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Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions (Taraxacum) in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands

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Factors determining the distribution of highly endangered marsh dandelion species in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands have been investigated. The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to determine which environmental variables are responsible for the vegetation patterns in coastal grasslands with marsh dandelion and (ii) to analyse the ecological spectra of the identified marsh dandelion species. Altogether 51 plots were sampled (in 2013 and 2014). They were used following statistical analysis: DCA, CCA, Spearman’s rank correlation test, Kruskal-Wallis test and hierarchical divisive cluster analysis (TWINSPAN). In total, three marsh dandelion species were found in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands. The only species found in Poland was Taraxacum balticum. In Estonia all three species occur: T. balticum, T. decolorans and T. suecicum. Taraxacum balticum has been found in the widest ranges of all soil properties included, usually on organic, saline, non-carbonate and acid to slightly acid substrate. Taraxacum suecicum and T. decolorans have been found only on mineral, non-saline and slightly alkaline to alkaline substrate. The ecological spectra determined for endangered marsh dandelion species can be used to improve the methods of their protection. Nomenclature: mosses - Ochyra et al. (2003); vascular plants - Mirek et al. (2002).
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Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions (Taraxacum)
in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands
Beata BOSIACKA 1*, Thea KULL 2, Helena WIĘCŁAW 1, Paweł MARCINIUK 3 and Marek PODLASIŃSKI 4
1 Department of Plant Taxonomy and Phytogeography, University of Szczecin, Wąska St. 13, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland,
*e-mail: bebos@univ.szczecin.pl (corresponding author)
2 Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014 Tar tu, Estonia
3 Department of Botany, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
Prusa St. 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
4 Department of Land Recultivation and Environmental Chemistry, West Pomeranian University of Technology,
Słowackiego St. 14, 71-434 Szczecin, Poland
INTRODUCTION
Species of the Taraxacum sect. Palustria are
one of the most threatened groups of dan-
delions. This results from their high habitat
requirements and high sensitivity to changes
in grassland management. They are heliophi-
lous species which require relatively fertile,
at least periodically wet, mineral or organic
soils. Furthermore, in some regions, a high
content of available calcium and carbonates
in the soil and the associated neutral or alka-
line soil reaction appears to be an important
factor determining the occurrence of marsh
dandelions. Such ecological requirements and
low competitiveness reduce their occurrence
to natural and semi-natural wet grasslands
with undisturbed hydrological conditions.
Widespread land reclamation and abandon-
ment of traditional farming methods result
in the disappearance of suitable habitats as
well as a significant decrease in the number
and the size of the marsh dandelion popula-
tions (Ooster v e l d 1983, Kirschn e r and
Štěpanek 1998, S c h mid 2002, Marcini-
uk 2012).
The natural range of the Taraxacum sect.
Palustria covers Europe and Southwest Asia,
but the ranges of species included in the sec-
tion are relatively small, which permits the
identification of clear distribution groups, e.g.
with the Mediterranean, Alpine-Carpathian,
Central-European or Baltic range. Group
with the Baltic range encompasses 10 spe-
cies of dandelions, relatively closely associated
with grassland habitats of the Baltic coast.
ABSTRACT
Factors determining the distribution of highly endangered marsh
dandelion species in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands have
been investigated. e aim of this study was twofold: (i) to deter-
mine which environmental variables are responsible for the vege-
tation patterns in coastal grasslands with marsh dandelion and (ii)
to analyse the ecological spectra of the identied marsh dandelion
species. Altogether 51 plots were sampled (in 2013 and 2014). ey
were used following statistical analysis: DCA, CCA, Spearman’s
rank correlation test, Kruskal-Wallis test and hierarchical divisive
cluster analysis (TWINSPAN). In total, three marsh dandelion
species were found in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands. e
only species found in Poland was Taraxacum balticum. In Estonia
all three species occur: T. balticum, T. decolorans and T. suecicum.
Taraxacum balticum has been found in the widest ranges of all
soil properties included, usually on organic, saline, non-carbonate
and acid to slightly acid substrate. Taraxacum suecicum and T. de -
colorans have been found only on mineral, non-saline and slightly
alkaline to alkaline substrate. e ecological spectra determined
for endangered marsh dandelion species can be used to improve
the methods of their protection. Nomenclature: mosses – Oc hy ra
et al. (2003); vascular plants – Mirek et al. (2002).
ARTICLE INFO
R  
 
P. J. E. (2016) 64: 213–230
  
A 2016

10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.006
 
marsh dandelions
coastal meadows
vegetation-environment relations
CCA
TWINSPAN
Beata Bosiacka et al.
Their greatest species diversity was observed
on the Baltic islands: Gotland and Öland
(Kirschne r and Ště p anek 1998, Rydberg
2006).
The most comprehensive study of
marsh dandelions is a monograph based on
the knowledge of live material from many
countries (compared with cultivated plants
and herbarium specimens), and completed
with the information from previous studies
of the section Palustria (Kirschner and
Štěpanek 1998). With the growing inter-
est in the taxonomy and chorology of the
whole genus Taraxacum, also some new
studies related to floras of marsh dandelions
(Schmi d 2002, Rydb e r g 2006, Marcini-
uk 2012) or reports on the location of sin-
gle species (e.g. Štěpanek and Kirschner
2001, Marciniuk and Marciniuk 2006,
Trávníček et al. 2007, Aquaro et al.
2008, Marciniuk et al. 2012) have been
published. New studies are also undertaken
in the field of genetics, cytology, embry-
ology, karyology and biochemistry of dan-
delions from this group (e.g. Marciniuk
et al. 2010 a, b, Michalska et al. 2009,
Michalska et al. 2010 a, b, Musia ł et al.
2013, Płachno et al. 2014).
General ecological requirements are de-
termined for the whole section Palustria,
but detailed information about life spectra
of individual species is still incomplete, and
it usually applies to plant communities and
habitat types associated with the occurrence
of different species of marsh dandelions.
Physicochemical properties of the substrate
on which the plants grow are very rarely
determined; sometimes ecological indicator
values are indirectly used for this purpose
(Sterk et al. 1983, Sc h m id 2002). Such
studies may show local ecological adapta-
tion on a small scale, and determine more
precisely the tolerance ranges and indicator
values of individual marsh dandelion spe-
cies.
e aim of this study was twofold: (i) to
answer the question “which environmental
variables are responsible for the vegetation
patterns in coastal grasslands with marsh
dandelions, and (ii) to determine the eco-
logical spectra of the identied marsh dande-
lion species in the Polish and Estonian coastal
grasslands.
STUDY AREA
The search for marsh dandelions was con-
ducted in all salt and brackish meadows along
the Polish Baltic coast and in salt, brackish
and calcareous coastal grasslands along the
western part of the Estonian Baltic coast.
The area of the Polish Baltic coast belongs
to the continental biogeographical region
and the suboceanic climate zone, whereas
the Estonian Baltic coast belongs to the bo-
real biogeographical region and the subcon-
tinental climate zone (Interpretation Manual
…2003).
Due to the natural and anthropogenic
factors limiting the occurrence of coastal
salt meadows in Poland, halophilous phy-
tocoenoses of short grasslands develop only
in few places like estuaries and the shores
of shallow bays (Bosiacka et al. 2011, Bo-
siacka 2012). The Estonian coastal grass-
lands are located mainly in western Estonia
and on its islands, but also at single sites
along the northern coast. Due to the gla-
cial history, the land surface of the Bal-
tic coasts in Estonia is still rising. In the
coastal zone of Estonia, in the vicinity of
salt and brackish wet meadows, calcareous
grassland (alvars) are also widespread – on
the limestone material, outside the direct
impact of the seawater, mainly dry, but at
some sites temporarily wet (Pärtel et al.
1999, Lotman and Le p i k 2004, Kaljuste
2004, Berg 2008).
According to the organic matter con-
tent and the thickness of the organic layer,
the coastal salt grasslands in Poland develop
on the ‘deep soil type’ with a high organic
matter content. In contrast, salt and alvar
coastal meadows in Estonia occur mainly
on young soils with low organic matter con-
tent and no distinct humus layer (or with
thin, slightly decomposed surface horizon),
which corresponds to the ‘shallow soil type’
(Tyl e r 1971, Kauer et al. 2004, Kõlli et
al. 2007, Niedźw i e cki et al. 2009, Hulis z
2013).
During the presented study, marsh dan-
delions were found at only 3 sites out of 8 in-
vestigated along the whole Polish coast, and
at 23 sites in Estonia (8 samples and 43 sam-
ples, respectively) (Fig. 1).
214
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Dandelions were determined based on the
publications of Kirs c h n er and Štěpánek
(1998) and Marc in iu k (2012). The main di-
agnostic features of T. balticum, T. suecicum
and T. decolorans are presented in Table 1.
Field sampling
Field data were collected in April and May
2013 and 2014. Altogether 51 plots were
sampled in patches with the presence of
marsh dandelions. The size of the plots
(relevés) was 2 × 2 m. The species cover in
Table 1. The main diagnostic features of T. balticum, T. suecicum and T. decolorans (according to
Kirschner and Št ě p á nek 1998).
T. balticum T. suecicum T. decolorans
Leaves
Deeply divided, lateral
lobes 3-5 linear or nar-
rowly triangular. Terminal
lobe tripartite, terminal
segment lingulate.
Entire or with remote
minute teeth.
Shallowly sinuate-lobulate
or sinuate-dentate, les often
lobed, lateral lobes 2-3 pat-
ent or recurved.
Outer bracts
9-13 adpressed, broadly
ovate to ovate lanceolate
6.0-7.5 mm long and 3.5-
4.0 mm wide. Borders in-
discting 0.6-1.0 mm wide.
10-14 adpressed, broadly
ovate to ovate 5.1-6.5 mm
long and 4.0-4.5 mm wide.
Borders conspicuos up to
1.5 mm wide.
10-11 adpressed, broadly
ovate to ovate lanceolate
5.5-7.5 mm long and 3.0-
4.2 mm wide. Borders very
distinct 0.8-1.3 mm wide.
Outer ligule striped Present, grey-green purple Present, greyish-purple Absent
Stigmas Greyish yellow Pure yellow Pale greyish yellow
Pollen Absent or rarely very
sparsely present Absent Absent
Chromosome number 2n=4x=32 2n=4x=32 2n=?
Mode of reproduction apomicts apomicts apomicts
Fig. 1. Localities: KrK – Karsiborska Kępa, Jar – Jarzębowo, Wdr – Włodarka, Uu – Uulu, Kv – Kavaru,
Pu – Puhtu, Rd – Ruilaid, Ro – Rooglaiu, Sa – Saastna, Ke – Keemu, Po – Põgari, To – Tooraku, Rh –
Rohuküla, Pl – Pullapää, Ru – Rumpo, Ho – Hosby, Vo – Vormsi, Ks – Kassari, Or – Orjaku, Ja – Jausa,
Ta – Tärkma, So – Sõru, Tr – Triigi, Ku – Kuusnõmme, La – Lahetaguse, Ra – Rahuste
215
Beata Bosiacka et al.
each plot was assessed using a nine-grade
scale (van der Maarel 1979): 15% >single
specimens, 25% >some specimens, 35%
>several specimens, 45% >many speci-
mens, 55−12.5%, 612.5−25%, 725−50%,
850−75%, 975−100%.
From each plot dandelion specimens
were collected as evidence. Estonian material
is deposited at the herbarium of the Institute
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
(TAA) at the Estonian University of Life Sci-
ences. Polish material is preserved in the her-
barium of the University of Szczecin (SZUB).
For each relevé, three samples of soil
were collected with a sampler from the root
zone of plants (0−25 cm). After mixing, they
formed one soil sample for chemical analysis,
representing a given relevé.
Laboratory analysis
Soil samples were dried at room tempera-
ture, and then rubbed through a sieve to
remove fractions larger than 1 mm. The
following properties were determined in
the thus-prepared material: (1) the con-
tent of organic matter – by losses on ig-
nition at 550°C, (2) soil reaction – by the
potentiometric method in 1 M solution of
KCl, (3) electrolytic conductivity of the satu-
rated soil extract (ECe) – by the conducto-
metric method, (4) the content of available
forms of potassium in 0.5 M solution of HCl
– by the AAS method, (5) the content of
available forms of magnesium in 0.5 M solu-
tion of HCl – by the AAS method, (6) the
content of available forms of phosphorus in
0.5 M solution of HCl – by the colorimetric
method, (7) carbonates (mainly CaCO3) –
by Scheibler’s method, (8) the total content
of carbon and nitrogen – using a chemical
analyser (CHNS, Costech) in air-dry, tritu-
rated soil samples.
Values of the soil salinity were determined
based on the conductivity of the saturated soil
extract (ECe). The following salinity classes
were applied: 0−2 dS m-1 non-saline soils,
2−4 dS m-1 slightly saline soils, 4−8 dS m-1
moderately saline soils, 8−16 dS m-1 strongly
saline soils, >16 dS m-1 very strongly saline
soils (Richards 1954).
Data analysis
Relationships between plant species compo-
sition and environmental factors were deter-
mined using the software package CANOCO
v. 4.5 (ter Braa k and Š m i laue r 2002).
Plant species distribution patterns in re-
lation to environmental variables were deter-
mined by canonical correspondence analysis
(CCA), after detrended correspondence anal-
ysis (DCA) detected a unimodal structure
of the species data. The data were not trans-
formed.
Tests of significance of the first and all ca-
nonical axes were performed for the statisti-
cal assessment of the relation between plant
species composition and environmental vari-
ables (Monte Carlo test: 499 permutations
under reduced model).
The Monte Carlo permutation test was
further applied to determine the statistical
significance of environmental variables in
explaining the plant species composition. For
this purpose, stepwise ‘forward selection’ of
explanatory variables was used (available in
CANOCO). The procedure started with the
selection of the best explanatory variable (a
variable that best explains the total data vari-
ance), and the sequence of other variables
was determined according to their decreas-
ing importance in explaining the total vari-
ance in the data set, together with the previ-
ously selected variables. Therefore, a value
of ‘extra fit’ was calculated (Lambda A), un-
derstood as a change in the sum of all CCA
eigenvalues after another variable is added.
Additionally, statistical significance of each
variable was calculated. Variation in the plant
species composition, explained by environ-
mental variables included in the analysis, was
expressed as a percentage – the ratio of the
sum of all canonical eigenvalues to the value
of total variance (total inertia). Variation in
the species composition explained by indi-
vidual variables was calculated from the ratio
of Lambda A to the total variance (total iner-
tia) and expressed as a percentage.
For each soil property, related to indi-
vidual marsh dandelion species, basic statis-
tics were calculated (interquartile ranges of
values, the medians, outlier values, extreme
values). The ranges of this properties were il-
lustrated by separate box and whiskers plots.
216
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
The differences between soil properties typi-
cal for each species were assessed with Krus-
kal-Wallis test with post-hoc Dunn’s multiple
comparisons test. The relationship between
individual marsh dandelion species occur-
rence and soil parameters was examined us-
ing Spearman’s rank association test (STA-
TISTICA StatSoft v. 10.0).
Plant communities were distinguished in
the set of phytosociological relevés by the hi-
erarchical divisive cluster analysis performed
with the TWINSPAN software v. 2.3 (H i l l
and Šmilauer 2005).
RESULTS
The DCA results revealed a unimodal struc-
ture of the species data (the gradient length
represented by the first ordination axis was
3.797 SD), therefore the direct CCA ordina-
tion was performed. The obtained CCA re-
sults indicated that all the applied variables
accounted for 23.5% of the total variance
in the species data. The first axis and all ca-
nonical axes were significant as tested by the
unrestricted Monte Carlo permutation test
(P = 0.002).
The results of the stepwise forward selec-
tion of variables revealed that five out of eight
variables included (org. mat., ECe, pH, P,
CaCO3) were statistically significant and ac-
counted for 17.3% of the total variance in the
plant species composition in the investigated
coastal grassland patches. The largest amount
of the total variance was explained by the or-
ganic matter content (6.2%) and soil salinity
(3.2%) (Table 2).
In total three marsh dandelion species
were found in the Polish and Estonian coastal
grasslands. In Estonia all three species occur:
Taraxacum balticum, T. decolorans and T.
suecicum (Appendix 1a-c). The only species
found in Poland was T. balticum. According
to the ordination diagram of species and en-
vironmental variables (Fig. 2), the maximum
abundance of T. decolorans and T. suecicum,
together with a group of other species located
in their vicinity on the diagram (e.g. Molinia
coerulea, Festuca arundinacea, Centaurea ja-
cea, Carex flacca, Sessleria uliginosa), was re-
lated to the highest and moderate values of
pH and CaCO3 content in the soil, and lower
values of the soil salinity and organic matter
content, whereas the maximum abundance of
T. balticum, and of other species located in its
vicinity on the diagram (e.g. Juncus gerardi,
Agrostis stolonifera, Glaux maritima, Trifo-
lium fragiferum, Triglochin maritima), was
related to the highest and moderate values of
the soil salinity and organic matter content,
and lower values of pH and CaCO3 content.
Phytocoenoses of salt meadows from the
Polish part of the Baltic coast, developing on
the organic, acid, non-carbonate substrate
(samples 1−8; mean values of: EC
e
3.1 dS m
-1
,
pH 5.6, org. mat. 51%), where only T. balti -
cum was observed, clearly group together in
the right part of the ordination diagram of
samples and environmental variables (Fig. 3).
In the central, lower part of the diagram, four
samples from the Estonian coast of the Baltic
Sea are located; they come from phytocoeno-
ses with T. balticum, growing on the organic,
saline, non-carbonate and slightly acid sub-
strate (samples 9, 12, 16, 17; mean values of:
Table 2. Forward selection results with the test of variable significance for samples collected in the salt
and brackish meadows on the Polish and Estonian Baltic coast and in the Estonian coastal alvar grass-
lands; *significance level P <0.05.
Variables Explained data variance
[%] F-ratio P-value
org.mat. 6.2* 3.24* 0.002*
ECe3.2* 1.69* 0.002*
pH 2.7* 1.48* 0.020*
P 2.7* 1.38* 0.026*
CaCO32.5* 1.41* 0.050*
Mg 2.4 1.27 0.122
C:N 2.1 1.14 0.256
K 1.9 1.04 0.426
217
Beata Bosiacka et al.
EC
e
2.9 dS m
-1
, pH 6.9, org. mat. 21%). Some
samples from the Estonian coastal meadows,
where all three marsh dandelion species were
identified, dominate in the left, upper and cen-
tral parts of the diagram; they develop on the
mineral, non-saline, alkaline substrate, with
a high content of carbonates (samples 21−23,
35, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49; mean values of: EC
e
0.6
dS m
-1
, pH 7.8, CaCO
3
26%, org. mat. 4.8%).
The largest group of samples from Estonia is
located in the left, central and lower part of the
diagram; the samples were collected in phyto-
coenoses growing on the mineral, non-saline,
slightly alkaline substrate, with an increased
content of phosphorus and small content of
CaCO
3
(samples 10−15, 18−20, 24−34, 36−42,
45, 50−51; mean values of: EC
e
0.7 dS m
-1
, pH
7.3, P 204.7 mg kg
-1
, CaCO
3
2.7%, org. mat.
5.7%), within the range of which all three spe-
cies of marsh dandelions occurred.
More accurate numerical ranges of the
soil properties, related to individual marsh
dandelion species are presented in Fig. 4. Ta-
raxacum balticum was found in the widest
ranges of all included soil properties. It was
the only species found on organic (org. mat.
> 20%) and saline soils (ECe > 2 dS m-1), the
most acid and the most alkaline soils (pH
range 5.1−8.2), the least and the most rich
in P (range 10.6−365.4 mg kg-1), Mg (range
66.3−4727.4 mg kg-1), K (range 7.5−987.7
mg kg-1), CaCO3 (range 0−36.7 %), the most
and the least fertile soils (range of C:N ratio
7.6−17.6). Taraxacum suecicum and T. decolo-
rans were found only on mineral and non-sa-
line soils. Ranges of soil properties were simi-
lar for both species and were usually much
narrower compared to T. balticum. Kruskal-
Wallis test revealed statistically significant
differences between habitats of Taraxacum
species in organic matter content and ECe
(Table 3). The post hoc Dunn’s multiple com-
parisons test detected no significant differ-
ences in soil conditions at sites of T. suecicum
and T. decolorans. Soil conditions in habitats
of T. balticum and the other two mentioned
above Taraxacum species differ significantly
only in ECe (Table 3).
Fig. 2. Ordination diagram of species and environmental variables along the first two CCA axes. *sta-
tistically significant variables.
Abbreviations of species names consist of the first three letters of a generic name and the first three
letters of a species name (see Appendix 2), with exceptions: Juni.com Juniperus communis, Car.dich
Carex disticha
218
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
Using Spearman’s rank test, the moderate,
statistically significant relationships were ob-
served for the occurrence of all three marsh
dandelion species and soil salinity, expressed
as ECe (positive correlation for T. balticum
and negative correlation for T. suecicum and
T. decolorans), and additionally – negative
correlation between the occurrence of T. s ue-
cicum and organic matter content in the soil,
and positive correlation between the occur-
rence of T. suecicum and pH (Table 4).
According to the hierarchical divisive
cluster analysis, four groups of plant commu-
nities were identified (Appendix 2). Clusters I
Fig. 3. Ordination diagram of samples and environmental variables along the first two CCA axes; *sta-
tistically significant variables.
black squares – samples from the salt meadows on the Polish Baltic coast, where only T. balticum was
observed; white squares - samples from the salt meadows on the Estonian Baltic coast, where only T.
balticum was observed; black circles – samples from alvar grasslands and transitional areas up to alvars
on the Estonian Baltic coast, where all three marsh dandelion species were identified, white circles –
samples from transitional areas up to brackish or alvar grasslands on the Estonian Baltic coast, where all
three marsh dandelion species were identified
Table 3. Results of Kruskal-Wallis test and the post hoc Dunns multiple comparisons test, showing sig-
nificance of difference in soil conditions at sites of Taraxacum balticum (Tar .bal), T. suecicum (Ta r .sue)
and T. decolorans (Tar.dec); *P <0.05 (significance level).
Soil
properties
Kruskal-Wallis test Dunn’s multiple comparisons test
Tar.ba l -Tar. sue Tar. b a l-Tar.de c Ta r. s ue-Tar.d e c
HP-value P-value P-value P-value
org. mat. [%] 6.1202 0.0469* 0.0682 0.5634 1.0000
ECe [dS m-1] 13.1887 0.0014* 0.0104* 0.0283* 1.0000
pH 4.5449 0.1031 0.1505 0.7671 1.0000
P [mg kg-1] 0.8484 0.6543 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
CaCO3 [%] 1.4408 0.4866 0.8441 1.0000 1.0000
Mg [mg kg-1] 0.4472 0.7996 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
C:N 0.2852 0.8671 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
K [mg kg-1] 0.8105 0.6668 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000
219
Beata Bosiacka et al.
org. mat. [%]
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
EC [dS
.
m
-1
]
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
pH
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
P [mg
.
kg
-1
]
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
C:N
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
K [mg
.
kg
-1
]
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
CaCO
3
[%]
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Tar.bal Tar.sue Tar.dec
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
Fig. 4. The range of values of the soil properties related to individual Taraxacum species. Large boxes
indicate 25–75% of the interquartile ranges of values, small boxes – the medians, white circles – outlier
values, asterisk – extreme values; Tar.bal Taraxacum balticum, Tar.sue Taraxacum suecicum, Ta r.
dec Taraxacum decolorans
220
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
and II include samples from Estonian coastal
alvar grasslands and transitional areas up to
alvars. Molinia coerulea, Centaurea jacea, Ga-
lium boreale and Lotus corniculatus are indi-
cators common for both groups. The follow-
ing species are indicators for cluster I: Sesleria
uliginosa, Succisa pratensis, Deschampsia caes-
pitosa, and for cluster II: Festuca arundinacea,
Carex flacca, Inula salicina. Furthermore,
phytocoenoses from group II are character-
ised by more frequent and more abundant oc-
currence of Phragmites australis. Halophilous
species were rare or occasional in both groups.
Marsh dandelions were mostly represented by
T. balticum, which was also present in clusters
III and IV. Taraxacum suecicum and T. decolo-
rans were present only in clusters I and II.
Clusters III and IV include samples from
Polish and Estonian coastal salt meadows
and transitional areas up to salt and brack-
ish grasslands. Juncus gerardi and Agrostis
stolonifera are indicators common for both
clusters. Cluster III includes samples from
the Estonian coastal meadows, and cluster
IV − from the Polish coastal meadows. Clus-
ter III is distinguished from cluster IV by a
smaller contribution of halophytes. The lat-
ter is distinguished by a constant presence of
Carex nigra, Triglochin maritima, Leontodon
autumnalis, Trifolium fragiferum. Marsh dan-
delion species are represented in both groups
only by T. balticum.
DISCUSSION
Dandelions appear to be prompt indica-
tors under deteriorating habitat conditions
(Ooster veld 1983). This may be particu-
larly true in the case of species with narrower
ecological spectra, e.g. almost exclusively
confined to natural and semi-natural habitats
– unfertilized or slightly fertilized, not grazed
or extensively grazed pastures and meadows,
in periodically flooded places with an ac-
companying effect of new available minerals
from the sediments and suppressed compe-
titions. These conditions meet the require-
ments of dandelion species from the section
Palustria. Unfortunately, many of their habi-
tats have rapidly vanished in recent decades,
which resulted in a threat to the entire sec-
tion (Ooster veld 1983, Sterk et al. 1983,
Kirschne r and Ště p anek 1998).
The presented study concerns the marsh
dandelion flora of coastal salt meadows in
Poland, and salt and calcareous coastal grass-
lands in Estonia. The Polish coastal salt grass-
lands are classified to the EU habitat types
1330 Atlantic salt meadows, and Estonian
coastal salt grasslands – to the EU habitat
types 1630 *Boreal Baltic coastal meadows,
whereas Estonian coastal calcareous grass-
land – to the EU habitat types 6280 *Nordic
alvar and Precambrian calcareous flatrocks
(Interpretation Manual…2003). With regard
to the results of comprehensive studies on
the management, biodiversity and restora-
tion potential of the salt grassland vegetation
on the Baltic coast (Wanner 2009), it can
be questioned whether separation of the two
EU habitat types 1330 and 1630 is justified,
and if yes, whether the same management
and restoration guidelines can be applied to
both types. It can be suspected that there is a
gradual transition between both types. In ad-
dition, natural gradients between saline and
non-saline habitats occur along the coast of
Estonia (Pä r tel et al. 1999, B u r nside et al.
2007, Berg 2008).
The main reasons for the disappearance
of different types of grasslands along the Bal-
tic coast are: cessation of traditional farming
activities (abandonment of grazing and mow-
ing) or, on the other hand, ecological degra-
dation due to agricultural intensification and
drainage. As a consequence of these manage-
ment changes, a decrease in the species rich-
ness and community diversity, as well as a
decline in the landscape heterogeneity are ob-
Table 4. Results of Spearman’s rank association test between dandelion species occurrence and soil pa-
rameters; * P <0.05 (significance level).
taxon mat.org.
[%] C:N ECe
[dS m-1]pH P
[mg kg-1]K
[mg kg-1]Mg
[mg kg-1]CaCO3 [%]
T. balticum 0.073 0.085 0.325* -0.074 0.006 -0.056 0.089 -0,076
T. suecicum -0.392* -0.069 -0.468* 0.352* 0.151 -0.063 -0.094 0.188
T.decolorans -0.203 -0.025 -0.368* 0.174 -0.043 -0.159 0.012 0.089
221
Beata Bosiacka et al.
served (D oo dy 2001, Bur ns id e 2007, B erg
2008, Wanner 2009). In many countries, ac-
tive protection of coastal meadows has been
implemented in recent decades, resulting in
the reconstruction of characteristic physiog-
nomy and species composition (Puurmann
and Ratas 1998, B e rnhardt and Koch
2002, Rannap et al. 2004).
Active protection of grassland ecosystems
along the Baltic coast contributes also to the
preservation or restoration of populations of
endangered marsh dandelions from the group
of the Baltic range. We have found three such
species during our research: T. balticum, T.
suecicum and T. decolorans. Only T. balticum
was found on the Polish coast and only at three
sites in the western part of the country (in 8
samples), in phytocoenoses with a contribu-
tion of halophytes and usually with abundant
moss cover. It is the only species with the Bal-
tic range ever recorded in Poland. Ki rs chner
and Štěpanek (1998) define it as one of the
most halophilous species of the section, with a
distribution closely connected with the Baltic
coast. It reaches its southern limit in Central
Germany and is known to occur in Sweden,
Finland, Germany, Poland and Estonia. Like
other taxa from the section of Palustria, it be-
comes increasingly rare. None of the sites we
found along the Polish coast have been previ-
ously reported in literature. Together with T.
udum and T. madidum, T. balticum belongs
to extremely rare species in the Polish marsh
dandelion flora. Apart from the coast, T. bal ti-
cum has been recently confirmed only in one
inland salt grassland and one chalk meadow
in central Poland (Marciniu k 2012).
A much higher number of T. balticum
stands (22 stands in total, in 36 samples) was
found on the Estonian coast. The taxon oc-
curred in all types of the studied phytocoeno-
ses: in salt and brackish meadows, in coastal
alvar grasslands and in transitional areas; in
the widest ranges of all considered soil prop-
erties.
Another identified species was T. decolo-
rans. Ki r s chner and Štěpanek (1998) de-
fine it as primarily an ‘alvar’ species, but it
occurs also on calcareous fens at many con-
tinental sites. It is known to occur in Swe-
den and Estonia. In the course of our field
research, the species was recorded at 5 sites
(in 6 samples) in the western part of Estonia,
in phytocoenoses of coastal alvar grassland
with a high content of carbonates in the soil
(samples 44 and 49; in sample 44 – the high-
est CaCO
3
content of all investigated samples
from Estonia) and in transitional areas, with
a low content of carbonates (samples 28, 33,
26, 29).
Taraxacum suecium was the third species
found by us on the Estonian coast. K ir s c hn e r
and Štěpanek (1998) define it as a species
with a wider ecological range compared to T.
decolorans. It grows not only in alvar habitats,
but also in subsaline coastal wet meadows
and on calcareous fens. It is known to occur
in Latvia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Es-
tonia. We have noted the species at 11 sites (in
12 samples) – both in phytocoenoses of alvar
grassland and in transitional areas with a low
content of carbonates in the soil. Soil salinity
did not exceed 1 dS m-1 at any of the sites of
the last two species.
The ecological spectra determined for
three marsh dandelion species, highly en-
dangered within their entire distribution
range, can be used to improve the methods
of their protection. To protect the popula-
tions of marsh dandelions, it is also impor-
tant to determine the habitat conditions for
the whole complex of accompanying spe-
cies. The obtained CCA results indicated
that the largest amount of the total variance
in the species data was explained by the soil
salinity and organic matter content in the
soil. The soil reaction, the content of avail-
able forms of phosphorus and carbonates
in the soil were also important. The plant
species diversity (species number) of the
investigated coastal grasslands was higher
in Estonia than in Poland. Similar conclu-
sions were reached in comparative studies
of salt meadows in Northern Denmark, the
NW and NE part of Germany and West-
ern Estonia (Wanner 2009). According to
the author, this is probably attributable to
a combination of lower salinity, relatively
low nutrient availability, higher spatial het-
erogeneity, higher variation of soil chemical
properties and more natural gradients be-
tween saline and non-saline habitats along
the Estonian Baltic coast, including alvars
– species-rich ecosystems even in a world-
wide perspective (Pärtel et al. 1996, 1999,
Berg 2008).
222
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We thank Toomas
Kukk, Ott Luuk and Peedu Saar for valuable help in
eldwork on Estonian coastal meadows searching
dierent Taraxacum species.
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Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
Appendix 1a
Scan of herbarium sheet of T. balticum.
Appendix 1b
Scan of herbarium sheet of T. decolorans.
Appendix 1c
Scan of herbarium sheet of T. suecicum.
225
Beata Bosiacka et al.
Appendix 2. Plant communities separated by the hierarchical divisive cluster analysis; clusters I and II: samples from Estonian coastal alvar grasslands and tran-
sitional areas up to alvars; clusters III and IV: samples from Polish and Estonian coastal salt meadows and transitional areas up to salt and brackish grasslands
Abbreviations of localities: KrK – Karsiborska Kępa, Jar – Jarzębowo, Wdr – Włodarka, Uu – Uulu, Kv – Kavaru, Pu – Puhtu, Rd – Ruilaid, Ro – Rooglaiu, Sa –
Saastna, Ke – Keemu, Po – Põgari, To – Tooraku, Rh – Rohuküla, Pl – Pullapää, Ru – Rumpo, Ho – Hosby, Vo – Vormsi, Ks – Kassari, Or – Orjaku, Ja – Jausa,
Ta – Tärkma, So – Sõru, Tr – Triigi, Ku – Kuusnõmme, La – Lahetaguse, Ra – Rahuste
Scale of species cover: 15% >single specimens, 25% >some specimens, 35% >several specimens, 45% >many specimens, 55-12.5%, 612.5-25%, 725-
50%, 850-75%, 975-100%
Locality
Po
Ro
Ku
Or
Pl
La
Kv
Sa
Ks
Po
Ku
Ku
Ku
To
So
Pu
Ra
Ra
Ti
Ho
Ta
Ta
Rd
Vo
Vo
Pu
Rh
Ru
La
Ja
Po
Ru
Kv
Ja
Ra
So
Or
Uu
Uu
Ra
Kv
Sa
Ke
Jar
Jar
Jar
Jar
KrK
KrK
Wdr
Wdr
Cluster
I
II
III
IV
No of relevé
8
4
2
1
4
8
1
5
3
9
0
1
3
5
5
1
4
6
4
9
7
8
3
7
8
2
6
1
9
0
0
0
3
9
5
6
2
0
9
7
2
6
7
3
4
5
6
1
2
7
8
Deschampsia
caespitosa
8
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
5
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
Juniperus
communis
-
2
-
-
1
-
2
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Achillea
millefolium
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Agrostis canina
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gymnadenia
conopsea
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lathyrus palustris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Phleum pratense
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Ranunculus
polyanthemos
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carex lepidocarpa
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Danthonia
decumbens
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Filipendula
vulgaris
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Listera ovata
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Polygala amarella
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Potentilla erecta
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Primula farinosa
-
-
1
2
-
-
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
226
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
Locality
Po
Ro
Ku
Or
Pl
La
Kv
Sa
Ks
Po
Ku
Ku
Ku
To
So
Pu
Ra
Ra
Ti
Ho
Ta
Ta
Rd
Vo
Vo
Pu
Rh
Ru
La
Ja
Po
Ru
Kv
Ja
Ra
So
Or
Uu
Uu
Ra
Kv
Sa
Ke
Jar
Jar
Jar
Jar
KrK
KrK
Wdr
Wdr
Cluster
I
II
III
IV
Prunella vulgaris
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sesleria uliginosa
6
2
1
8
6
6
5
1
1
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Scorzonera humilis
-
2
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Succisa pratensis
-
1
1
1
4
-
2
3
1
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Taraxacum
suecicum
4
-
3
2
3
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
3
4
-
1
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Centaurea jacea
-
2
-
-
3
2
-
-
-
5
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
3
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Galium boreale
1
1
-
2
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
4
-
-
3
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Taraxacum
decolorans
-
-
-
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Molinia coerulea
-
-
1
4
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
2
3
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Pinus sylvestris
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Filipendula
ulmaria
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
1
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lathyrus pratensis
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Ophioglossum
vulgatum
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
3
-
5
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Vicia cracca
-
-
-
1
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
-
3
1
-
2
-
1
-
-
4
-
2
2
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Alopecurus
pratensis
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Angelica palustris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
3
3
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Angelica sylvestris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cnidium dubium
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Festuca
arundinacea
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
6
-
2
-
2
2
2
2
3
-
1
5
6
7
1
-
4
5
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hierochloë odorata
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Inula salicina
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
3
-
-
2
-
5
-
7
3
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lotus corniculatus
-
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Poa pratensis
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
227
Beata Bosiacka et al.
Locality
Po
Ro
Ku
Or
Pl
La
Kv
Sa
Ks
Po
Ku
Ku
Ku
To
So
Pu
Ra
Ra
Ti
Ho
Ta
Ta
Rd
Vo
Vo
Pu
Rh
Ru
La
Ja
Po
Ru
Kv
Ja
Ra
So
Or
Uu
Uu
Ra
Kv
Sa
Ke
Jar
Jar
Jar
Jar
KrK
KrK
Wdr
Wdr
Cluster
I
II
III
IV
Potentilla reptans
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sonchus arvensis
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
4
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Thalictrum f lavum
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Blysmus rufus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carex flacca
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
7
7
4
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
-
2
-
2
-
-
-
6
-
-
6
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carex viridula
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Centaurium
littorale
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rhinantus serotinus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tetragonolobus
maritimus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Phragmites
australis
-
3
2
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
4
4
6
-
3
-
5
6
5
5
3
-
6
7
-
4
-
6
3
5
-
6
6
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Valeriana
officinalis
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
2
-
1
-
-
-
2
2
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carex panicea
-
4
7
2
-
7
7
8
8
6
5
-
-
6
6
-
-
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
7
4
6
6
4
2
-
-
5
6
4
7
7
-
3
2
2
-
-
-
-
3
Carex disticha
-
-
-
2
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
6
2
6
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
5
-
3
2
2
-
-
-
-
Alopecurus
arundinaceus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
5
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Festuca rubra
3
-
-
2
-
3
4
4
-
-
6
5
6
4
5
5
7
8
5
5
8
7
-
6
5
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
7
8
-
-
-
5
8
5
4
-
4
5
-
6
-
6
3
4
Anthoxanthum
odoratum
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
Carum carvi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cerastium
fontanum
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Potentilla anserina
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
-
-
3
-
-
2
5
5
4
-
6
-
5
2
4
4
-
5
-
-
4
-
-
3
4
6
6
5
2
5
5
2
-
-
3
4
4
5
4
3
3
-
Trifolium pratense
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
2
-
-
-
5
1
-
5
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Taraxacum
balticum
-
1
3
-
3
-
1
4
3
2
2
5
-
3
-
2
1
1
2
-
6
6
1
2
4
3
5
4
1
-
3
3
2
1
2
3
5
2
1
4
1
3
2
4
3
3
3
1
1
2
3
228
Habitat requirements of marsh dandelions
Locality
Po
Ro
Ku
Or
Pl
La
Kv
Sa
Ks
Po
Ku
Ku
Ku
To
So
Pu
Ra
Ra
Ti
Ho
Ta
Ta
Rd
Vo
Vo
Pu
Rh
Ru
La
Ja
Po
Ru
Kv
Ja
Ra
So
Or
Uu
Uu
Ra
Kv
Sa
Ke
Jar
Jar
Jar
Jar
KrK
KrK
Wdr
Wdr
Cluster
I
II
III
IV
Juncus articulatus
-
-
3
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
Plantago maritima
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
4
4
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
2
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
6
-
Trifolium repens
-
-
-
3
-
-
2
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
5
3
4
-
-
2
-
4
-
3
-
2
-
2
4
3
-
4
5
-
4
5
Galium palustre
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
Plantago lanceolata
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
Ranunculus acris
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
1
-
-
1
-
3
1
-
-
-
-
1
2
-
-
2
3
-
-
2
2
-
2
Rumex crispus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
-
-
-
Carex distans
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
Elytrygia repens
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
3
3
2
-
-
3
-
-
Plantago major
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Glaux maritima
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
4
4
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
4
4
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
2
3
-
-
-
-
3
Juncus alpino-
articulatus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Carex nigra
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
2
6
3
4
3
3
Triglochin
maritimum
3
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
2
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
5
6
7
3
3
5
5
1
Agrostis stolonifera
-
-
-
2
-
7
4
3
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
2
2
6
4
6
6
4
3
6
6
7
6
6
4
6
7
Cardamine
pratensis
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
-
-
Festuca pratensis
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Aster tripolium
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Eleocharis
uniglumis
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
3
-
4
-
4
4
Juncus gerardi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8
6
5
2
4
-
3
3
6
5
5
2
6
5
5
3
Melilotus altissima
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Juncus compressus
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
3
3
-
-
-
Blysmus
compressus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
3
3
-
-
-
4
5
Carex cuprina
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
-
229
Beata Bosiacka et al.
Locality
Po
Ro
Ku
Or
Pl
La
Kv
Sa
Ks
Po
Ku
Ku
Ku
To
So
Pu
Ra
Ra
Ti
Ho
Ta
Ta
Rd
Vo
Vo
Pu
Rh
Ru
La
Ja
Po
Ru
Kv
Ja
Ra
So
Or
Uu
Uu
Ra
Kv
Sa
Ke
Jar
Jar
Jar
Jar
KrK
KrK
Wdr
Wdr
Cluster
I
II
III
IV
Cerastium
holosteoides
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
1
-
Dactylorhiza
majalis
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
Eleocharis palustris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
Juncus effusus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
4
-
-
Leontodon
autumnalis
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
2
Lotus uliginosus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
-
-
Planatago winteri
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
2
3
-
Rumex acetosa
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
-
-
-
Trifolium
fragiferum
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
4
2
3
2
3
3
Caliergonella
cuspidata
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9
9
9
9
-
-
-
-
Caltha palustris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
2
-
-
-
-
Cynosurus cristatus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Dactylorhiza
incarnata
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
Eriophorum
angustifolium
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
Avenula pubescens
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hydrocotyle
vulgaris
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
3
-
-
-
-
Lychnis flos-cucculi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
2
-
-
-
1
Ranunculs
flammula
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
2
-
-
-
-
Ranunculus repens
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
3
-
-
3
-
-
Triglochin palustre
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
Valeriana dioica
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
3
2
-
-
-
-
-
Mentha aquatica
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
2
2
2
-
-
-
-
230

Supplementary resource (1)

... Although tidal flats and salt marshes are necessary to prevent coastal erosion and to safeguard the populations of fish, molluscs, crabs and birds, they are still disappearing worldwide because of dredging (for shipping purposes), land reclamation for development and chemical pollution (Murray et al., 2014;Lazarus and Wszałek-Rozėk, 2016). Recently, botanists have discovered the previously overlooked diversity of neoendemic, cryptic species that have recently evolved in these saltaffected habitats (Kadereit et al., 2012;Bosiacka et al., 2016). ...
... A better understanding of the phylogenetic origins of the present diversity in halophytes may be critical for obtaining novel organisms for land reclamation, phytoremediation and salt pan-based agriculture (Flowers et al., 2010). Thanks to genetic analyses, and more thorough morphological research, we are discovering the hidden species diversity of the halophilous and subhalophilous coastal and inland grasslands (Bosiacka et al., 2016). ...
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... Due or dike constructions (Jeschke 1987;Wanner et al. 2007) adversely affect salt meadows. On a local level, the abandonment of traditional low-intensive livestock farming has frequently been described as a threat for Baltic salt meadows (Jeschke 1987;Dijkema 1990;Vestergaard 1998;Burnside et al. 2007;Bosiacka et al. 2016;Janssen et al. 2016). ...
Thesis
The study of vegetation-plot data on a broad geographical scale is of increasing importance in vegetation science. It significantly contributes to the transnational characterisation of vegetation types as well as the better understanding of their large-scale patterns and to habitat typologies, which are important for decision-making processes in European nature conservation. I examined semi-natural, saline and brackish Baltic Sea grasslands which occur on sedimentary flats at the transition between land and sea. Their diverse vegetation is dependent on low intensity grazing (Dijkema 1990). This valuable part of the European cultural landscape (Küster 2004), which is recognized as Annex I priority habitat type (Natura 2000; European Commission 2013), underwent an overall decrease in quality and quantity within the last 150 years, which is frequently related to abandonment. Thus, the coastal grasslands of the Baltic Sea have been assessed as Endangered in the European Red List of Habitats (Janssen et al. 2016). Within this thesis I (i) developed a proposal to integrate vegetation data using non-standard scales into general vegetation analyses, (ii) characterised the vegetation of Baltic Sea grasslands on transnational level, (iii) regarded them from a North-west European perspective, (iv) discussed their nature conservation aspects on European scale, (v) investigated changes in their plant species composition and discussed its possible relation to cessation of grazing and (vi) formulated a monitoring concept important for management planning in nature conservation.
... He also classified the dandelion microspecies in relation to management invariability (Oosterveld 1978). In another detailed study, Bosiacka et al. (2016) determined soil properties and identified plant communities associated with marsh dandelions in Polish and Estonian coastal grasslands. Soil salinity was found to correlate moderately strongly albeit significantly with all the three marsh dandelion microspecies found (positive correlation for Taraxacum balticum and negative correlation for T. suecicum and T. decolorans). ...
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The vegetation of protected salt meadows along the Baltic coast is fairly well known; however, dandelions have been so far treated as a collective species. The aim of our study was to examine the microspecies diversity of the genus Taraxacum in Polish salt and brackish coastal meadows and to analyse soil property preferences of the dandelion microspecies identified. In addition, we analysed the relations between soil properties and vegetation patterns in dandelion-supporting coastal meadows (by canonical correspondence analysis). The salt and brackish meadows along the Polish Baltic coast we visited were found to support a total of 27 dandelion microspecies representing 5 sections. Analysis of vegetation patterns showed all the soil parameters (C:N ratio, organic matter content, pH, concentration of Mg, P, K, electrolytic conductivity of the saturated soil extract EC e ) to explain 32.07% of the total variance in the species data. The maximum abundance of most dandelion microspecies was associated with the highest soil fertility, moderate pH values and organic matter content, and with the lowest magnesium content and soil salinity. The exceptions were T. latissimum, T. stenoglossum, T. pulchrifolium and T. lucidum the occurrence of which was related to the lowest soil fertility and the highest salinity. In addition, several microspecies (T. leptodon, T. gentile, T. haematicum, T. fusciflorum and T. balticum) were observed at moderate C:N ratios and ECe. Four other microspecies (T. infestum, T. cordatum, T. hamatum, T. sertatum) occurred at the lowest pH and organic matter content. The information obtained increases the still insufficient body of knowledge on ecological spectra of individual dandelion microspecies, hence their potential indicator properties.
... Pollution of marine waters (Janssen et al. 2016), rivers and estuaries (Rozema et al. 2000), urbanization (Janssen et al. 2016) or dike constructions (Jeschke 1987;Wanner et al. 2007) adversely affect salt meadows. On a local level, the abandonment of traditional low-intensive livestock farming has frequently been described as a threat for Baltic salt meadows (Jeschke 1987;Dijkema 1990;Vestergaard 1998;Burnside et al. 2007;Bosiacka et al. 2016;Janssen et al. 2016). ...
Article
Baltic salt meadows of the supralittoral are recognizable by a low vegetation structure of perennial plants, distinct zonation, and the presence of characteristic species of high ecological value. This semi-natural, grazing-dependent vegetation is declining in overall distribution and habitat quality. Abiotic and biotic habitat changes as well as the loss of characteristic species and a simultaneous increase of Elytrigia repens are particularly concerning. We hypothesize that, if E. repens increases due to abandonment or other causes, characteristic salt-meadow species will be affected adversely. To investigate the floristic changes and salt meadow species loss over a wide area, we used a dataset of salt meadow plots from along the southern Baltic Sea coast, partitioned by different cover ranges of E. repens. Between these groups, we compared the abundance and frequency of characteristic salt meadow species. We additionally tested (Mann-Whitney-U test) relevant structural factors, plot-based indicator values and strategy types. E. repens indicated low incidence of characteristic salt-meadow species. Soil moisture, salinity and light availability were lower where E. repens occurred; mean vegetation height was increased. Five species co-occurred with Elytrigia repens (Achillea millefolium, Holcus lanatus, Poa pratensis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Trifolium repens), showing simultaneously a low relative abundance in the remaining dataset. We discuss our findings in terms of frequently observed vegetation changes in the light of salt meadow abandonment. In conclusion, we draw up an easy-to-use method for monitoring salt-meadow medium-term dynamics for applied nature conservation purposes.
... Moreover, salt grasslands are found at a higher level in the zonation, and more inland on so-called salt patches, which developed as a result of chloride and sulphate accumulation in the topsoils during dry periods (Dijkema 1990). In general, Baltic salt grasslands are considered to be valuable and endangered ecosystems (Dijkema 1990; Rannap et al. 2007; Wanner 2009; Bosiacka et al. 2016). They are designated as wetlands of international importance according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), as habitats of European importance according to the EU habitat directive (European Commission 1992) and as special protection areas for birds according to the EU birds directive (European Commission 1979). ...
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This study aimed to determine the role of environmental factors in the pattern of vegetation related to marsh soils, which are rare in the Baltic coastal zone. It was assumed that the pattern of vegetation directly affected by seawater depends on seawater salinity, and in general reflects the decreasing salinity gradient of the Baltic Sea. The research of vegetation and soils (0–25 cm) has been undertaken on 11 selected sites along the Baltic seacoast in Germany, Poland and Estonia. According to TWINSPAN classification, five plant communities were distinguished: the Puccinellia maritima-Spergularia marina community, Juncus gerardi community, Agrostis stolonifera-Phragmites australis-Scirpus lacustris ssp. tabernaemontani community, Phragmites australis-Calystegia sepium community and Elymus repens community. A canonical correspondence analysis showed that the most important environmental factors influencing vegetation differentiation were: electrical conductivity of the saturation paste extract, hay/pasture management, redox potential, soil moisture and actual pH. In conclusion, the spatial distribution of the investigated vegetation and soil properties along the Baltic Sea shore were inconsistent with the spatial salinity gradient of the open surface seawater, but was significantly dependent on local conditions. This was confirmed by the highest soil salinity and most abundant occurrence of Salicornia europaea in Estonia.
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Wild greens can contribute to the human diet as an important source of essential nutrients and drugs. Since environmental factors, including soil properties, may affect the chemical composition of plants, it is necessary among others to assess various habitats in terms of their usefulness for wild plant harvesting and to study impact of environmental factors on the qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of plants. This study was aimed at (1) examining the mineral composition of leaves of three dandelion microspecies, (2) determining the variability of macro- and microelement concentrations in dandelion leaves from populations growing on salty, brackish and non-saline coastal meadows, and (3) assessing the effects of different habitat conditions on the mineral composition of dandelion leaves. It was hypothesized that dandelion microspecies would differ significantly in the mineral composition of leaves. It was also expected that soil conditions would significantly affect nutrient concentrations in dandelion leaves, with soil salinity being the most important factor that differentiated studied populations. Leaves of three dandelion microspecies (Taraxacum balticum, T. nordstedtii, T. haematicum) were harvested in Baltic costal grasslands, along the soil salinity gradient, to determine macro-and microelement concentrations. Soil samples collected in the closest vicinity of the harvested plants showed the study sites to differ significantly in their soil properties. Moderately saline and organic soils, rich in potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca), supported T. balticum. Moderately or weakly saline and non-saline, organic or mineral soils, with lower median values of K, Mg, and Ca, were typical of T. nordstedtii sites, while the lowest median values of all the soil properties studied were found for T. haematicum sites. Our results proved that dandelion microspecies differ significantly in the mineral composition of their leaves. The between-microspecies differences were significant for all the macroelements except magnesium and all the microelements except molybdenum. Most of the macro- and microelements in leaves of the dandelion microspecies correlated positively and significantly with the soil properties, the strongest correlations being found for soil salinity and the leaf Na, Mn, Ca, Fe, K and Zn contents, followed by soil pH and the leaf Na, Mn, Fe, K, Ca, Zn and Mg. Moreover, the impact of soil properties on the mineral contents in leaves of the dandelions we examined seems to be stronger than the genetic differences between dandelion microspecies. Results of our studies on mineral composition of dandelion leaves lend support to the contention that wild greens provide essential mineral nutrients to the diet. Coastal meadows, fed by the brackish water of the Baltic Sea and free of anthropogenic pollution, are a good habitat to collect wild greens from.
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The paper presents the distribution of Taraxacum bibulum and Taraxacum ranunculus, two species of sect. Palustria new for the Polish flora. The characteristics of the habitat at Polish locations and the taxonomic description and distinguishing features from similar species are given.
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An evolutionary trend to reduce "unnecessary costs" associated with the sexual reproduction of their amphimictic ancestors, which may result in greater reproductive success, has been observed among the obligatory apomicts. However, in the case of the female gametophyte, knowledge about this trend in apomicts is not sufficient because most of the ultrastructural studies of the female gametophyte have dealt with amphimictic angiosperms. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that, in contrast to amphimictic plants, synergids in apomictic embryo sacs do not form a filiform apparatus. We compared the synergid structure in two dandelions from sect. Palustria: the amphimictic diploid Taraxacum tenuifolium and the apomictic tetraploid, male-sterile Taraxacum brandenburgicum. Synergids in both species possessed a filiform apparatus. In T. brandenburgicum, both synergids persisted for a long time without any degeneration, in spite of the presence of an embryo and endosperm. We propose that the persistent synergids in apomicts may play a role in the transport of nutrients to the embryo.
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Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil organic matter (SOM) contents of Estonian grassland soils are analysed in 20 soil groups using data from the database PEDON and CATENA. The SOC and SOM concentrations (g kg -1 ) and pools (Mg ha -1 ) for upland mineral soils (Leptosols, Cambisols, Luvisols, Albeluvisols, Regosols; total 9 groups), lowland mineral soils (Gleysols, Fluvisols; 9 groups) and wetland organic soils (Histosols; 2 groups) are given separately for humus cover (HC) and soil cover (SC). The SOC and SOM pools for the entire Estonian grasslands were calculated on the basis of different soil types, morphological characteristics and distribution superficies. It was concluded that in Estonian grasslands SC 39.9±8.0 Tg of organic carbon is sequestered, 76.2% of which is found in HC and 23.8% in subsoils. Grassland SOC is sequestered in 69.1±12.6 Tg of SOM. A quality analysis of humus covers of grassland soils (evaluated from the pedo-ecological perspective) distinguished 5 quality groups and 15 subdivisions.
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The present report deals with the dandelion flora of 78 lots of grassland from the coastal area and from the interior. It appeared that grassland types under the same agricultural management and with a similar phytosociological character also exhibit a similarity in their Taraxacum flora; when they differ in these respects they also have a different dandelion flora, which differences tend to increase as the vegetational and agricultural differences become greater.Several microspecies of the section Taraxacum may occur sympatrically in the same type of pasture, the stronger the manuring and grazing the greater the number of co-existing taxa (up to 19 per 125 m2 have been recorded).In near-natural dune habitats representatives of the sections Erythrosperma and Obliqua are the most common, in grazed ones the number of taxa belonging to these two sections tends to be lower. Representatives of the sections Palustria and Spectabilia have exclusively been found in unfertilized or but lightly fertilized grasslands and are now of rare occurrence. Those of sect. Taraxacum are very common and are frequently encountered in agricultural pasture land, the number of microspecies represented increasing as the agricultural pressure increases.It proved to be possible to distinguish within these sections microspecies with a broad ecological range and other ones with a much narrower amplitude, the latter apparently being more specialized ecologically. Among the Taraxacum microspecies those with a broad ecological tolerance find their optimum in the not strongly fertilized and grazed pastures and they may, therefore, be regarded as the older microspecies among the Dutch Taraxacum aggregate. The microspecies from heavily fertilized and grazed pastures must be considered to be specialized and apparently constitute the youngest among the complex.
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Most of the European salt and brackish marshes are linked to sea water ingression. Inland salt marshes supplied with saline subterranean waters are more uncommon. In Poland due to the natural factors limiting the development of coastal salt marshes, they are dispersed and cover a surface comparable to inland saline habitats. Two halophilous vegetation sites located at the coastal zone but determined mainly by ascension of relic Mesozoic saline waters have a unique status. The aim of the study was to provide a characteristic of these sites including land-use changes during 1925–2005, physicochemical soil and ground water properties, relations between habitat conditions and species composition, differentiation and qualities of halophilous vegetation and environmental protection prospects. It was shown that a development of drainage network in the Parsęta Valley and Chrząszczewska Island as well as urban infrastructure affected the first site leading to reduction of the wetlands (mainly salt marshes) by 44% and 29%, respectively. The cessation or reduction of traditional salt grassland-use in 1980s led to further decrease in salt meadow area. Primarily, soil and ground water salinity (almost four times higher than in the local Baltic Sea water) determined species and habitat differentiation. Salicornia europaea colonising muds – the only natural sites of this particular habitat in Poland – were linked to the most saline and wet soils. Phytocoenoses of Puccinellia distans-Spergularia marina community were linked to less saline but comparably muddy soils. Less wet and even less saline soils supported phytocoenoses with a significant contribution of Juncus gerardi and patches of Phragmites australis-Atriplex hastata var. salina community and Scirpus maritimus community spreading because of the mowing and grazing abandonment. Salt grassland-use cessation and planned architectural and technical investments call for an urgent implementation of agro-environmental programmes and nature compensation projects to protect these unique sites in northern Poland.
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Salt marsh grassland along the coasts of the Baltic sea in Germany is the result of several hundred years of agricultural activities, which replaced reeds of the brackish water zone gradually by grazing-resistent salt marsh plants. However, after diking and intensified agricultural landuse salt marsh grasslands along the Baltic Sea are very rare and most plant species in these areas are endangered. We report on a pilot project on a 350 ha area near Greifswald at the coast of the Greifswalder Bodden (Baltic sea). In this area, natural periodic flooding was re-introduced after the opening of the front dike line in 1993. Vegetation changes were recorded from 1994 to 1998, and were analyzed for changes in plant species diversity and composition. We established transects and permanent plots to monitor vegetational changes over five years. For three salt marsh species, Aster tripolium, Inula britannica and Puccinellia distans, number and size of populations were evaluated on the total area of 350 ha. Our analyses illustrate that the re-introduction of natural flooding, in combination with a traditional grazing regime, increases mean species diversity by a factor of four and total species diversity by a factor of 2.4. Five years after removing the dike line nearly 75% of the 350 ha were covered by typical salt marsh and salt grassland vegetation types, which also included 8.0% cover by pioneer vegetation. The three monitored salt marsh species had increased in number and size of colonised patches. We conclude that the restoration of formerly wide-spread salt marsh grassland is possible on a large scale.
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A classification of the microspecies of the genus Taraxacum was made in a range from low to highly dynamic habitats based on qualitative inventories of grasslands under different management conditions. After several years of constant management, a characteristic species composition occurs. Under mowing (hayfield) conditions, dandelions disappear over a period of about twenty years in a sequence where the low-dynamic species T. adamii and T. nordstedtii are the last to vanish. Different microspecies in the section Vulgaria in one field can show small differences in response to environmental conditions, even where no other directly visible indication exists. New appearance of highly dynamic species can indicate disturbance of some kind or other within a relatively short period. The classification adopted seems to be correlated with the phosphate content of the soil. Differences in two easily perceptible morphological characteristics, namely position of the outer bracts and colour of the leaf-stem, fit into the established sequence. Small changes in these characteristics indicate conditions in the field that are improving or worsening from a nature-conservation point of view. A system is introduced in which merely these two morphological characters, without further taxonomical knowledge, can be used for an evaluation of grasslands and the impact of management practice.
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In order to understand the variation of Estonian calcareous thin‐soil grasslands on Ordovician or Silurian limestone (alvars), 58 stands, distributed over the whole alvar region of Estonia, were described and clustered numerically using TABORD. Alvars are characterized by a high species richness. These mainly semi‐natural communities have mostly developed after clear‐cutting of forests. Grazing by domestic animals and removal of woody plants is needed for their maintenance. Primary (natural) alvar grasslands are found in a few places in coastal regions or in areas with thin‐soil on monolithic bedrock. In data processing a whole stand, described by several small relevés, was used in the classification as one description, including species frequencies as a quantitative measure. Seven clusters were separated and their configuration checked in a PCA‐ordination. The resulting classification agreed with the previous ‘rough’ classification. Both geographical and ecological factors were related with the clustering and the ordination. The broad classification units, suggested for Estonian alvar grasslands, were quite similar to the ones described earlier for alvar vegetation on Öland, Sweden. Clusters differed in their species richness, environmental conditions and life‐form spectra. Differences in species richness were defined by regional species pools. Compared to earlier surveys, only a small fraction of alvars still remains in Estonia. Active conservation, i.e. suitable management is needed to protect the still surviving valuable plant communities. The present study can provide guidelines on how to protect and manage different types of alvars in Estonia.
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Larger areas of coastal grasslands can be found in western Estonia and in the islands of the west coast. Salt marshes of the Baltic Sea are not natural biotopes but developed by agricultural use, mainly grazing by beef cattle and horses. The main goal of the work is to discuss the properties of the investigated soils (Hyposalic Fluvisols), nutrient cycle in the plant- soil system and the influence of grazing on the coastal biotope. In this study, the coastal grassland soils in Hiiumaa have been investigated by using morphologic (depth of humus layer, bulk density) and chemical parameters (pH, total N and C, mineral elements P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg). The investigated soils contain high amounts of soluble salts K, Na, Ca, and Mg. The total nitrogen and humus content were high, but the content of P was low.