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Beech forest with peat moss in the Papuk Mt - unique in the vegetation of Croatia

The Papuk Mt is situated in the Slavonia (Northeastern Croatia) region, within a mainly lowland area bordered by the rivers Sava to the south and Drava to the north. In this region Papuk is the largest and the highest mountain ; the peaks are between 800 and 900 m a.s.l. Although the majority of Croatian mountains are built of Mesozoic limestone, this one has a high geological diversity dominated by metamorphic rocks, granites and different types of schists causing respective diversity of forest communities. Unique forest community is developed on south eastern part of the mountain, on steep slopes made of quartzite and gneiss rocks covered by very thin soil layer and exposed to north-east. It is a beech forest characterized by dense, continuing carpet of peat moss (Sphagnum quinquefarium) in the ground layer. The soil is acidic, with pH ranging from 4.68 to 3.91 in water solution. Tree layer is dominated by Fagus sylvatica with sporadic occurrence of birch Betula pendula and Castanea sativa. In layer of low shrubs Vaccinium myrtillus is common, while herb layer has low diversity with low species abundances. The most common are Luzula luzuloides, Avenella flexuosa, Hieracium murorum and Melampyrum pratense. Altogether, only 17 species of vascular plants were recorded in all layers. However, some of them are rare in the flora of Croatia, e.g. Diphasiastrum complanatum, with the single recent locality in Croatia. On the other hand, bryophyte flora is very rich, comprising 52 species (17 liverworts and 35 mosses). The most prominent and the most abundant of all plant species is Sphagnum quinquefarium, which almost completely covers soil forming reddish carpets several dozen centimetres deep. Some other relatively abundant bryophyte species are Dicranum scoparium, D. polysetum, Polytrichum commune, P. formosum, Leucobryum glaucum, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, Scapania nemorea, Pedinophyllum interruptum, Diplophyllum albicans and others. Dicranum spurium was recorded here for first time in Croatia. Due to its floristic composition and ecological characteristics, described community can be clearly affiliated to the suballiance Luzulo luzuloides-Fagenion (Fagion sylvaticae, Querco-Fagetea), but due to its peculiarities it should be considered as distinct association with high biogeographic and conservation importance.

Papuk Mt; peat moss; beech forest; Sphagnum quinqefarium

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