Population Performance of Three Orchid Species in a Drying Molinia Caerulea Meadow in Budapest (Hungary)

Understanding how environmental factors may influence species with differing life histories can be crucial for developing effective conservation strategies in changing ecosystems. Molinia caerulea meadows, recognized for their important role in preserving terrestrial orchid species, are one of the most vulnerable habitats to environmental changes. We examined density changes in three orchid species with different ecology and biology (Anacamptis palustris subsp. palustris, Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. incarnata and Gymnadenia conopsea) co-occurring in a Molinia meadow in Hungary. In 2021, we repeated a census conducted previously in 2016, replicating the data collection across five fixed plots for each species. Among the studied species, G. conopsea exhibited the highest density, and D. incarnata the lowest. The population of G. conopsea was rather stable, whereas A. palustris subsp . palustris and D. incarnata subsp. incarnata experienced significant differences in density between the two study years. The success of G. conopsea may be attributed to its broader ecological tolerance, generalist pollination system and mycorrhizal relationships. Our findings suggest that generalist species, such as G. conopsea , may be better equipped to persist in drying Molinia meadows over the long term compared to their specialist counterparts.