engleski

The wall vegetation (Cymbalario-Parietarietea diffusae Oberdorfer 1969) of the Croatian historical coastal cities (NE Mediterranean)

The aim of this study is to classify and describe the plant communities found on the city walls in eight Croatian historical cities situated along the eastern Adriatic Sea: Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, Ston and Dubrovnik. The research was carried out in the period 2015-2016 using the Braun-Blanquet approach. Based on the 152 phytosociological relevés and using TWINSPAN, we identified and described 10 floristically and ecologically distinctive vegetation communities within the two alliances: Cymbalario-Asplenion Segal 1969 and Galio valantiae-Parietarion judaicae Rivas Martínez ex O. de Bolòs 1967. Two associations were included within the Cymbalario- Asplenion (Linario cymbalariae-Parietarietum ramiflorae Pignatti 1952 and Erysimetum cheiri Segal 1962). The association Linario cymbalariae- Parietarietum ramiflorae (=Cymbalarietum muralis Görs ex Oberdorfer 1967) is a pioneer community of vertical wall surfaces. Other associations considered in the present study are grouped in the Galio valantiae-Parietarion judaicae alliance. They were Asplenio trichomanis-Cotyledonetum horizontalis Horvatić ex Birać 1973 (including both subassociations: umbilicetosum horizontalis Trinajstić ex Terzi et al. 2017 and veronicetosum cymbalariae Trinajstić ex Terzi et al. 2017), Linario-Erigeronetum mucronati Segal 1969, Resedo albae-Antirrhinetum majoris Trinajstić 2008, Capparidetum rupestris O. de Bolòs et Molinier 1958, Hyoscyamo albi-Parietarietum judaicae Segal 1969, Adianto-Parietarietum judaicae Segal 1969, Oxalido-Parietarietum judaicae (Braun-Blanquet 1952) Segal 1969, and community with Centranthus ruber. In addition, the Cymbalario-Crithmetum maritimi Segal 1969 and Centaureetum ragusinae Horvat ex Terzi et al. 2017 associations were found on the city walls exposed to the sea in Dubrovnik and Split, respectively, participating in the formation of rupicolous vegetation of salt- sprayed coastal cliffs communities (Crithmo- Staticetea Braun-Blanquet in Braun-Blanquet et al. 1952), and of chasmophytic vegetation of the class Asplenietea trichomanis (Braun-Blanquet in Meier et Braun-Blanquet 1934) Oberdorfer 1977. Alongside the high cultural-historical values of the walls, these plant communties are also an important part of the region’s natural heritage. In order to conserve local biodiversity, the managers needs to consider limiting removal of existing plants from the walls.

phytosociology ; wall vegetation ; eastern Adriatic ; NE Mediterranean

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