Vascular plant biodiversity richness and endemo relictness of the karst mountains Prenj–Čvrsnica–Čabulja in Bosnia and Herzegovina (W. Balkan)

Abstract

UDC 581.52:574.1(497.6) Sulejman Redžić, Senka Barudanović, Sabina Trakić & Dejan Kulijer: Vascular plant biodiversity richness and endemorelictness of the karst mountains Prenj-Čvrsnica-Čabulja in Bosnia and Her�egovina (W. Balkan) The complex of karstic mountains Prenj-Čvrsnica and Čabulja in Herzegovina (w. Balkan) is characterized by high level of both geomorphology and biodiversity richness. This has been confirmed by a research of plant communities, their structure and dynamics, which took place throughout several seasons from 2005 to 2008. In the investigated area the vegetation cover, as a reliable indicator for specific karstic circumstances, is being differentiated in a great number of syntaxa (plant communities) that encompass over 2,500 vascular plants. On the surface of about 100,000 ha identified were up to 236 plant associations, 116 alliances and 63 vegetation orders that belong to 34 classes. This amounts 34% of total of vegetation classes at the European level and 100% of so far known vegetation classes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, over 80% of classes at the level of Montenegro and Croatia. There have been identified nearly 450 endemic and relict species, which is why most of the identified communities are endemic and relict ones, not only at the level of association but also at the level of higher syntaxonomic categories, such as alliance and order. The highest diversity level characterizes those communities that make a direct contact with the calcareous geological foundation either in rock crevices belonging to the class Asplenietea trichomanis Br.-Bl. 1934 corr. Oberd. 1977, or screes on limestone that are comprised by the classes Thlaspietea rotundifolii Br.-Bl.1948 and drypetea spinosae Quezel 1967, then sub-alpine and alpine pastures Elyno-Seslerietea Br.-Bl. 1948, and rocky grasslands Thero-Brachypodietea Br.-Bl. 1947. That high level of floristic and vegetation richness places this area among the most diverse areas both in Europe and whole Mediterranean. Such pattern of vegetation

The evolution of substrate differentiation in Minuartia series Laricifoliae (Caryophyllaceae) in the European Alps: In situ origin or repeated colonization?

“…Substrate type is one of the major factors that determine the distribution of plants and plant communities (Kruckeberg, 2002; Rajakaruna, 2004). Many species are endemic to a particular substrate, such as saline soils (e.g., Flowers et al, 2010), substrates derived from serpentine rocks (e.g., Harrison and Rajakaruna, 2011), or karst (e.g., Horvat et al, 1974; Redžić et al, 2011). Some of these species are members of clades that have high substrate diversity, with vicariant speciation on adjacent substrate types considered a potential cause of diversification (e.g., Fine et al, 2005; Cowling et al, 2009; Schnitzler et al, 2011).…”

“… Notes: 1 sampled, but not part of section Spectabiles ; 2 Aeschimann et al, 2004; 3 Rabeler et al, 2005; 4 Friedrich, 1979; 5 Kamari, 1997; 6 Redžić et al, 2011; 7 inferred from localities of herbarium specimens; 8 Pignatti, 1982; 9 Trigas and Iatroú, 2003.…”

Environmental determinants of contrasting caddisfly (Insecta, Trichoptera) biodiversity in the Neretva and Bosna river basins (Bosnia and Herzegovina) under temperate and mediterranean climates

“…This area is covered by a well developed network of streams and rivers which are separated in five river basins: Sava, Una, Vrbas, Bosna, and Drina ( Cengi c and Cabaravdi c, 2002). High habitat diversity related to various geomorphologic, hydrological, and climatic conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as specific historical processes has resulted in high biodiversity, with a great number of endemic and relict taxaespecially among vascular plants, freshwater, and subterranean fauna (Marinkovi c-Gospodneti c et al, 1980;Culver and Sket, 2000;Griffiths et al, 2004;Redži c et al, 2008Redži c et al, , 2011. One of the freshwater groups particularly rich in endemics in Bosnia and Herzegovina are caddisflies (Marinkovi c-Gospodneti c, 1977;Marinkovi c-Gospodneti c et al, 1980;Previši c et al, 2009;Ku cini c et al, 2011).…”

Influence of Soil Traits on Polyphenols Level in Moltkia petraea (Tratt.) Griseb. (Boraginaceae)

“…From the biogeographical perspective, the Dinaric Alps mountain complex towards the north and the Mediterranean region towards the south are hotspots of endemicity. This is the meeting point of two large phytogeographic regions: the Euro SiberianNorth American and the Alpine -high Nordic regions (Ređić et al 2011).…”