Plant species diversity of Adriatic islands: An introductory survey

Abstract

The European Mediterranean region is one of the world's major centres of biodiversity. Research on plant species diversity in this region has neglected the area along the eastern part of the Adriatic basin in comparison to the other Mediterranean areas.The main aim of this study was to focus on this neglected area, by supplying data which is at present lacking in order to discuss the species-area relationship (SAR), floristic richness and endemism of the Adriatic islands and coast. Floristic data for 106 Croatian islands collected by different authors were integrated, systematised and presented in a form usable by other researchers worldwide. The Power (Arrhenius) function was used for modelling (by non-linear regression) the SAR. Residuals around the regression curve (as indicators of floristic diversity without the influence of island area) were calculated for each island. The proportion of endemics in the total island flora varies from 0% up to 28.6%, and 17.5% for narrow endemics. Floristic richness of the broader region was estimated (on the basis of SAR extrapolation) on 1807 species for all Croatian islands, and on 2797 species for the entire Mediterranean area in Croatia.

The flora and vegetation of the NE Mediterranean islet with centuries-long human influences

“…The presence of the endemic taxa and those occurring in the national Red List, including strictly protected flora, confirm the peculiarity of the surveyed area from the phytogeographic point of view (Nikolić et al 2008).…”

Flora of the islets near Pakoštane (Dalmatia, Croatia)

“…In general, the larger and inhabited islands of the Adriatic archipelago are botanically well explored and recognized as one of the major centers of plant diversity in Croatia (Nikolić et al, 2008. But there is still a significant number of uninhabi-ted islets and reefs where the vascular flora, apart from a few exceptions (Hećimović, 1982;Pandža, 2002;Pavletić, 1983;Jasprica & Ruščić, 2013;Skelin et al, 2014), is practically unexplored.…”

Plant taxa and communities on three islets in south Croatia, NE Mediterranean

“…For these reasons, awareness of the importance of exploring and safeguarding the floristic diversity of the mediterranean islands has increased dramatically in the last two decades in the adriatic Basin (Bogdanović & mitić, 2003;Nikolić et al, 2008Nikolić et al, , 2015Jasprica & ruščić, 2013;milović et al, 2013, and references therein) and throughout the mediterranean (cf. Bocchieri, 1992;Greuter, 2001;Biel, 2002;arrigoni et al, 2003;troia et al, 2012;Carta et al, 2013;etc.…”