Adventive Plant Species Research Articles

Біорізноманіття гідрологічного заказника «Луга» у межах міста Володимир (Волинська область)

According to the results of the research, it was established that the flora of vascular plantsof the Luga River is 119 species, the faunal complex is represented by 80 species of animals ofthe mammal class – 3 species, birds – 23 species, amphibians – 2 species, fish rays – 6 species,earthworms –1 species, crustaceans – 2 species, arachnids – 2 species, insects – 28 species,molluscs – 12 species. The following families are the most numerous in terms of the number ofgenera and speciesAsteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Polygonaceae,Rosaceae. It is these families that have the greatest floristic diversity and occupy a leading placein the study area, and their spectrum is evidence of a strong anthropogenic influence on thevegetation cover.Various biotopes have formed in the floodplain of the Luga River and along its periphery,which differ in structure and varying degrees of transformation. The plant species composition ofthe floodplain of the Luga River is represented by typical aquatic, coastal-aquatic macrophytesand mesophytic forbs of floodplain meadows. The largest areas are occupied by monodominantgroups of Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima, in smaller measures Typha latifolia. Theanimal world of the Luga River and its floodplain is represented by 16 species of hydrobiontsand 13 species of amphibiotic animals. Mammalia – 1 species, Aves – 6 species, Amphibia – 2species, Actinopterygii – 6 species, Crustacea – 1 species, Insecta – 6 species, Bivalvia – 2species, Gastropoda – 6 species.The marginal biotopes of the terraces are characterized by the dominance of ruderalcommunities with a significant participation of adventive plant species. The rarity component ofthe flora is represented by rare groups of yellow pitcher plants (Nuphareta luteae). Intensiveprocesses of natural overgrowth of the Luga River bed have been noted, which causes the flow toslow down, silt to accumulate, and the species composition of plants and animals to change. Thestudy area is characterized by high phytocenotic activity Аcer negиndo, Echinocуstis lobata,Solidago canadensis, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Heracleum mantegazzianumm etc. The animalworld of the edge terraces is represented by 64 species of animals. Mammalia – 3 species, Aves– 20 species, Amphibia – 2 species, Crustacea – 1 species, Arachnida – 2 species, Insecta – 28species, Gastropoda – 4 species.The main trends and threats caused by the anthropogenic factor have been identified:increased recreational load and accompanying degradation of vegetation due to direct impact onareas of mass gathering of vacationers, which leads to the disappearance of typical coastal-waterspecies of plants and animals associated with them, transformation as a result of anthropogeniceutrophication, which leads to a change in the structure of macrophyte and hydrobiontcommunities. The transformation of plant cover and animal complexes takes place in thedirection of replacing natural species with apophytes and adventitious plant species,synanthropic animal species and plant pests that are more resistant to anthropogenic influence.

Lawn covers of Dnipropetrovsk region as a global phenomenon of urban green space in conditions of hostilities

In order to facilitate the creation of lawns and maintain the regime of caring for lawn covers in difficult wartime, in which Ukraine and Dnipropetrovsk region is located, suffering from shelling and man-made disturbances of habitats, it is important to conduct observations and studies of the behavior of lawn plants in comparison with natural conditions in order to be able to preserve existing and restore damaged herbaceous groups with the least cost. We hypothesize that these solutions can be found in suburban natural ecosystems and various plant communities that are rich in species, able to withstand harsh climatic and microclimatic living conditions, severe trampling and droughts. Realizing that stable artificial plant groupings can exist only when using the laws of their existence in natural conditions, trial areas of urban agglomerations and out-of-town influence were investigated. 75 lawn covers and grass stands of the lawn type of the Dnipropetrovsk region with a size of 100 m2 in Dnipro, Kamenskoye, Andreevka village were described using the method of route trial areas. The dominant families are defined in the creation of lawn grass stands by their occurrence, projective coating, phytocenotic activity, number of species. It is established that, among other families, the Fabaceae family was in third place with participation in the projective cover among phytocenoses of Dnipro and Andreevka, in fifth ‒ in Kamianske. Phytocenotic activity, used as a criterion for the effect of plants on herbal grouping, was high in Fabaceae plant family (up to k = 19,5), Asteraceae (up to k = 18,7), Plantaginaceae (up to k = 15,4) on lawn grass stands in Andreevka village, which indicates the future trend of their displacement of cereals. Among the grasses plant family Plantaginaceae has significant phytocenotic activity (k = 10.1), which competes even with the main sod-forming plants of the Poaceae plant family (k = 10.7) in Dnipro. This trend is also observed in Kamenskoye (here in Plantaginaceae k = 10.0). This city has a high rating of industrial influence among other territories of the region and those that we have studied so far. In all studied phytocenoses, mutual influence between plants families Poaceae and Fabaceae is established. So, with a larger percentage of projective coverage of the Poaceae plant family, the percentage of the Fabaceae plant family is reduced, and vice versa. In dynamics, these fluctuations can vary in favor of each other, taking into account the further saturation of the upper horizon of the soil with nitrogen by the Fabaceae plant family, or the use of this trace element by representatives of the Poaceae plant family and the displacement of legumes. Such fluctuations will be constant. At the same time, lawn covers will not lose their aesthetics as a green carpet, because the projective coating will be occupied by plants and will not have gaps of free soil. This interdependence of lawn covers should be taken into account when creating high-quality long-term green lawns of cities where the soils are depleted, and constant fertilization is not always possible. Due to environmental conditions, the botanical diversity of the studied herbivores is expanded by adventive plant species from plants families Brassicaceae (up to 5 species in Dnipro), Lamiaceae (up to 7 species in v. Andreevka), Rosaceae (up to 6 species in Dnipro), Scrophulariaceae (up to 4 species in v. Andreevka), which, under favorable conditions, will occupy free ecological niches with grass. The spectrum of the first largest percentage of the occurrence of families reproduces the composition of the regional flora, which corresponds to cereal-grass groups of the structure of meadow lawns and ordinary urban grass stands with the expansion of ruderal representatives. 29% of the trial areas in the Dnieper city indicate the presence in the species composition of seedlings of woody and shrub life forms, the seeds of which are stored in the soil of adjacent territories, and their entry into lawn groups is a consequence of anemochoria and ornithochoria. Currently, given the current state of the country, lawn care is reduced to a minimum or it is absent at all. As a result, seedlings freely begin to take possession of the territory of lawn grass stands along with ruderal representatives of the local flora. This trend is also evidenced by the ratio of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants as a criterion for decorativeness and phytocenotic constancy of lawns. It was ‒ 1:4 in Kamenskoye; 1:6 ‒ in Dnipro and Andreevka village. These are the conclusions that for the existing military period can be used to maintain the stability and aesthetic condition of lawn covers and grass beds of the lawn type of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Chromosome numbers of adventive species in the flora of the Republic of Altai. Post VI

Chromosome numbers (2n) of 14 adventive plant species from the families Apiaceae, Campanulaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Convolvulaceae, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Onagraceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae, and Rosaceae are reported based on the material collected in the Republic of Altai. To determine chromosome number (ploidy level), the method of direct counting was used. Among species studied, chromosome numbers for Anethum graveolens (2n = 22), Myosoton aquaticum (2n = 28), Epilobium hirsutum (2n = 36), and Fagopyrum esculentum (2n = 16) were first examined for Russia; for Silene dichotoma (2n = 24), Ipomoea purpurea (2n = 30), and Sorbaria sorbifolia (2n = 36) – first for Siberia; for Erodium cicutarium (2n = 40) – for West Siberia; Campanula rapunculoides (2n = 68, 102), Nepeta cataria (2n = 34), Malva pusilla (2n = 42), Dianthus deltoides (2n = 30), and Echinochloa crus-galli (2n = 54) were first studied for the Republic of Altai. General distribution and the history of floristic findings of these species in the Republic of Altai are given. Previously published data on chromosome numbers from Russia are cited.

New records of adventive vascular plants in the Ulan-Ude city and its neighborhood (Western Transbaikalia)

New data on 10 adventive plant species are given. Two species and one subspecies (Atriplex hortensis, Solanum nigrum subsp. schultesii, Nepeta cataria) are new for the Republic of Buryatia. Five species and two interspecies hybrids (Arctium × mixtum, Galinsoga parviflora, Hesperis pycnotricha, Lactuca serriola, Medicago × varia, Onobrychis viciifolia, Viola tricolor) are recorded for the first time in the Ulan-Ude city and its neighborhood.

Physical controls on the formation of halophytic saline substrates near Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand

ABSTRACT Soil-free saline substrates near Alexandra have developed from evaporated marine aerosols dominated by NaCl. The salts accumulate on impermeable substrates where there is minimal chemical interaction between water and rock. Most of the known saline sites occur on outcrops of clay-altered schist exposed immediately below the regional Miocene unconformity, and on clay-rich sediments eroded from altered schist. The unconformity zones that host these saline sites occur linearly along structurally controlled depressions. These unconformity zones have been major targets for placer gold mining, and most of the saline sites occur in abandoned mines where impermeable rocks were exposed by historic excavations. Native salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) have colonised parts of the saline substrates, especially on actively-forming clay pans derived from nearby steep mine cuts. Saline sites are ephemeral, as salt is readily removed in water, sediments can bury the surfaces, and incursion of adventive plant species encourages further sedimentation. Erosional disturbance can overcome these effects temporarily, and surface erosion to bare ground along the strike of the structurally controlled schist unconformity zones may also create new saline sites.

THIRD ADDITION TO THE ADVENTIVE FLORA OF THE MAIN ROADS OF THE UDMURT REPUBLIC

Information is given about the finds of 42 adventive plant species found on the main roads of the Udmurt Republic from 2010 to 2020. Of these, 8 species are Brassica juncea (L.) Czern, Carthamus tinctorius L., Chenopodium virgatum Thunb., Melampyrum polonicum (Beauverd) Soó, Oenothera biennis L., Polygonum calcatum Lindm., Puccinellia gigantea (Grossh.) Grossh., Sedobassia sedoides (Pall.) Freitag et C. Kadereit are reported for the first time for Udmurtia main roads; 2 species of Carthamus tinctorius L., Chenopodium virgatum Thunb. - for the first time for its adventive flora. The largest number of adventive species (20 species) was identified in the Alnash district of Udmurtia.

Distribution of adventive species Solidago canadensis, Phalacroloma annuum, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Heracleum sosnowskyi in phytocenoses of Volyn’ Polissya (Ukraine)

Biological pollution of natural phytocenoses by adventive plant species poses is a serious threat to endemic species and species with narrower ecological amplitude in ecosystems around the world. This study presents the results of a study of the composition and distribution of adventive plant species in natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic transformed phytocenoses of Volyn’ Polissya, Ukraine. To clarify the effect of drainage melioration on non-native flora species distribution, a botanical study was carried out during the 2003–2019 vegetation seasons on the territory of four drainage systems. The adventive flora of this unique region of Europe was studied in detail for the first time. In total, 279 non-native plant species were found. They belong to 110 genera and 32 families. The results of studying the systematic, bioecological, range-distributional and phytogenetic structure of adventive species found within agricultural lands and adjacent territories are presented. It was found that 161 species are associated with agricultural production. Of these, 90 species were found directly within the agricultural land, another 71 species were found growing in the adjacent territories. It was found that a significant increase in the number of adventive species on the territory of Volyn’ Polissya is associated with drainage melioration carried out in the 1960–1990s, significant changes in the structure and forms of agro-industrial production, and climatic changes in recent decades. The expansion of agricultural land in this area over the past 50–60 years has led to an increase in the number of adventive species by more than 60%. On the territory of drainage systems used for agricultural activities, more than 40% of the total species composition of the adventive flora of Volyn’ Polissya is represented. The majority of these species originate from arid and sub arid regions of the planet. The transformer plants, Solidago canadensis L. and Phalacroloma annuum (L.) Dumort pose a potential threat to phytocenoses of the described region, as well as the whole of Europe. Of particular interest are the species that in the future may pose a serious threat to natural phyto-diversity and have negative practical consequences for the structure of agricultural landscapes. These are Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. In general, modern agro ecosystems are characterized by instability and low ability to resist non-native species. The strongly weedy character of cultivated fields and the presence of abandoned uncultivated lands have caused the rapid spread of adventive vegetation. In order to further optimize the structure of agrolandscapes, it is advisable to monitor and regulate not only expansionary invasive species, which is especially important for preventing biological pollution, but also species whose status has not yet been determined.

TOLERANCE OF ADVENTIVE MACROPHYTE LEMNA GIBBA L. TO COPPER IONS: RANGE EVALUATION

In recent decades, adventitization processes in flora have become more vigorous, which poses a threat to biodiversity. Adventive plant species occupy new territories, including transformed ones, and oust native species. In this regard, it is relevant to study the tolerance range of alien species to high technogenic loads since it can help assess the spread of adventive plants. The aim of the research was to study the response of the adventive macrophyte Lemna gibba L. to the copper ions action in a gradient from 0 to 10 mg/L. Duckweed fronds were incubated in model systems for six days under natural light conditions. A high positive correlation between copper content in the nutrient solution and plants was revealed. Moreover, the rise of metal accumulation was exponential. With an increase in copper concentration ≥ 0.5 mg/L, its phytotoxic effect manifested itself through the increased prooxidant content and the depigmentation of fronds due to the photosynthetic pigments degradation. At the maximum copper concentration (10 mg/L), the chlorophyll content was 2.5 times lower, and carotenoids, 11.5 times, as compared to the control sample. The study assessed L. gibba tolerance range to the copper ions action and identified physiological and biochemical parameters that can serve as toxicity biomarkers.

Адвентивные виды во флоре Верхнего Енисея

In the course of field research, analysis of previously published works and viewing materials stored in the herbarium of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS named after I. M. Krasnoborov (NS) we clarified an information on the distribution of rare adventive plant species in the territory of the Upper Yenisei basin. Cosmos bipinnatus, Ipomoea hederacea, Setaria maximowiczii and Sonchus oleraceus were noted for the first time in the Tuva flora, Grossularia reclinata in the Western Sayan, and Polygonum calcatum and Spergula vulgaris in the territory of Khakassia. Echinochloa crusgalli, Fagopyrum esculentum, Fragaria ananassa, Galium mollugo and Grossularia reclinata were new to the flora of the Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve. For 14 rare species new localities were noted and the boundaries of the ranges were specified: Amaranthus albus, Carduus nutans, Echinochloa crusgalli, Epilobium adenocaulon, Galium aparine, G. mollugo, Hordeum jubatum, Lactuca serriola, Oenothera biennis, Portulaca oleracea, Psammophilliella muralis, Setaria faberi, Sisymbrium loeselii, Spergula vulgaris.

Флористические находки на юге Средней Сибири: Красноярский край, Республики Хакасия, Тыва

As a result of the field work, analysis of earlier published works and viewing herbarium material in Institute of Botany, RAS (LE), Central Siberian Botanical Garden, SB RAS (NS, NSK), Altai State University (ALTB), Tomsk State University (TK), Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University (KRAS), State Natural Biosphere Nature Reserve “Sayano-Shushensky” (SSHZ), and State Nature Reserve “Azas”, a data on rare native and adventive plant species in southern Central Siberiawere have been clarified. For the first time 2 species: Amblynotus rupestris, Ranunculus chinensis were discovered in Krasnoyarsk Territory; 3 species: Galinsoga parviflora, Physocarpus opulifolius, Ranunculus chinensis in Khakasia and 3 species: Oxytropis suprajeniseensis, Polygonum borgoicum, Polygonum tenuissimum in Tyva. New locations were noted, and range borders were refined for 19 rare species: Actaea erythrocarpa, Amblynotus rupestris, Calla palustris, Cypripedium × ventricosum, Cystopteris sudetica, Dendranthema sinuatum, Draba cinerea, Eranthis sibirica, Eritrichium tuvinense and others. Four species: Amblynotus rupestris, Ranunculus chinensis, Sparganium gramineum, Vicia hirsuta – turned out to be new to the flora of “Sayano-Shushensky” Nature Reserve; Actaea erythrocarpa was for the first time found in the flora of “Azas” Nature Reserve. New localities of alien species: Chenopodium ficifoilum, Galinsoga parviflora, Vicia hirsuta –were revealed.

Palynological insights into global change impacts on Arctic vegetation, fire, and pollution recorded in Central Greenland ice

Arctic environments may respond very sensitively to ongoing global change, as observed during the past decades for Arctic vegetation. Only little is known about the broad-scale impacts of early and mid 20th-century industrialization and climate change on remote Arctic environments. Palynological analyses of Greenland ice cores may provide invaluable insights into the long-term vegetation, fire, and pollution dynamics in the Arctic region. We present the first palynological record from a Central Greenland ice core (Summit Eurocore ’89, 72°35’N, 37°38’W; the location of Greenland Ice Core Project GRIP) that provides novel high-resolution microfossil data on Arctic environments spanning AD 1730–1989. Our data suggest an expansion of birch woodlands after AD 1850 that was abruptly interrupted at the onset of the 20th century despite favorable climatic conditions. We therefore attribute this Betula woodland decline during the 20th century to anthropogenic activities such as sheep herding and wood collection in the sub-Arctic. First signs of coal burning activities around AD 1900 coincide with the onset of Arctic coal mining. The use of coal and fire activity increased steadily until AD 1989 resulting in microscopic-size pollution of the ice sheet. We conclude that human impact during the 20th century strongly affected (sub)-Arctic environments. Moreover, ecosystems have changed through the spread of adventive plant species (e.g. Ranunculus acris, Rumex) and the destruction of sparse native woodlands. We show for the first time that optical palynology allows paleoecological reconstructions in extremely remote sites >500 km from potential sources, if adequate methods are used.

Unique botanical values in a metropolitan area and the landscape history reasons of their occurrence on the Széchenyi Hill, Budapest

Urban areas host several threatened species in small reserves that face habitat loss and fragmentation due to land-use change. Despite historical and current disturbances, these areas sometimes still maintain high biological diversity. As only 5% of the European Union territory was classified as natural, the permanent grasslands represent overriding value, especially in metropolitan areas. Our aim was to explore protected and adventive plant species in a small and valuable, but till now, not deeply studied area of the densely inhabited 12th district in the metropolitan city Budapest (Hungary), which is visited by large numbers of people. We compared various historical map sources in order to explain how the extension of the grasslands has changed during the past centuries and, thus, which patches are permanent grassland habitats. We found 29 protected and 1 strictly protected plant species. The highest number of protected plant species and their stands were found in the permanent grasslands. Besides urbanisation, a heavy load of tourism (especially on non-designated routes), off-road mountain biking, airsoft races, some illegal shelters for homeless people and game damage threaten this unique refuge of high natural values. The extension of grasslands between 1783 and 2016 varies from 6.7 ha to 21.5 ha. Their area constantly increased due to deforestation until 1867 and exceeded 20 ha, probably due to the mass increase in livestock grazing; then it stagnated until the 1920s, with a slight decrease due to expanding urban areas. Golf greens appeared, walker and skiing tourism increased and these apparently have not decreased the coverage of grasslands, but surely affected the composition of their species. Recent scrub encroachment and re-forestation caused a further decrease. Our distribution maps show the highest density of protected plant species on the southern slopes (2.4 hectare) that have constantly been grasslands since 1783 to date. Contrarily, the cutting of grasslands from 1861 to date contains only half of their number per area unit. Thus, the number of valuable plant specimens refers to the age of the grassland. Three species occur only in the oldest grasslands. Conservation actions should first and foremost focus on these patches.

Az Eupithecia ochridata Schütze & Pinker, 1968 új tápnövénye az Artemisia annua L. (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

According to the literature, the caterpillars of E. ochridata live on the following plants: Artemisia alba Turra, A. campestris L., A. scoparia Waldst. et Kit. and A. schmidtiana Maximowicz. This paper presents new hostplant record from Hungary. In 1968, the caterpillars of the species were observed on Artemisia annua L. They were placed in a breeding cage, where they pupated in sand. In the spring of 1969, the moths hatched. The authors re-examined these ex larva specimens. Based on the genitalia examinations it can be proved that the bred species is E. ochridata. Artemisia annua is an adventive plant species in Hungary introduced from East Asia. Nowadays it is widespread in rudelaria, roadsides, gardens, lowlands and stubble meadows. Artemisia annua is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria. Artemisia annua is now cultivated in China, Vietnam, India, Romania, Kenya and Tanzania. The results are shown in seven figures.

ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF ADVENTIVE SPECIES WITH HIGH INVASIVE ACTIVITY IN FLORA OF BELARUS

The results show the effect of water extracts from dry biomass of adventive plant species with high invasive activity from Belarus on the growth of seedlings of test plants. High correlation between the effect of biologically active substances released from the seeds of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden on various test plants and plant species is discussed. The strong stimulating effect of water extracts on plant species from Cruciferae family is shown. Plant species from Poaceae family are mainly characterized by a neutral reaction to the biologically active substances emitted from H. sosnowskyi seeds. It has been found that water extracts at the concentrations from 0.01 to 0.001 % have a stimulatory effect on the growth and development of test plants, while an inhibitory effect was observed at the concentrations in the range from 1 to 10 %.

Modeling the invasiveness of Ulmus pumila in urban ecosystems in conditions of climate change

Climatic change can influence the boundaries of the natural and alien plant species distribution. Fluctuations in air temperature, relative humidity and other factors can become a stimulus to initiation and / or intensification of the invasive nature of some adventive plant species, especially in areas with a high degree of anthropogenic transformation. This paper presents an analysis of the current state and a forecast of the invasiveness of the alien species Ulmus pumila L. (Asiatic elm) in the Northern Steppe Dnieper under conditions of climatic change. Two local U. pumila populations consisting of young different age trees were found during a route survey in the territory of the large industrial city Dnipro (48°28′00″ N, 35°01′05″ E) in its left-bank and right-bank parts.The seed origin of both local populations of Asiatic elm is confirmed by the fact that the young plants were spaced at a distance of 50 to 120 m from adult trees, which could potentially be parent plants. Both the left-bank and right-bank populations of U. pumila were located on abandoned construction sites, where there were numerous reinforced concrete slabs, piles and abundant construction debris. In both U. pumila local populations, 100 different-aged trees were randomly selected throughout the site, and their age and the morphometric parameters were measured to simulate the development process of the detected populations, provided the current trends of climate change continue. Analytical dependence of the number of trees in the left-bank local U. pumila population on development time was described by a polynomial model with a determination coefficient of 98.3%. The graphic representation of this model had a sinusoidal character, and a similar dynamic of left-bank population growth in the subsequent years was suggested. The dynamic of the number of trees in the right-bank local Asiatic elm population was described by an exponential model with a determination coefficient of 84.4%, and its graphical representation was exponential. According to the forecast, by 2020, the number of plants in the right-bank local population of U. pumila can increase 4-fold in comparison with 2015 while maintaining the current dynamic of population development. Thus, the created mathematical models adequately described the dynamics of development of both local populations during the last 15 years and predicted their subsequent intensive growth, confirming the initiation and intensification of the invasive nature of the alien species U. pumila by climatic change in the Steppe Dnieper.

Analysis of trophic structure of forest flora in the Oril River valley

Biodiversity is important for maintaining of forest ecosystems functioning and in their resistance to anthropo-climatic challenges. Assessment of species diversity and species ecomorphic analysis is the basis for determining their current status, rational use and protection. At the end of the nineteenth century, Belgard A. L. (1950) in his system of ectomorphs using terminology presented by Dekandol (1956) and Warming (1903), had proposed a «trophomorph» category that reflected species relation to soil richness. Analysis of trophomorphs reflects diversity of soil conditions in different biotopes within forest ecosystems. The article gives an analysis on vascular plant trophomorphs distribution in various forest biotopes of Oril river valley. Flora and vegetation surveys in forests of Oril river valley were carried out by A. L. Belgard and T. F. Kirichenko since the 30s of the 20th century. The latest data on forest vegetation state within the Oril river valley were given in the works of Y. Gamulja and V. Manyuk. Generalized bioecological analysis of flora Oril river valley was represented in the monograph of B. Baranovsky, V. Maniuk, I. Ivanko, L. Karmyzova «Flora analysis of the Oril National Park». As is known, edaphic conditions of plant habitats in a first place are determined by soil fertility depending on the plant nutrients availability. Soddy-forest soil on sandy terrace of Oril river valley has a relatively low content of humus and total nitrogen: 2 and 0.04 %. Under these conditions, pine phytocenoses were ocсurred that represented exclusively by artificial plantings. Soils in the depressed area of Oril river floodplain are much richer in humus and nitrogen content (10 and 0.37 %). Here, arboreal and shrubby vegetation is represented by communities with common oak. On the second terrace of Oril river valley, forest vegetation is represented by artificial pine forests. Microcenoses with black locust, amorpha and willow occurred on elevated areas of sandy terrace (arena). In the depressed area of the arena, microcenoses with aspen and birch, aspen, Tatarian maple, amorpha, black locust were occurred additionally to pine communities. In the Oril floodplain, native arboreal and shrubby vegetation is represented mainly by communities with common oak. In depressed areas of the floodplain, microcenoses with white poplar, black poplar, aspen, Tatarian maple, amorpha, willow (Salix alba, S. fragilis), osiery (Salix cinerea, S. triandra), and alder are fragmentarily occurred. In conditions of elevated areas of the floodplain, 196 vascular plants species were found, and 105 species in depressed areas. On the second terrace, 38 plant species grow on the elevated areas, and 54 species on the depressed ones. Flora includes 45 adventive plant species. In depressed floodplain areas, oligotrophs are represented by 7 species, mesotrophs by 126 species, megatrophs by 50 species, and in elevated areas: 7, 126 and 25 species, respectively. In depressed areas of arena oligotrophs are represented by 4 species, mesotrophs by 29 species, and megatrophs by 11, elevated areas: 7 and 21 species respectively, and megatrophs were absent.

Geology, evaporative salt accumulation and geoecology at Springvale historic gold mine, Central Otago, New Zealand

ABSTRACTThe Springvale placer gold mine was developed in distal Pleistocene fan deposits that are dominated by auriferous gravel. The gravel was originally deposited in channels in Miocene mudstone. Mining has removed the gravel, exhuming the mudstone. The mudstone has since become an impermeable substrate for accumulation of evaporitic encrustations, with substrate slurry conductivities up to 20,000 µS. The predominant evaporitic minerals (halite, gypsum and calcite) are derived from marine aerosols in rain with some dissolution of soluble minerals in the sediments. Post-mining erosion of mudstone during rain events has formed muddy and silty outwash pans, which are repeatedly replenished from runoff and accumulate evaporitic salts. The pans have been the principal site of halophyte plant establishment where conductivities exceed 1000 µS. Substrates with conductivity <1000 µS have generally been colonised by adventive plant species. Mudstone outcrops have remained unvegetated and continue to contribute sediment and salts to saline pans.

СИНАНТРОПІЗАЦІЯ ФЛОРИ ВОЛИНСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ

&lt;span&gt;Volyn region is located in North-Western Ukraine. Its territory is plain in the North and poorly hilly in the South with a total obliquely in a Northerly direction. The climate is temperate continental with mild winters and moderately warm enough wet summer. Sod-podzolic and meadow soils is predominate, sod, forest-steppe podzolized soils, typical black less common. According to physical and geographic zone, the area belongs to the zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests; by geobotanical zoning of Ukraine – the European broadleaved forest region, East European and Central provinces. Some 1272 species of vascular plants of natural flora were registered in the Volyn region during filed surveys in 1999-2015 together with retrospective data and herbarium collections. Among them the synanthropic group was isolated, which includes 507 species (over 38% of all the species). Local synanthropic apophytes species (ca. 287) are dominated over antropophytes (220 species). The ratio between these two groups is 1.3:1. This is the evidence that the synanthropic flora was formed with domination of local explerent apophytes followed by adventive plant species. Species with active dissemination strategy in seminatural and transformed ecosystems like hemiapophytes (149 species) are dominated among the apophytes by the degree of adaptation to the anthropogenically transformed conditions. It was found that 220 species belong to antropophytes among which the kenophytes (111 species) dominate by time of invasion. We also registered some 109 species of arheophytes. The ratio between these two groups is 0.9:1.0, which indicates the moderate degree of invasion of alien species to the study area. The xenophytes (111 species) are dominated by the method of invasion. The epekophytes (159 species) – species that which grow in communities that would disappear with the cessation of human activities dominate by the degree of naturalization. We distinguished the group of alien species with high phytocoenotic activities that are the herbaceous annuals or milticarpos with the core root system without underground shoots of North American origin.&lt;/span&gt;

Tallgrass prairie restoration: implications of increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition when site preparation minimizes adventive grasses

AbstractSite preparation designed to exhaust the soil seedbank of adventive species can improve the success of tallgrass prairie restoration. Despite these efforts, increased rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition over the next century could potentially promote the growth of nitrophilic, adventive species in tallgrass restoration projects. We used a field experiment to examine how N addition affected species composition and plant productivity over the first 3 years of a tallgrass prairie restoration that was preceded by the planting of glyphosate‐resistant crops and multiple applications of glyphosate to exhaust the pre‐existing seedbank. We predicted that N addition would increase the percent cover of adventive plant species not included in the original seeding. Contrary to our prediction, only the cover of native species increased with N addition; native non‐leguminous forbs increased substantially, with Conyza canadensis (a weedy native species not part of the restoration seed mix) exploiting the combination of high N and bare ground in the first year, and non‐leguminous forbs (in particular Monarda fistulosa) and native C3 grasses, all of which were seeded, increasing with N addition by the third year. Native legumes was the only functional group that exhibited lower cover in N addition plots than in control plots. There was no significant response by native C4 grasses to N addition, and adventive grasses remained mostly absent from the plots. Overall, our results suggest that site pre‐treatment with herbicide may continue to be effective in minimizing adventive grasses in restored tallgrass prairie, despite future increases in atmospheric N deposition.

Relative competitiveness of adventive plant species in herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus

The relative competitiveness of adventive plants in herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus is analyzed using a simple mathematical model, Sa = Na(S/N), where N and S are the numbers of vascular plant species on 15-m2 and 0.5-m2 plots, respectively, and Na and Sa are the numbers of adventive plant species on 15-m2 and 0.5-m2 plots, respectively. The model is based on two assumptions: (1) stochastic character of the processes of species immigration and extinction occurring on the area of plant communities, and (2) ecological equivalence of indigenous and adventive species. If adventive species of a herbaceous community are characterized by a higher or lower competitiveness as compared with indigenous species, then one should expect the actual number of these species on 0.5-m2 plots to be higher or lower as compared with the number calculated using this model. The communities of low-mountain and mid-mountain near-riverbed shoals, forest glades, steppe meadows, annual crop fields, fallow lands, and the herbaceous layer of low-mountain forest communities are chosen as the objects of this study. The results show different competitiveness of adventive plants in different herbaceous communities of the Western Caucasus.