engleski

FLORA AND ECOLOGICAL FACTORS OF THE ENTRANCE PARTS OF CAVES ON THE NORTHERN VELEBIT

During the speleological expedition “Lukina jama 95” on the Northern Velebit (July 1995) a systematic ecological and floristic research (pteridophytes and spermatophytes) of shafts and cave entrances started in Croatia. Three speleological features with different types of entrance parts were chosen: Dvojama (Hajdučki kukovi) and Ledena jama shafts in Lomska duliba and Vukušić sniježnica cave. The plants that grow in the immediate vicinity of the features and at various depths and expositions were collected and inventoried. In Ledena jama and Vukušić sniježnica daily changes of air temperature and relative humidity were measured on the surface and at the lower limit of the plant growth during seasons (except winter). In Ledena jama momentary illumination was also measured. Recorded plant taxa were subjected to taxonomic and phytogeographic analysis as well as analysis of ecological indicator values and life forms. A total of 160 plant taxa were recorded, and most of them in Ledena jama – 126 taxa. The largest share of represented floral elements belongs to the Eurasian floral element, and regarding life forms to the hemicryptophytes. Analysis of measured ecological factors and ecological indicator values showed that the microclimatic characteristics of entrance parts of researched features were, among other things, caused by different morphology and dimensions of their entrance parts, which influenced also the number of plant taxa and the distance inside the cave to which they grow.

speleobotany ; ecological indicator values ; microclimate ; Croatia

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