An attempt to determine ash-alder habitat reaction to increasing stream's water level
The simulation of an ash-alder swamp forest reaction to water damming was conducted in Białowieża forest. At Braszcza stream, a tested object, a dam was projected. The main goal of studies was to determine changes in ground vegetation and habitat after stream’s water level increase. The transects of 1 m2 plots in frame 5×5m was localized close to the stream, behind and before the dam. On the basis of the relationships between moist species indicator value and altitude, a model of vegetation changes and soil moisture after dropping of water level in stream was elaborated. Moreover, the correlation of vegetation features with some environmental factors was evaluated. The obtained results showed the possibility of use a species indicator values and linear function in order to characterize vegetation changes after damming water up. The water dam has been projected within a framework of small retention project. Changes in site show that water retention causes an increase in a swamp forest habitat share, from 2% to 33 % of investigated area. The main species indicator value was soil moisture that increased by 0.4 when compared to situation before damming water up. The present plant association (ash-alder swamp forest) changes its floristic composition in the direction of alder swamp forest. This model could be used in practice for choosing places for and evaluation of ecological consequences of hydrological structures.
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