Floristic composition of black pine forests on serpentinite in the territory of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H)

Abstract

Black pine forests of the Western Balkans constitute a significant complex of azonally and orographically-edaphically conditioned forests, on the ophiolite massifs of central and eastern Bosnia, as well as western and, to a certain extent, central Serbia. CA and Cluster analysis showed that there was no overlap in the floristic composition, which means that there are significant differences between the studied stands Stands in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) are floristically richer with 152 taxa recorded, while stands in Serbia had 82 taxa recorded. On the territory of B&H, communities grow under the conditions of maritime and humid climate; while in Serbia they grow in continental climate with less rainfall and significant exposure to sub-Mediterranean weather. In black pine forests in B&H two types of soil were described: eutric humus-siliceous, and brown soil on serpentinite; while in Serbia, there was only one type - eutric humus-siliceous. No significant differences were found in the spectrum of life forms. In the spectrum of floral elements, mesophilic floral elements (Central and Sub-Atlantic) were dominant on the territory of B & H; while stands in Serbia, were richer in xerophilous floral elements (Mediterranean, Balkan, Balkan-Apennine). Shannon-Wiener index and evenness index showed higher values in B&H.