Aleksander Marinšek

Plant communities in gradients

Abstract The work deals with the confrontation of two approaches in vegetation science, which already had their origins at the beginning of the past century: gradient analysis and classification of communities. We tested whether samples are arranged along gradients according to the individualistic or the integrative concept. We studied gradients in several case studies – successional, altitudinal, gradient of human impact, phenological, macroecological, (phyto)geographical – and tried to detect the main gradient (by direct or indirect ordination methods) and arrange the plant assemblages along the gradient. We then applied different classification methods to test whether it is possible to detect discrete plant communities. We analyzed the secondary succession of birch forests in Slovenia, the process of autosuccession of Pinus brutia in Turkey, the altitudinal distribution of communities in rock crevices on silicate bedrock in Slovenia, the gradient of spruce planting in beech forest, the influence of the introduction of non-native tree species into forests, the macroecological and phenological development of weed vegetation in Europe, and the circum-Adriatic pattern of broadleaved ravine forests. The results show that, in most cases, the turnover of species composition along the gradient, according to the integrative concept, is due to species interactions. This enables us to detect and describe discrete plant communities in terms of the central European Braun-Blanquet method.

Long-term post-fire succession of Pinus brutia forest in the east Mediterranean

We studied post-fire long-term regeneration of a south-western Turkey (Antalya region) forest using the synchronical approach. We analysed species richness patterns and vegetation diversity. Species were grouped according to plant functional types and special emphasis was given to seeders and resprouters. We recorded two plant species richness peaks, with the highest richness immediately following the fire and with the second peak 7 years after disturbance. Beta diversity decreased over time but also showed two peaks. The results of our floristic survey show that the majority of species are present from the beginning of the succession and suggest that Pinus brutia forests of the east Mediterranean basin recover through autosuccession. However, changes in species richness and β diversity indicate successional changes and thus we cannot completely support the model of direct recovery.

Floodplain forest communities along the Mura River (NE Slovenia)

Abstract Ecological gradients along river banks of the Mura River influence forest species composition. On the basis of 58 relevés of floodplain forests along theMura River, the classification of vegetation plots was performed with the Pc-Ord program. The diagnostic species combination for three clusters revealed after classification was calculated by fidelity measure (phi-coefficient) and presented in an analytic table. Average Ellenberg inidicator values, stream distances and relative elevations of the relevés were passively projected onto PCA to show ecological relationships among them. Correlations of plant functional type and stream distance gradients were calculated with regression analysis. For themain edifiers response curves to the stream distance gradients weremade. The classification of the Mura floodplain forests has revealed three ecologically interpretable vegetation types: Salicetum albae (most humid and nutrient-rich sites), Fraxino- -Ulmetum allietosum ursini (ecologically intermediate sites), F.-U. quercetosum robori (the driest and the least nutrient-rich sites). Zonation of vegetation is connected to distance from the closest stream which influences species distribution through ecological gradients of moisture and nutrient. The proportion of therophytes is significantly negatively correlated with the distance from the closest stream and the proportion of neophytes is significantly negatively correlated with distance from the main stream.

Notes on phytosociology of Juniperus Excelsa in Macedonia (Southern Balkan Peninsula)

Notes on phytosociology of Juniperus Excelsa in Macedonia (Southern Balkan Peninsula) Juniperus excelsa is an East Mediterranean species found also in marginal, sub-mediterranean regions of the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It prefers shallow soils in the warmest habitats of the zone of thermophilous deciduous forests. In the past the rank of alliance and the name of Juniperion excelsae-foetidissimae have been suggested for the vegetation dominated by Juniperus excelsa in the Balkan Peninsula. In this paper we present the valid description of the alliance in accordance with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validation of the Juniperion excelsae-foetidissimae required description of a new association - the Querco trojanae-Juniperetum excelsae. The Juniperion excelsae-foetidissimae is classified within the order of Quercetalia pubescentis Klika 1933 (the Quercetea pubescentis Doing-Kraft ex Scamoni et Passarge 1959). Juniperus excelsa je vzhodnomediteranska vrsta, ki jo najdemo tudi v submediteranskih predelih južnega Balkana. Najdemo jo lahko na najtoplejših rastiščih na plitvih tleh v območju termofilnih listopadnih gozdov. V preteklosti so na Balkanskem polotoku vegetacijo, kjer dominira vrsta Juniperus excelsa, uvrščali v zvezo Juniperion excelsae-foetidissimae. V prispevku je prikazan veljaven opis zveze v skladu z mednarodnim kodeksom fitocenološke nomenklature. Osnova za veljaven opis zveze je tudi veljaven opis nove asociacije - Querco trojanae-Juniperetum excelsae. Zvezo Juniperion excelsae-foetidissimae smo nadalje uvrstili v red Quercetalia pubescentis Klika 1933 (Quercetea pubescentis Doing-Kraft ex Scamoni et Passarge 1959).

Vegetation of temporary ponds in cold holes in the Taurus mountain chain (Turkey)

The work deals with vegetation zonation in temporary ponds within cold holes in the Western Taurus mountain chain. There are two main factors that cause differentiation within the studied vegetation: one relates to the microtopography, the other to altitude. In the bottom of temporary ponds, marsh vegetation of Ranunculo argyrei-Tanacetea argentei (Sedo nani-Convolvuletalia galactici) appears (an endemic class vicariant to Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae); in the intermediate zone, the vegetation is dominated by therophytes of Stellarietea mediae (Thero-Brometalia) and in the upper part, there is vegetation of hygrophilous grassland communities of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea (Potentillo-Polygonetalia). This zonation of communities can be found at lower altitudes (up to 1600 m); whereas at higher altitudes, the intermediate zone dominated by therophytes gradually disappears and then also the hygrophilous grasslands. The work also provides a description of new syntaxa, to wit: Ranunculo argyrei-Tanacetea argentei, Sedo nani-Convolvuletalia galactici, Rorippo aureae-Eleocharidion quinqueflorae, Sedo nani-Ranunculetum argyrei, Trifolio caudati-Hordeion geniculati, Taeniathero caput-medusae-Hordeetum geniculati, Alopecuro vaginati-Trifolion resupinati and Ornithogalo lanceolati-Elymetum repentis.

What makes a plant species specialist in mixed broad-leaved deciduous forests?

Knowledge about relationships between specialization degree of species, i.e. the width of their realized niche and functional traits, may have important implications for the assessment of future population developments under environmental change. In this study, we used a recently introduced method to calculate ecological niche widths of plant species in mixed broad-leaved deciduous forests and to investigate the dependence between niche widths of plants and their functional traits and Ellenberg indicator values. The research is based on a dataset of 4556 phytosociological relevés of mixed broad-leaved deciduous forests in Slovenia. We calculated theta indices for 326 species, which ranks them along a continuous gradient of habitat specialization. For 272 species, we compiled 26 functional traits and Ellenberg indicator values. We found some significant correlations between theta indices of species and their functional traits and Ellenberg indicator values; habitat specialists thrive primarily on the highest altitudes, on colder, dry sites and achieve the age of first flowering later than generalists. They also have smaller seed diameter, lower leaf dry matter content, lower mean canopy height and bigger specific leaf area than generalists. Two species groups, chamaephytes and spring green species, are particularly characterized as specialist species. The added value of our work is in complementing the knowledge about the niche differentiating along different environmental gradients and species coexistence in mixed broad-leaved deciduous forests.

Litter-Raking Forests in Se Slovenia and In Croatia

Litter-Raking Forests in Se Slovenia and In Croatia The standard Braun-Blanquet method was used for sampling litter-raking vegetation in southeastern Slovenia (Suha krajina, Bela krajina, Kočevsko) and in the border region in Croatia. Relevés were classified with the TWINSPAN program and two associations were separated: Pteridio-Betuletum Trinajstić et Šugar ex Rauš et Matić 1994 and Molinio-Quercetum Šugar 1972. Both communities are the result of intensive litter collecting (and other human impacts). The first one thrives on carbonate bedrock, while the second is limited on silicate bedrock, as is reflected in its specific floristic composition. Due to abandonment of litter collecting these stands are in progressive successional development, and typical variants are becoming rare and endangered. S standardno Braun-Blanquetovo metodo smo vzorčili steljniško vegetacijo vjugovzhodni Sloveniji (Suha krajina, Bela krajina, Kočevsko) in na mejnem območju s Hrvaško. Popisno gradivo smo klasificirali s programom TWINSPAN in ločili dve asociaciji: Pteridio-Betuletum Trinajstić et Šugar ex Rauš et Matić 1994 in Molinio-Quercetum Šugar 1972. Obe združbi sta nastali zaradi intenzivnega steljarjenja. Prva uspeva na karbonatni podlagi, druga je vezana na silikatne kamnine, kar se odraža v floristični sestavi. Zaradi opuščanja steljarjenja sta obe združbi podvrženi progresivnemu sukcesijskemu razvoju in sta v tipični obliki vedno bolj redki in ogroženi.

Nomenclatural remarks to the classification of plant communities along post-fire succession

Abstract This paper contains the original diagnoses of new syntaxa and typifications of existing names of syntaxa from paper “Classification of plant communities along post-fire succession in Pinus brutia stands in southern Antalya (Turkey)” that was published in Turkish Journal of Botany. As journal has only on-line version according to ICPN descriptions are not valid. We described syntaxa: Eryngio falcati-Securigerion securidacae all. nova, Ajugo chiae-Lactucetum serriolae ass. nova, Phlomido grandiflorae-Cistetum salvifolii ass. nova, and Arbuto andrachnes- Quercetum cocciferae ass. nova and selected nomenclatural type for Querco- Phillyreetum mediae Barbero & Quézel 1976.

Vegetation of the Strmec Forest Remnant

Vegetation of the Strmec Forest Remnant The virgin forest remnant Strmec is located in the southern part of Slovenia (Kočevsko region) and expands over 15.55 ha between 850 and 940 metres above sea level. Special attention is given to phytosociological and pedological surveys. A vegetation map was also made. The virgin forest is dominated by Dinaric fir-beech forests, namely by the geographical variant of the association Omphalodo-Fagetum var. geogr. Calamintha grandiflora with the following subassociations and variants: -festucetosum altissimae, -galietosum odorati, -typicum, -mercurialetosum perennis, -phyllitidetosum, -neckeretosum crispae, -caricetosum albae subass. nova var. Neckera crispa var. nova and var. Helleborus niger. var. nova. The bedrock is mainly limestone and dolomite, which prevail in the south-western part of the virgin forest remnant. The most frequent soil types are rendzina on limestone, Rendzic Leptosol and Dystri-Chromic Cambisol. Vegetacija pragozdnega ostanka Strmec Pragozdni ostanek Strmec se nahaja v južnem delu Slovenije, na Kočevskem, na nadmorski višini med 850 in 940 m. Njegova površina meri 15,55 ha. Znotraj pragozdnega ostanka smo naredili fitocenološke in pedološke analize, za celotno površino pragozdnega ostanka pa izdelali vegetacijsko karto. Sestoje, ki se pojavlja v pragozdnem ostanku uvrščamo v asociacijo Omphalodo-Fagetum var. geogr. Calamintha grandiflora z naslednjimi subasociacijami in variantami: -festucetosum altissimae, -galietosum odorati, -typicum, -mercurialetosum perennis, -phyllitidetosum, -neckeretosum crispae, -caricetosum albae subass. nova var. Neckera crispa var. nova in var. Helleborus niger var. nova. Matično kamnino sestavlja predvsem apnenec, na jugozahodnem delu pa se na manjši površini pojavlja dolomit. Najbolj pogosti tipi tal so rjava tla in pokarbonatna rjava tla ter rendzina na apnencu.