CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF WEEDS VEGETATION ALONG THE TISA EVERGLADE SÎRBU C. 1, OPREA AD. 2

Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii Al. I. Cuza Iaşi Tomul LIII, s. II a. Biologie Vegetală, 2007 CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF WEEDS VEGETATION ALONG THE TISA EVERGLADE SÎRBU C. 1, OPREA AD. 2 In this paper, two vegetal associations with a nonnative character (Helianthetum tuberosi (Moor 1958) Oberd. 1967 and Reynoutrietum japonicae Görs 1974 corr. Hilbig 1995) are presented. These associations (less known in Romania), which are integrated in the alliance Senecion fluviatilis Tx. 1950, displace the native vegetal communities from the Tisa everglades on large areas. Key words: alien plants, invasive species, anthropic vegetation Invasive alien plants are one of the greatest threats to the natural ecosystems of the whole World and some of the most threatened habitats by the invasion of such plants are the humid habitats associated with watercourses [10; 15; 18; 22; 26 etc.]. These plants disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displace native plants, reduce the amount of light, water, nutrients and space available to native species and alter hydrological patterns, soil chemistry, moisture-holding capacity, and erodibility [18, 22, 27]. Along the Tisa everglade, due to the favorable conditions of environment, a lot of alien plant species, as Helianthus tuberosus, Reynoutria japonica, R. x bohemica, Aster lanceolatus, Impatiens glandulifera, I. parviflora, Echinocystis lobata, Solidago gigantea subsp. serotina, Elsholtzia ciliata, and so on, have a copious development, forming more or less heterogeneous phytocoenoses [17; 21]. In this paper, we present two vegetal associations, with a nonnative character, which displace the native vegetal communities along the Tisa everglades, on large areas. Material and Method For the study and classification of the ruderal phytocoenoses, we follow the method of the phytocoenologic-floristic school [2; 3]. The species nomenclature has been taking from Tutin et al. (eds) 1964-1980 [25], Ciocârlan 2000 [4], and Oprea 2005 [16]. Results and Discussions Some of the most representative nonnative vegetal communities along the Tisa everglade are those edified by Helianthus tuberosus, respectively Reynoutria japonica and R. x bohemica, that are integrated in the coenotaxonomic system [14; 20; 23] as follows: Class Galio-Urticetea Passarge ex Kopecký 1969 Ord. Convolvuletalia sepium Tx. 1950 Al. Senecion fluviatilis Tx. 1950 As. Helianthetum tuberosi (Moor 1958) Oberd. 1967 As. Reynoutrietum japonicae Görs 1974 corr. Hilbig 1995 1 University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine I.I. de la Brad Iaşi; e-mail: culita69@yahoo.com 2 Botanical Garden Anastasie Fătu Iaşi; e-mail: aoprea@uaic.ro 134

As. Helianthetum tuberosi (Moor 1958) Oberd. 1967 [Syn.: Helianthus tuberosus Convolvulion Gesellschaft] (tab. I, rel. 1-4). The phytocoenoses of this vegetal association are met in the Tisa everglade, both along of the protection dam and in the meadows, near the border of the forests, whence these can spread even into the neighbouring crops. This kind of weedy vegetation, often met also in Central Europe [7; 9; 14; 20 etc.], consists in extensive vegetal communities (50-100 m 2 ), in structure of which, besides the dominant species (Helianthus tuberosus) which reaches at maximal values of AD and about 2 m height, other species, as Agrostis stolonifera (AD+-1) and Solidago gigantea subsp. serotina (AD+-1), can also be distinguished. With a raised frequency there are, too: Artemisia vulgaris, Erigeron annuus, Tanacetum vulgare, Calystegia sepium, Rubus caesius etc. In the floristic structure of this phytocoenoses, which involve 55 species in all (18-30 species / rel.), the characteristic species for the superior coenotaxa hold a percentage of about 30%. The settlement of these phytocoenoses on behalf or in the vicinity of water meadows is signaled out by the high number of characteristic species for Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class (about 30%). A good representation have also Stellarietea mediae class (20%), as a result of the contact with adjacent under crop fields, while other vegetation classes (Artemisietea vulgaris, Bidentetea etc.) are less represented. In the structure of this vegetal association the most important bioforms are the hemicryptophytes (43.6%), therophytes (27.3%) and geophytes (16.4%). The ecological profile, indicated by the analysis of the ecological indexes, testifies the mezophyllous-mezohigrophylous (Um=3.3), mezotermophyllous (Tm=3.3) and lightly acid-neutrophyllous (Rm=3.5) character of these vegetal communities (nevertheless, there are enough amphitolerant species tovards temperature and soil reaction: T 0 =29.6%; R 0 =43.4%). Polyploid species within the investigated phytocoenoses exceed the diploid ones both numerically (Id.n=0.87) and as covering value (Id.c=0.01). On the basis of the phyto-geographical analysis, we note that on a general Eurasian background (47.2%), an important role in the constitution of the examined phytocoenoses have the alien (21%), and cosmopolitan species (11.3%). Tall weed phytocoenoses edified by Helianthus tuberosus, with a similar structure and ecology were also quoted from Cluj County (Coplean - on the Someş bank) (1 relevée) by Pázmány (1970) [19], then from Socond Valley and Ariniş Valley (4 relevées) (Satu Mare County) [13] and from everglades of the Târnava Mare, Târnava Mică, Mureş, Râul Negru rivers (as Helianthus tuberosus agg. (DC) [12]. From Moldavia, this association was for the first time quoted without relevées or other specifications [5]. Recently, Blaj Irina (2006) [1] gives the association from the basin of Vaslui river (at Dobrovăţ) and Gurău (2004) [8] published, from Caşin-Oneşti Depression, 7 phytocoenoses dominated by Helianthus tuberosus with a xero-mezophyllous (!) character. As. Reynoutrietum japonicae Görs 1974 corr. Hilbig 1995 [Syn.: Polygonetum cuspidati (Moor 1958) Oberd. et al. 1967; Fallopia japonica (Senecion fluviatilis)- Gesellschaft; Polygonum cuspidatum Convolvulion Gesselschaft; Reynoutria japonica community] (tab. I, rel. 5-8). 135

Reynoutria japonica and R. x bohemica (R. japonica x R. sachalinensis) are ones of the alien plants with a marked invasive character in the Tisa everglades, forming very well developed phytocoenoses, 2-4 m in height, on areas up to 100-150 m 2. Among of the two mentioned species, the hybrid prevails in all of the analysed phytocoenoses. Such tall communities cover the soil in a very high percentage (up 100%), being difficult to traverse them, and shadow in a great measure the soil. Therefore, the companion species are rather few ones (13-29) and they are rather peripherally distributed. Besides the dominant species, the next species are frequently met (though without a notable covering): Helianthus tuberosus, Solidago gigantea subsp. serotina, Rubus caesius, Glechoma hederacea, Artemisia vulgaris, Erigeron annuus, Tanacetum vulgare, Agrostis stolonifera, Pastinaca sativa, Clematis vitalba. Of the 49 species met in the structure of these phytocoenoses, 31.3% are characteristic ones for the superior coenotaxa (Senecion fluviatilis, Convolvuletalia sepium, Galio-Urticetea); 20.8% of them derive from the vegetation of the mezophyllous meadows (Molinio-Arrhenartheretea); by 12.5% of them belong to Artemisietea, respectively Stellarietea classes, and less species to other vegetation classes. The dominant bioforms in this phytocoenoses are the hemicryptophytes (37.5%) and therophytes (20.8%), followed by the phanerophytes (16.7%), geophytes (12.5%) etc. From an ecological point of view, the communities edified with Reynoutria spp. are mezophyllous-mezohigrophylous (Um=3.5), mezotermophyllous (Tm=3.2) and lightly acid-neutrophyllous (Rm=3.7) ones; a lot of species are amphytolerant to temperature (20.8%) and soil reaction (37.5%). Diploids and polyploids have an equable repartition in the floristic structure of phytocoenoses (Id.n=1.0), but the polyploid species lead obviously in the soil coverage (Id.c=0.01). In regard of the phyto-geographical analysis, after the Eurasian element (45.8%), an important participation has the alien (nonnative) element (23%, wherein 18.8% from America, and 4.2% from Asia). In Romania, this association was firstly identified by Szabó, 1971, in the Sărăţel- Chiraleş-Lechinţa region [24]. Then it was also quoted (on riverbanks, border of roads, waste places, along of the fences) in other places from Transylvania: near by Valea Vinului Station (on the valley of Someşul Mare) (without relevées) [23], Ţara Secuilor (without relevées) [12] and Crişana (without relevées) [6]. Regarding their structure and ecology, these tall weedy communities are similar with those described from some Central European countries [7; 11; 14 etc.]. Conclusions *Two vegetal communities, less known in Romania, are presented, namely: Helianthetum tuberosi (Moor 1958) Oberd. 1967, and Reynoutrietum japonicae Görs 1974 corr. Hilbig 1995. * These vegetal associations with a nonnative character, displace the native vegetal communities from the Tisa everglades on large areas, degrading the characteristic structure of natural ecosistems associated with this watercourse. 136

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Table I Helianthetum tuberosi (Moor 1958) Oberd. 1967 (rel. 1-4); Reynoutrietum japonicae Görs 1974 corr. Hilbig 1995 (rel. 5-8) Coverage (%) 100 90 100 100 100 100 100 100 Area (sq.m) 100 50 50 50 100 150 100 100 No. species 18 25 30 18 23 30 24 14 No. rel. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Helianthus tuberosus 5 5 5 5 + + + + Reynoutria x bohemica & R. japonica - + - - 5 5 5 5 Senecion fluviatilis Solidago gigantea subsp. serotina 1 1 - + + + + + Impatiens glandulifera - - + + - + - - Aster lanceolatus - + - + - - - - Eupatorium cannabinum - - + - - - - - Echinocystis lobata - - - - - + + - Convolvuletalia sepium Calystegia sepium - + + + + - - + Rubus caesius + + + - + + + + Angelica sylvestris - - + - - - + - Cucubalus baccifer - - + - - - - - Galio-Urticetea Glechoma hederacea - - + + + + + - Humulus lupulus + - + - + - - - Urtica dioica - - + + - + - - Polygonum dumetorum - - + + - - - - Impatiens parviflora - + + - - - - - Salvia glutinosa - - + - - - - - Parthenocissus quinquefolia - - - - + - - + Sambucus ebulus - - - - + - - - Anthriscus sylvestris - - - - + - - - Anthriscus cerefolium subsp. trichosperma - - - - - + - - Artemisietea vulgaris Artemisia vulgaris + + + + + + + + Erigeron annuus + + + + + + + - Tanacetum vulgare + + + + + + - + Elymus repens - + - + + + - - Oenothera biennis + - - - - + + - Daucus carota - - - - + + + - Bidentetea tripartitae Mentha longifolia + - + - - + - - Xanthium italicum + - - + + - - - Echinochloa crus-galli - - + - - - - - Polygonum lapathifolium - - + - - - - - Bidens frondosa - - - - - + + - Lycopus europaeus - - - - - + + - Polygonum amphibium f. terrestre - - - - - - - + Stellarietea mediae Galinsoga quadriradiata - + + - - + + - 138

Cirsium arvense - + + - - - - + Conyza canadensis - - + - + + - - Setaria pumila + - - - + - - - Amaranthus retroflexus - - + - - - - - Ambrosia artemisiifolia - - + - - - - - Chenopodium album - - + - - - - - Chenopodium polyspermum - - + - - - - - Galeopsis tetrahit - + - - - - - - Lathyrus tuberosus - + - - - - - - Trigonella coerulea - - + - - - - - Oxalis stricta - - - - + - + - Torilis arvensis - - - - - + - - Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Agrostis stolonifera 1 1 + + + - + + Pastinaca sativa + - + - + + + + Galium molugo - + + - - + + - Equisetum palustre + + - - - - + - Taraxacum officinale - - + + - + - - Tussilago farfara - + - - + + - - Knautia arvensis + - + + - - - - Vicia cracca + + - + - - - - Trifolium pratense - - + + - - - - Achillea millefolium - + + - - - - - Trifolium repens - - + - - - - - Centaurea jacea + - + - - - - - Calamagrostis epigejos - + - - - - - - Mentha x verticillata - + - - - - - - Potentilla anserina + - - - - - - - Lysimachia nummularia - + - - - - - - Lysimachia vulgaris - + - - - - - - Dactylis glomerata - - - - - - + - Plantago major - - - - - + - - Prunella vulgaris - - - - - + - - Vicia sepium - - - - - + - - Variae syntaxa Salix alba - - - - - + + - Salix elaeagnos - - - - - - - + Alnus glutinosa - - - - - + - - Clinopodium vulgare - - + - - - - - Phragmites australis + - - - - - - - Clematis vitalba - - - - + - + + Brachypodium sylvaticum - - - - - - + - Cerastium sylvaticum - - - - - - + - Cornus sanguinea - - - - + - - - Place and date of the relevées: 1-Tisa (02.09.04); 2-Sighetul Marmaţiei (03.09.04); 3-Sarasău (04.09.04); 4; 8-Teceu Mic (05.09.04); 5-Crăciuneşti (02.09.04); 6-Săpânţa (04.09.04); 7-Remeţi (05.09.04) 139