The phytocoenoses of anthropogenically transformed areas with a great importance for Apoidea

Małgorzata Wrzesień,Bożena Denisow

doi:10.5586/aa.2007.039

Abstract

The paper indicates the phytocenoses most rich in bee taxons and occurring in habitats located along railway lines crossing Lublin Upland. To date, in the study area 124 basic phytocoenoses have been discovered, described and classifi ed into 12 different synecological groups. Among 52 phytocoenoses, the participation of bee flora was considerable. Most voluble phytocoenoses represent ruderal and segetal associations (Artemisietea vulgaris, Stellarietea mediae classes - 87 species), meadow and pasture associations (Mollinio-Arrhenatheretea - 56 species), psammophilous and xerothermic grasslands (Festuco- Brometea, Koelerio glauce-Corynophoretea canescensis - 38 species), thermophilous forest edge communities and thickets (Trifolio-Geranietea and Rhamno-Prunetea - 33 species). Significantly fewer melliferous and polleniferous taxons were noticed in mesophilous deciduous forests or thermophilous oak forests - 29 species. Most simple in structure and species richness are associations with Rumex acetosa, Reseda lutea, Linaria vulgaris, Papaver rhoeas, Cirsium arvense, Oenothera biennis, Viola arvensis and Potentilletum anserine or Sisymbrietum altissimi. The communities form patches (15-20 m2) with 80-100% cover of the diagnostic taxon and are of low or medium stability. The most persistent and floristically stable are Tanaceto Artemisietum, Rudbeckio- Solidaginetum, Echio-Melilotetum, Sambucetum nigrae, Rubo fruticosi-Prunetum spinosae and communities with Rosa rugosa, Rubus caesius, Geranium robertianum, Pastinaca sativa, Trifolium medium or Euphorbia cyparissias. The maintenance of the mosaic of phytocoenoses in anthropogenically transformed habitats, including those along railway lines, is of decisive importance for the protection of floristic diversity and adaptation processes of Apoidea.

Highlights

There is a general understanding of the fact that due to human activities biodiversity is threatened on a global scale, and it concerns species, populations and the ecosystem level
The spontaneous flora of railway areas in the middle-eastern part of Poland consists of 950 angiosperms taxons
The phytocoenoses under consideration belong to different synecological groups and mainly represent ruderal and segetal associations (Artemisietea vulgaris, Stellarietea mediae classes – 87 species), meadow and pasture associations (Mollinio-Arrhenatheretea – 56 species), psammophilous and xerothermic grasslands (Festuco-Brometea, Koelerio glauce-Corynophoretea canescensis – 38 species), thermophilous forest edge communities and thickets (Trifolio-Geranietea and Rhamno-Prunetea – 33 species), rarely mesophilous deciduous forests or thermophilous oak forests – 29 species (Tab. 1, Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

There is a general understanding of the fact that due to human activities biodiversity is threatened on a global scale, and it concerns species, populations and the ecosystem level. The negative changes in different environmental components cause the shrinkage of natural habitats and influence organisms of high sensitivity, such as insects (Korner , 2005). Populations decrease among them or even extinctions of pollinator species have been documented widely across Europe, including Poland (Banaszak , 1992; Carreck and Williams , 1998). The lack of pollinators affect entomophilous crops causing great economical loses on a big scale (Z y c h and Jakubiec , 2006). The shrinkage of available forage reserves is considered to be a main factor limiting bee populations. Basic flora records perform an important part in the estimation of natural resources for bees. Studies on the distribution of bee flora proved that many of these species occur in highly transformed anthropogenic habitats, such as road sides, sandpits, railway tracts, quarries, ruderal sites in urban areas (Wrzesień and Denisow , 2006 a,b)

Methods

Results

Conclusion