Flora und Vegetation an Straßenrändern und Bahndämmen im Kreis Köthen (Sachsen-Anhalt)

Abstract

The flora associated with the main and side lanes of roadside and railway ecotones was investigated from 1985 to 1988. In total 354 vascular plant species were recorded and classified according to their ecological value. The ecotones were compared with reference to the total number of species, the number and type of indicator organisms, the types of life forms, the preseverance of leaves, the anatomical structured and the resistance to salt and heavy metals. The flora and both ecotones were described using the calculation of the coefficient for community, the designation of hemerobic degree and the proportion of apophytes to anthropophytes. For the descussion of the necessity of protection the number of official poisonous herbs were determined as were the number of species in the "red list" of endangered species. In general the vegetation of the research area was characterized by that associated with "ruderal meadows" i. e., the Tanaceto Arrhenatheretum. Moreover the Convolvulo-Agropyretum and the Atriplicetum netentis were found as weil as the Alliario-Chaerophyllum temuli in the vicinity of woods. The Lolio-Plantaginetum were only common immediately next to roadways. Detailed analyses indicated similar plant species and phytocoenological structures in both roadside and railway ecotones. Essentially the species with a wide ecological and phytosociological amplitude dominate. The increasing effect of ruderalisation is the consequence of the strong anthropogenic influence.