Publication details
Alpine and subalpine acidophilous vegetation on the eastern side of the Chiprovska Planina Mts.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Tuexenia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.tuexenia.de/publications/tuexenia/Tuexenia_2023_NS_043_0109-0158.pdf |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.14471/2023.43.001 |
| Keywords | Alpine; Bulgaria; Midzhur; Phytosociology; Stara Planina; Subalpine; Syntaxonomy; Vegetation classification |
| Description | The subalpine and alpine vegetation belts are well-developed in Bulgarian mountains, and the alpine biogeographic region covers a large area in Bulgaria. Although alpine and subalpine vegetation is susceptible to climate and land-use changes, the knowledge of this vegetation in Bulgaria is very poor. The Western Stara Planina Mts. extends from Zlatishki Pass in Bulgaria in the east to Serbia, where it has its westernmost point. In its eastern part, it is composed mainly of limestone, whereas in its highest parts in the Chiprovtska Planina it is composed of acidic rocks, mainly of sandstone, conglomerate, and granite. Most of today’s alpine vegetation is secondary due to long-lasting pasturing and fire management; only rock outcrops in high altitudes host primary alpine vegetation. The alpine and subalpine vegetation in the Western Stara Planina Mts. was systematically studied only on the Serbian territory; the manuscript of Vojislav Mišić which describes this vegetation was published in 1978. Here, I present vegetation classification of the Bulgarian part of the highest mountain ridge of the Western Stara Planina Mts. and fill gaps in knowledge of the alpine and subalpine vegetation in the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. I recorded 78 phytosociological relevés, based on which I distinguished 12 vegetation classes, 29 associations, and nine informally described local communities. Many of these syntaxa are new to Bulgaria or are newly described according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. A DCA ordination was conducted to display dissimilarities between relevés. Altitude, soil pH, and total cover of plants have significant influence over the sample scores. |