Floristic status and distribution trends of Rosa rubiginosa L. in Latvia

Current issue: Volume 23, No. 2 (2023)

FLORISTIC STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION TRENDS OF ROSA RUBIGINOSA L. IN LATVIA

Pēteris Evarts–Bunders^*, Gunta Evarte–Bundere, Maija Medne, Aiva Bojāre

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59893/abud.23(2).008

Evarts–Bunders P., Evarte–Bundere G., Medne M., Bojāre A. 2023. Floristic status and distribution trends of Rosa rubiginosa L. in Latvia. Acta Biol. Univ. Daugavp., 23(2): 231-244

Abstract

Rosa rubiginosa L. is a rare and protected species and was included in the last Red Data book of Latvia as endangered species (EN) and recognized as data deficient (DD) species in neighbouring Baltic States. The occurrence of the species in Latvia is decreasing. The species could be threatened by shifting agriculture, transforming grassland areas into fields, and habitat shading caused by the overgrowth of dry grasslands because of natural succession and eutrophication. During our studies, all available Rosa rubiginosa specimens in main Latvian herbariums (HBA, DAU, LATV, RIG) were analysed. The largest part of the previously known localities of R. rubiginosa were re–inventoried. In total, 70 % of studied sites R. rubiginosa grew in suitable natural habitats – calcareous grasslands, calcareous slopes, and roadsides, as well as dry pine forests, usually on the river banks or on a seashore. However, 23 % of studied R. rubiginosa localities can be recognized with unclear, possible dual status – roadsides. Only 7 % of species localities were found in clearly cultivated places. In most cases, the species grew in natural or semi-natural habitats sparsely in Latvia. Rosa rubiginosa was found as an anthropophyte, similar, as it is elsewhere in the Baltic States. At the same time, even in the cultivated areas, the species may have originated from the wild. We concluded that the species most likely has a dual origin. Based on the dynamics data in Latvia, we concluded that the localities of species are decreasing. Rosa rubiginosa was found in only 44 sites. The total size of the population in the country is small – around 350 specimens, so there is reason to consider the species as rare and endangered and to include it in the list of protected species.

Keywords: Latvia, distribution, Red Data book, Rosa rubiginosa, floristics

*Corresponding author: Pēteris Evarts–Bunders. Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Parādes Str. 1a, LV–5401, Latvia. Latvian society of dendrologists, Miera Str. 1, Salaspils LV–2169, Latvia, E-mail: peteris.evarts@biology.lv

Gunta Evarte–Bundere. Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Parādes Str. 1a, LV–5401, Latvia. Joint Stock Company “Latvia’s State forests”, Vaiņodes Str. 1, LV–1004, Rīga, Latvia. Latvian society of dendrologists, Miera Str. 1, Salaspils LV–2169, Latvia.

Maija Medne. Institute of Life sciences and technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Parādes Str. 1A, LV–5401, Latvia. Latvian society of dendrologists, Miera Str. 1, Salaspils LV–2169, Latvia.   Aiva Bojāre. Institute of Life sciences and technology, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Parādes Str. 1A, LV–5401, Latvia. Dendroflora Department, National Botanical gardens, Miera Str. 1, Salaspils LV–2169, Latvia. Latvian society of dendrologists, Miera Str. 1, Salaspils LV–2169, Latvia.