Acta Botanica Croatica, Vol. 47 No. 1, 1988.
Original scientific paper
Some Structural Characteristics of the Stands of the Species Solidago gigantea Ait. and Helianthus tuberosus L. and their Ornithocoenoses in North-West Croatia
Gordan Lukač
; Hrvatska
Abstract
On the basis of investigations of 12 stands and two transects, structural characteristics of the vegetation of Solidago gigantea and Helianthus tuberosus are described. As a result of the edge effect both communities are penetrated by various plant species, and thus the parts on the edges are characterized by higher diversity and equitability. The diversity and equitability decrease from the edge to the central parts of the stands. In the central (inner) parts of the vegetation only one species predominates, which by close interlacement of its roots, by the shade it casts and by allelopathic interactions prevents the growth and development of other plant species. Therefore, owing to less shade and less dense root system the marginal parts become places of the most intense succession of vegetation.
Owing to its plant habitus and structural simplicity, the neophyte vegetation offers the possibility of nesting to very specific bird species, such as Acrocephalus palustris. Nesting birds of the species Sylvia communis, and at later stages also Sylvia atricapilla, Phylloscopus tro- chilus, Luscinia megarhynchos and others are found in the niches made by horizontal vegetational structures. Higher succession intensity and richer vegetation cover of the horizontal structures increase the number of bird species and consequently the diversity and equitability of the bird communities. However, with the disappearance of the neophyte vegetation, the predominance of the species Acrocephalus palustris decreases.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
159448
URI
Publication date:
31.12.1988.
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