Cemetery types and the biodiversity of vascular plants - A case study from south-eastern Poland

Burial sites shaped in accordance with the traditions cherished by the local community are a foundation of cultural identity and valuable components of the cultural landscape. The aim of this research was to assess the implications of cemeteries for the biodiversity of local flora, taking account of cemeteries' size, usage and location. The field research was conducted in the Rortocze region, which is among the less transformed areas of Europe, having a large proportion of natural and semi-natural landscapes. The investigated area covered 1314 km(2) and included 78 cemeteries. We collected 5004 floristic samples, which form the basis of this study. The cemetery flora is rich (523 species, 75 families) and diverse (Marczewski-Steinhaus J-index below 40 %) and displays a high level of naturalness (60-80 % of all species are native). Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis based on extensive species characteristics, such as species number and cover, their origin, life-form and socio-ecological group, indicates that the use or non-use of burial sites is the most important factor shaping local flora. Isolation due to location in a protected area is ranked second in importance, while cemetery size is the least important factor. We discuss the importance of cemeteries for the protection of local biodiversity.