NDA@SZTAKI

Ecological indicator based comparative study of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) stands’ herb layer

Demeter, András

Falvai, Dominika

Trenyik, Petra

Czóbel, Szilárd

Szent István University

2017

QH540 Ecology / ökológia

QK50 Plant geography (phytogeography) / növényföldrajz

SD Forestry / erdőgazdaság

Tree of heaven (
Ailanthus altissima
) is one of the most dangerous and spread woody-stemmed invasive
plant species in Hungary. By its nature it transforms its environment and reduces the biodiversity of the area.
These processes can be observed studying species composition of habitats heavily infected by tree of heaven.
In our research we studied the herb layered species composition of plant communities that were tree of heaven
dominated in canopy in Fót, Gyermely, Makád and Tököl. After determining the species associated Borhidi’s
relative ecological indicators and Raunkiaer’s life-forms have been applied and analysed for the distribution of the
categories. Accordingly most of the species occurring in the herb layer of studied areas were herbaceous. In these
stands disturbance tolerant species, generalists and weed species are common, but more, aggressive competitors
also appear. These species are indicators of degraded and disturbed habitats however there was also a protected
area (FĂłti-SomlyĂł). Summing the indicators of relative temperature figures it can be stated that most of the species
indicated the relative temperature demand of submontane broad-leaved forests. According to wetness requirement
of the species, studied tree of heaven stands were semihumid. Looking at the relative nitrogen figures, species
show a wide variety, but most of them indicate a moderately nutrient-rich, or richer habitat. On herb layer halflight
plant species prevailed which indicates that these tree of heaven infected stands were less closed, allowing more
light to come down to the herb layer. In continentality suboceanic and intermediate types dominated. The majority
of the species is halophob, that does not tolerate the salty environment.

angol

Article

PeerReviewed

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

text

http://real.mtak.hu/55810/1/Demeter_Columella_vol4no12017_1...

Demeter, András and Falvai, Dominika and Trenyik, Petra and Czóbel, Szilárd (2017) Ecological indicator based comparative study of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) stands’ herb layer. COLUMELLA: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, 4 (1). pp. 15-20. ISSN 2064-7816

http://real.mtak.hu/55810/

https://doi.org/10.18380/SZIE.COLUM.2017.4.1.15

MTMT:3247706; doi:10.18380/SZIE.COLUM.2017.4.1.15