Phytosociology, Distribution and Ecology of a Willow Community with False Tamarisk from the Lotru Valley (Romanian Carpathians)

The overall objective of this research was to contribute to a better knowledge of the phytosociology, ecology and distribution of the plant community formed by Myricaria germanica (false tamarisk) and the willow species Salix purpurea. This plant community has an important role in reducing the speed and strength of the water flow during floods. The description was based on cover‐abundance data for the faithful, dominant, characteristic and companion species of this plant community. A predominance of Myricaria germanica was observed when analysing the phytocoenoses, as the species finds in this area favourable ecological conditions for an abundant development. Salix purpurea presents a small abundance-dominance or in some phytocoenoses may even lack. The field research also revealed the excessive development of the species Calamagrostis pseudophragmites in some areas, related mostly with the effect of human activities. The anthropogenic disorders have induced modifications in the floristic physiognomy and compositions of the phytocoenoses, favouring also the invasion of opportunistic species such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Impatiens glandulifera, Phytolacca amearicana, Amorpha fruticosa, Erigeron annuus, which continuously extend in the studied territory. As Myricaria germanica and Salix purpurea phytocoenoses suffer a great decline throughout Europe, the habitat built by these species was declared of interest and was included in the Habitats Directive. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Considerations Regarding Alpine Rivers And Their Ligneous Vegetation With Myricaria germanica In The Maramureş Mountains Nature Park (Romania)

The habitat 3230 Mountain rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica was not listed in the standard form based on which the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0124 Maramureș Mountains was declared. The aim of this study is to offer some new information regarding the structure, distribution and ecology of the Natura 2000 habitat 3230 Mountain rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica in Maramureș Mountains Nature Park. The ecological importance of habitat 3230 results from the capacity of Myricaria germanica to colonize new deposits of gravels and set up new biocoenoses, this ability being possible only in the case of natural morphodynamics of the mountain streams, not influenced by human activities.

Early stadiums of floodplain forest succession in a wide river beds upon an example of Bečva

In the years 1999–2001 early stadiums of succession development of a floodplain forest were monitored in the wide bed of the Bečva River formed during the floods in 1997. Changing site conditions were investigated and the vegetation of pebble beds was repeatedly mapped in detail. In dependence on the site conditions main types of biotopes were described. The vegetation data were evaluated in accordance with the life form and ecological claims of the identified species. The results indicated an increasing differentiation of the originally relatively homogeneous environment owing to fluvial processes and progress of vegetation. Generally hemicryptophytes and hemiheliophytes were thriving above all, the dominance of Phalaris arundinacea was still growing. As for the woody species, especially willows asserted themselves from the beginning, solitarily and weaker in vitality representatives of other genera were present at drier sites. The identified specimen of Myricaria germanica was probably planted artificially. As concerns neophytes, only Reynoutria japonica was spreading significantly but in a very uneven way. Generally, this development of similar communities only little documented in this region corresponds to STG Saliceta fragilis inf.