Naslov
Impact of abandonment of traditional transhumance on Mediterranean mountain grasslands - case study of mt. Velebit, Croatia

Autori
Alegro, Antun ; Šegota, Vedran

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
20th International Workshop of European Vegetation Survey - A century of phytosocilogy & 20 years of the new spirit in phytosociology : Book of Abstracts / Spada, Francesco ; Pignatti, Sandro ; Rodwell, John ; Blasi, Carlo ; Chytry, Milan ; Schaminee, Joop ; Talbort, Stephen - Rim : Sapienza, Universita di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, 2011, 34-34

ISBN
978-88-904091

Skup
International Workshop of European Vegetation Survey - A century of phytosocilogy & 20 years of the new spirit in phytosociology (20 ; 2011)

Mjesto i datum
Rim, Italija, 06.04.2011. - 09.04.2011

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
land use; grasslans; succession; Velebit; Croatia

Sažetak
The transhumance, traditionally the most important form of cattle breeding in Mediterranean basin, has been the main factor in landscape formation. Two thousand years of cattle breeding and agriculture on mountains along Eastern Adriatic Coast changed the primarily forest landscape into a mosaic of different open habitats. However, transhumance has been almost completely abounded on Croatian Mediterranean range of Dinarides in the last fifty years, which caused a dramatic change of grassland habitats. Mt. Velebit, located along the North Adriatic Coast, with its long and continuous tradition of cattle breeding and migrations has been chosen as a perfect natural laboratory for investigation of rapid vegetation changes. Along the slopes of Mt Velebit, forest vegetation is predominantly deciduous, presented by dominating Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis and Ostrya carpinifolia on lower, and Fagus sylvatica on higher elevations. Evergreen forests with dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) form only the highest forest belt. Different mountain grassland types mainly match altitudinal forest belts. Analysis of multiple, recently made releve’s of grassland and shrub vegetation along the altitudinal gradient as well as life form spectra analysis indicates the different velocity of habitat change in each mountain belt and stresses different species included. Along the vertical gradient the velocity of habitat changes decreases. On the lower grasslands the progressive vegetation succesion is faster. Alhough the maintenance of larger number of species is mainly allowed, the general physiognomy of landscape is being substantially changing. In the belt above 1200 m.a.s.l., a thin layer of soil, strong influence of wind and shorter growing season do not allow as rapid succession as in lower altitudes. Nevertheless, it is present thanks to the growth of dense, procumbent shrubs, which also change the composition of grassland communities, although the general physiognomy seems unchanged. The loss of biodiversity on species, habitat and landscape level of the Mediterranean mountain grasslands is more than evident and call for urgent active protection planning.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA