Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland

Arnica montana L. is a critically endangered and highly valued medicinal plant species in Europe. We show the inter-relationships between arnica and accompanying plant species, as well as soil factors, that promote the persistence of the studied forest arnica populations in terms of active protectio...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Piotr Sugier, Aleksander Kołos, Dan Wołkowycki, Danuta Sugier, Andrzej Plak, Oleg Sozinov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Botanical Society 2018-09-01
Series:Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8170
id doaj-a4789690da1647e0b8fe7b89732f158e
record_format Article
spelling doaj-a4789690da1647e0b8fe7b89732f158e2020-11-25T03:55:51ZengPolish Botanical SocietyActa Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae2083-94802018-09-0187310.5586/asbp.35926914Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE PolandPiotr Sugier0Aleksander Kołos1Dan Wołkowycki2Danuta Sugier3Andrzej Plak4Oleg Sozinov5Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Akademicka 19, 20-033 LublinDepartment of Agri-Food Engineering and Environmental Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A, 15-351 BialystokFaculty of Forestry, Bialystok University of Technology, Piłsudskiego 1A, 17-200 HajnówkaDepartment of Industrial and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 LublinDepartment of Soil Science and Protection, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, al. Kraśnicka 2CD, 20-718 LublinDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Biology and Ecology, Yanka Kupala Grodno State University, Dovatora 3/1, 230012 GrodnoArnica montana L. is a critically endangered and highly valued medicinal plant species in Europe. We show the inter-relationships between arnica and accompanying plant species, as well as soil factors, that promote the persistence of the studied forest arnica populations in terms of active protection of this species in the northeast region of Europe. The population characteristics and plant species composition were assessed during a field study. Additionally, soil samples were taken and analyzed to assess variation in soil conditions in the habitats of arnica populations. Correlations between population characteristics and soil properties were highlighted. The forest habitats of arnica presented in this study differ from those described in other European mountain and submountain areas. The sandy and very poor soils are characterized by a very low content of macro- and microelements, and a strong acid reaction. The positive correlation between population characteristics and Ca and K indicates an important role of these macroelements in flower head production. Acidity, K, Ca, the sum of exchangeable bases, and base saturation play crucial roles in the persistence of arnica populations in pine forests. The level of acidity and its consequences result from soil-forming processes and climatic conditions rather than air pollution. When planning active protection scenarios, special attention should be paid to the frequency and cover of Vaccinium myrtillus, which can act as a competitor in forest habitats. Assessment of soil conditions that favor the persistence of the studied arnica populations and species relationships is important for improving knowledge of the ecology of the species and for the active protection of endangered plant species.https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8170mountain arnicarapid declinepine forest populationspopulation characteristicsabiotic conditions
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Piotr Sugier
Aleksander Kołos
Dan Wołkowycki
Danuta Sugier
Andrzej Plak
Oleg Sozinov
spellingShingle Piotr Sugier
Aleksander Kołos
Dan Wołkowycki
Danuta Sugier
Andrzej Plak
Oleg Sozinov
Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
mountain arnica
rapid decline
pine forest populations
population characteristics
abiotic conditions
author_facet Piotr Sugier
Aleksander Kołos
Dan Wołkowycki
Danuta Sugier
Andrzej Plak
Oleg Sozinov
author_sort Piotr Sugier
title Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
title_short Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
title_full Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
title_fullStr Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in Arnica montana L. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in NE Poland
title_sort evaluation of species inter-relations and soil conditions in arnica montana l. habitats: a step towards active protection of endangered and high-valued medicinal plant species in ne poland
publisher Polish Botanical Society
series Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
issn 2083-9480
publishDate 2018-09-01
description Arnica montana L. is a critically endangered and highly valued medicinal plant species in Europe. We show the inter-relationships between arnica and accompanying plant species, as well as soil factors, that promote the persistence of the studied forest arnica populations in terms of active protection of this species in the northeast region of Europe. The population characteristics and plant species composition were assessed during a field study. Additionally, soil samples were taken and analyzed to assess variation in soil conditions in the habitats of arnica populations. Correlations between population characteristics and soil properties were highlighted. The forest habitats of arnica presented in this study differ from those described in other European mountain and submountain areas. The sandy and very poor soils are characterized by a very low content of macro- and microelements, and a strong acid reaction. The positive correlation between population characteristics and Ca and K indicates an important role of these macroelements in flower head production. Acidity, K, Ca, the sum of exchangeable bases, and base saturation play crucial roles in the persistence of arnica populations in pine forests. The level of acidity and its consequences result from soil-forming processes and climatic conditions rather than air pollution. When planning active protection scenarios, special attention should be paid to the frequency and cover of Vaccinium myrtillus, which can act as a competitor in forest habitats. Assessment of soil conditions that favor the persistence of the studied arnica populations and species relationships is important for improving knowledge of the ecology of the species and for the active protection of endangered plant species.
topic mountain arnica
rapid decline
pine forest populations
population characteristics
abiotic conditions
url https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8170
work_keys_str_mv AT piotrsugier evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
AT aleksanderkołos evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
AT danwołkowycki evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
AT danutasugier evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
AT andrzejplak evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
AT olegsozinov evaluationofspeciesinterrelationsandsoilconditionsinarnicamontanalhabitatsasteptowardsactiveprotectionofendangeredandhighvaluedmedicinalplantspeciesinnepoland
_version_ 1724467765125840896