The Transformations of Field Communities withIllecebrum verticillatumL. (Cariophyllaceae) on the Borderlands of Its European Range (Central-Eastern Poland)

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Changes in field communities with Illecebrum verticillatum at the north-eastern limits of the species range in Poland were recorded with the phytosociological method over the years 1994–2010. The material studied consisted of 136 phytosociological releves which were subjected to numerical classification and ordination according to habitat gradients by the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). Changes in communities and habitats were assessed using the following indicators: species richness, the Shannon-Weiner index of biodiversity (H), Simpson's index of domination (C) and floristic value (FV). The values of these indicators were statistically analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test at P <0.05. Spearman's rank correlations were calculated using Statistica 10 to determine relationships between the indicators analysed. On the basis of numerical classification 7 types of phytocoenoses were identified, representing communities at the initial and final phases of the study. At the beginning the comm...