Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.2478/botcro-2013-0015

Ecology and niche assembly of Campanula tommasiniana, a narrow endemic of Mt Učka (Liburnian karst, north-western Adriatic)

Boštjan Surina orcid.org/0000-0002-2635-315X ; Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagolja{ka 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia; Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Andrej Martinčić ; Zaloška cesta 78a, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Campanula tommasiniana is a typical chasmophyte occupying calcareous rock crevices and cracks along a wide range of ecological gradients, demonstrating a high degree of ecological plasticity and stress tolerance with regards to abiotic factors. Generally, three ecologically and floristically distinct groups of stands were recognized and typified according to a sigmatistic approach: (a) Seslerio juncifoliae-Campanuletum tommasinianae ass. nov., with stands occupying higher elevated sites fully exposed to sun and strong winds; (b) Seslerio autumnalis-Campanuletum tommasinianae ass. nov., representing stands predominantly developed within thermophytic beech stands, semi- to fully- shaded by the tree canopy; (c) Cystopteri fragilis-Campanuletum tommasinianae, sciophytic, stands adapted to moisture and coldwith high frequency and coverage of bryophytes. Results of DCA analyses using a unimodal model suggest that Campanula tommasiniana is primarily a plant of open and exposed sites of higher elevation despite being most frequently found in rock crevices within thermophytic and altimontane beech forests.

Keywords

Campanula tommasiniana; Campanulaceae; Dinaric Alps; ecology; endemic species; Liburnian karst; Mt. Učka; phytosociology

Hrčak ID:

119009

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/119009

Publication date:

1.4.2014.

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