Syntaxonomical and ecological diversity of the class Polygono-Poetea annuae in Bulgaria

• Published in: Acta Botanica Croatica Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 32 - 41
• Main Authors: Mardari, Constantin, Velev, Nikolay, Genova, Beloslava, Georgiev, Stoyan, Grigorov, Borislav, Nazarov, Momchil, Vassilev, Kiril
• Format: Journal Article Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Biološki odsjek PMF, Sveučilište u Zagrebu 01-04-2022
• Subjects: Braun-Blanquet approach, Polygono arenastri-Poetalia annuae, Saginion procumbentis, trampled vegetation
• ISSN: 0365-0588; 1847-8476
• DOI: 10.37427/botcro-2021-029

Class
Polygono-Poetea annuae
Rivas-Mart.
1975 includes therophyte-rich vegetation on trampled habitats. The study
presents the first analysis of the syntaxonomy of this class and its ecology in
Bulgaria. One hundred seventy-five relevés from this class were collected and
stored in the Balkan Vegetation Database during 2017–2020. Numerical classification (hierarchical divisive) and
ordination were performed by JUICE and CANOCO software packages. Diagnostic
species were determined by calculating the Phi-coefficient. Four associations,
Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri,
Polygonetum arenastri, Lolio-Polygonetum arenastri
and
Poëtum annuae,
were recognized. Their floristic composition has
been shaped mainly by climatic and soil conditions.
Sclerochloo durae-Polygonetum arenastri
association has been found
at lower altitudes, occurring in fully lighted habitats with high radiation,
whereas
Poëtum annuae
has been found
at higher altitudes in wetter and cooler areas. On the other hand, stands of
Polygonetum arenastri
have been found on
nutrient-rich soils, whereas communities of
Lolio-Polygonetum
arenastri
were distributed in warmer and nutrient-poor areas. The
Polygono-Poetea annuae
class is still
poorly studied in Bulgaria and much more information from all regions of the
country needs to be collected and analyzed.