91E0
Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)
Syntaxonomy. Salicion albae Soo 1930: Salicetum albo-fragilis R.Tx.1955.
Species:
Cardamine dentatа ,
Populus nigra ,
Salix alba ,
S. fragilis Photo: Н.Сичак,
S. triandra ,
S. viminalis ,
Solanum dulcamara ,
Galium palustre ,
Iris pseudacorus ,
Caltha palustris ,
Lysimachia nummularia ,
L. vulgaris ,
Lythrum salicaria ,
Mentha longifolia ,
Persicaria hydropiper ,
Phalaroides arundinacea ,
Humulus lupulus Photo: Т. Тиллаев,
Rubus caesius ,
Stachys palustris ,
Urtica dioica Photo: І.Більський.
Structure. Willow forests in the river floodplains or more successionally developed forests with predominance of
Populus nigra and
P. alba belong to this habitat type. Willows thickets are formed by
Salix alba ,
S. fragilis Photo: Н.Сичак,
S. triandra . Undergrowth mainly consists of young tree saplings. An important feature is a well developed herb cover of the tall perennial plants. The main role in the formation of herb cover belongs to hygrophilous and nitrophilous species that can stand long-term flooding, in particular
Galium palustre ,
Iris pseudacorus ,
Caltha palustris ,
Lysimachia nummularia ,
L. vulgaris ,
Lythrum salicaria ,
Mentha longifolia ,
Persicaria hydropiper ,
Phalaroides arundinacea ,
Humulus lupulus Photo: Т. Тиллаев,
Rubus caesius ,
Stachys palustris ,
Urtica dioica Photo: І.Більський.
Ecological characteristics. Habitats form on heavy, nutrient-rich alluvial sediments, silt-boggy or sandy soils, mainly along banks of lowland rivers and in the floodplains. Communities are formed by trees and shrubs that can stand frequent and prolonged flooding with surface or ground water. The main factors of their development are significant fluctuation in ground water level during the year and yearly sediment deposition due to spring floods.
Threats. Change of hydrological regime (reclamation, construction of dikes, fall of ground water level), farming and expansion of invasive species.
Management. Prevention of the habitat integrity destruction due to the expansion of invasive species and cultivation of monocultures. Maintenance of the natural ground water level and natural flow of the rivers with the formation of meanders and floodplains.
References. Дідух, Фіцайло, Коротченко та ін., 2011; Chytrý, Kučera, Koči (eds.), 2001; Matuszkiewicz, 2007; Valachovič (eds.), 2002.
Authors: V. Honcharenko, L. Borsukevych.