Long-term changes in the spectrum of plant life forms of meadow phytocenoses

On the territory of the Otradnoye research and experimental station (Leningrad Region, Russia), the changes in the species composition and spectrum of biomorphs of meadow vegetation were studied which occurred over a 60-year postagrogenic period: from the termination of intensive meadow farming in 1955–1960 to 2018–2022. A relative stability of the spectrum of life forms along with a significant long-term species variability of communities over the considered time period is shown. After 60 years, in the last 20 of which the economic use of the preserved meadow areas was terminated, there has been an increase in the species richness of the communities due to an increase in the number of long-rhizomatous species. Turf grasses and sedges show a relative stability of participation. The initial stages of overgrowing the meadow with forest are characterized by the appearance of dwarf shrubs, shrubs and trees. At the trend level, the dominance of perennial summergreen herbs has increased and the role of thin-long-rhizomatous plants has increased. At the first stage of overgrowing the meadows with forest vegetation, an increase in the participation of annual and perennial summergreen herbs was noted.