Retreat of Halophytes in the Czech Republic: Agricultural, Mining, and Urbanization Effects

As a result of expanding human pressures, the heterogeneity of aformerly diverse landscape has been reduced and the richness ofanimal and plant species has decreased. Some particular standtypes and their species are especially connected withimpoverishment caused by mans activities. Halophyte DentatedMelilot (Melilotus dentata, Fabaceae) is one of suchspecies, which is vanishing apparently as a result of intensiveagriculture, surface mining, and urbanization.The data on its distribution were compiled from herbariumspecimens, literature, and the authors own field observations.The distribution was mapped separately for four periods: up to1900, 1901–1945, 1946–1975, and after 1975.The trend in reduction of localities was documented. At the sametime, their environmental quality was changing as well.Basically, the salt marshes in their original areal extent andtheir former species richness have disappeared. Currentlocalities of M. dentata include poor fragments of the saltmarshes mentioned above and secondary stands, e.g. ruderal placesinside villages, strips along drainage ditches, paths, railwaylines, fields, etc.