Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati, a new plant community in Slovakia

Richard Hrivnák,Michal Slezák,Karol Marhold

doi:10.5586/asbp.3587

Abstract

Vegetation with high coverage by the alien species Mimulus guttatus was studied in the hilly regions of central Slovakia in 2015 and 2016. The floristic composition of these stands was recorded in ten phytosociological relevés corresponding to the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati (alliance Glycerio-Sparganion) association. This association was reported for the first time in Slovakia in this study. This association was found to be closed or almost closed (mean coverage value of herb layer = 92%) and formed relatively species-rich stands (15 species per relevé), usually in narrow and small patches along the upper parts of streams and their spring areas in uplands at altitudes from 561 to 1,048 m. Localities with the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati association were characterized by typical mountain climates, with both relatively low mean annual air temperature (5.5°C) and high mean annual precipitation (885 mm). While water temperature (~13°C) of these habitats varied considerably among streams (7.4–19.9°C), their herbaceous vegetation preferred neutral to slightly alkaline water (pH = 6.1–7.5) with low amounts of soluble mineral matter (~72.6 μS cm−1). This kind of vegetation was most often developed on sites with coarser sediments (stone, gravel, and sand) formed from crystalline bedrock. A comparison of vegetation data of the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati association across Central Europe demonstrated considerable floristic variability among regions.

Highlights

Plant invasions represent considerable problems for the conservation of biodiversity in natural habitats and ecosystem functioning worldwide that have biological, social, and economic consequences
We studied vegetation stands in which Mimulus guttatus occurred in the hilly regions of central Slovakia traditionally assigned to the Veronico beccabungae-Mimuletum guttati association in surrounding countries, with the aim to (i) characterize their species composition and ecology, and (ii) compare them with similar vegetation types from other parts of Central Europe
All the recorded stands in Slovakia were dominated by Mimulus guttatus, and less frequently by Veronica beccabunga, with regular admixtures or subdominance of hygrophilous plant species, such as Glyceria notata, Mentha longifolia, Myosotis scorpioides agg., and Poa trivialis

Summary

Introduction

Plant invasions represent considerable problems for the conservation of biodiversity in natural habitats and ecosystem functioning worldwide that have biological, social, and economic consequences. Previous comparative studies focusing on the level of invasions across various types of habitats demonstrated fairly consistent patterns showing that individual habitats differ considerably in their invasibility (i.e., susceptibility to invasion). Several ecological processes have been proposed to explain these patterns, but propagule pressure and habitat properties like resource partitioning between resident and alien species have received the most attention [1]. European freshwater habitats have previously been considered to be partially resistant to plant invasions [2,3], but Pyšek et al [4] suggested that wetlands, riparian habitats, can host almost the same number of non-native plant species as urban ones. The species richness of alien plants in wetlands is relatively low compared to that of other

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