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Phytocoenological conditions of the species Chouardia lakusicii (Šilić) Speta on the Balkans

Taxa of the genus Chouardia are distributed along the Dinaric Alps, from Planinsko Polje near Postojna (Slovenia) in the northwest to Albania in the south-east. The genus contains only two species: Ch. litardierei (Breistr.) Speta and Ch. lakusicii (Šilić) Speta. Ecology of Ch. litardierei has already been described in details. It appears within the orders Trifolio-Hordeetalia Horvatić 1963 and Agrostidetalia stoloniferae Oberdorfer 1967. On the other hand, areal and phytocoenology of Ch. lakusicii are still remain unknown. The species is an endemic of the Mediteranean to sub-Mediterranean part of the Western Balkans (Dalmatia, South Herzegovina, Montenegro). In Croatia, Ch. lakusicii is assessed as a threatened taxon in vulnerable (VU) species category. Generally, the species follows the distribution of sub-Mediterranean forest and shrub vegetation of the alliance Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis Horvat 1954. The aim of this study was to investigate the ecological conditions of the sites with Ch. lakusicii. Phytocoenological relevés were collected using the Braun-Blanquet (1964) approach at all known localities with Ch. lakusicii in South Croatia (Dalmatia) and Montenegro in 2012 and 2013. In total, 11 relevés were collected. Vegetation data were interpreted in terms of syntaxonomical classification, based on cover and floristic affinities, following the Zürich-Montpellier approach and the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. In Croatia, Ch. lakusicii was found within rocky and dry grasslands (the Scorzonero villosae-Chrysopogonetalia grylli Horvatić et Horvat 1963 order) dominated by associations: Stipo bromoidis-Salvietum officinalis Horvatić 1963 and Bromo erecti-Seslerietum interruptae Trinajstić 1987 ex Terzi 2011. In Montenegro, it is developed in dry rocky crevices of the order Moltkeetalia petraeae Lakušić 1968 (Asplenietea trichomanes Br.-Bl. 1934). The species grows only on calcareous rocks and the majority of populations are recorded in zones between 560 and 800 m in Croatia, and up to 1590 m on Orjen Mountain in Montenegro. Our findings contribute essential baseline information that should aid in future evaluations of the state of Ch. lakusicii populations both in Croatia and Montenegro. Populations of Ch. lakusicii are an important part of the region’s natural heritage in need of conservation measures to ensure their survival.

Chouardia lakusicii; phytosociology; the Balkans

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