Wpływ oddziaływań brzegowych na roślinność polan leśnych w Sudetach Środkowych

The influence of the edge effect on the meadow vegetation pattern was studied in the forest glades in the central part of the Middle Sudety Mts. (SW Poland). The spectacular edge effect is seen in the range of 4 m from the forest border towards the center of the glades. Within that belt we observed decrease in tree and bush species number, increase in share of graminoids and Fabaceae species, as well as increase in share of species generally related to grassland communities. A significant increase in species number and values of Shannon−Wiener diversity index was noticed within the distance of eight meters from the edges of glades.