Phenology of herbaceous vegetation in deciduous forest of Kamsa botanical -zoological reserve, Lithuania

The development of plants depends on dynamic of temperature, moisture and the length of the day during the year. This phenomenon is very clear in the deciduous forests. The aim of this work was to determine seasonal dynamic of herbaceous vegetation in the deciduous forests of Kamsa botanical - zoological reserve in 2006 year. Investigations were done during vegetation period of 2006 year. The dates of phenological appearance and projection cover were recorded. The spectra of vegetation and flowering were made. Data on temperature and precipitation were analyzed with the purpose to determinate the influence of microclimatic conditions on plants growth and development. It was determined, that projection cover of the plants changed during the vegetation period. The highest projection cover of the ephemeroids Anemone ranunculoides, Anemone nemorosa, Corydalis solida, Ficaria verna was in spring. Mercurialis perennis, Polygonatum midtiflorum, Aegopodium podagraria, Pulmonaria obscura, Stachys sylvatica had the highest projection cover in summer. The April of 2006 was cold, so plant species began flowering a week later than usually. The flowering of the herbaceous species in the forest depended on a tree foliation. The most plant species flowered in spring, when trees were still without leaves. Only in this period efemeroids were flowering in the deciduous forest. The time and length of plant flowering and vegetation depended on the sum of active temperatures. In 2006 the sum of active temperatures in vegetation period (from the end of April till the middle of October) was higher than average, consequently, the development of plant species was faster and phenological phases were shorterVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij