Plant communities and habitat differentiation in the Mediterranean coniferous woodlands of Mt. Parnon (Greece)

摘要: Coniferous forests are a significant feature in the natural vegetation of Mediterranean mountains, but most stands rather degraded and present distribution is just fraction its potential area. The Parnonas range (Peloponnese, Greece) ranks among extensive areas with well-preserved mountain coniferous forest Mediterranean. paper aims at describing conifer-dominated this ecological roles prevailing speciesAbies cephalonica, Pinus nigra, andJuniperus drupacea. For comparison, survey provided theAbies cephalonica total area, using all published releves. Species composition abundance, together structural abiotic parameters were recorded 118 releves distributed throughout Mt. Parnon. phytosociological classification reveals 8 interpretable types well separated by groups diagnostic species presented synoptic table. ecology units outlined, they assigned to 4 associations within theAbietion cephalonicae (Helictotricho convoluti-Abietetum cephalonicae, Junipero drupaceae-Abietetum Lilio chalcedonicae-Abietetum Pyrolo chloranthae — Pinetum nigrae). syntaxonomy nomenclature these associations, two which described as new, discussed. important gradients data matrix found detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) related altitude/climate rockiness/soil. communities segregated ordination space, fairly distinct clusters three conifer These conifers may be arranged along gradient decreasing drought tolerance fromJuniperus throughAbies toPinus. latter predominant vital essentially on schistose soils, or else reflects previous disturbance by, e.g., wildfires.Juniperus drupacea subordinate low tree shrub Tripolitza limestoneAbies forest. vitality ofAbies expressed height structure best theLilio-Abietetum, between 1300 1600 m. community variation area principal differentiation xerophytic mesophytic stands. This pattern encountered various mountains suggests that water supply crucial factor governing floristic forests.