Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an

Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Geographical Information Systems - Interdisciplinary Aspects
University of Silesia - GIS Forum - SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb 2003
Grzegorz Michalski
University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Poland
Maja Głowacka
University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Biology and Environmental
Protection, Poland
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland
as an Example of Active Species Protection Based
on GIS Data
Introduction
The Common Yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a coniferous tree that occurs in the
Western Palearctic region, mainly in west and central Europe. It is widespread
from the Pyrenees in the west to the Middle East (Iran) and Caucassus Mountains
in the east. The southern range runs through northern Africa (Algeria) and western
Mediterranean Basin (Crete). In the north it reaches 68°N in Norway. The eastern
border of the species geographical range falls in Poland (Browicz, GostyńskaJakuszewska 1969).
This species is commonly treated as a declining (Świeboda, Kalemba 1982).
Despite strong ecological flexibility of Yew (Seidling, Constien 1998) its numbers
decreased rapidly within its entire range (Hulme 1996). The main reasons were
very good timber quality, usage of the species for magical and medicinal purposes
and also changes of environmental conditions (Czartoryski 1975a, Scheeder 1994).
The common Yew was rare species already in the past. It was the first protected
species in Poland. In the year 1423, the Yew was proclaimed a protected species by
Polish king Władysław Jagiełło (Gottwald 1922). This is one of the first cases of
nature protection by law in Poland. Now the biggest problem is lack of
regeneration in many Yew populations (Rodwell 1998, Zachara, Łukaszewicz
2002).
Recently the discovery was made that a chemical compound from Yew –
alkaloid taxin - can be used to produce a medicine for cancer (Jennewein, Croteau
2001).
Yews in Poland – selected examples
Yew occurs in the entire area of Poland (Browicz, Gostyńska-Jakuszewska
1969). The majority of sites with wild-growing Yews are protected, mainly as
nature reserves. However it is necessary to undertake further activities to save this
species (Zaręba 1984).
Active protection of Yew includes among others: secondary cutting in places
where Yew is overshaded (because in spite of common opinion in literature that the
335
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Grzegorz Michalski, Maja Głowacka
Yew is a shade-seeking species, it is intolerant to too much shading; in such
situations it loses leaves and dries (Lewandowski, Tumiłowicz 1962)), protection
against animals (grazing, mopping) by fencing Yews or by putting net covers on
specimens (Zachara, Łukaszewicz 2002) (for example Bardo Śląskie forest
division); and also by assistance in reproduction processes of the species. At the
present time the only activity to protect young Yews is netting or fencing seedlings
and saplings. The late Prof. Stanisław Król (1999) also removed the ground cover
in “Rokita’s Yews” nature reserve to enable seedlings to survive and seeds to
germinate. Sometimes there is a need to remove pests – for example Taxomyia taxi
(Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) (Strouts, Winter 1994) in the case of its gradation.
For effective Yew protection it is necessary to know the ecological
requirements in given habitats, the numbers of specimens and the possibility of
regeneration of the population. Extensive research on the ecology (soils, plant
communities, condition, viability, effectiveness of reproduction, interactions with
other species, local microclimatic conditions) of Yews is required.
There is also a need for persistent monitoring of the Yews' condition and
numbers as well as threats for local populations like pest gradations, animal
browsing, stealing of young trees and tree dying. Only with accurate knowledge it
is possible to undertake an activity to eliminate such threats on time. Especially
important is to inventory all the places where Yew reproduces and to accurately
assess habitat conditions in those places. Some of such places are well investigated
and well known in the literature (“Rokita’s Yews”) and the others were not in the
area of interest of scientists unfortunately (for example Yew reserves in Bieszczady
Mts. – “Yews on Jawor Mountain” and “Woronikówka”). This makes our
knowledge about the species flexibility and its ecological amplitude incomplete. In
fact we still do not know the reason why Yews do not reproduce in most places in
Poland.
There are some nature reserves in Poland which have current Protection
Plans that record important information about populations (numbers, condition,
viability) as well as some schemes of long-term protection activities in the reserve
(for example Holeksa et al. 1998). Such plans fulfill the basic criteria of active
protection of species. Unfortunately there are still places where Yew is not actively
protected, for example the nature reserve "Yews in Huta Stara" in southern Poland
(Silesian province). This reserve have outdated Protection Plan in which not only
the viability and possibility of Yews' reproduction is not researched but even the
total number of trees is not correctly given (Plan Ochrony Przyrody Rezerwatu
„Cisy w Hucie Starej”, Siewierz forest division). In such a situation when we do
not know if the all trees are healthy or if they live at all, it is not possible to plan
and perform any protection activities.
There are also some places especially valuable in Poland, like Rokita forest
division in northern Poland (Szeszycki 1995) where quite large numbers of Yews
regenerate. But specimens are scattered over the large area, and we do not know
336
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of . . .
even the average number of population. So there is an urgent need of locating and
positioning specimens with GPS to enable longterm population monitoring.
A similar situation is in Kampinoski National Park, where since 1964 Common
Yew is reintroduced (Bobiński 1969). During a period of 30 years, several
thousands of young Yews were planted in the park, but documentation of
reintroduced and surviving specimens is very incomplete. Only since 2003 have
park workers begun to locate single Yew specimens and groups with GPS. This
will enable us to undertake population monitoring and active protection in the
future on the large area of the park.
The previously mentioned nature reserve, “Rokita’s Yews”, is a very good
example of a place where extensive ecological research was conducted. Such a
situation is very rare because the Common Yew does not have any importance in
forestry management in Poland, so the ecological research of this species is very
restricted. If any research is undertaken it is usually only an inventory of existing
Yew specimens and some basic habitat characteristics. But still we could find some
works about Yew ecology. In “Rokita’s Yews” research was conducted by the late
prof. Stanisław Król. The topics covered among others were population dynamics
and research on rhisosphere of seedlings (Król 1999; Król, Kuświk 1993)
The best known place of Yew occurrence is nature reserve "Yews named of
Leon Wyczółkowski" in Wierzchlas (Bory Tucholskie, northern Poland). It is one
of the oldest Polish Yew reserves (Walas 1962), and as we can see from the name
of the reserve, it is very well known not only by dendrologists. Many Yews from
Wierzchlas were painted by the famous Polish artist Leon Wyczółkowski (18521936). In the reserve was conducted ecological research on: healthiness of Yews
(Mańka et al. 1985), biological structure of the tree layer (Gieruszyński 1961),
dying of Yew seedlings (Mańka et al. 1968), and also some faunistic-ecological
research including the distribution of ant-hills (Będziak 1956) and vertebrate fauna
(Strawiński 1956). Such research forms a basis for the practical conservation
activities of Yew in nature reserves.
To the list of places that were quite sufficiently researched but are not
protected, we can include Yews in Kępino in southern Poland, Silesian province.
An inventory was made of all Yews and their spatial distribution. Viability of
specimens and reproductive effectiveness was assessed as well as the main threats
for Yews were identified (Głowacka et al. 2002). So we have information about the
population and its condition and there is a basis for monitoring and some long-term
conservation plans.
In such areas of Yew occurrence like Tatrzański National Park, Sudety
Mountains and Pieniński National Park (all in mountains), inaccessibility of terrain
makes scientific research difficult and even simple inventory is not easy. However
this is a probable reason why this species still exists there. A particular example is
Tatrzański National Park, which is located in the highest Polish mountains - Tatra
Mountains. In the 1970s forestry worker Zembrzuski (1975) made an inventory of
337
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Grzegorz Michalski, Maja Głowacka
Yews in the park, but now the location of most of the specimens identified by him
is not possible. The Tatra Mountains is very important and valuable place
considering the occurrence of Yew which occurs there in the mountain (dwarf)
pine zone above the tree line and has a unique dwarf form like the Mountain Pine
(Pinus mugo). Such form of Yew does not exist anywhere else in Poland. This
species reaches also its altitudinal limit in the Tatra Mountains. But the existance of
this highest-growing Yew (1380 above sea level) was not proven during the
recently years. The Tatra population is not very numerous (Zwijacz 2002). It
consists at most of several tens of specimens scattered over the western part of the
mountains. Some of the specimens were found and GPS-positioned by Tatra
National Park workers and such activity is the only way to make possible
population research and monitoring.
Conclusions
Yew – one of the oldest conifer species – existed without human help for a
very long time, but now leaving it alone is not enough for the species to survive.
The huge man-made damages to Yew populations along with disturbances and
changes in habitats (land drainage, cutting of forests that provide mild
microclimate) have resulted in situation that Yew might not survive without human
assistance.
The best example (and also the most dramatic) is the above mentioned
reserve in Wierzchlas. One of the most magnificent European Yew stands is
declining rapidly (Król 1975). The population is getting older and there is no hope
that it will regenerate itself. There are many more or less probable explanatory
theories of the cause (for example Mańka 1968), but we still can not counteract the
progressive aging of most of the Polish Yew populations. This shows how
surprisingly little know is this species and that there is an urgent need for further
research. Lack of inventories of scattered specimens and even whole groups of
Yews not only favours damaging, cutting but even stealing of trees by people and
also favours animal browsing. It also make it impossible for us to know actual
ecological requirements, diversity of habitats (soils, plant communities) in which
Yews grow and which factors are favoured by Yews (in which Yews reach the
highest viability and reproduce).
A basis of an ecological research of Yew in natural habitats must include
inventorying of all populations of wild-groving Yews. Only then will it be possible
to rescue this species from extinction, or even to plant Yew for commercial
purposes.
338
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of . . .
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In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
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340
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of . . .
Grzegorz Michalski
University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Poland
Maja Głowacka
University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Biology and Environmental
Protection, Poland
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland
as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
S u m m a r y
Although the Common Yew Taxus baccata distribution in Poland is fairly
well known, information about occurrence, numbers and other population data in
some areas is still very limited. This lack of information strongly complicates
correct population assessment and monitoring of the species in Poland, and is
caused partly by different approaches to spatial information collection in different
places and partly by a lack of sufficient data. Consequently, there is no basis for
active protection of the Common Yew, which is considered vulnerable to
extinction in natural habitats in Poland. Present experience indicates that passive
conservation is not sufficient for the survival of the species and recovery in areas
where it is extinct. This paper presents some of the problems of the Common Yew
protection in several different areas in Poland. Problems like spatial data collecting,
population monitoring and reintroduction are very diverse and are caused by the
different character of each area. Correct and precise sometimes long-term data
collection and its management are important in a case of endangered species.
Keywords: Taxus baccata, active protection, regeneration, GIS data collecting
Grzegorz Michalski
Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach, Wydział Nauk o Ziemi, Poland
Maja Głowacka
Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach, Wydział Biologii i Ochrony Środowiska, Polska
Dane GIS Jako Podstawa Aktywnej Ochrony Gatunkowej w Polsce
na Przykładzie Cisa Pospolitego Taxus Baccata L.
S t r e s z c z e n i e
Rozmieszczenie cisa w Polsce poznane jest stosunkowo dobrze, chociaż dane
na temat występowania w niektórych rejonach, liczebności i innych cech populacji
są bardzo skąpe. To bardzo utrudnia właściwą ocenę stanu populacji i prowadzenie
ich monitoringu. Jest to częściowo spowodowane różnymi sposobami zbierania
danych przestrzennych oraz przez brak takich danych z niektórych terenów.
341
Głowacka M., Michalski G. (2003).
Case of the Common Yew Taxus Baccata L. in Poland as an Example of Active Species Protection Based on GIS Data
In: M. Gajos, U. Myga-Piątek (ed.). Geographical Information Systems. Interdisciplinary Aspects.
University of Silesia - GIS Forum – SILGIS Association, Sosnowiec - Zagreb, 335-342.
Grzegorz Michalski, Maja Głowacka
Wynikiem tego jest brak podstawy dla podjęcia działań w ramach czynnej ochrony
cisa pospolitego, niezbędnej dla utrzymania tego gatunku w naszych lasach. Praca
ta ukazuje wybrane problemy ochrony cisa w różnorodnych siedliskach na terenie
Polski. Kluczową rolę odgrywa tu prawidłowe gromadzenie danych przestrzennych
i ich właściwe wykorzystanie.
Słowa kluczowe: Taxus baccata, aktywna ochrona, rozmnażanie, gromadzenie
danych GIS
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