Patterns of seedling recruitment in experimental gaps on mosaic vegetation of abandoned meadows

Abstract

The paper presents results of a study on the response of species growing in experimental gaps in the patches dominated by <em>Carex acutiformis</em>, <em>C. cespitosa</em> and <em>Salix cinerea</em>. The study was performed in a meadow area subjected to the process of succession in the Reski Range in the Białowieski National Park. Four patterns of seedlings recruitment in the experimental gaps were distinguished: pattern I - great number of seedlings with high richness of species, pattern II - great number of seedlings with low richness of species, pattern III - low number of seedlings with great richness of species and pattern IV - low number of seedlings with low richness of species.