytosociological classes, among them habitats protected in Poland (16 types) and important at the EU scale (3). There were found 378 species of 72 families, including: 21 species under strict protection, 9 under partial protection, 25 plants threatened on the regional scale, and 2 included into the Polish Red Data Book. Most of interesting species and non-forest communities occur in the parts of the valley above and below a landscape reserve 'Szum', established in 1958, covering presently 18.17 ha. The greatest floral richness was found in the peatbog-meadow complexes (<em>Phragmitetea</em>, <em>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</em>, <em>Scheuchzerio-Caricetea</em>), in bog-alder forests and willow bushes (<em>Alnetea glutinosae</em>), and streamline ash-alder carrs (<em>Querco-Fagetea</em>, <em>Alno-Ulmion</em>), while the smallest - in the pine and poorer upland mixed fir forests (<em>Vaccinio-Piceetea</em>). Vascular flora appears to be the richest in the sections of the valley where the bottom is overgrown by non-forest communities. The results of the study indicate that it is necessary to enlarge the area of the existing nature reserve.
Highlights
The complexity of the habitats and the active processes of plant succession in river valleys results in high productivity, biodiversity and a considerable abundance of the organisms of valley biotopes
The Glycerietum maximae association dominated by reed sweet-grass occurs as a narrow belt of rushes in different sections of the river valley
Worthy of emphasising is the fact that in the escarpment zone of the Roztocze region, due to its lithology, there exist very few moor areas, out of which only 3.8 ha of peatbogs are protected in the Nowiny partial reserve (Borchulski et al 1987)
Summary
The complexity of the habitats and the active processes of plant succession in river valleys results in high productivity, biodiversity and a considerable abundance of the organisms of valley biotopes. The habitat and vegetation arrangement is slightly different in the valleys of big and average rivers (rank I-II) and in the ones of small rivers and streams (rank III-IV), especially in their break sections The former have been well described in literature on the subject. It is essential to make an inventory and provide protection, as soon as possible, of these small-area river fragments, often rich in unique natural and landscape values These suggestions have been reflected in the European biodiversity protection programm, according to which wild, unregulated rivers and streams, described as the most valuable life corridors and landscape aortas, yet often neglected by the researchers, are considered to be a protection priority (Parks for Life 1994). An important part in this system is played by the Roztocze region within the borders of which there can be found almost all the regionally and internationally important elements of the ecological networks (Liro ed. 1998)
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