Possibilities of Speciation Following Anthropogenous Environmental Changes in the Central Sandy Area of the Carpathian Basin through the Example of Festuca Taxa

Those taxa of Festuca species in the Carpathian Basin which have bowed base and stem leaves are identified and mentioned by various authors as belonging to the aggregation of Festuca ovina [1-9]. These taxa can be identified easily based on their characteristic tissue structure and molecular genetic analyses [10-16]. Pawlus [17] separated a new series within the Festuca genus. This is the psammophila series, which includes F. polesica Zapal, F. vaginata W. K., F. psammophila Host., F. pallens. Subsequently, Šmarda et al. [17] added F. pseudovaginata Penksza and F. glaucina Stohr. to it.

The species which were determinate in the original natural vegetation [18] were expected to appear on the new bare soil patches. So, we wanted to answer the question: on new surfaces formed by human interventions, is there a possibility to form new vegetation units and species, or will the natural vegetation and its main species appear?

The Festuca individuals collected in the Carpathian Basin were put through morphological and ploidy examination. Meanwhile, we made coenological records in every type of sandy grasslands along the Danube from Austria to Romania. Furthermore, we set up a collection of living plants, which ensures individuals growing in the same conditions to molecular surveys. We also modelled the appearance, composition and dominant species of new vegetation on bare soil surfaces. The area has been being managed since 2006. The study area lies on the Pest plain near the left bank of the Danube.

Based on our results, we confirmed the appearance of Festuca vaginata, F. psudovaginata, F. javorkae, F. wagneri in the natural grasslands, and discovered new occurrences of F. brevibila and F. javorkae in the area. In Slovakia, F wagneri appeared as a new species of the flora of the country. Festuca pseudovaginata habits only the Pannon region, we found endemic and natural stands of it, but on secondary habitats it was confirmed as a completely new species. Furthermore, taxa of disturbed vegetations are being examined. These habitats are potential hotspots of speciation.

On bare soil surfaces of areas exposed to anthropogenous effects, two species of the genus Festuca have become dominant. One of them, Festuca pseudovaginata was described as a new species [18] and is endemic in the Carpathian Basin [19]. Examinations are being continued in order to clear hardly identifiable taxa. Our survey has confirmed the occurrence of the species so far, and we discovered new occurrences too.

he work was supported by OTKA K-125423. Author LSZ was supported by the European Union and the State of Hungary, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund in project GINOP-2.3.2.-15-2016-00009 ‘ICER.’

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