Andraž Čarni

Thermophilous deciduous forests in Southeastern Europe

Abstract This paper deals with the numerical elaboration of the database of 1764 relevés of thermophilous deciduous forests assigned by the authors to the order Quercetalia pubescentis in the northwestern part of Southeastern Europe. After elimination of relevés which were dominated by mesophilous deciduous and coniferous tree species, the stratification of relevés was carried out. The TWINSPAN classification revealed eight ecologically and phytogeographically interpretable groups. Additionally the analysis of Pignatti indicator values passively projected on the PCA diagram of the eight groups, and a chorological analysis of individual groups were made. The analyses revealed that all groups in general match with the traditionally accepted alliances, such as Quercion pubescenti-sessiliflorae, Aceri tatarici–Quercion, Quercion confertae, Quercion petraeae-cerris, Syringo-Carpinion, Pruno tenelle–Syrinion, Carpinion orientalis and Fraxino orni–Ostryion. Finally, a synsystematic classification of the elaborated group is proposed, and the nomenclature is harmonised with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The results are also presented in a synoptic table together with calculation of the diagnostic species.

Wet meadows of the alliance Molinion and their environmental gradients in Slovenia

The main objective of this study was to examine the relationships between wet meadow plant communities of Molinon alliance and their environmental conditions in Slovenia. The ecology of these communities was analysed in detail. The study provides the data on the vegetation and environmental parameters, the significance of parameters for the plant species composition, most important environmental gradients and differences between plant communities. In all plots the vegetation was recorded and soil parameters were analysed (pH, plant-available P and K, Nt, organic C, C/N ratio, exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, H+, electrical conductivity, base saturation). Other conditions were also considered (e.g., mean annual temperature and precipitation, humidity index, mean Ellenberg moisture and nutrient value) to test possible correlations as well. Vegetation was classified by means of multivariate cluster analysis, while vegetation-site relationships were examined with direct gradient analysis (CCA). Six associations from the Molinon alliance (Selino-Molinietum, Plantagini altissimae-Molinietum, Carici davallianae-Molinietum, Gentiano-Molinietum litoralis, Junco conglomerati-Betonicetum and Sanguisorbo-Festucetum commutatae) were identified and analysed. Soil reaction was identified as most significant environmental parameter explaining the variation of the studied vegetation. There are several statistically significant differences in site conditions between the communities (pH, moisture, nutrient status, Ca2+). The studied associations represent clearly defined ecological units.

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.

Vegetation of trampled soil dominated by C4 plants in Europe

Abstract. Plant communities of trampled soil dominated by plants characterized by the C4-assimilation syndrome were investigated in Europe. These species, belonging to genera such as Chamaesyce, Amaranthus, Eleusine, Eragrostis and Setaria, are thermophilous, late-germinating, prostrate herbs or grasses. The centre of their distribution is in the (Sub)Tropics. A syntaxonomic revision of the phytosociological material from Europe (incl. the Macaronesian Archipelago) revealed three alliances: the Euphorbion prostratae from Spain, the Polycarpo-Eleusinion indicae from Italy, and Slovenian and Croatian Istria, and the Eragrostio-Polygonion arenastri from temperate regions of Europe. The latter two syntaxa are described as new. All three alliances belong to the order Eragrostietalia (class Stellarietea mediae). Vicarious (ecologically analogous) communities occur also in southern Africa, eastern Asia and North America. The communities studied in the present paper are considered to be an impoverished form of highly diversified trampled plant communities typical of (sub)tropical areas.

Plant species diversity and composition of wet grasslands in relation to environmental factors

Relationships between environmental factors and plant species-richness as well as the composition of plant species in wet grasslands from the order Molinietaliacaeruleae were studied with a view to quantifying the relative contribution of different abiotic factors, such as soil chemical parameters, climatic conditions and human impact to diversity of vascular plants and floristic composition. Data and soil samples were collected from 88 plots across Slovenia from regions at the eastern edge of the Po plain, karstic and pre-Alpine mountain regions and the western part of the Pannonian plain, which are classified to sub-Mediterranean, Dinnaric, pre-Alpine and sub-Pannonian phytogeographic areas. Plant diversity was positively correlated with the content of exchangeable Ca2+ in soil and the amount of annual precipitation, while significant negative correlation was calculated in case of the plant-available phosphorous content and altitude. Moreover, plant species richness was also negatively correlated with altitude. Among the groups of environmental factors the group of soil factors revealed the strongest correlation with species richness, followed by climatic and topographic group. The order of these groups was the same in the explanation of species composition. Variance of plant species composition was best explained with altitude, soil pH, geographical gradient, frequency of flooding, mean annual temperature, date of mowing, humidity, annual amount of precipitation as well as with the content of plant-available phosphorous, total nitrogen, exchangeable Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the soil.

New and validated high-rank syntaxa from Europe

In the course of the compilation of a checklist of the high-rank syntaxa of Europe, it turned out that for several syntaxa no valid and legitimate names were available. With this contribution, we aim to solve some of the problems by publishing or validating seven syntaxon names (1 order, 5 alliances, 1 association) and by proposing a nomen novum for one illegitimate alliance name. The validations concern the Artemisio albi -Brometalia erecti ( Festuco-Brometea ; xerophytic basiphilous grasslands in subatlantic-submediterranean Europe), Dictamno albi-Ferulagion galbaniferae ( Antherico ramosi-Geranietalia sanguinei, Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei ; xerophytic basiphilous forest-edge communities of the Balkans and the SE Alps), Euphorbio taurinensis-Geranion lucidi ( Geranio - Cardaminetalia hirsutae, Stellarietea mediae; short-lived nitrophilous forest edge communities of Macedonia), and Gentianello amarellae-Helictotrichion pratensis ( Brometalia erecti, Festuco-Brometea ; meso-xerophytic basiphilous grasslands of NW Europe). A new alliance, the Alkanno baeticae-Pinion halepensis ( Quercetalia ilicis, Quercetea ilicis ; pine forests on ultramafic soils on the island of Euboea), is described to replace the nomen dubium Alyssion euboei . The Alkanno baeticae-Pinetum halepensis is described as a new association to serve as the type of the Alkanno-Pinion . Finally, within the Poterietalia spinosi ( Cisto-Micromerietea julianae ), the Helichryso barrelieri-Phagnalion graeci (phrygana communities on noncalcareous substrates in the south Aegean region) is described as new to science, and the nomen novum Hyperico olympici-Cistion cretici (phrygana communities on non-calcareous substrates in northern Greece) is proposed to replace the illegitimate Cistion orientale .

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.

European Red List of Habitats : Part 2. Terrestrial and freshwater habitats

The first ever European Red List of Habitats reviews the current status of all natural and semi-natural terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats and highlights the pressures they face. Using a modified version of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems categories and criteria, it covers the EU28, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the Balkan countries and their neighbouring seas. Over 230 terrestrial and freshwater habitats were assessed. The European Red List of Habitats provides an entirely new and all embracing tool to review commitments for environmental protection and restoration within the EU2020 Biodiversity Strategy. In addition to the assessment of threat, a unique set of information underlies the Red List for every habitat: from a full description to distribution maps, images, links to other classification systems, details of occurrence and trends in each country and lists of threats with information on restoration potential. All of this is publicly available in PDF and database format (see links below), so the Red List can be used for a wide range of analysis. The Red List complements the data collected on Annex I habitat types through Article 17 reporting as it covers a much wider set of habitats than those legally protected under the Habitats Directive.

Ecological and phytogeographical differentiation of oak-hornbeam forests in southeastern Europe

Abstract The aim of the study was to establish the main types of oak-hornbeam (Carpinus betulus and Quercus sp. div) forests on the Apennines, Balkan peninsula and southern Alps and their correlations with the main ecological and phytogeographical gradients in the region. Furthermore, the comparison with the major types recognized in the traditional expert-based classification was done. 1676 relevés of oak-hornbeam forests (alliances Erythronio-Carpinion, Carpinion moesiacum, Physospermo verticillati-Quercion cerris) from the area of the Apennines, Balkan peninsula and southern Alps were collected and entered in a Turboveg database. 508 relevés remained after stratification and were classified with a Modified Two Way Indicator Species Analysis, which resulted in four main clusters that are phytogeographically interpretable, such as (1) southern Apennines, (2) northern-central and central Apennines, (3) central-southern Balkan and (4) north-western Balkan and southern Alps, further divided into subclusters. Pignatti indicator values calculated for relevés of each subcluster were subjected to PCA in order to show the ecological relationships among subclusters, and the spectra of geo-elements were calculated to show the phytogeographical relationship between them. The diagnostic species combination was calculated by a fidelity measure (phi-coefficient) and presented in a synoptic table. Synsystematic classification of the elaborated groups is proposed.

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.