Danka Caković

Chemotype Diversity of Indigenous Dalmatian Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Populations in Montenegro

To identify how many chemotypes of Salvia officinalis exist in Montenegro, the chemical composition of the essential oils of 12 wild‐growing populations was determined by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. Among the 40 identified constituents, the most abundant were cis‐thujone (16.98–40.35%), camphor (12.75–35.37%), 1,8‐cineol (6.40–12.06%), trans‐thujone (1.5–10.35%), camphene (2.26–9.97%), borneol (0.97–8.81%), viridiflorol (3.46–7.8%), limonene (1.8–6.47%), α‐pinene (1.59–5.46%), and α‐humulene (1.77–5.02%). The composition of the essential oils under study did not meet the ISO 9909 requirements, while the oils of populations P02–P04, P09, and P10 complied with the German Drug Codex. A few of the main essential‐oil constituents appeared to be highly intercorrelated. Strong positive correlations were observed between α‐pinene and camphene, camphene and camphor, as well as between cis‐thujone and trans‐thujone. Strong negative correlations were evidenced between cis‐thujone and α‐pinene, cis‐thujone and champhene, cis‐thujone and camphor, as well as between trans‐thujone and camphene. Multivariate analyses allowed the grouping of the populations into three distinct chemotypes, i.e., Chemotype A, rich in total thujones, Chemotype B, with intermediate contents of thujones, α‐pinene, camphene, and camphor and high borneol contents, and Chemotype C, rich in camphor, camphene, and α‐pinene. The chemotypes did not significantly differ in the total essential‐oil content and the cis/trans‐thujone ratio.

How many taxa? Spatiotemporal evolution and taxonomy of Amphoricarpos (Asteraceae, Carduoideae) on the Balkan Peninsula

Amphoricarpos Vis. is an early diverging genus within tribe Cardueae (Carduoideae, Asteraceae), which is disjunctly distributed in the Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia and the Caucasus; the Anatolian and Caucasian taxa are sometimes treated as separate genus Alboviodoxa. We focus on the monophyletic Balkan populations, which have been treated very inconsistently in previous taxonomic accounts (one polymorphic species with or without varying sets of intraspecific taxa vs. two species, one of them with two subspecies). In order to disentangle relationships among populations across the entire distribution area of Amphoricarpos on the Balkan Peninsula, we employed amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) as well as nuclear and plastid DNA sequences (ITS and rps16–trnK) to a dense sampling of populations. ITS was also used to reconstruct the genus’ spatiotemporal evolution. In addition, we contrasted the genetic results with morphological data to provide a sound taxonomic revision of Amphoricarpos on the Balkan Peninsula. The split between the Balkan populations and the Anatolian A. exsul took place in the late Miocene or early Pliocene, whereas diversification within the Balkan lineage is much younger and likely started in the Pleistocene. The deepest splits seen in AFLPs and/or ITS separate the geographically disjunct northern- and southern-most populations. Divergence within the continuous distribution area in the centre is shallower, but allowed recognition of three largely allopatric clusters. Morphometric data, however, were neither in line with previous multi-taxon treatments nor with patterns of genetic divergence. We therefore refrain from recognising any of the genetic groups as a distinct taxonomic entity and rather suggest treating all Balkan populations as a single, genetically, morphologically and ecologically variable species, Amphoricarpos neumayerianus (Vis.) Greuter, without intraspecific taxa.

Trampling impact on vegetation of embryonic and stabilised sand dunes in Montenegro

Trampling is one of the human activities that are harmful for plant species and communities of sand dune ecosystems. The aim of this study was to compare the vegetation of embryonic and shifting Ammophila sand dunes with and without fencing to limit trampling. Fenced sand dunes appeared to be richer in species but differences were more prominent in embryonic sand dunes. Some species (Cakile maritima, Pancratium maritimum) were missing on trampled embryonic dunes. The positive impact of trampling exclusion on embryonic sand dunes was indicated by a lowered slope in a Whittaker graph as well as by rarefaction curves that showed higher species richness on the lower slope. Changes in the vegetation of more stabilised shifting Ammophila sand dunes due to trampling are not evident, although species composition is also impoverished. Fencing of parts of sand dunes proved to be an effective measure for vegetation conservation. In addition to physical exclusion of visitors, fences can also have symbolic value for raising public awareness.

Long neglected diversity in the Accursed Mountains of northern Albania: Cerastium hekuravense is genetically and morphologically divergent from C. dinaricum

The Balkan Peninsula is a hotspot of European biotic diversity. One of its biogeographically most peculiar but poorly explored regions are the Albanian Alps (Alpet Shqiptare/Prokletije/Accursed Mountains) on the border between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, characterised by a high number of endemic species. A poorly known taxon from the Albanian Alps is Cerastium hekuravense, which was described from Mt. Maja Hekurave (Albania) in 1921, but later usually merged with C. dinaricum, a widespread endemic of the Dinaric Mountains, or connected with the arctic–alpine C. alpinum. Here, we used amplified fragment length polymorphisms to explore the phylogenetic position of C. hekuravense and particularly its relationship to C. dinaricum. Our data show that both species are genetically well differentiated, but their relation to other taxa remains unclear—they are either closely related to Alpine species of C. ser. Latifolia or to species co-occurring on the Balkan Peninsula, such as C. banaticum and C. decalvans. In addition, multivariate morphometric analyses show that C. dinaricum and C. hekuravense are morphologically well differentiated. Also their relative genome sizes, estimated using flow cytometry, differ. We propose a taxonomic treatment with lectotype designation for both taxa and provide descriptions and an identification key. Last but not least, these cold-adapted species mostly growing on northerly exposed humid screes are highly threatened due to the global warming and should be ranked endangered according to IUCN criteria. Cerastium hekuravense known only from three localities is likely one of the most endangered mountain plant species of the Balkan Peninsula.

Beach litter along various sand dune habitats in the southern Adriatic (E Mediterranean)

Marine litter accumulates on sandy beaches and is an important environmental problem, as well as a threat to habitat types that are among the most endangered according to EU legislation. We sampled 120 random plots (2 × 2 m) in spring 2017 to determine the distribution pattern of beach litter along the zonation of habitat types from sea to the inland. The most frequent litter items were plastic, polystyrene and glass. A clear increase of litter cover along the sea-inland gradient is evident, and foredunes and pine forests have the highest cover of litter. Almost no litter was present in humid dune slacks. Shoreline and recreational activities are the major source of beach litter, while ocean/waterway activities are more important in the aphytic zone and strandline.

Alien Species and the Impact on Sand Dunes Along the NE Adriatic Coast

This chapter presents the results of a multifaceted approach to determine how sand dune plant communities have been affected by invasion of alien species. We sampled Velika plaža beach in Montenegro (E Adriatic), which is an under-researched part of the Mediterranean. Velika plaža is the largest sandy beach with both still well-developed sand dunes and moist plant communities in this part of Adriatic coast. On the other hand, this beach is also a touristic hot spot and subject to intensive land use change. We gathered maps of past and present land use by using GIS and field mapping from 1950, 1979 and 2015. The species composition of plant communities was randomly sampled and information on phylogeny and plant functional traits was gathered from several databases. Five alien plant species occurred in the sand dune vegetation, with a significant effect of the presence of aliens on native species cover. Invaded plots, when the whole beach is considered, were functionally less diverse than uninvaded ones. Plant species functional traits change along the sea-inland gradient, particularly rosette type, woodiness and nitrogen fixation. Phylogenetic diversity due to the presence of alien species was highest in sand dune slacks, but the results of phylogeny are not consistent and should be used with caution. The results of a multifaceted approach enable further management and monitoring of sand dunes and prevent the conflict between nature conservationists and landscape planners that is foreseen with further development of beaches in this part of the Mediterranean.

Revision of the central Mediterranean xerothermic cliff vegetation

QUESTIONS: What are the syntaxonomic and synchorological patterns of the xerothermic chasmophytic vegetation in the central part of the Mediterranean Basin? What are the diagnostic species of the high‐rank syntaxa of Asplenietalia glandulosi, Onosmetalia frutescentis and Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis? LOCATION: Mediterranean coastal and subcoastal areas of southern France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and of mainland Greece. METHODS: The data set of 1,261 published releves was analysed using hierarchical clustering (Flexible Beta method), involving a series of data transformations. Indicator species analysis was used to select the best dendrogram solution and identify diagnostic taxa of the main clusters. The dendrogram was interpreted from a syntaxonomic point of view, using nomenclatural type releves as a basis. The NMDS ordination was performed in order to visualize the floristic relationships among associations and high‐rank syntaxa. MRPP was used to test for differences among alliances. RESULTS: The classification revealed four main clusters of releves representing the chasmophytic vegetation of southern France, Sardinia and the northwestern part of Italy (Asplenienalia glandulosi/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the southwestern part of Italy and Malta (Tinguarrenalia siculae/Asplenietalia glandulosi), the Adriatic Basin area (Centaureo dalmaticae‐Campanuletalia pyramidalis) and the southern Balkans (Onosmetalia frutescentis). The NMDS ordination confirmed the overall pattern, while MRPP showed significant differences among the alliances of the above‐mentioned orders and suborders. The lists of diagnostic taxa of the high‐rank syntaxa were revised according to a supra‐national perspective. CONCLUSIONS: The new syntaxonomic scheme provides a comprehensive overview of the chasmophytic vegetation of the central part of the Mediterranean Basin. This scheme mostly matches the recently published EuroVegChecklist, but also exhibits important novelties concerning the syntaxonomic position of some alliances (Dianthion rupicolae, Centaureion pentadactyli, Arenarion bertolonii and Caro‐Aurinion), and the floristic and chorological relationships among high‐rank syntaxa, with new revised sets of diagnostic taxa. This revision might be useful for further small‐scale phytosociological studies.

Synecology of Cutandia maritima (L.) Barbey, a rare psammophytic species along the Montenegrin Coast (East Adriatic Coast)

Abstract Cutandia maritima is a circum-Mediterranean species that inhabits sandy dunes along the coast line. It is fairly frequent on the western Adriatic coast but fairly rare and possibly even non-native in the east. In Croatia, it was discovered in 1990 in Crnika Bay on the island of Rab, which was considered until 2005 to be the only site on the eastern Adriatic coast from the Gulf of Trieste in the north to Corfu in the south. In 2009, the species was briefly reported for Velika plaža (Long Beach) in Ulcinj (Montenegro) but without details about the habitat type and synecology. The aim of this paper is thus to provide a deeper insight into the ecology and synecology of C. maritima in the eastern Adriatic part of the distribution area. On Velika plaža in Ulcinj, the species was found along the whole sea-inland gradient of sand dunes, in various types of vegetation: [1210] - annual vegetation of drift lines, [2110] - embryonic shifting dunes, [2120] - shifting dunes with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes), [2220] - dunes with Euphorbia terracina, [2130*] - fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes), and also [2190] - humid dune slacks.

Diversity of Vascular Flora of Boka Kotorska Bay

Boka Kotorska represents a unique geomorphologic object in the southern part of eastern coastline of Adriatic Sea. Due to the interesting orography of this bay (surrounded by high mountains representing special micro-centers of floristic diversity in this part of Europe), climate characteristics and pedological substrate, etc., the area of Boka Kotorska Bay may be considered one of the floristic hotspots of Balkan Peninsula. In spite of many centuries of anthropogenic impact, diversity of vascular flora was preserved to a significant percentage. The overview of diversity of vascular flora at Boka Kotorska is a compilation of extensive studies presented in more than 200 scientific papers. However, it must be stated that studies of flora were not systematic. Certain parts of Boka Kotorska area are characterized by excellent level of study and knowledge of floristic diversity, while some other parts are completely neglected and forgotten by researchers. Area of Boka Kotorska includes a high number of Locus classicus units. Literature data have shown presence of 49 endemic taxa, mostly from the Mediterranean–Submediterranean range group. The system of national and international conservation recognizes 47 taxa of vascular plants and among them 26 species belong to family Orchidaceae. The traditional landscape improvement and garden design, present for centuries in area of Boka Kotorska, resulted in extraordinary richness in diversity of ligneous flora.

Colchicum cupanii Guss. subsp. glossophyllum (Heldr.) Rouy, datura innoxia Mill. and Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., new floristic records in Montenegro and western Balkan.

Abstract During field investigations on Long Ulcinj Beach, Montenegrin coast, three taxa new to Montenegrin flora were collected: Colchicum cupanii Guss. subsp. glossophyllum (Heldr.) Rouy, Datura innoxia Mill. and Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. The first species is native to Europe, while the others are alien. Colchicum cupanii subsp. glossophyllum is an endemic of the Balkan Peninsula, with a distribution formerly restricted to Greece and Albania, so this new record extends its distribution to the north-west. The distribution of Eclipta prostrata in the Balkans is also enlarged by this new record for Montenegro, in a westerly direction.