engleski

Vegetational-pedological relationships on Mount Medvednica (Croatia)

The paper presents the results of vegetational- pedological research in the area of Mt. Medvednica, the most urban nature park in the Republic of Croatia. Medvednica Nature Park is situated in the immediate vicinity of the City of Zagreb and covers an area of 17 938 ha. Extending between 120 and 1, 033 m above sea level, it represents an outstanding example of vertical zonation of vegetation upon highly diverse geological parent material and soil types. Of the overall Park area, forest ecosystems account for 64%. Vegetational-pedological research was conducted in 181 localities in a regular 1 x 1 km grid. In each of the localities an adequate type of forest vegetation (association) was determined following classical phytocoenological principles (Braun-Blanquet 1964). Composite topsoil samples to a 5 cm depth were taken for further pedological analyses. Soil pH values and organic carbon content were measured in topsoil samples and so was the content of the elements P, K, Ca, and Mg after extraction with aqua regia (HRN ISO 11466:2004). The basic synecological indicators (elevation, exposition, inclination, bedrock and soil type) were also determined in each locality. The goal of this research was to determine synecological conditions of the occurrence of each identified forest community with particular emphasis on vegetational-pedological relationships. The results of vegetation research in the studied localities reveal the occurrence of beech-fir forests, different types of beech and sessile oak forests, and forests of sweet chestnut and black alder (asoc. Festuco drymeiae-Abietetum Vukelić et Baričević 2007 ; Lamio orvalae-Fagetum sylvaticae (Horvat 1938) Borhidi 1963 ; Cephalanthero longifoliae-Fagetum sylvaticae Vukelić, Baričević et Šapić 2012 ; Luzulo luzuloidis-Fagetum sylvaticae Meusel 1937 ; Castaneo sativae-Fagetum Marinček et Zupančič (1979) 1995 ; Festuco drymeiae-Carpinetum betuli Vukelić 1991 ex Marinček 1994 ; Epimedio-Carpinetum betuli (Horvat 1938) Borhidi 1963 ; Querco-Castaneetum sativae Horvat 1938 ; Potentillo micranthae-Quercetum petraeae (Vukelić 1991) Vukelić, Baričević et Šapić 2010 ; Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae Lohmayer 1957). These associations were formed into units for the statistical analysis of correlations between forest communities and soil pH values, the content of P, K, Ca, Mg and the organic carbon content. Statistical analysis was performed in Statistica 7 software package. Descriptive statistics was made for all the analyzed variables. In order to eliminate the effect of outliers and extreme values, the median was taken as the mean value. Mutual differences between the analyzed variables per association were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis non- parametric test. The following was determined for each identified forest community: ranges and mean values of the elevations, expositions and inclinations of forest occurrence, dominant geological bedrocks and soil types, as well as correlations with pedological properties (pH values and element concentrations), including statistical differences between individual forest communities in terms of the investigated characteristics. Beech-fir stands developed on the soils above basic igneous rocks are characterized by a higher Ca, Mg, and K content, and consequently higher pH values. As a result, the best represented species in these forests are neutrophilic species.

vegetational-pedological research; Mt. Medvednica; geological parent material; soil types; forest communities

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