Distribution of Vascular Plant Species in Small Woodlands on the Western Carpathian Foothills

Abstract

Sixty-nine woodlands isolated in the agricultural landscape of the Wierzbanowka valley (Western Carpathian foothills) were investigated. An analysis of historical maps shows that most of the woods under study are remnants of ancient woodlands. Stepwise and partial regression analyses were used in the statistical study of 66 small woods. It was found that the number of woodland vascular plant species depended upon area, isolation, shape, period of isolation and anthropogenic disturbances. Recent woods are poorer in species than the ancient ones. Single ancient woods on average support fewer species than does a combination of several small ancient woods of the same total area. The distribution of 58 common and 56 locally rare woodland species was analysed. The group of common species associated with more recently isolated and less disturbed woods contained more myrmecochores, endozoochores and epizoochores and fewer anemochores than did the group of indifferent species. This last group included more species capable of colonizing recent woods. The number of woodland species appeared to be the most important predictor of the number of rare species. The results obtained and their comparison with the results from other similar studies indicate that small remnants of ancient forests in an agricultural landscape are refuges of numerous woodland species. Therefore, the preservation of such woods carries great weight in the maintenance of species richness and the protection of woodland species.