Vascular plants of Łempis nature reserve in the Augustów forest (NE Poland)

Abstract

absTRacT. During the survey of Łempis Nature Reserve (Augustów Forest, NE Poland) 353 species of vascular plants were recorded, including 32 considered threatened with extinction in Poland (7 species from the Polish "red data book" and 32 species from the Polish "red list"). Among them there were 41 species protected under the Polish law, including 19 strictly protected species and four species listed in the Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. Ten orchid species were recorded, including the most valuable plants of the nature reserve -Cypripedium calceolus, Hammarbya paludosa, Liparis loeselii and Listera cordata. Among 32 noted Cyperaceae species (including 26 members of the Carex genus), there was a number of threatened plants, e.g. Baeothryon alpinum, Carex chordorrhiza, C. loliacea and Eriophorum gracile. Other rare species included Agrimonia pilosa, Cladium mariscus, Laserpitium latifolium, Linnaea borealis, Potamogeton gramineus and Pulsatilla patens. The presence of anthropophytes was significant (4.5% of the flora), probably due to the past forest management practices as well as proximity of settlements. The extremely rich flora, along with pristine wetland ecosystems (mesotrophic lakes, various mire forests and fens), places the Łempis Nature Reserve among the most valuable nature reserves in Poland.key woRDs: red list species, neophytes, ancient forest species, wetland, Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae

Vascular plants of Łempis nature reserve in the Augustów forest (NE Poland)

“…On the other hand, the Łempis Nature Reserve hosts populations of a large number of ancient forest species, which entails the presence of well-developed and valuable forest habitats. The number of such species noted in the surveyed reserve (59) is similar to that confirmed in two other nature reserves established in the Augustów Forest predominantly to preserve old-growth forests: Mały Borek (54) and Kozi Rynek (65) (Pawlikowski et al 2011(Pawlikowski et al , 2013.…”

“…Comparing existing data on the plant cover of the reserve from the 1970s and early 1980s (kłosowski & Tomaszewicz 1979, Tomaszewicz & kłosowski 1985, kłosowski 1986-1987, sokołowski 2000, 2010, S. Kłosowski, personal communication in the years 2002-2013 with the present information, it is clear that ecological conditions and plant cover of the mire ecosystems in the reserve are stable and are not subject to intensive secondary succession processes. The only significant negative change recorded is the expansion of Phragmites australis reed-beds and decrease of Cladium mariscus stands, but mainly around the Łempis Lake; the replacement is only slightly visible in the vicinity of the remaining lakes (Stulpień and Stulpieniuk).…”

“…An outstanding number of threatened vascular plant species recorded in the Łempis Nature Reserve (23 species) is unique and situates the reserve among most valuable nature reserves in Poland. In two other recently surveyed nature reserves in the Augustów Forest -Kozi Rynek and Mały Borek -10 threatened species have been recorded in each (Pawlikowski et al 2011(Pawlikowski et al , 2013. The most important species of the Łempis Nature Reserve were members of the Cyperaceae family (e.g.…”

New Records of Vascular Plant Distribution in the Polish Part of the Lithuanian Lakeland, North-Eastern Poland

“…However, significant contributions to the vascular plant flora of the region were made in the second half of the 20 th century (soKołowsKi, 1965(soKołowsKi, , 1973(soKołowsKi, , 1988a(soKołowsKi, , 1988bMazur et al, 1978). The flora of the Polish part of the Lithuanian Lakeland still attracts the interest among researchers (jabłońsKa, 2005;PawLiKowsKi, 2008aPawLiKowsKi, , 2008bPawLiKowsKi et al, 2011PawLiKowsKi et al, , 2013PLisZKo, 2014PLisZKo, , 2015PLisZKo, , 2016PLisZKo, , 2017awołKowycKi & PawLiKowsKi, 2016;woźniaK-chodacKa & PLisZKo, 2017b). In this paper, new records of vascular plant distribution in the Polish part of the Lithuanian Lakeland are presented, as an addition to the ATPOL database (Zając & Zając, 2001).…”