2018. október 1., hétfő

Cikk a vetővirág elterjedéséről és magprodukciójáról a pannon temetőkben

Megjelent a vetővirág (Sternbergia colchiciflora) pannon temetőkbeli elterjedéséről és magprodukciójáról írt cikkünk a Tuexenia folyóiratban.

A közlemény letölthető innen.
 

Abstract
Despite huge habitat losses caused by agricultural intensification, dry grasslands still represent one of the most diverse ecosystems in Europe. Their highly fragmented remnants are often preserved in man-made or human-influenced habitats (e.g., kurgans, roadside verges or cemeteries). In recent decades the significance of cemeteries as suitable habitats for preserving native and rare species has been repeatedly emphasized. However, the effect of modern management practices on long-term persistence of grassland species has remained largely unexplored. Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. & Kit. is one of the very few threatened dry grassland specialists whose occurrence in the cemeteries of the Pannonian Basin has been known for more than a century. This hysteranthous, myrmecochorous geophyte is considered rare or sporadic within its whole distribution range. In a systematic botanical survey we investigated 154 cemeteries in the Pannonian part of its distribution area. Despite modern management of cemeteries, characterised by frequent and intensive motorised lawn mowing, we found populations of S. colchiciflora at 27 Hungarian localities and confirmed three formerly known occurrences in Serbia. To study the effect of regular mowing on the long-term survival prospects of S. colchiciflora populations, we quantified the species’ seed production (capsular seed number) in 9 mown and 15 unmown sites (290 and 235 specimens, respectively). The difference in seed number between the two groups was statistically insignificant (13.6±5.6 and 14.7±5.0, respectively). This result is probably due to the peculiar phenology and small stature of this species. Firstly, its annual life cycle above ground (from September to May) is out of the main mowing season. Secondly, its 3–7 cm tall flowers and fruits have a high chance of surviving the damaging effect of motorised mowing. Thirdly, it seems likely that the loss of leaf tips, i.e. a part of the assimilation surface, of this short-leaved (5–13 cm) species by mowing doesn’t affect the general condition of the damaged individuals. Our study emphasizes the role of Central European cemeteries (even if mown intensively) in preservation of characteristic dry grassland plant species.

Hivatkozás
Molnár V. A., Mészáros A., Csathó A. I., Balogh G., Takács A., Löki V., Lovas-Kiss Á., Tökölyi J., Somlyay L. & Bauer N. (2018): Distribution and seed production of the rare, dry grassland specialist Sternbergia colchiciflora (Amaryllidaceae) in Pannonian cemeteries. – Tuexenia 38: 371–384.

Nincsenek megjegyzések:

Megjegyzés küldése