engleski

Comparasion of the floristic composition of beech forests on Zrinska Gora and in adjecent areas

The article presents the floristic composition of submontane beech forests in the area of Zrinska Gora in central Croatia. Their composition was compared with the floristic composition of similar beech forests inhabiting adjacent areas in Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since no phytocoenological study of the forest vegetation on Zrinska Gora has been made earlier, the results of this research provide the first scientific insights into the forest vegetation of this highly interesting part of Croatia situated at the transition from the Dinaric into the Pannonian area. A phytocoenological survey was conducted in some twenty localities using classical methods of the Braun-Blanquet School. The phytocoenological relevés were entered in the TurboVeg database and were processed with a multivariate analysis technique, together with the relevés from the adjacent areas, in the statistical Sintax2000 software package. The floristic composition was also analyzed on the basis of affiliation to particular floral geoelements. The occurrence of Illyrian and Illyricoidal species was analyzed in particular. The results of preliminary research indicate the occurrence of two types of beech forests in the study area. The first type refers to neutrophilic forests growing in deeper soils and smaller inclinations. They are dominated by the species such as Galium odoratum, Circaea lutetiana, Galeobdolon luteum, Pulmonaria officinalis, Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina, Rubus hirtus, Alliaria petiolata and Polystichum setiferum. Floristically, this type is more similar to forests in Slovenia. The second type involves acidophilic forests occurring in shallower soils and bigger slopes and is more similar to beech forests in the Pannonian part of Croatia, as well as to those in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This type is primarily characterized by a significant participation of the species such as Festuca drymeia, Luzula luzuloides, Pteridium aquilinum, Melampyrum pratense and the species of the genus Hieracium. It should be pointed out that the analysis of the floristic composition has revealed a considerable decrease in the share and cover of Illyrian and Illyricoidal species going from the west towards the east. The study area represents the transition from the Dinaric and Illyrian area into the sub-Pannonian area.

floristic composition; beech forests; Zrinska gora; adjacent areas

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