Wet Meadow Plant Communities of the Alliance Trifolion pallidi on the Southeastern Margin of the Pannonian Plain

Abstract

The article deals with wet meadow plant communities of the alliance Trifolion pallidi that appear on the periodically inundated or waterlogged sites on the riverside terraces or gentle slopes along watercourses. These plant communities are often endangered by inappropriate hydrological interventions or management practices. All available vegetation plots representing this vegetation type were collected, organized in a database, and numerically elaborated. This vegetation type appears in the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain, which is still under the influence of the Mediterranean climate; its southern border is formed by southern outcrops of the Pannonian Plain and its northern border coincides with the influence of the Mediterranean climate (line Slavonsko Gorje-Fruška Gora-Vršačke Planine). Numerical analysis established four plant associations—Trifolio pallidi–Alopecuretum pratensis, Ventenato dubii–Trifolietum pallidi, Ranunculo strigulosi–Alopecuretum pratensis, and Ornithogalo pyramidale–Trifolietum pallidi. Each association was elaborated in detail: diagnostic plant species, nomenclature, geographical distribution, climatic and ecological conditions, and possible division into subassociations. Results are presented in a distribution map, figures resulting from numerical analysis, and a synoptic table. The hydrological gradient was found as the most important factor shaping the studied plant communities. The article also brings new field data on this vegetation type, which has not been sampled for decades and is in process of evaluation to be included as a special habitat type in the Habitat Directive.

Study of Forage Quality of Grasslands on the Southern Margin of the Pannonian Basin

“…A similar grassland classification has been proposed in Poland based on plant traits [34]. The accepted classification scheme often distinguishes among six groups of grasslands in the region: (1) montane meadows, (2) mesic meadows and pastures, (3) wet meadows, (4) mesic to wet meadows under the influence of a submediterranean climate, (5) wet fringe pastures and meadows, and (6) wet pastures [1,2,35]. Perhaps classification based on traits can reveal a new classification scheme, at least on a local scale, since management (i.e., disturbance) is a strong driver of trait differentiation and species coexistence [36].…”

Hydrology-Shaped Plant Communities: Diversity and Ecological Function

“…A hydrological gradient and a fluctuating water level present major driving forces, which determine the distribution of different plant communities as well as plant species composition within them. This was evidenced in various aquatic ecosystems, such as wet-meadows [12], marshes [4], intermittent lake [15], flood-forests [11], ponds [10], lakes [3,17], or rivers [6]. Waterlogged or flooded soil can become an inhospitable environment, which excludes the majority of species, while in the remaining species, it triggers the expression of various traits and mechanisms that enable survival despite oxygen shortage in the root zone.…”

“…Inappropriate hydrological interventions or management practices may endanger these communities. The contribution of Čarni et al [12] discussed wet meadow plant communities of the alliance Trifolion pallidi that colonize riverside terraces or gentle slopes along watercourses in the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain. The hydrological gradient along with nutrient availability is a key factor that determines the growth of different species, as shown by Ellenberg indicator values.…”

The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans

“…Orchids are less prevalent in communities of the vegetation order Trifolio-Hordeetalia (Table 2). This vegetation type represents the wet meadows of the humid continental regions of the north-central Balkans, occurring on clayey, mesotrophic to eutrophic soils on riverside terraces and gentle slopes along the rivers [32,57,110]. Anacamptis palustris subsp.…”

“…Given the strong influence of the humid climate in western Serbia, northern Montenegro, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, northern Albania and the northwestern part of North Macedonia, the significant presence of wet meadows, bogs, fens and marshes is understandable. In the Central Balkans, wetland vegetation can be divided into the following types: (a) submerged rooted herbaceous vegetation of brackish waters (Ruppietea maritimae); (b) salt marshes within the classes Therosalicornietea and Festuco-Puccinellietea; (c) freshwater aquatic vegetation (Lemnetea, Charetea intermediae and Potamogetonetea); (d) vegetation of freshwater springs, shorelines and marshes (Montio-Cardaminetea, Isoëto-Nanojuncetea and Phragmito-Magnocaricetea); (e) bogs and fens (Oxycocco-Sphagnetea and Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae); (f) wet meadows (some alliances within the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea); and (g) tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and water springs (some alliances within the class Mulgedio-Aconitetea) [27][28][29][30][31][32].…”