Expansion of Cold-Adapted Orchid Goodyera repens (Orchidaceae) in Times of Global Warming – Report from Southern Poland

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Central Europe Goodyera repens (L.) R. Br. is considered as species vulnerable to extinction, critically threatened, or even extinct, depending on the region. In recent years, this rare orchid clearly increases the number of sites within its natural range. The aim of the study is to present new data on the abundant occurrence of circum-boreal species in southern Poland (position of localities, the estimated number of specimens, habitat data) that indicate its ecological expansion. The localities of G. repens were described using the topogram method and then its distribution was shown using cartogram method. The study was conducted in the years 2010–2018 in the south-western part of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (S Poland) on the area of 337,5 km2. During the study the species was found for the first time on eleven localities. The largest populations were observed in secondary pine forests. The results of this study against the background of published data suggest the ecological expansion of the species in Poland, which is facilitated by the availability of suitable habitats. The expansion of this cold-adapted species is interesting in the context of the global warming.