Species diversity in grassland communities under different habitat conditions

Abstract

Two hundred species of vascular plants were identified in grasslands on the Popielno Peninsula, in the part used for agricultural purposes. Species diversity in plant communities, measured by the Shannon-Wiener index, was found to depend on soil type, land use type and phytosociological affiliation. Greater species diversity was observed in communities that developed on mineral soils, are used as pastures, and belong to the class Molinio-Arrhenetheretea. The biodiversity of grassland communities on the Popielno Peninsula is affected by habitat conditions. The relationship between vegetation biodiversity and habitat quality is difficult to grasp due to its multidimensional character. The methods of multivariate statistics may prove useful in this respect.