The vegetation of rich fens (Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis) at the southeastern margins of their European range

0547397 - BÚ 2022 RIV BG eng J - Journal Article
Hájek, M. - Hájková, Petra - Apostolova, I. - Sopotlieva, D. - Goia, I. - Dítě, D.
The vegetation of rich fens (Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis) at the southeastern margins of their European range.
Vegetation Classification and Survey. Roč. 2, 07 Oct (2021), s. 177-190. E-ISSN 2683-0671
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : endemic and relicts species * rich fens * vegetation survey * Balcans
OECD category: Plant sciences, botany
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.3897/VCS/2021/69118

Rich fens of the Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis alliance require a specific combination of base richness and climate to occur. Their rarity at the southeastern margins of their European range has previously prevented rigorous vegetation classification. We asked how many associations may be delimited here and whether some of them are restricted to the high Balkan Mountains showing high endemicity. We compiled all available vegetation-plot records from Bulgaria and Romania. We classified them by both divisive (modified TWINSPAN) and agglomerative (beta-flexible clustering) numerical classifi cation method, with OPTIMCLASS1 applied to set the number of clusters. Three associations were delimited and all three occur in Bulgaria, from where only one association had been previously reported. Two associations characterised by Sphagnum contortum and Balkan and Southern-European species occur in Bulgaria, but not in Romania, one at lower elevations around 1,200 m, and one at higher elevations around 2,000 m where pH is lower. One lower-elevation (around 1,300 m) association with S. warnstorfii and S. teres is shared between Romania, Bulgaria and Central Europe. We have described a new high-mountain association, with two subassociations that differ by successional stage and dominant peat moss species. Rich fens in southeastern Europe are rare, have a diverse vegetation, and are deserving of the further attention of nature conservation authorities and vegetation scientists.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0326207