Habitat preferences of royal fern Osmunda regalis L. in the ‘Baszków’ nature reserve

Autorzy

  • Anna K. Gdula Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
  • Marcin K. Dyderski Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
  • Andrzej M. Jagodziński Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Dendrology, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland, phone: +48-61-8170-033,
    fax: +48-61-8170-166, e-mail: amj@man.poznan.pl
    Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Game Management and Forest Protection, Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60-625 Poznań, Poland

Abstract

The royal fern (Osmunda regalis L.) is a threatened species, which reaches the northeastern border of its natural range in Poland. The number of royal fern stands is decreasing due to decline of its natural habitat – alder carrs. The main aim of this paper was to compare features of stands in habitats representing different levels of anthropogenic transformation and to investigate all stands of the royal fern in the ‘Baszków’ nature reserve (3.76 ha; Krotoszyn Forest District, Poland). We distinguished four plant communities within the nature reserve: Carici elongatae-Alnetum, Molinio-Pinetum, Leucobryo-Pinetum and Pinus-Padus. In total, we found 144 royal fern specimens within the nature reserve area growing in 20 stands: 97 specimens in Carici-Alnetum (9 stands), 32 specimens in Molinio-Pinetum (4 stands) and 15 specimens along a drainage ditch (7 stands). Specimens from Carici-Alnetum had the highest proportion of sporophylles (41%), which shows the habitat preferences of the royal fern. Low proportion of sporophylles and the low number of specimens in the stands in ditches prove lower vitality of royal ferns and possibility of local extirpation in these stands. Royal fern populations in secondary habitats such as ditches and borders of forest divisions should be particularly monitored. Passive royal fern protection in the nature reserve gave positive results due to better availability of light, connected with mortality of some trees.

DOI 10.2478/ffp-2014-0019
Source Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry
Print ISSN 0071-6677
Online ISSN
2199-5907
Type of article
original article
Original title
Habitat preferences of royal fern Osmunda regalis L. in the ‘Baszków' nature reserve
Publisher The Committee on Forestry Sciences and Wood Technology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Forest Research Institute in Sekocin Stary
Date 20/12/2014

Article:

Translate »