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The effects of habitat degradation on phenology and reproduction of some species of genus Primula L.
Abstract
Habitat degradation can significantly affect plant reproductive success. Genus Primula (Primulaceae; Primrose) depend on temperature and relative humidity of environmental factors. Some species of genus Primula flower before the forest starts leafing. Other species grow in subalpine and alpine meadows. The elevation range of studied habitats of Primula species in the Greater and East Caucasus is between 400 to 3000 meters: P. woronowii Losinsk. Grows in oak-hornbeam forests (400-1000 m); P. macrocalyx Bunge - in beech forest (900-1700 m); P. auriculata L. in subalpine wet meadows (1800-2300 m); P. cordifolia Rupr. in subalpine meadows (1800-2300 m). P. amoena M. Bieb. grows in two different habitats: subalpine birch forest (1800-2300 m) and subalpine and alpine meadows (2300-2800 m); P. algida Adams occurs in subalpine and alpine meadows (2300-3000 m). Seed production of two species (P. amoena and P. woronowii) were determined. We have calculated sky exposure. As a result reproductive effort of early flowering forest species of Primula shows close correlation to microclimatic conditions determined by sky exposition. In case of P. woronowii the limit index of sky exposition is 5%, below which the species does not develop flowers. Global climate change can cause shifts in "spring index" in forests and will change duration of phenological phases of Primula in shadow habitat. This will influence reproductive success of the species and determine the chances of its survival and propagation.
