Keywords: L. annotinum, managed forest, nature reserve, horizontal and vertical branches

Transcription

1 The spatial structure and condition of Lycopodium annotinum populations in the Sokole Góry Reserve and managed forest in Zrębice Forest Division (Czestochowa Upland, Southern Poland) Anna ŚLIWINSKA-WYRZYCHOWSKA & Monika BOGDANOWICZ Abstract: The aim of the research was to estimate the condition and spatial structure of the selected populations of Lycopodium annotinum in Sokole Góry Reserve and in managed forest in Zrębice Forest Division (southern part of Krakowsko- Cz^stochowska Upland). Two study plots - Querco roboris-pinetum 1 and Querco roboris- Pinetum 2 (each one 10m by 10 m) were established in the Sokole Góry Reserve. One study plot - Querco roboris-pinetum 3 (10m by 5m) was established in managed forest. All plots represented phytocoenoses similar to Querco roboris-pinetum. Two plots: Querco roboris-pinetum 1 and 2 were divided into 100 square fields using Greig-Smith s grating. One plot Querco roboris-pinetum 3 was divided into 50 square fields using the same method. Within each field the percentage of covering by L.annotinum was estimated and vertical modules was counted (alive, dead and modules with strobili). The maps of horizontal location of modules were realized too. Both of study plots in Sokole Góry Reserve had similar number of alive modules: 587 modules in Querco roboris-pinetum 1 and 807 modules in Querco roboris-pinetum 2. The number of alive modules on the study plot in managed forest (Querco roboris-pinetum 3) was much higher and equal In Sokole Góry Reserve the modules with strobili were observed only in Querco roboris-pinetum 1. The number of them was equal 18. In Querco roboris-pinetum 3 (managed forest) the number of modules with strobili amounted to 923. The numbers of dead modules in Querco roboris-pinetum 1 and 2 were similar and equal respectively 59 and 57, while in Querco roboris-pinetum 3 the number of dead modules was higher and came to 412 modules. The results showed, that the population of Lycopodium in managed forest is in better condition than the populations localized in nature reserve. The reason of such situation could be the habitats differences. The study plot in managed forest is more humidity than the one in Sokole Góry Reserve. Keywords: L. annotinum, managed forest, nature reserve, horizontal and vertical branches Introduction In the recent years there have been more and more frequently signalized phenomena of decreasing the number of club-mosess positions and acreage of their cenopopulations (Piękoś - Mirkowa, Mirek 2003). Even if the positions of protected species are localized in the nature reserve, it doesn t guarantee their stability. Therefore there is the necessity of conducting researches of size of stand and condition of these species, which are recognized as important ones (rare and protected) (Mitka, Tumidajowicz 1992). In Polish literature there are only few publications about the structure of club-mosses cenopopulations (Juchacz, Lembicz, Zątek 1993, Rudak 2002). The aim of the survey was to estimate the condition and spatial structure of selected populations of Lycopodium annotinum in Sokole Góry Reserve and in the managed forest in Zrebice Forest Division (southern part of Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland). Area and object of research The Sokole Góry Reserve is localized in the northern part of Czestochowska Upland. On the hills of the nature reserve three complexes of beeches are dominating and at their bases - pine woods. Between pine woods and beeches there is mixed forest (Herezniak 2002). Stands of Lycopodium annotinum are localized in fresh coniferous forest (department 351c) similar to Querco roboris - Pinetum; (Protection plan ). The area of the managed forest is localized in the department 330n, near a road from Olsztyn to Janów. Club-moss 315

2 occurs there in wood similar to Querco roboris - Pinetum and it neighbours with the forest similar to Calamagrostio arundinaceae-quercetum. Lycopodium annotinum is an evergreen, long-term perennial plant. It is a clonal plant, which creeping, dichotomic branches reach the length of 4m. Club-moss life cycle is very prolonged (can last even 20 years) (Callaghan et all 1986), so very important method of its reproducing, (allowing to occupy space), is vegetative reproducing. Methods The investigations were conducted in August Two study plots - Querco roboris-pinetum 1 and Querco roboris-pinetum 2 (each one 10 by 10 m) were established in the Sokole Góry Reserve. They were divided into basic squares (each one 1 by 1m) according to Greig-Smith grate (Falihska 2002). In the managed forest there was established one study plot - Querco roboris - Pinetum 3 (5 by 10m) according to the analogical method. On each basic square there were counted live branches, this year s branches with strobili and dead branches. A vertical branch without strobili, growing from horizontal module was recognized as one live branch (ramifications weren t counted). A vertical module with one or few strobili at the end was recognized as one sporophyllus branch (number of strobili was not counted). Withered, light-brown branches were recognized as dead modules. The term live branches means a sum of branches with- and without strobili. At calculation of an average number of live branches on 1m 2, were taken only this plots where club-moss occurs. There were also done the maps of horizontal occurrence of club-moss. Results In Sokole Góry Reserve, in Querco roboris-pinetum 1 club-moss was noted on 17 basic squares and in Querco roboris-pinetum 2 on 14 basic squares. The total number of live vertical branches on the second stand amounted to 807, and were higher than on the first stand (587 branches). On the first stand an average number of vertical live modules occuring on one basic square amounted to 34,5 and on the second stand 57,6 modules (Tab.1). Occurence of 18 modules with strobili was observed only in Querco roboris-pinetum 1. They made up 3% of all live modules. It is important to turn attention to the fact that 13 of them occurred on one basic square. In the both stands in the nature reserve there were dead modules, adequately 59 on the first stand and 57 on the second stand. It makes up 9% and 6% of all vertical modules. On Querco roboris-pinetum 3 there were noted 5455 live vertical modules. They were localized on 40 plots from 50 given. The average number of live branches occurring on one basic square amounted to 136,37 (Tab.1). On the whole marked study plot there were 923 modules with strobili noted. It made up 17% of all live modules. On one basic square 83 modules with strobili occurred. Dead modules on the study plot were also noted, and their number amounted to 412 (it is 7% of all vertical modules). Querco roboris-pinetum 1 was created by three, not joined polycormons: two greater occurring on small fragments of eight basic squares and one smaller polycormon occupying fragments of two plots. The polycormons didn t have many ramifications of horizontal modules (Fig.1). Querco roboris-pinetum 2 was created by a group of 9 polycormons (Fig.2). The greatest one occurred on the 6 plots and the smallest one occurred on the 4 plots. The rest of polycormons occupy small fragments of one or two plots. The polycormons of this stand created a more compacted group than polycormons on Querco roboris-pinetum 1. The investigation study localized in timber forest (Querco roboris-pinetum 3) (Fig.3) was created by 26 polycormons. Six of them were large and they occupy no more than 8 basic squares. They have many small ramifications from horizontal modules. The rest of polycormons were smallest and occupied from 1 to 3 basic squares. Club-moss cenopopulation created very compacted structure. 316

3 Discussion Investigations of spatial strucutre of club-mosses cenopopulations by using analogical methods as presented were taken in Spalski Park Krajobrazowy protection zone (Marczewska 2005). Investigated cenopopulations occupied the surface of about 200m each. The average number of vertical live branches of club-mosses amounted from 99,2 to 314,0 on 1m and was higher than this in presented investigations. Lycopodium annotinum cenopopulation in Wielkopolski National Park, presented in Juchacz and others investigations (1993), occupied the surface of 14,56 m 2. Its size was similar to the area occupied by club-mosses in Sokole Góry Reserve, but smaller than the population localized in the managed forest. In Juchacz and other article (1993) there is no information about the number of dead branches of Lycopodium annotinum, so the comparison of the results with presented investigations is impossible. In Marczewska (2005) investigations, the average number of dead branches of clubmoss on two research areas, amounted to 32,5 (on the first area) and 24,8 (on the second area) on 1m. The total number of dead branches, noted on those areas, amounted to 106 and 68 modules on 1m. In the present research the average number of dead, vertical branches amounted to 3,5 (stand 1) and 4,1 (stand 2) on 1m (Tab1). Maximally, on one plot accordingly 15 and 13 dead modules occurred. Cenopopulations in Sokole Góry Reserve are characterized by smaller mortality than these described by Marczewska (2005). In the managed forest the average number of dead branches on 1m amounted to 13,7. Maximally on 1m there were 34 dead modules. On this stand the participation of dead branches of the whole population is higher than in Sokole Góry Reserve and smaller than in Marczewska (2005) research. Occurrence of dead branches doesn t have to mean unambiguously, that the population is in bad condition. Sporadic, single dead branches can result from the age of the whole population and natural process of decaying of some of them (Sliwihska-Wyrzychowska, Książczyk 2008). This argument can be confirmed by absence of dry patches of Lycopodium branches, which were observed in Juchacz (1993) investigations in L.clavatum population. Concentration of modules with strobili, observed in Querco roboris-pinetum 1 ( Sokole Góry Reserve) is frequently smaller than concentration in Juchacz and others investigations (1993). In the research the average number amounts to 1 branch on 1m with the maximum number of branches with strobili on one basic square amounting to 13. Juchacz and others (1993) within two years, noted on their investigation plot on average 41,2 and 28,6 modules with strobili on 1m. In Marczewska (2005) research the average number of modules with strobili amounted to 15,4 and 22,4 on 1m. Maximal number of these modules on one basic square amounted to 148. In the present research on the area of the managed forest there were, on average, 23 modules with strobili on 1m. It was more than in Marczewska research (2005), but less than In Juchacz and others (1993) research. Occurrence of branches with strobili in population can indicate their potential reproduction capacity and condition of the whole population (Juchacz et all 1993). Small participation of modules with strobili can result from the suggestion, that the observed population is young and just started sexual reproduction. Small number of modules with strobili in the Sokole Góry Reserve and much higher number of them in the managed forest, can result from different humidity between them (humidity in the managed forest is higher than in the nature reserve). The Sokole Góry Reserve protection plan ( Dziedzic et all 2002), publicizes that on its territory occur not numerous specimens of clubmosses and their viability is low. Sugested reason of this phenomenon can be negative influence of industrial pollutions and progress eutrophication of pine habitats. On base on led observation it is impossible to draw conclusion whether population had signs of lower viability or is in young advancement phase. 317

4 The maps with localization of horizontal branches of L. annotinum, show its current condition. On this base we can try to predict potential possibilities of its vegetative development and try to define whether the population is expanding. Localized horizontal modules only roughly bring closer the actual number of modules and direction on their growth. Precise localization would require digging up three research areas. On the first stand, three polycormons with sparse lateral ramifications can suggest that it is spreading population and sparse ramifications will enlarge their extension. On the second stand, bigger number of polycormons can suggest that clubmoss intensively occupies the territory by vegetative reproduction. The club-moss population on the third stand had many, strongly ramificated horizontal modules (they occupy to 8 basic squares). Single polycormons occupying from 1 to 3 basic squares, show the tendency to ramifications. It suggests that they are expansive populations. The high number of them can indicate that the observed population is older than cenopopulations existing in the reserve and horizontal modules were more often separated. Analogical maps were created by Callaghan and others (1986). The authors concentrated on the localization of rhizoids in horizontal branch, whichis produced in favourable conditions. Extending the present research by analogical ones will make it possible to check what will happen with numerous horizontal branches. Will they create rhizoids (which will guarantee vegetative reproduction), or they will not find good conditions and will die. Conclusions Lycopodium annotinum populations in the Sokole Góry Reserve are smaller and poorly spread than the population in the managed forest. Indicating the unambiguous reason of this phenomenon is impossible on this level of research. Investigations have to be completed with researches next years. References Callaghan T.V., Headley A.D., Svensson B.M., Lixian L., Lee A.J., Lindley D.K, 1986 Modular growth and function in the vascular cryptogam Lycopodium annotinum, Proc.R.Soc.Lond. B 228, Dziedzic K., Bednarz Z., Forczek - Brataniec U., Gradzihski M., Kolodziejski S., Ochman K., Rózański W., Urban J., 2002 The Sokole Góry Reserve protection plan, Busola, Kraków. Falińska K., 2002 Przewodnik do badah biologii populacji roślin PWN, Warszawa Herezniak J., 2002 Rezerwaty przyrody Ziemi Częstochowskiej, Liga Ochrony Przyrody Zarzaąd Okręgu w Czestochowie, Czestochowa Juchacz A., Lembicz M., Zatek W.S., 1993 Stan populacji Lycopodium annotinum L. i L. clavatum L. w Wielkopolskim Parku Narodowym w latach Prace i materiały muzeum im. Prof. Wladyslawa Szafera, Marczewska B., 2005 Struktura populacyjna wybranych gatunków chronionych województwa lódzkiego Praca magisterska. Manuskrypt Akademia im. Jana Długosza, Częstochowa. Mitka J., Tumidajowicz D., 1992 Zarys metodyki badań nad biologią populacji gatunków rzadkich i zagrozonych. Biul. Ogr. bot. 1:17-29 Piekoś - Mirkowa H., Mirek Z., 2003 Flora Polski. Atlas Roslin Chronionych, Wydawnictwo Multico Oficyna Wydawnicza, Warszawa Rudak M., 2002 Badania populacji Diphasiastrum complanatum (L.) HOLUB. Na terenie Sulejowskiego Parku Krajobrazowego, [w] Kurowski J.K., Witosławski P. (red) Funkcjonowanie parków krajobrazowych. Wyd. Katedra Geobotaniki i Ekologii Roślin UŁ. Śliwińska-Wyrzychowska A. Książczyk P Występowanie i wielkość cenopopulacji widłaków (Lycopodium clavatum L. oraz Lycopodiu annotinum L.) na terenie Nadlesnictwa Smardzewice (Sulejowski Park Krajobrazowy), Chemia i Ochrona Środowiska, Akademia im. Jana Długosza, Częstochowa - In press. 318

5 Anna Śliwinska - Wyrzychowska & Monika Bogdanowicz Department of Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute of Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Jan Dlugosz University, Ul. Armii Krajowej 13/15, Częstochowa, Poland a.wyrzychowska@ajd.czest.pl; m.bogdanowicz@ajd.czest.pl Fig.1 Map of horizontal branches location in Querco roboris-pinetum 1 Fig.2 Map of horizontal branches location in Querco roboris-pinetum 2 Fig.3 Map of horizontal branches location in Querco roboris-pinetum 3 319

6 Table 1. Characteristics of Lycopodium annotinum stands in Sokole Góry Reserve and in managed forest. (*The term live branches means a sum of branches with and without strobili). Querco roboris Pinetum 1 Querco roboris Pinetum 2 Querco roboris Pinetum 3 Size of research area [ m 2 ] Number of plots occupied by L.annotinum Total number of live branches* Percentage participation of live branches* Average number of live branches* on one plot ± standard 34,5±32,3 57,6±53,2 136,3±90,9 deviation Maximum number of live branches* on one plot Total number of branches with strobili Percentage participation of branches with strobili Average number of branches with strobili on one plot ± 1,0±3, ,0±25,1 standard deviation Maximum number of branches with strobili on one plot Total number of dead branches Percentage participation of dead modules Average number of dead branches on one plot ± standard deviation 3,5±5,0 4,1±5,3 10,3±9,2 Maximum number of dead branches on one plot