Beiträge zur Populationsbiologie und Vergesellschaftung von Angelica palustris (Besser) Hoffm. ∗)

Abstract

Dittbrenner, A.; Partzsch, M.; Hensen, I.: Contributions to the population biology and association of Angelica palustris (Besser) Hoffm. – Hercynia N.F. 38 (2005): 59–87.Angelica palustris (Apiaceae) is a rare and rapidly declining grassland species occurring in whole Europe. It is protected by the Bern Convention and the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive. The stands existing still now in Germany are a western outpost of the south-sarmatic-south-siberian area. The species grows on oligotrophic up to moderate eutrophic locations and was found in five different communities of Calthion palustris, Caricion elatae and Molinion caeruleae. We investigated 14 populations in four federal states of East Germany in total. The populations strongly varied in size (between 4 and 1500 individuals). In order to assess the fitness of the populations, the height of flowering shoots, the number of umbels and the number of diaspores were recorded. As a result of the analysis of the mentioned parameters there were not found significant relationship to the plant community in which A. palustris was found as well as to the nutrient conditions. It seems that water supply plays a major role, due to the disappearance of this species caused by the drawdown. The investigation of the parameters of the population near Zwintschöna was carried out during three years including the consideration of the local weather dataset. A strong correlation between the population parameters and the weather conditions was found. Warm and wet days in June positively affected the population size and fitness in particular. The keeping of both original moist to wet soil conditions and traditional land-use of the stands of Angelica palustris as litter meadows are the most important requirement for the conservation of this rare and endangered species. Otherwise the decline of the species will continue.