Flora of xerothermic sites of the Zachodniowołyńska Dolina Bugu Special area of conservation (Eastern Poland): The influence of habitat on rare grassland species

Abstract

The aim of the investigation was to study the flora of grasslands within the Zachodniowołyńska Dolina Bugu Special Area of Conservation and to identify the types of habitats with the highest concentration of grassland species. In the years 2011-2012, floristic analyses covered the slopes of the valley of the Bug river, balks and places of shallow bedrock deposition, roadsides, as well as railway and earthwork sites. One hundred and fifty eight plant species belonging to 37 families were found. Though considered extinct in Polish flora, Dianthus collinus subsp. glabriusculus was discovered. Close to half of the recorded species (47%) were grassland taxa and 15% rare and/or protected plants, which make the studied area particularly valuable for the conservation of biodiversity. The fewest grassland plants occurred on habitats that are under the influence of agriculture, where the dominance of nitrophilous and herbicide resistant plant species was observed.

Keywords

• Agricultural intensification
• agricultural landscape
• conservation of biodiversity
• Dianthus collinus subsp. glabriusculus
• edge effects
• grasslands
• rare and protected plants
• xerothermic habitats
• Poland