Original scientific paper
Phytosociological and Syntaxonomic Characteristics of Quercus ilex L. Forests on the Island of Krk
Ivo Trinajstić
; Zagreb
Abstract
In this work the data on the arrival and distribution of the evergreen forest association – the Carpino orientali-Quercetum ilicis Trinajstić, ass. nov. on the island of Krk are given. The phytosociological and syntaxonomic analysis of its floristic composition has been made. Within 6 phytosociological relévé a total of 28 species has been registered. In individual relévé between 9 and 16 species or 13 species on the average have been registered. Because of the markedly dense canopy, the total number of species and the number of slecies per one relévé is very small. A significant place in the floristic composition is occupied by the elements of the Quercetalia pubescentis order. These are Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens, Acer monspessulanum, Fraxinus ornus, Coronilla emeroides, Sesleria autumnalis and Tamus communis. However, in the group of evergreen elements two relatively significant evergreen species – Myrtus communis and Pistacia lentiscus, are mising. It must be pointed out that obth these species had been noted earlier in the flora of the island of Krk (cf. Tommasini 1875, Lusina 1933), but during phytosociological research they have not been registered.
On the island of Krk the Carpino orientali-Quercetum ilicis association is on its northern ecological boundary, so there it grows on the southern exposition slopes only up to the altitude of 60 m, in the form of low forest or high macchia and with interruptions from Stara Baška (punt Črnika) in the east to the Valbiska cove in the west.
Among the combinations of species with which Quercus ilex comes, from the most thermophilous ewergreen ones to the most mesophilous deciduous ones, the rarest is the combination where Quercus ilex together with Carpinus orientalis. The most likely reason for this is that in the southern Istria and on the island of Krk only, in the boundary belt between evergreen and deciduous vegetation Q. ilex is accepted as an evergreen species and C. orientalis as a deciduous one. Other deciduous elements auch as Fraxinus ornus and Ostrya carpinifolia build large stands in certain parts of the Mediterranean but Carpinus orientalis is never found in them.
Due to the decrease of pressure on the forests of the island of Krk for firewood, the forest vegetation was regenerating rapidly over the last 40 years, but in the case of the holm oak stands, such as, for instance, those in the Valbiska cove where the car-ferry landing is located, they are endangered by devastation caused in the first place by various construction activitis.
Keywords
Carpino orientali-Quercetum ilicis
Hrčak ID:
23956
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2007.
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