engleski

New localities of Orchidaceae taxa from sub- Mediterranean grasslands of Ćićarija Mt and Matokit Mt (Croatia)

On the sub-Mediterranean grasslands of Ćićarija Mt (Istria) and Matokit Mt (south Dalmatia) we found 21 Orchidaceae taxa that have no previously records for these localities. According to Rulebook on strictly protected species (NN 144/2013) all Orchidaceae taxa are protected, additionally a lot of taxa are reported as endangered in some of the IUCN risk categories. On different grassland habitats (dry rocky pastures and mesophilous meadows) we found: Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R.Br., Limodorum abortivum (L.) Sw., Listera ovata (L.) R. Br., Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich., O. coriophora L. subsp. fragrans (Pollini) K.Richt., O. morio L. subsp. picta (Loisel.) K.Richt. and O. provincialis Balb. ssp. pauciflora (Ten.) Camus.). Among IUCN risk categories eight taxa are vulnerable (VU): Ophrys sphegodes Mill., Orchis coriophora L., O. militaris L., O. purpurea Huds., O. quadripunctata Cirillo ex Ten., O. tridentata Scop., O. ustulata L. and Platanthera bifolia (L.) L.C.M. Richard. Six taxa are NT (near threatened): Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich, Cephalantera longifolia (L.) Fritsch, C. damasonium (Mill.) Druce, Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann, O. mascula (L.) L. and O. morio L. The dominant habitats on the altitude between 250- 750 m a.s.l., in both researched areas belong mostly to Scorzonero- Chrysopogonetalia H-ić. et Ht. (1956) 1958 order (Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. 1943 class), that are characterized by Cfb Köppen climate type. Comparing both mountains that have similar environmental conditions, we recorded 14 Orchidaceae taxa at each mountain, among which nine taxa are in common. Our results showed that most species (10) grow on the habitats of pastures and meadows ; eight grow only on dry pastures, and three only on mesophilous meadows. Regard to grassland management we found most taxa (> 80%) grow on the abandoned and used sites, and less taxa (< 20%) on continuously used sites of pastures and meadows. As a result of vegetation succession, highly valuable grassland habitats decrease in their surfaces, and generally leading to loss of biodiversity of Orchidaceae taxa. In fact only two orchid taxa were found in the shrubs or forest habitats. On the basis of distinctive orchids that appear in only one of the areas we conclude that the Mediterranean environment has a bigger impact on the Matokit Mt., while the continenental climate has bigger influence on the Ćićarija Mt.

new localities; Orchidaceae; sub-Mediterranean grasslands; Ćićarija Mt; Matokit Mt; Croatia

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