Salt marsh vegetation on the Croatian coast: plant communities and ecological characteristics

摘要: There is a lack of comprehensive study eastern Adriatic salt marsh vegetation with special attention to plant–soil relationships that determine individual plant assemblages. We surveyed 41 sites marshes on the Croatian coastline in order classify their by numerical methods and compare resulting groups terms soil chemical properties. A clear zonation between communities along hydro-sequence was identified well represented dominance diagnostic species. Two large were detected, distinguished mean species richness The first group, assigned into classes Thero-Salicornietea Sarcocornietea fruticosae, contains three subgroups succulent, sparse stands species-poor mudflat zone flooded sea water, characterised high salinity, electric conductivity, exchangeable Mg K, low nutrient content (total nitrogen, organic carbon) substrate. In second tall rush (class Juncetea maritimi), subordinate clusters, identified, occurring upper, brackish infrequent tides. Their soils had salinity conductivity increased total carbon Ca. Vegetation within group uppermost tidal highest species-richness, lowest salinity. It has not been previously identified. Here, we described it as new association Limonio narbonensis–Caricetum divisae.