CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF VEGETATION IN THE XEROPHILE MEADOWS FROM THE RIVER VASLUI BASIN IRINA BLAJ

Transcription

1 Analele ştiinţifice ale Universităţii Al. I. Cuza Iaşi Tomul LII, s. II a. Biologie vegetală, 2006 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF VEGETATION IN THE XEROPHILE MEADOWS FROM THE RIVER VASLUI BASIN IRINA BLAJ Abstract: This paper presents two associations of xerophile meadows belonging to the Festuco-Brometea class ( Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al and Stipetum capillatae (Hueck 1931) Krausch 1961), described in a phytocoenological table and analysed from the point of view of bioforms, floristic elements, and ecological indices. At the same time, the quantity of aerial phytomass has been calculated for the Festucetum rupicolae association by weighting fresh vegetal samples and then drying them in a stove at 105 C until obtaining a steady weight. The results are then analysed in systematic and economical groups. Key words: phytocoenology, xerophile meadows vegetation, aerial phytomass. Taking into consideration some recent papers [4, 8 13] on phytosociological nomenclature and classification, the two associations have been included in the following phytocoeno-system: FESTUCO-BROMETEA Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. in Br.-Bl Class FESTUCETALIA VALESIACAE Br.-Bl. et R. Tx. ex Br.-Bl Order FESTUCION VALESIACAE Klika 1931 Alliance JURINEO ARACHNOIDEAE EUPHORBINENION NICAEENSIS Dobrescu et Kovács 1971 corr. Sârbu, Coldea et Chifu 1999 Suballiance Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al Association Stipetum capillatae (Hueck 1931) Krausch 1961 Association 1. Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al This association has been recorded for the first time in the area, and it has been found on grounds of a low proclivity of 1-2, with a Northern exposure. It is spread on limited surfaces in the studied area, and it is to be found in only one place (Dobrovăţ), where it alternates with Agrostio capillaris - Festucetum rupicolae and Taraxaco serotinae - Festucetum valesiacae meadows. The Festucetum rupicolae association develops within Al. I. Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, B-dul Carol I no.11, Iassy, Romania 83

2 associations of mesophile meadows, due to soil erosion and nitrogen compounds deficiency. The floristic structure of the association is dominated by Festuca rupicola, alongside with various species from the Festuco-Brometea class, and also, in a smaller quantity, species from the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class; this illustrates the strong xerophile nature of the association (tab. I). The Festuca rupicola meadows achieve a high degree of aging due to both extensive grazing, and soil settling. They are in use for a short period of time, because in June Festuca rupicola ends its season of vegetation. Within the bioform spectrum, one notices a predominance of hemicryptophytes (75.61%), which illustrates a moderate climate. Next to these, there are also camephytes (9.76%), terophytes (9.76%), and hemiterophytes (4.87%) (fig. 1a). The phytogeographic spectrum reveals the predominance of Eurasian (53.66%) and Eurasian continental (17.06%) elements, as the area is included within the Eurasian field. In addition to these, there are also Pontic (12.2%), central European (7.32%) and circumpolar (2.44%) elements (fig. 1b). The spectrum of ecological indices indicates towards species which need a lot of light (57.57%), amphitolerant towards th e temperature index (42.42%), with a spreading area in Central Europe (42.42%), growing on dry soils (36.36%), with a neutral ph (36.36%), and deficient in mineral nitrogen (27.27%) (fig. 1c). The potential productivity of this type of meadow has been degraded (20 points estimation = 9 th form), which means that it sustains a load of 0.4 UVM/ha, explained through the fact that the Festuca rupicola species has a low fodder value (tab. II). The herbaceous species belonging to this association have a total phytomass of 1100 kg of dry substance per hectare. The Festuca rupicola is a mediocre type of fodder species (Att. Kovács, 1979), and the meadows it grows on have a low productivity (tab. III). The water content is 32.52%, and that of dry substance is 67.48%, as the Festuca rupicola (which ensures the most important quantity of phytomass) comes to the end of its season of vegetation by June; however, it is also affected by the high temperatures which intensify the process of evapotranspiration, and, thus, explain the low water content. The analysis of systematic groups reveals a high percentage of Poaceae, followed by various other species and Fabaceae. There are no Cyperaceae, no Juncaceae to be found here, due to the xerophile profile of the association. From the analysis of economical groups, one may notice that fodder species represent 82.72% (of which 79.54% are Poaceae, and 3.18% are Fabaceae), and inconsumable species 17.28%. By comparing the results obtained from calculating the potential productivity with those obtained after mowing, the conclusion is that we are dealing with meadows of a low category. 84

3 2. Ass. Stipetum capillatae (Hueck 1931) Krausch 1961 This association has been recorded in the area by C. Dobrescu (1971) and it can usually be found on plateaus, cornices, steep, dry slopes, submitted to high sunstroke, strong winds, and instable and eroded soils. The dominant and consolidating species for this association is the Stipa capillata, which is accompanied by numerous xeroterm species within the Festuco-Brometea class: Festuca valesica, Dichanthium ischaemum, Euphorbia glareosa etc. (tab. IV). According to C. Dobrescu (1971), these meadows are descendants of the primary steppe vegetation from the boreal period, represented here by relict islands with a rather small number of species which are microclimatically and edaphically conditioned. These meadows have a low rate of productivity, due to the fact that the fodder value of the dominant species is low, as it can be consumed only in its young stage. The bioform spectrum indicates the dominance of hemicryptophytes (61.68%), followed by hemiterophytes (21.66%), terophytes (10%), camephytes (6.66%) (fig. 2a). The phytogeographic spectrum reveals the predominance of Eurasian elements (48.34%), followed closely by Pontic (28.33%), European (20%) and Mediterranean (3.33%) elements (fig. 2b). The spectrum of ecological indices highlights the presence of species which need a lot of light (7-31.8%, %); they are also termophilic (34.15%), with a spreading area in the Eastern part of Central Europe (24.39%), xerophile (41.46%), growing on neutrophilic soils (41.46%) which are deficient in mineral nitrogen (19.52%) (fig. 2c). BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. ANGHEL GH., TEACI D., CARDAŞOL V., RĂUŢĂ C., PREDEL FL., VASU ALEXANDRA, MARCU GH., MUNTEANU P., MĂNIŞOR P., DUMITRESCU N., POP M., ŢUCRA I., CIUBOTARU C., NEACŞU MARICELA Instrucţiuni pentru executarea lucrărilor de caracterizare, cartare, bonitare şi stabilire a necesarului de ameliorare în pajişti. ICPA Bucureşti 2. BĂRBULESCU C., BURCEA P Determinator pentru flora pajiştilor. Bucureşti, Ed. Ceres 3. CHIFU T., MITITELU D., HOREANU CL., ŞTEFAN N., DĂSCĂLESCU D., MIHAI GH Cercetări asupra structurii şi biomasei unor pajişti din munţii Căliman. Mem. Secţ. şt. Acad. Rom., IX, ser. IV: DOBRESCU C Contribuţii la studiul pajiştilor xerofile din bazinul superior al Bârladului. An. Şt. Univ. Al. I. Cuza Iaşi, s. II a. (Biol.), 17 (2): ELLENBERG H Indicator values of vascular plants in Central Europe. Scripta Geobotanica, IX, Verlag Erich Goltze K.G., Göttingen: IVAN DOINA, DONIŢĂ N Metode practice pentru studiul ecologic şi geografic al vegetaţiei. Centrul de multiplicare a Univ. Bucureşti 7. KOVÁCS J. ATT Indicatori biologici, ecologici şi economici ai florei pajiştilor. M.A.I.A., Acad. Şt. Agr. Şi Silv., Staţ. de Cerc. pentru cult. paj., Măgurele Braşov, Centrul de mat. did. şi prop. agr., Red. de prop. tehnică agricolă 85

4 8. MUCINA L., KOLBEK J Festuco Brometea In: Mucina L., Grabherr G., Ellmauer T., Die pflanzengesellschaften Österreichs, I: Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena Stuttgart New York 9. MUCINA L Conspectus of classes of European vegetation. Folia Geobot. Phytotax., Praha, 32(2): SANDA V Vademecum ceno-structural privind covorul vegetal din România. Bucureşti, Ed. Vergiliu 11. SANDA V., POPESCU A., BARABAŞ N Cenotaxonomia şi caracterizarea grupărilor vegetale din România. St. şi Comun. Muz. Şt. Nat. Bacău, Biol. veget., 14: SANDA V., POPESCU A., ARCUŞ MARIANA Revizia critică a comunităţilor de plante din România. Constanţa, Ed. Tilia Press International 13. SANDA V., POPESCU A., STANCU DANIELA ILEANA Structura cenotică şi caracterizarea ecologică a fitocenozelor din România. Bucureşti, Ed. Conphis Tab. I - Ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al Number of relevé Altitude m s.m Exposition N N N N N Slope (º) Cover of the vegetation (%) Surface (m²) Number of species K Association s characteristics Festuca rupicola V Festucion valesiacae Salvia nemorosa V Potentilla argentea V Thymus pannonicus III Linum austriacum II Festucetalia valesiacae Achillea setacea V Centaurea biebersteinii III Fragaria viridis III Teucrium chamaedrys II Galium humifusum II Veronica spicata I Bromus inermis I Festuco-Brometea Hieracium pilosella V Medicago falcata V Plantago media V Galium verum IV Eryngium campestre IV Filipendula vulgaris III Trifolium campestre III Koeleria macrantha III Poa compressa III Senecio erucifolius III Berteroa incana III 86

5 Sedum acre II Centaurea scabiosa II Trifolium montanum I Echium vulgare I Dorycnium pentaphyllum ssp I herbaceum Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Trifolium pratense IV Veronica chamaedrys IV Stachys officinalis III Centaurea jacea III Lotus corniculatus III Dactylis glomerata II Odontites vernus ssp. vernus I Variae syntaxa Dianthus armeria V Agrimonia eupatoria III Trifolium arvense II Origanum vulgare II Galium mollugo II Rumex acetosella I Date and place relevé: 1-5. Dobrovăţ, , Tab. II - The potential productivity of ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al Number of relevé Cover of the vegetation (%) Species I.S. A% Total A% Total A% Total A% Total A% Total Poaceae Total 79,4 77,4 96,6 81,4 97 Festuca rupicola ,4 76,4 96,6 96,6 80,2 80,2 95,6 95,6 Bromus inermis 4 0,2 0,8 Koeleria macrantha - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Poa compressa 2 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 Dactylis glomerata 5 0,2 1 0,2 1 Fabaceae Total 3,8 2 1,2 2,4 2,8 Medicago falcata 4 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 Trifolium campestre 2 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 Trifolium montanum 3 0,2 0,6 Dorycnium pentaphyllum - 0,2 - ssp. herbaceum Trifolium pratense 4 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 Lotus corniculatus 4 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 0,2 0,8 Trifolium arvense 2 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 Other families Total 0,6 0,4 0,6 0,4 0,6 87

6 Salvia nemorosa - 0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2 - Potentilla argentea - 0, ,2-0,2-0,2 - Thymus pannonicus - 0, ,2 - Linum austriacum - 0,2-0,2 - Achillea setacea 2 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 0,2 0,4 Centaurea biebersteinii - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Fragaria viridis 1 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 Teucrium chamaedrys - 0,2-0,2 - Galium humifusum - 0,2-0,2 - Veronica spicata - 0,2 - Hieracium pilosella - 15, ,2-0,2-0,2 - Plantago media 1 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 0,2 Galium verum - 0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2 - Eryngium campestre -1 0,2-0,2 0,2-0,2 0,2-0,2 0,2-0,2 Filipendula vulgaris - 1-0,2-0,2 - Senecio erucifolius - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Berteroa incana - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Sedum acre - 0,2 0,2 - Centaurea scabiosa - 0,2-0,2 - Echium vulgare - 0,2 - Veronica chamaedrys - 0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2 - Stachys officinalis - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Centaurea jacea - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Dianthus armeria - 0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2-0,2 - Agrimonia eupatoria - 0,2-0,2-0,2 - Origanum vulgare - 0,2-0,2 - Galium mollugo - 0,2-0,2 - Odontites vernus ssp. vernus - 0,2 - Rumex acetosella -1 0,2-0,2 Total 83,8 79,8 98,4 84,2 100,4 A% = cover of species Relevé 1 Total 1 = 83,8 VP1 = 83,8 / 100 = 0,838 x 90 / 100 = 0,75 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (IX) Relevé 2 Total 2 = 79,8 VP2 = 79,8 / 100 = 0,798 x 85 / 100 = 0,67 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (IX Relevé 3 Total 3 = 98,4 VP3 = 98,4 / 100 = 0,984 x 85 / 100 = 0,83 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (IX) Relevé 4 Total 4 = 84,2 VP4 = 84,2 / 100 = 0,842 x 80 / 100 = 0,67 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (X) Relevé 5 Total 5 = 100,4 88

7 VP5 = 100,4 / 100 = 1,004 x 90 / 100 = 0,90 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (I Total = 446,6 Average = 89,32 VP = 89,32 / 100 = 0,8932 x 86 / 100 = 0,76 = 0,2 coefficient 0,2 x 100 = 20 point estimation, degraded meadow (IX) 1 point estimation = 0,02 UVM/ha; 20 x 0,02 = 0,4 UVM/ha Tab. III - Aerial phytomass of ass. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al Systematic group Water (%) Dry substance (%) Aerial phytomass (kg/ha) Green Anhydrous (Kg/ha) % (Kg/ha) % Poaceae , ,54 Fabaceae 70 4, ,18 Cyperaceae and Juncaceae Other species , ,28 TOTAL 32,52 67, Tabel IV - Ass. Stipetum capillatae (Hueck 1931) Krausch 1961 Number of relevé Altitude m s.m Exposition V SV SV V V Slope (º) Cover of the vegetation (%) Surface (m²) Number of species K Association s characteristics Stipa capillata V Jurineo arachnoideae-euphorbinenion nicaeensis Euphorbia glareosa ssp. glareosa IV Centaurea marschalliana I Astragalus dasyanthus I Taraxacum serotinum I Festucion valesiacae Teucrium polium ssp. capitatum II Xeranthemum annuum II Verbascum speciosum II Marrubium peregrinum II Rapistrum perenne II Salvia nemorosa I Festucetalia valesiacae Achillea setacea IV Festuca valesiaca III Stachys recta ssp. recta III Astragalus onobrychis III Centaurea biebersteinii II Teucrium chamaedrys II Minuartia setacea II Fragaria viridis II 89

8 Poa bulbosa I Senecio jacobea I Onobrychis viciifolia I Festuco-Brometea Dichanthium ischaemum V Scabiosa ochroleuca IV Thalictrum minus III Eryngium campestre III Berteroa incana III Stipa lessingiana II Salvia verticillata II Euphorbia agraria II Anchusa ochroleuca II Asperula cynanchica I Potentilla argentea I Dorycnium pentaphyllum ssp. herbaceum I Salvia pratensis I Asperula tenella I Medicago minima I Echium vulgare I Potentilla arenaria I Molinio-Arrhenetheretea Plantago lanceolata III Campanula patula II Potentilla reptans II Cichorium intybus II Lotus corniculatus II Taraxacum officinale I Trifolium pratense I Daucus carota I Stellarietea mediae Lappula squarrosa II Bromus japonicus I Nigella arvensis I Consolida regalis ssp. regalis I Artemisietea vulgaris Carduus nutans III Verbascum phlomoides II Lavathera thuringiaca I Carduus acanthoides I Reseda lutea I Variae syntaxa Helychrisum arenarium II Coronilla varia II Hypericum perforatum I Agrimonia eupatoria I Date and place relevé: 1. dl. Harbuzăriei, ; 2-4. Movila lui Burcel, ; 5. Micleşti,

9 a b Ht 4.87% Ch 9.76% T 9.76% H 75.61% % Euras. cont. Eur. centr. Pont. Euras. Eur. Circ. Fig. 1 - a) The bioform spectrum; b) The phytogeographical spectrum; c) The ecological indices spectrum as. Festucetum rupicolae Burduja et al c % L T Ct U R N x? Fig. 2 - a) The bioform spectrum; b) The phytogeographical spectrum; c) The ecological indices spectrum as. Stipetum capillatae (Hueck 1931) Krausch