Threatened Alvar Grasslands in NW Russia and their Relationship to Alvars in Estonia |
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Authors: | Sergey Znamenskiy Aveliina Helm Meelis Pärtel |
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Institution: | (1) KRC RAS Biology Institute, Pushkinskaya 11, 185910 Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russian Federation;(2) Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia |
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Abstract: | Alvar grasslands are thin-soil calcareous grasslands on Silurian and Ordovician limestone bedrock. They are considered unique
plant communities for northern Europe and America with a high conservation value. Until now, European alvar grasslands have
only been described in Sweden and Estonia. We described species-rich alvar grasslands on the Izhora plateau, NW Russia and
compared this vegetation with that of Estonian alvar grasslands. Floristic composition and environmental conditions of Russian
alvars were similar to Estonian alvar grasslands on thicker dry soil. Russian alvars are isolated from similar communities
in Estonia, but extensive transport of domestic animals from Estonia to NW Russia in past centuries has probably enhanced
species dispersal. Some characteristic Estonian alvar species were missing in NW Russia because it lies outside their natural
ranges. Other differences in vegetation were explained by higher atmospheric nitrogen deposition and younger age of Russian
sites. In NW Russia the alvar grasslands were small, but several red-listed plant species were present. In order to preserve
European alvar vegetation effectively, Russian alvar grasslands need further study and conservation as an outpost of this
threatened vegetation type. |
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Keywords: | Dispersal Grazing Pasture Semi-natural vegetation Vegetation history |
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