Abstract
From among the 35–40 elm species existing around the world, three are native to Europe: the wych elm (Ulmus glabra Huds.), the European white elm, (Ulmus laevis Pall.), and the field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.). The populations of these trees have been greatly reduced as a result of a decrease in the total area of riparian forests. Furthermore, for nearly 100 years, they have been destroyed by Dutch elm disease (DED). The main research problems of this study are: what are the habitat preferences of elms growing in a given area; and whether the occurrence of DED depends on the species of elm and the habitat in which it occurs. The results presented here are based on field studies and observations have been supplemented with data from forest inventories. All of the examined elms are definitely more abundant in habitats that are fertile or very fertile and moist, with a neutral or slightly alkaline soil pH. The preference for moist sites is the most evident in the case of U. laevis and the least evident in the case of U. glabra. A slight shift in habitat preferences of the field elm, compared to the white elm, towards less humid conditions was observed. The predominant species of elm in the studied area is currently U. laevis, which was rarely cultivated in forests in the past. In the examined area, the field elm population is clearly on the decline mainly due to the long-term presence of Dutch elm disease. U. glabra is the rarest species in the examined area and most often found on slopes. The current proportions of individual species should be maintained. This paper discusses factors, including ones not connected with DED, that may be responsible for the current state of populations of particular species of elm in forests of Central Europe.
Highlights
The elm belongs to the Ulmaceae family
The resources of these trees have been greatly reduced as a result of a decrease in the total area of riparian forests, and, for nearly 100 years, they have been destroyed by Dutch elm disease (DED)—a fungal pathogen that was—as quite commonly accepted –spread as a result of human activity [3,4,5]
According to the most recent survey of forest stands, which is regularly conducted in state-owned forests by the Bureau for Forest Management and Geodesy, in the studied area, elms were found in 34,583 forest plot’ (FP)
Summary
The elm belongs to the Ulmaceae family. From among 35–40 elm species existing around the world, three are native to Europe: the wych elm (Ulmus glabra Huds.), the European white elm, known as the fluttering elm, spreading elm or stately elm (Ulmus laevisPall.), and the field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.), and their natural ranges include Poland [1].All of the species listed above are first-size trees, i.e., ones that reach over 30 m in height in proper conditions (in Poland), and occur in the upper canopy layer [2].The resources of these trees have been greatly reduced as a result of a decrease in the total area of riparian forests, and, for nearly 100 years, they have been destroyed by Dutch elm disease (DED)—a fungal pathogen that was—as quite commonly accepted –spread as a result of human activity [3,4,5].Elms (Ulmus spp.) used to be abundant trees in many places throughout Europe, especially near rivers, streams, and flood plains. All of the species listed above are first-size trees, i.e., ones that reach over 30 m in height in proper conditions (in Poland), and occur in the upper canopy layer [2]. The resources of these trees have been greatly reduced as a result of a decrease in the total area of riparian forests, and, for nearly 100 years, they have been destroyed by Dutch elm disease (DED)—a fungal pathogen that was—as quite commonly accepted –spread as a result of human activity [3,4,5]. In many places of Europe and elsewhere, elms were often fed to animals and served as live supports for growing vines [2,7]
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