engleski

Plant diversity of the Mt. Biokovo (Croatia)

The Mt. Biokovo (1762 m), as a part of Dinaric Alps, is the closest to the Adriatic sea. With the Mt. Velebit it is the most important centre of endemism in Croatia. The total flora of the area comprises about 1400 taxa, and the narrow area of the mountain 736 taxa. Respectively, the vegetation is also diverse. In order to study plant diversity of the Mt. Biokovo, a transect across the mountain was made. Vegetation relevés, according to extended Braun-Blanquet system (on the surface of 50 m&sup2 ; ; ), were made in altitudinal sections of 200 m on both slopes of the mountain. On fourteen sampling sites 267 taxa were recorded, and 15 % of them are endemic for coastal Dinarids or are Illyrian-Balkan endemic species. Furthermore, the plant diversity was studied using α and β indices and turn-over rate to show diversity level of each site and the change in its spatial distribution. The connection between diversity level and the type of vegetation was also studied. It was shown that the most diverse habitats are those of subanthropogenic origin and that the centre of endemism is high mountain zone.

flora; vegetation; diversity; Biokovo; Croatia

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