The objective of the presented studies carried out in the Wkrzańska Primeval Forest (north−western Poland) was to determine the influence of ecotone structure on phytodiversity. Basing on data from three transects, it was shown that the inappropriate structure causes reduction in the number of plant species and communities as compared to typical forest phytocoenoses. It also results in the increase of non−forest flora from nitrophilous and meadow habitats.
Spiders of the alder wood, dry meadow and their ecotone were investigated. 108 species were found: 62 in the wood, 65 in the ecotone and 39 on the meadow. The dominant species (above 10%) were: in the wood - Trochosa terricola, Pirata hygrophilus and Oxyptila praticola, in the ecotone - Trochosa terricola, Pardosa pullata and Pachygnatha listeri, on the meadow - Pardosa pullata, Trochosa terricola and Alopecosa cuneata.