Cenoecological characteristics of greek maple ( acer heldreichii orph.) In Serbia

Abstract

This paper deals with the cenoecological characteristics of Greek maple (Acer heldreichii Orph.) in Serbia, a subendemic species of the Balkan Peninsula which is a strictly protected species in Serbia. The research included the six most representative Greek maple localities in Serbia. Plant communities were defined according to standard Braun-Blanquet method. Ecological spectra (life forms, plant relation to moisture, soil reaction, nitrogen content in soil, light and warmth), as well as chorological spectra were produced. CA vegetation analysis was done using software CANOCO 4.5. It is concluded that Greek maple in Serbia occurs in two plant communities: as a dominant species in beechGreek maple community (Aceri heldreichii-Fagetum B. Jov. 1957) and as a differential species in beechfir-spruce community (Piceo-Abietetum Colic 1965 subass. aceretosum heldreichii). CA analysis distinguishes phytocoenological releves in three groups. According to life forms spectrum, plant communities have hemicryptophyte-geophyte- phanerophyte character. According to moisture requirement they are mesophilous, according to soil reaction they are mostly neutrophilous, to soil nitrogen content communities are mostly mesotrophic. According to light requirements they range from shade tolerant to semitolerant, and according to the temperature they are mesothermic. Results of chorological analysis show that the Central European floral group is the most frequent, which indicates the mesophilous character of the communities.