Geographical and ecological differentiation of F agus forest vegetation in SE Europe

• Published in: Applied vegetation science Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 131 - 147
• Main Authors: Marinšek, A., Šilc, U., Čarni, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2013
• ISSN: 1402-2001; 1654-109X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1654-109X.2012.01203.x

Abstract Questions What is the main syntaxonomical pattern within beech forests in SE E urope? What macroecological and ecological factors distinguish these forests? Location SE E urope: B alkan P eninsula, from the SE Alps in Slovenia, through C roatia, B osnia and H erzegovina, S erbia, M ontenegro and the R epublic of M acedonia to N and NE G reece and B ulgaria, covering ca. 400 000 km 2 over a length of 1000 km. Methods With a view to differentiating beech and beech–fir forests, a data set of 5952 published and unpublished phytosociological relevés were surveyed. After stratification, 997 relevés remained. Cluster analysis of the data set was used to calculate diagnostic species for each cluster. Ecological indicator values ( EIV ) were used to estimate ecological conditions. Average EIV , altitude, latitude and longitude for relevés of each cluster were plotted in a detrended correspondence analysis ( DCA ) diagram for ecological interpretation of clusters and relationships between clusters. Correlations between DCA relevé scores and explanatory variables ( EIV , portion of life forms and chorotypes, altitude, latitude and longitude) were subsequently calculated. Results Cluster analysis divided mesophilous beech forests of SE Europe into two major clusters. Beech forests can therefore be classified into two alliances, A remonio‐ F agion and F agion moesiacae . Further division revealed seven beech and beech–fir forest types, which we interpreted geographically and ecologically. A significant increase in the proportion of chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes and therophytes was detected along the main macroecological gradient towards the S and E . At the same time, the proportion of geophytes and phanerophytes significantly decreased in the same direction. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of Stenomediterranean, E urymediterranean, M editerranean‐ M ontane, and E urasian species, while B oreal species, as expected, decreased toward the southeast. The main differentiation of beech forests in SE E urope is due to macroecological factors (macro‐climatic and historical development of vegetation), whereas local ecological factors (particularly temperature and moisture) are reflected in the differentiation of sub‐alliances. Conclusions Our study confirmed two major groups of beech forests in the research area, which could be classified into two alliances. It also revealed that there is not just an altitudinal distribution of beech forests in the SE part of the research area, but also structural and functional changes of communities as a result of the altitudinal limitation of beech forests and changed macroclimatic factors.