THE EXTINCTION OF THE CALCITROPHIC FLORA OF THE

THE EXTINCTION OF THE CALCITROPHIC FLORA OF THE

Roczniki Akademii Rolniczej w Poznaniu – CCCLXXIII (2005)
MAGDALENA JANYSZEK
THE EXTINCTION OF THE CALCITROPHIC FLORA
OF THE CYPERACEAE
IN THE “MIRANOWO” NATURE RESERVE
From Department of Botany
The August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Poznań
ABSTRACT. The “Miranowo” nature reserve was established to preserve the wet meadows and
pastures with the rare species of calcitrophic flora. The populations of the most valuable species
of the family Cyperaceae (Schoenus ferrugineus, Cladium mariscus, Carex davalliana) were
decreasing between 1960 and 2005 and now the S. ferrugineus is probably extinct and the next
two species are close to extinction.
Key words: Miranowo, Schoenus ferrugineus, Cladium mariscus, Carex davalliana,
calcitrophic flora
Introduction
The “Miranowo” nature reserve, situated in the Community of Dolsk, is on of a few
areas in Wielkopolska, where the calcitrophic flora has been discovered. The aim of
presented study was to research and to verify the sites of rare, calcitrophic species belonging to the family Cyperaceae and to describe the state and the conditions of populations of these taxa along with eventual changes in their numerical force, since the last
research conducted by author in the years 1995 (unpublished) and 2000 (Baraniak et
al. 2003). The additional goal was the verification of localities of three taxa belonging
to others families of plants, noted from the reserve and considered as threatened at the
territory of the region.
Rocz. AR Pozn. CCCLXXIII, Bot.-Stec. 9: 97-101
 Wydawnictwo Akademii Rolniczej im. Augusta Cieszkowskiego w Poznaniu, Poznań 2005
PL ISSN 1896-1908
98
M. Janyszek
Short characteristic of field of research
The “Miranowo” nature reserve covers the area of 4.78 ha, and was created in 1972
for protection of wet meadows belonging to the order Molinietalia, along with rare and
very rare species of vascular plants, especially those related to calcitrophic habitats.
The occurrence of such species in this site was reported by Kaczmarek (1959,
1960, 1962, 1963). In the moment of foundation of the reserve, its area was covered by
calcitrofic meadows and rush communities, dominated by: Caricetum davallianae,
Juncetum subnodulosi, Schoenus ferrugineus community, and Galio borealis-Molinietum (Kaczmarek 1960). Very rare species of vascular plants were also noted. Among
them, especially interesting are: Tofieldia calyculata, Gentianella uliginosa, Cladium
mariscus, and the bryophyta: Caliergonella cuspidata (= Acrocladium cuspidatum),
Bryum pseudotriquetrum (= B. ventricosum), Homalothecium nitens (= Camptothecium
nitens), Campyliadelphus elodes (= Campylium elodes), Campylium stellatum (= C. protensum), Ctenidium moluscum, Drepanocladus revolvens (= D. intermedius), Fissidens
adianthoides. All listed taxa and plant communities are considered as rare, or even
threatened by extinction in Poland, and particularly – in the Wielkopolska region (Żukowski and Jackowiak 1995, Brzeg and Wojterska 2001).
Methods
The research was conducted in June and July of 2005. The whole area was penetrated, except of for the flooded zone of reed community along lake Dolskie Wielkie.
Especially detailed search was done in the areas, where the searched taxa were found in
2000 (Baraniak et al. 2000, 2003). For the recovered populations, there were described
the number and conditions of particular specimen, defined on the basis of number of
flowering and fruiting stems. Due to the rarity of the studied plants, the specimens were
not collected, but the ample photographic documentation of the studied populations was
done instead.
Results
The short description of the state of populations of the Cyperaceae taxa in 2005 is
presented below.
Schoenus ferrugineus – strictly protected, typical for the calcitrophic mires. In the
Wielkopolska region considered as extinguishing, and in the territory of Poland – endangered by extinction (Żukowski and Jackowiak 1995). According to Kaczmarek
(1960) in the 50’s it was numerous ad formed patches of its own plant community. In
1995 five clusters occurred, consisting of some tens of flowering and fruiting plants. In
2000 there were recovered three small clusters, growing close to the southwestern
boundary of the reserve. One of them was sterile, and two others formed only few flowers. The site was overgrown by Typha latifolia, shaded and strongly flooded by water.
The extinction of the calcitrophic flora...
99
In 2005 the species was not found – with high probability it can be considered as extinct.
Cladium mariscus – species protected by law, typical for the calcitrophic rush
communities growing on the calcitrophic habitats and are rare in the Wielkopolska
region, noted as numerous by Kaczmarek (1960). In 1995 and 2000 there occurred two
dense patches of the association Cladietum marisci (Allorge 1922) Zobr. 1935, covering
the area about 100 m2. Single, scattered specimens of Cladium were found also in reed
rushes in the whole territory of the reserve. The plants were up to 170 cm tall, and their
stems covered about 80% of the area of the patches. Most of them were abundantly
flowering and fruiting. In 2005 there was ascertained, that the specimen of Cladium in
the described patches of Cladietum marisci had significantly lower condition. The cover
of live plants in the patches went down to about 40%, and decayed litter covered the
area between stems. The plants were visibly shorter – reached up to 120 cm. Only about
10% of the specimen was flowering. The exact reasons of declining of the viability are
unknown, cause the habitat conditions of the site of Cladium seem unchanged in comparison to the state observed in 1995 and 2000. For the same reason it is difficult to
anticipate next development of the population.
Carex davalliana – the species protected by law, and characteristic for the calcitrophic mires and meadows belonging to the alliance Caricion davallianae Klika 1934.
Extinguishing in the territory of the Wielkopolska region, and threatened by extinction
in Poland. (Żukowski and Jackowiak 1995). In 1960 – numerous and forming its own
plant community (Kaczmarek 1960). In 1995 there was only a small population, forming a single patch covering approximately 5 m2, situated in a birch forest in the north-eastern part of object. The population consisted of 13 clusters, each of them formed by
some tens of flowering and abundantly fruiting stems. The clusters were growing
densely, without the addition of the other species of plants. The plants were in a very
good condition, firm and strong. Single, sterile specimen of Carex davaliana was found
the also spread along the southern boundary of the reserve. In 2000 the numeric force of
the population was significantly lower. There was only one site found, localized in the
north-eastern part of the object. Nevertheless, five, abundantly flowering and fruiting
clusters were recovered. In 2005 only two small clusters of C. davalliana were found in
the described spot. Each cluster consisted of several flimsy stems only. Moreover, only
in the case of one cluster the condition was good. The other cluster was practically extinguishing, The site was shaded by tall rushes and trees and also clearly flooded by
water. There were found no other specimens of C. davalliana in the rest of the object
area. Taking into account the rate of extinction of the described populations, and the
habitat conditions of the site, extinction can be expected in the years to come.
Other interesting species occurring in the reserve
Gentianella uliginosa (Gentianaceae) – protected by law and endangered by extinction in the territory of Poland. Not noted by Kaczmarek in 1960 nor found by the
author of this paper in the next years (1995, 2000, 2005). For the reserve “Miranowo”
the taxon was mentioned only in the project documentation (data in the archives of the
Wielkopolskie Voivodship in Poznań).
100
M. Janyszek
Tofieldia calyculata (Liliaceae) – glacial relict, species protected by law, becoming
extinct in the territory of the region. It was found in 1960 (Kaczmarek l.c.). In the next
years not recovered.
Juncus subnodulosus (Juncaceae) – species threatened by extinction in Poland and
Wielkopolska. By Kaczmarek (1960) described as widespread and numerous. In 1995
its population occurred as a narrow stripe along the coast of the Dolskie Wielkie Lake.
During the research in 2000, six small concentrations, covering about 1-1.5 m2 each,
were found. During all these years, the population flowered and fruited. In 2005 only
few, sterile specimens of J. subnodulosus were found. It is probably the next species,
which extinction in the reserve can be presumed.
Conclusion
During the valorization of the calcitrophic Cyperaceae species made during 2005 in
the “Miranowo” nature reserve it was proved, that the state of the populations of Carex
davalliana and Cladium mariscus was considerable deteriorated, and the species are
endangered by extinction in the studied object. Schoenus ferrugineus was not found
during the research and it is possible to conclude from that, with big credibility, about
its extinction. Also the populations Tofieldia calyculata and Gentianella uliginosa –
very rare taxa, being one of reasons of creation of the reserve, were not found. Only
small, remnant populations of Juncus subnodulosus were also found. It is probably also
threatened by extinction, due to a high rate of descending of the number of the specimen.
The reasons of such a state are probably related to the changes of the patterns of land
use, after establishing of the reserve. Formerly, the area was used as humid pastures and
hay meadows. After beginning of the protection the meadows and pastures were abandoned, and secondary succession started. Such a process was probably accelerated and
modified by the changes of the level of water in the lake, which increased by about 0.5
m in the second half of 1978. The plant cover of the reserve significantly changed in
comparison to the state in 1960. The calcitrophic rush and meadow communities, dominating in 1960, in 2000 occurred only as small remnants (Baraniak et al. 2000). The
floristic and geobotanical values of the reserve could be, probably, protected, by introduction of active protection (mowing of reed rushes and meadows or even removing
part of trees).
References
Baraniak E., Jurczyszyn M., Janyszek S. (2000): Plan ochrony rezerwatu przyrody „Miranowo”. Typescript. Urząd Wojewódzki w Poznaniu.
Baraniak E., Jurczyszyn M., Janyszek S., Szczepanik-Janyszek M. (2003): Stan zachowania
roślinności wapieniolubnej w rezerwacie „Miranowo”. Chrońmy Przyr. Ojcz. 59, 4: 67-71.
Brzeg A., Wojterska M. (2001): Zespoły roślinne Wielkopolski, ich stan poznania i zagrożenie.
In: Szata roślinna Wielkopolski i Pojezierza Południowopomorskiego. Ed. M. Wojterska.
Przewodnik sesji terenowych 52. Zjazdu PTB, 24-28 września 2001, Poznań. Bogucki Wyd.
Nauk., Poznań: 39-110.
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Kaczmarek Cz. (1959): Notatki florystyczne z powiatu gostyńskiego. Przyr. Pol. Zach. 3, 1: 17-23.
Kaczmarek Cz. (1960): Wapieniolubna roślinność łąkowo-bagienna na Wysoczyźnie Leszczyńskiej pomiędzy Gostyniem a Śremem. Bad. Fizjogr. Pol. Zach. 6: 207-231.
Kaczmarek Cz. (1962): Wapieniolubna roślinność łąkowo-bagienna na Wysoczyźnie Leszczyńskiej między Lesznem a Książem Wlkp. Bad. Fizjogr. Pol. Zach. 10: 291-307.
Kaczmarek Cz. (1963): Rozmieszczenie wapieniolubnej roślinności łąkowo-bagiennej na Pojezierzu Leszczyńskim. Bad. Fizjogr. Pol. Zach. 12: 213-225.
Żukowski W., Jackowiak B. (1995): Ginące i zagrożone rośliny naczyniowe Pomorza Zachodniego i Wielkopolski. Pr. Zakł. Takson. Rośl. UAM Pozn. 3.
ZANIKANIE FLORY GATUNKÓW WAPIENIOLUBNYCH
Z RODZINY CYPERACEAE W REZERWACIE PRZYRODY „MIRANOWO”
Streszczenie
Rezerwat „Miranowo” jest jednym z nielicznych na terenie Wielkopolski obszarów, na których stwierdzono występowanie gatunków roślin kalcydofilnych, czyli związanych z wysiękami
wody bogatej w związki węglanu wapnia. Podczas przeprowadzonej w 2005 roku waloryzacji
stanowisk gatunków wapieniolubnych z rodziny Cyperaceae stwierdzono znaczne pogorszenie się
stanu populacji Carex davalliana i Cladium mariscus, zagrażające ich wymarciem na terenie
obiektu. Natomiast za wymarły można uznać Schoenus ferrugineus, którego podczas badań nie
odnaleziono. Dwa inne stanowiska rzadkich roślin spoza rodziny Cyperaceae, Tofieldia calyculata
i Genrianella calyculata, których występowanie było jedną z głównych przyczyn utworzenia
rezerwatu, również zostały zniszczone. Przyczyn takiego stanu rzeczy należy upatrywać w nieudolnie prowadzonym sposobie ochrony obiektu, doprowadzającym do utraty najcenniejszych
gatunków flory rezerwatu „Miranowo”.
Author’s address:
Magdalena Janyszek, Katedra Botaniki, Akademia Rolnicza im. Augusta Cieszkowskiego
w Poznaniu, ul. Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, e-mail: [email protected]