Impact of climate change on populations and resources of Convallaria majalis
Impact of climate change on populations and resources of Convallaria majalis

Summary/Abstract: This study investigates the long-term effects of climate change on the populations and resource potential of Convallaria majalis L. in deciduous forest communities of Kyiv region, Ukraine. From 2005 to 2024, five monitoring plots located in oakdominated phytocenoses were observed to assess changes in species composition, plant population parameters, and resource indicators due to increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation. Over the study period, the structure of forest communities underwent notable transformations, including a decline in tree layer density – especially Pinus sylvestris, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Populus alba – and an increased dominance of shrub species such as Sambucus nigra, Euonymus europaeus, and Crataegus rhipidophylla. Simultaneously, a shift was observed in the herbaceous layer towards species with broader ecological amplitude and higher tolerance to environmental stressors. The analysis of C. majalis populations revealed a substantial reduction in projective cover, shoot density, and raw material stock density across all monitoring areas, with the most significant changes recorded after 2014. Although average plant height and shoot weight varied inconsistently across sites, sometimes increasing due to reduced competition, these parameters were also strongly influenced by meteorological conditions. Correlation analyses demonstrated a pronounced positive relationship between precipitation during the April–June growing season and plant height and biomass, while elevated temperatures, particularly from the previous year, exerted a stable negative influence on shoot density and resource availability. The results highlight the vulnerability of C. majalis to climate-induced hydrothermal stress and point to the cumulative effects of coenotic transformation, drought, and heat on its reproductive capacity and spatial structure. Continued climatic changes may lead to a reduction in the species’ distribution, fragmentation of its populations, and depletion of its natural resources. These findings underscore the urgent need for long-term ecological monitoring, adaptive conservation strategies, and sustainable management practices to preserve valuable medicinal plant populations under changing environmental conditions.

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