The aim of this paper was to evaluate the link between environmental conditions and the vegetation pattern of mountain peatlands drained for forestry. We assumed that (a) water chemistry and soil properties differ between the investigated peatlands types—from fen to bog, (b) the vegetation pattern is dependent on water chemistry and soil properties, and (c) water chemistry and soil properties play different roles in determining peatland patterning. For our study, five ecologically and topographically diverse forestry‐drained shallow peatlands in Central Sudetes, Poland, were selected. A comparison between the studied peatlands and environmental variables was done by discriminant analysis, whereas vegetation–environmental relationship was analysed by canonical correspondence analysis. Results demonstrated that pH, HCO3−, NO3−, and Ca2+ best explained the variation in water chemistry (approximately 74%), whereas base saturation, pHwater, and plant‐available phosphorus best explained the variation in soil properties. Plant assemblages within the peatlands exhibited three vegetation clusters that did not always correspond to peatland ecological type. The vegetation was mostly affected by water chemistry (explained up to 54% of variation), rather than by soil properties. Vegetation within such ecosystems seems to be a good indicator of differences in water chemistry, caused by differences in bedrock (soligenic fen peatlands) or atmospheric inputs (ombrogenic bogs). Our results will help improve our understanding of vegetation–environment relationships in degraded mountain peatland ecosystems in the temperate climate zone. They might also be useful for proper planning of restoration and monitoring of these ecosystems.

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Abstract:The paper presents results of fl oristic investigation conducted within the territory of waste dumps in Lower Silesia: landfi ll of municipal waste Wrocław-Maślice, post-metallurgic waste heap in Siechnice, serpentine dumping grounds in Grochów and slag heaps in Bielawa.The investigated fl ora was analyzed with regard to species composition, participation of geographical-historical groups, live forms (according to classifi cation by Raunkiaer), as well as selected ecological factors: light indicator (L), thermal indicator (T), soil moisture (W), trophic indicator (Tr), soil reaction (pH), value of resistance to increased heavy metals content (M). On 4 waste dumps there were found 269 species of vascular plants, belonging to 51 families. Only 5 species occurred on 4 sites, which provides for 2% of all plants recorded. The most numerous families are Asteraceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae. Apophytes dominate in waste dumps fl ora Hemicryptophytes are the most numerous group.Analysis of the fl oras (selected ecological factors) of investigated objects has shown general similarities, but also apparent differences. The most signifi cant differences concerned two parameters: trophism (Tr) and resistance to increased heavy metals content (M).

Abstract. The aim of this paper was to assess the degradation stage of fen peatland located in the north-western part of the Opolskie voivodeship in accordance with "peatland degradation stages" classification. Understanding of the current state of peatland will be helpful in the future management and possible restoration. Field survey including vegetation and soil research were carried out in May 2013, soil material for laboratory analysis were collected by using "Instorf" peat sampler from four sampling points. Obtained results allowed to classify the study area (located within a larger peatland complex along the Prosna river valley) to minor stage of degradation, with spontaneous changes in vegetation community and soil cover. Only few species of plants typical for fen peatlands were recorded. Moreover, soil cover research did not confirm mursh forming process, typical for strongly degraded peatland areas. Obtained results may indicate that possible future restoration will bring the expected effect. It is very likely, that fen peatland vegetation will regenerate spontaneously, provided that diaspores of the key peat-forming plant species are available in the soil.

Research involved 3 swamp meadows affected by murshing process: Czarnocin III and Lubczyńskie Łęgi located in Goleniowski district and Pucka Island situated within the borders of Szczecin. There were recognized, in total, 42 species of herbaceous plants representing 7 phytosocjological classes. Particular areas differednot only in the number of species (from 8 on Pucka Island to 24 in Czarnocin III), but also in their percentage composition. The species recognized belong to 17 families. The most numerous one proved to be grasses (Poaceae)-including as many as 13 species On the examined meadows there dominate species from Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class. Environmental requirements of these species were quite similar.