FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1, 5–21, LJUBLJANA 2022 PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE AND ALPINE BELT OF THE JULIAN ALPS FITOCENOLOŠKI OPIS RASTJA OB IZVIRIH V SUBALPINSKEM IN ALPINSKEM PASU V JULIJSKIH ALPAH Igor DAKSKOBLER1 & Andrej MARTINČIČ2 http://dx.doi.org/10.3986/fbg0090 ABSTRACT Phytosociological description of spring vegetation in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps Plant communities of several moss-rich calcareous water springs in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps were phytosociologicaly investigated. Based on the comparison with similar communities in other parts of the Alps we classify them into the new association Saxifrago ro- bustae-Palustrielletum commutati and in to two subassocia- tions: -violetosum biflorae (mostly in the subalpine belt) and -saxifragetosum sedoidis (mostly in the alpine belt). Stands of described community belong to Natura 2000 habitat type Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion). For now they are mostly not directly threatened by man. Key words: vegetation, Cratoneurion, Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, Italy IZVLEČEK Fitocenološki opis rastja ob izvirih v subalpinskem in al- pinskem pasu v Julijskih Alpah Fitocenološko smo preučili združbe nekaterih izvirov na karbonatni podlagi v subalpinskem in alpinskem pasu Julijskih Alp. Na podlagi primerjav s podobnimi združbami drugod v Alpah jih uvrščamo v novo asociacijo Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati in v dve subasociaciji: -violetosum biflorae (v glavnem v subalpinskem pasu) in -saxifragetosum sedoidis (v glavnem v alpinskem pasu). Ses- toji opisane združbe sodijo v Natura 2000 habitatni tip Lehnjakotvorni izviri (Cratoneurion) in jih za zdaj človek neposredno v glavnem ne ogroža. Ključne besede: vegetacija, Cratoneurion, Julijske Alpe, Triglavski narodni park, Slovenija, Italija 1 Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Biology, Regional unit Tolmin, Brunov drevored 13, SI-5220 Tolmin, Igor.Dakskobler@zrc-sazu.si 2 Zaloška 78 a, SI-1000 Ljubljana, andrej.martincic@siol.net Folia_2022-1.indb 5 13. 03. 2022 09:11:09 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 6 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Spring vegetation of the Julian Alps was studied al- ready by Surina (2005a, b), mainly in the Krn Moun- tains and under Mt. Mangart. Our research was inci- dental, as it concerned the study of subalpine and al- pine vegetation in different areas of the Julian Alps. As they are a key feature of this vegetation type we con- sistently collected the moss species. Once they were determined by our specialist, Andrej Martinčič, we prepared a phytosociological table with 25 relevés and ordered it using hierarchical classification. Finally, we arranged the studied communities into a syntaxonomic system. 1 INTRODUCTION Figure 1: Approximate localities of researched stands at springs in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps. Slika 1: Približna nahajališča preučenih sestojev ob izvirih v subalpinskem in alpinskem pasu Julijskih Alp. 2 METHODS Our relevés were made using the Central-European (Braun-Blanquet 1964) phytosociological ap- proach. They were entered into the FloVegSi database (T. Seliškar, Vreš & A. Seliškar 2003). The relevés were made across the entire wet spring area, not only on the surface covered by the moss layer (Figures 2a and 2b). We collected mosses and liverworts, which Andrej Martinčič, the co-author, determined in the laboratory. The relevés were processed using hierar- chical classification, unweighted average linkage method – UPGMA and Wishart’s similarity ratio. We transformed the combined cover-abundance values into ordinal scale (1–9) according to van der Maarel (1979). Numerical comparisons were performed with the SYN-TAX 2000 program package (Podani 2001). In the classification of species into phytosociological groups (groups of diagnostic species) we mainly refer to the Flora alpina (Aeschimann et al. 2004a, b), Ze- chmeister (1993), Tomaselli et al. (2011) and Hin- terlang (2017), but rely also on our own experience. Folia_2022-1.indb 6 13. 03. 2022 09:11:11 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 7FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Figures 2a, b: Springs near Lake below Vršac (Jezero pod Vršacem) (above), and in the Mlinarica valley (below); the sample plot is limited with moist (spring) surface. Photo: I. Dakskobler. Slika 2a,b: Izvira pri Jezeru pod Vršacem (zgoraj) in v povirju Mlinarice (spodaj), popisna ploskev je omejena z mokrotno (povirno) površino. Foto: I. Dakskobler. The nomenclatural sources for the names of vascular plants were the Mala f lora Slovenije (Martinčič et al. 2007) and FloVegSi database. For the taxon Saxi- fraga stellaris L. subsp. alpigena Temesy we use the earlier valid name Saxifraga stellaris L. subsp. robusta (Engl.) Gremli. Hodgetts et al. (2020) was the no- menclatural source for the names of mosses and liv- erworts. Zechmeister (1993), Tomaselli et al. Folia_2022-1.indb 7 13. 03. 2022 09:11:14 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 8 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 (2011), Šilc & Čarni (2012), Mucina et al. (2016) and Hinterlang (2017) served as nomenclatural sources for the names of the syntaxa. The source for the par- ent material (geological bedrock) was Buser (2009). The researched springs have a predominantly calcar- eous bedrock (limestone, dolomite, limestone with marlstone, debris). The geographic coordinates of the relevés were determined based on the Slovenian geo- graphic coordinate system D 48 (Zone 5) on the Bes- sel ellipsoid and with Gauss-Krüger projection. Figure 3: Dendrogram of stands at springs in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps (UPGMA, 1-similarity ratio). Slika 3: Dendrogram sestojev ob izvirih v subalpinskem in alpinskem pasu Julijskih Alp (UPGMA,1-similarity ratio). 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSION 3.1 Arrangement of relevés with hierarchical classification and comparison with similar communities elsewhere in the Alps. Relevés in Table 1 grouped into two distinct clusters (Figure 3). Some of the relevés in the first large cluster (the left side of the dendrogram in Figure 3) stood out from other relevés (relevé 1 on the extreme left side and rele- vés 14 and 18 on the extreme right side of this relevé cluster). The species that are common to all or least half of the relevés (and occur in both separate clusters of stands) include: Palustriella commutata, Saxifraga stellaris subsp. robusta (both with 100% constancy), Poa alpina, Festuca nitida, Ptychostomum pseudo- triquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum), Achillea atrata, Cratoneuron filicinum and Epilobium alsinifolium. The table published by Surina (2005a: 59) does not include Cratoneuron filicinum, Ptychostomum pseudotrique- trum, Festuca nitida and Achillea atrata. As the author mentions that some of the mosses in his table have not yet been determined, we believe that for the most part he recorded communities that are similar to ours, also in the subalpine and alpine belt, and that they probably belong to the same association as our relevés. Surina classified them into the association Cratoneuretum fal- cati Gams 1927 and justified his decision while also listing the problems regarding the evaluation and identification of the taxon Cratoneuron commutatum var. falcatum (= Palustriella falcata). Previously, Ai- chinger (1933) had described association Cratoneure- tum commutati in the Karawanks. In classifying the surveyed spring areas Surina (ibid.) followed the con- cept described by Zechmeister (1993). Hinterlang Folia_2022-1.indb 8 13. 03. 2022 09:11:15 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 9FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 (2017) lists the name Cratoneuretum falcati Gams 1927 p. p. as a synonym for the association Arabido bellidifo- liae-Cratoneuretum Koch 1928 nom. inv. With regard to Cratoneurion he mentions also three other associa- tions, but their floristic composition is less comparable with our stands. We compared the floristic composi- tion of the association Arabido bellidifoliae-Cratoneu- retum (documented with 105 relevés) and our commu- nity (documented with 25 relevés), and determined the value of Sørensen similarity coefficient (Sørensen 1948) at 27%. Both communities share certain domi- nant species, such as Palustriella commutata, Saxifraga stellaris s. lat. and Heliosperma pusillum (which is fre- quent and abundant only in a part of our relevés). Ara- bis soyeri is very rare in Slovenia, with only a few lo- calities in the Julian Alps and Trnovski Gozd plateau (source: FloVegSi database), and is probably quite rare in the subalpine and alpine springs in the Julian Alps. Geographically closer than the relevés collected in Hinterlang’s synthetic table (ibid.) are the relevés of associations Cratoneuretum commutati Aichinger 1933 and Cratoneuretum falcati Gams 1927 from the South- eastern Alps in the province of Trentino, Italy (Toma- selli, Spitale & Petraglia 2011). Relevés of the as- sociation Cratoneuretum commutati are predominantly from the montane belt, whereas most of the relevés of the association Cratoneuretum falcati are from the sub- alpine belt. The species that occur both in these and our relevés are Palustriella commutata (inc. var. falca- ta), Cratoneuron filicinum, Ptychostomum pseudo- triquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum), Palustriella de- cipiens, Hymenostylium recurvirostrum, Polygonum vi- viparum, Epilobium alsinifolium, Tofieldia calyculata, Carex frigida, Viola biflora, Poa alpina as well as Saxi- fraga stellaris and Heliosperma pusillum, which oc- curred only in one of altogether 15 relevés. The floristic similarity between our relevés and theirs cannot be cal- culated because the authors did not include rare species in the table nor did they list them in the appendix. E. Pignatti & S. Pignatti (2014, 2016) published tables for both associations, Cratoneuretum commutati and Cratoneuretum falcati, for the Dolomites. In our comparison we took into account the table of the asso- ciation Cratoneuretum falcati, which is comparable with our relevés. The authors selected Palustriella com- mutata (incl. var. falcata), Arabis soyeri (A. jacquinii), Saxifraga stellaris (it has a 45% frequency in the table with 11 relevés), Philonotis calcarea and Bryum schlei- cheri (the latter two with constancy values below 20%). Frequent species with frequency values higher than 50% (or just below) include Epilobium alsinifolium, Cardamine amara, Deschampsia cespitosa, Alchemilla glabra, Agrostis stolonifera, Viola biflora and Ptychosto- mum pseudotriquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum). Figure 4: Stand of the association Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati, detail. Photo: I. Dakskobler. Slika 4: Sestoj asociacije Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati, detajl. Foto: I. Dakskobler. Folia_2022-1.indb 9 13. 03. 2022 09:11:16 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 10 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Figures 5a, b: Stands of the syntaxon Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati violetosum biflorae var. Heliosperma pusillum, sources of the Mlinarica above the Trenta Valley. Photo: I. Dakskobler. Sliki 5a,b: Sestoja sintaksona Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati violetosum biflorae var. Heliosperma pusillum v povirju Mlinarice nad Trento. Foto: I. Dakskobler. Folia_2022-1.indb 10 13. 03. 2022 09:11:19 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 11FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 The value of Sørensen’s similarity coefficient for the overall species composition (rare species are listed in the appendix to the table) is 26%. As our relevés are very comparable to the relevés by E. and S. Pignatti (ibd.), both in the size of the sample plot and the num- ber of recorded species per plot, we assume that we also applied similar criteria in the selection of sample plots. 3.2 Classification of the researched communi- ties into a syntaxonomical system and descrip- tion of subassociations According to Hinterlang’s criteria (ibid.) the stands classified by E. and S. Pignatti (ibid.) into the associa- tion Cratoneuretum falcati could also be classified into the association Arabido bellidifoliae-Cratoneuretum commutati. As our communities and the compared communities share many species that characteristi- cally occur in spring areas our stands could, despite low floristic similarity, be treated also as a special geo- graphical race – Arabido bellidifoliae-Cratoneuretum commutati var. geogr. Festuca nitida, syn. Cratoneure- tum falcati var. geogr. Festuca nitida. As the Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2020) does not discuss the rank of geographical race (geographical variant), the low floristic similarity with the relevés from the Dolomites allows also for classifi- cation into the new association Saxifrago robustae-Pa- lustrielletum commutati. It is named after two species that dominate and are almost invariably present in the herb and moss layer, namely Palustriella commutata and Saxifraga stellaris subsp. robusta (Figure 4). Geographical differential species that distinguish our stands from the stands of the association Arabido bellidifoliae-Cratoneuretum are Festuca nitida and Achillea atrata, and the ecological differential species is Cratoneuron filicinum. Hintrelang’s (ibid.) and Pignatti’s (ibid.) tables do not comprise these species, and Cratoneuron filicinum is present only in the relevés of the association Cratoneuretum falcati in the prov- ince of Trentino (Tomaselli et al., ibid.). The nomen- clatural type, holotypus, of the new association is relevé 2 in Table 1. This is also the nomenclatural type, holo- typus, of the subassociation violetosum biflorae, in which we distinguish the typical variant (relevés 12–14 in Table 1, Figures 5a, b) and the variant with Helio- sperma pusillum (relevés 2–11 in Table 1). The differen- tial species of the subassociation violetosum biflorae are Viola biflora, Heliosperma pusillum, Cerastium ca- rinthiacum, Campanula cochleariifolia, Philonotis cal- carea and Paederota lutea. In terms of ecology, these are mainly stands of subalpine springs, in source areas and along small streams on slopes, even in rock walls, some of them slightly resembling hygrophilous chas- mophytic communities from the alliance Cystopteridi- on (some of the diagnostic species of this alliance are also differential for this subassociation). In one of the relevés of this subassociation, in the spring area of the Mlinarica, we collected and determined also the sub- arctic-alpine species Sciuro-hypnum latifolium (Bra- chythecium latifolium), which has only a few known localities in Slovenia (Martinčič 2020: 48–49) and is red-listed as vulnerable (Martinčič 2016). Relevés 17–25 in Table 1 (see also Figures 6 and 7a, b) are classified into the subassociation Saxifrago robu- stae-Palustrielletum commutati saxifragetosum sedoi- dis. Its differential species are Saxifraga sedoides and Philonotis fontana. These stands are ecologically dif- ferent from the stands of the subassociation violetosum biflorae. They characterize the vegetation of alpine springs, often on gravelly and levelled terrain on the fringes of high-mountain hollows (lakes). Moss Palu- striella commutata has a significantly lower medium coverage here than in the stands of the previous subas- sociation, which is mainly associated with the subal- pine belt, but the moss Cratoneuron filicinum is con- stantly present in these stands with considerable me- dium coverage. Broadly speaking, the differential spe- cies of this subassociation include also several diag- nostic species of the order Arabidetalia caeruleae (Rumex nivalis, Carex parviflora, Salix retusa, Veronica alpina and Gnaphalium supinum / Omalotheca supina) and certain diagnostic species of the class Thlaspietea rotundifolii (Moehringia ciliata, Cirsium spinosissi- mum, Hutchinsia alpina and Arabis alpina). The no- menclatural type, holotypus, of the new subassociation Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati saxifra- getosum sedoidis is relevé 24 in Table 1. In terms of flo- ristic composition relevés 15 and 16 are transitional between the stands of both subassociations (Figure 3, 14 and 18), but taking into account certain ecological characteristics (alpine springs on gravelly material) they are classified within the subassociation saxifrage- tosum sedoidis. The only relevé classified to the rank of association is relevé 1. Classification into the syntaxonomical system is therefore as follows: Montio-Cardaminetea Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944 Montio-Cardaminetalia Pawłowski et al. 1928 Cratoneurion commutati Koch 1928 Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati ass. nov. hoc loco violetosum biflorae subass. nov. hoc loco var. Heliosperma pusillum saxifragetosum sedoidis subass. nov. hoc loco Folia_2022-1.indb 11 13. 03. 2022 09:11:19 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 12 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Phytosociological and syntaxonomic evaluation of subalpine-alpine spring communities on calcareous bedrock in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps with predominating mosses Palustriella commu- tata, Cratoneuron filicinum and Ptychostomum pseudo- triquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum) allows for sev- eral alternatives. Elsewhere in the Alps they were until recently predominantly classified into the association Cratoneuretum falcati. Surina (2005a, b), who was the first to more closely analyse the vegetation of these springs, took the same approach. Our analysis allows for another alternative, classification at the rank of a new association Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati, which we base on the overall species com- position of the community which includes vascular plants from ecologically similar or contact communi- ties of snow beds, screes or moist rock crevices. Ac- cording to these criteria the studied stands are floristi- cally very different from similar stands in the Dolo- mites, even though they share certain dominant spe- cies. Since the rank of geographical race is not recog- nized by modern syntaxonomy and rules of phytoso- ciological nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2020), the admissible alternative in such cases is to describe new associations, because this is the only way we can clear- ly point out the particularities and specifics of these stands. The spring communities discussed in this article belong to Natura 2000 habitat type 7220* Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion). To date, they have not yet been subject to comprehensive re- search in the Slovenian Alps. Together with recently published relevés (Dakskobler & Martinčič 2021) our relevés fill a small gap in our knowledge of these communities. For the main part they are not directly threatened by human impact, even though some of these springs are situated near roads (Mangart) and areas that are very popular in the summer (Prehodav- ci, Mangart), whereas others (the Mlinarica, ledges of Mt. Kanjavec, Upper Kriško Lake / Zgornje Kriško Jezero) are found in very remote areas. The main threat factors are grazing of small ruminants, popular moun- tain trails in the vicinity, climate and hydrological change, and eutrophication (Dakskobler et al. 2021). Figure 6: Large spring areas near Lake below Vršac (Jezero pod Vršacem), stands of the subassociation Saxifrago robustae- Palustrielletum commutati saxifragetosum sedoidis. Photo: I. Dakskobler. Slika 6: Obsežna povirja pri Jezeru pod Vršacem, sestoji subasociacije Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati saxifrage- tosum sedoidis. Foto: I. Dakskobler. 4. CONCLUSIONS Folia_2022-1.indb 12 13. 03. 2022 09:11:22 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 13FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Figures 7a, b: Stands of the subassociation Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati saxifragetosum sedoidis at Lake below Vršac (Jezero pod Vršacem). Photo: I. Dakskobler. Slika 7a,b: Sestoja subasociacije Saxifrago robustae-Palustrielletum commutati saxifragetosum sedoidis pri Jezeru pod Vršacem. Foto: I. Dakskobler. Folia_2022-1.indb 13 13. 03. 2022 09:11:26 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 14 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 5. POVZETEK Pri fitocenološko-sintaksonomskem vrednotenju su- balpinsko-alpinskih združb izvirov na karbonatni podlagi v subalpinskem in alpinskem pasu Julijskih Alp s prevladujočimi mahovnimi vrstami Palustriella commutata, Cratoneuron filicinum in Ptychostomum pseudotriquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum) je več možnosti. Prevladujoči pristop drugod v Alpah je do nedavna bil njihova uvrstitev v asociacijo Cratoneure- tum falcati. Tej je sledil tudi Surina (2005a,b), prvi, ki se je vegetaciji teh izvirov v tem gorovju bolj posvetil. Naša obravnava dopušča tudi drugo možnost, vredno- tenje na rangu nove asociacije Saxifrago robustae-Palu- strielletum commutati, pri čemer izhajamo iz celotne vrstne sestave združbe, v kateri so tudi cevnice iz eko- loško podobnih ali prostorsko stičnih združb snežnih dolinic, melišč ali vlažnih skalnih razpok. Po teh meri- lih so preučeni sestoji kljub nekaterim skupnim pre- vladujočim vrstam floristično precej drugačni od po- dobnih sestojev v Dolomitih. Ker sodobna sintaksono- mija in pravila fitocenološke nomenklature (Theuril- lat et al. 2020) ranga geografske variante ne obravna- vajo (vsebujejo), je v takih primerih dopusten tudi opis novih asociacij, ker lahko le na ta način jasno opozori- mo na določeno svojskost in posebnosti teh sestojev. V članku obravnavane združbe povirij sodijo v Natura 2000 habitatni tip 7220* Lehnjakotvorni izviri (Cratoneurion). V slovenskih Alpah zagotovo še niso celovito raziskane. Naši popisi, skupaj z nedavno obja- vljenimi popisi (Dakskobler & Martinčič 2021), ne- koliko zapolnjujejo vrzel v njihovem poznavanju. Za zdaj jih človek večinoma neposredno ne ogroža, čeprav so nekateri od njih blizu poleti zelo obiskanih območij (Prehodavci, Mangart), ali celo blizu prometnic (Man- gart), drugi (Mlinarica, police Kanjavca, Zgornje Kri- ško jezero) pa v precej odmaknjenih predelih. Glavni dejavniki ogrožanja zanje so paša drobnice, bližina obiskanih planinskih poti, podnebne in hidrološke spremembe, evtrofikacija (Dakskobler et al. 2021). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Branko Zupan, Dr. Aleš Poljanec and Lojze Hosner helped the younger author in field surveying of some of the springs. Iztok Sajko prepared Figure 1 for print We also acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding No. P1-0236). English translation by Andreja Šalamon Verbič. REFERENCES – LITERATURA Aeschimann, D., K. Lauber, D. M. Moser & J.-P. Theurillat, 2004a: Flora alpina. Bd. 1: Lycopodiaceae-Apiaceae. Haupt Verlag, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien. Aeschimann, D., K. Lauber, D. M. Moser & J.-P. Theurillat, 2004b: Flora alpina. Bd. 2: Gentianaceae–Orchi- daceae. Haupt Verlag, Bern, Stuttgart, Wien. Braun-Blanquet, J., 1964: Pflanzensoziologie. Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde. 3. Auf., Springer Verlag, Wien– New York. Buser, S., 2009: Geološka karta Slovenije 1: 250.000. 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Folia_2022-1.indb 15 13. 03. 2022 09:11:26 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 16 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 Table 1: Spring vegetation in the subalpine and alpine belt of the Julian Alps Preglednica 1: Rastje izvirov v subalpinskem in alpinskem pasu Julijskih Alp Successive number of relevé (Zaporedna številka popisa) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Database number of relevé (Delovna številka popisa) 21 93 34 22 11 83 28 22 23 24 49 23 26 83 70 28 22 24 28 22 25 21 93 54 24 55 13 28 26 87 Elevation in m (Nadmorska višina v m) 13 80 16 80 16 90 16 30 14 40 16 80 17 00 13 60 16 20 18 20 Aspect (Lega) S SW SW N NW SE SW N NE S Slope in degrees (Nagib v stopinjah) 25 25 70 40 30 45 60 15 30 80 Parent material (Matična podlaga) Gr D DA D D DA DA D DA AL Soil (Tla) Li Li Gl Li Gl Li Li Li Li Li Stoniness in % (Kamnitost v %) 20 10 100 30 20 20 20 20 80 100 Cover of herb layer in % (Zastiranje zeliščne plasti v %): 30 30 40 40 40 40 30 60 60 40 Cover of moss layer in % (Zastiranje mahovne plasti v %): 80 80 80 30 80 80 80 70 50 70 Number of species (Število vrst) 5 11 18 8 6 17 18 11 11 13 Relevé area (Velikost popisne ploskve) m2 4 10 10 5 5 10 10 20 10 10 Date of taking relevé (Datum popisa) 7/ 1/ 20 08 8/ 6/ 20 08 8/ 11 /2 02 0 9/ 7/ 20 12 8/ 23 /2 01 7 8/ 11 /2 02 0 8/ 11 /2 02 0 7/ 1/ 20 08 6/ 19 /2 01 2 8/ 20 /2 02 0 Locality (Nahajališče) Z ap ot ok M lin ar ic a M lin ar ic a So ln a gl av a- Su ha Pi šn ic a Z aj ze ra -Ž ab ni šk a kr ni ca M lin ar ic a M lin ar ic a Z ap ot ok K rm a- Br da M an ga rt -P re ho d Quadrant (Kvadrant) 96 48 /1 95 48 /4 95 48 /4 95 48 /4 95 47 /3 95 48 /4 95 48 /4 96 48 /1 96 49 /2 95 47 /4 Coordinate GK Y (D-48) m 39 90 14 40 66 05 40 66 36 40 47 12 38 59 04 40 65 98 40 66 18 39 95 21 41 78 94 39 54 22 Coordinate GK X (D-48) m 51 38 23 1 51 41 83 9 51 41 83 1 51 43 47 8 51 45 31 0 51 41 83 9 51 41 86 8 51 38 68 7 51 38 80 6 51 44 73 0 Diagnostic species of the association (Diagnostične vrste asociacije) MC Palustriella commutata E0 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 MC Saxifraga stellaris subsp. robusta E1 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 3 3 PaT Poa alpina E1 + 1 . . . + + . . . TR Festuca nitida E1 . + + + . 1 1 . . 1 MC Ptychostomum pseudotriquetrum (Bryum pseudotriquetrum) E0 . 2 + . . 1 . 1 1 . MC Cratoneuron filicinum E0 . + + . . . . . . 3 TR Achillea atrata E1 . + 1 1 + + + . . . MC Epilobium alsinifolium E1 . . . . . + . 3 . 2 Differential species of subassociations (Razlikovalnice subasociacij) MC Heliosperma pusillum E1 . 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 TR Cerastium carinthiacum E1 . . + + 1 . + . . + Cy Viola biflora E1 + 1 . + . . . + 2 . PC Campanula cochleariifolia E1 . . + . . + + . . 1 MC Philonotis calcarea E0 . . + . . 1 2 . . . PC Paederota lutea E1 . . . . . r + . . . AC Saxifraga sedoides E1 . . . . . . . . . . MC Philonotis fontana E0 . . . . . . . . . . MC Montio-Cardaminetea Palustriella decipiens E0 . . . . . . 1 . . . Conocephalum conicum E0 . . . . . . . . . . Cardamine amara E1 . . . . . . . + . . Hymenostylium recurvirostrum E0 . . . . . . . . . . Sciuro-hypnum latifolium (Brachythecium latifolium) E0 . . . . . . . . . . Flexitrichum flexicaule (Ditrichum flexicaule) E0 . . . . . . . . . . Folia_2022-1.indb 16 13. 03. 2022 09:11:27 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 17FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 26 88 28 22 26 28 22 27 28 69 33 28 68 13 28 66 17 28 68 10 28 68 11 28 68 23 28 68 26 28 68 14 28 68 21 28 68 22 28 68 12 28 68 25 18 30 18 50 18 90 15 20 20 05 21 30 19 90 19 90 20 00 19 95 20 10 20 05 19 95 20 15 20 00 S SW SW NW N NW N 0 W N N NW NW N NE 70 45 25 20 5 30 2 0 5 2 5 5 5 10 10 AL DA DA Gr A DA A A A A A A A A A Li Li Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl Gl 100 40 30 40 10 30 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 50 40 40 40 50 35 40 30 30 40 40 30 40 40 30 60 50 50 60 70 80 90 80 80 90 80 80 90 70 80 14 24 16 18 23 17 16 16 12 14 15 14 18 22 13 10 10 10 3 5 10 5 5 10 5 5 5 10 10 10 8/ 20 /2 02 0 8/ 11 /2 02 0 8/ 11 /2 02 0 7/ 28 /2 02 1 9/ 3/ 20 21 8/ 9/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 9/ 3/ 20 21 M an ga rt -P re ho d M lin ar ic a M lin ar ic a R av ni d ol Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Z go rn je K ri šk o je ze ro Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em Je ze ro p od V rš ac em 95 47 /4 95 48 /4 95 48 /4 96 48 /4 96 48 /2 95 48 /4 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 96 48 /2 39 54 63 40 68 24 40 68 81 40 44 43 40 78 71 40 85 62 40 78 42 40 78 40 40 79 36 40 78 54 40 78 57 40 79 27 40 79 05 40 79 07 40 78 32 51 44 74 4 51 42 08 4 51 42 10 4 51 34 61 4 51 35 64 4 51 41 17 8 51 35 72 2 51 35 72 5 51 35 77 0 51 35 71 5 51 35 64 3 51 35 68 7 51 35 71 3 51 35 61 2 51 35 69 5 Pr. Fr. 3 4 4 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 25 100 4 2 2 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1 25 100 1 2 2 + 1 + 2 2 1 1 + 1 1 + 1 19 76 + 2 1 + 1 + + . 1 1 1 + 1 1 2 20 80 1 . . 3 + + 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 . 17 68 3 + . . . + 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 15 60 . 1 1 + 1 + . . . . . . + 1 + 14 56 + . . . + . 1 + . 1 + 1 . + 3 12 48 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 40 + 2 2 2 . . . . . . . . + . . 10 40 . 1 + 1 + . . . . . . . . . . 9 36 + 1 1 + . . . . . . . . . . . 8 32 . + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 20 . + . + . . . . . . . . . . . 4 16 . 1 + . . 3 1 + + + 2 . + 2 1 11 44 3 . . . . . 1 1 2 1 . 2 2 3 . 8 32 . + . 2 . 3 . . . . . . . . . 4 16 . . . . 1 . . . . . + . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . 1 4 Folia_2022-1.indb 17 13. 03. 2022 09:11:27 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 18 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 AC Arabidion caeruleae (incl. Salicetea herbaceae) Rumex nivalis E1 . . . . . . . . . . Carex parviflora E1 . . . . . . . . . . Salix retusa E1 . . . . . . . . . . Veronica alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Gnaphalium supinum (Omalotheca supina) E1 . . . . . . . . . . Ranunculus traunfellneri E1 . . . . . . . . + . Soldanella minima E1 . . . . . . . . . . Taraxacum sect. Alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Soldanella pusilla E1 . . + . . . . . . . Soldanella alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . TR Thlaspietea rotundifolii Moehringia ciliata E1 . . . . . . . . + . Adenostyles glabra E1 . . . + . . . . + 2 Cirsium spinosissimum E1 . . . . . . . . . . Hutchinsia alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Arabis alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Leontodon hyoseroides E1 . . . . . . . . . + Silene vulgaris subsp. glareosa E1 + . . . . . . r . . Heliosperma alpestre E1 . . + . . . . . . + Festuca laxa E1 . . . . . + + . . . Rumex scutatus E1 . . . . . + + . . . Dryopteris villarii E1 . . . . . . . . . . Armeria alpina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Cy Cystopteridion Cystopteris regia E1 . . . . . . . . . . Orthothecium rufescens E0 . . . . 2 . . . . . Cystopteris montana E1 . . . . . . . + 2 . Ptychostomum elegans (Bryum elegans) E0 . . . . . . 1 . . . Astrantia carniolica E1 . . . . . . . 1 . . Carex brachystachys E1 . . 1 . . . . . . . Fissidens dubius E0 . . . . . . . . . . Valeriana saxatilis E1 . . . . . . . . . . Asplenium viride E1 . . . . . . . . . . PC Potentilletalia caulescentis Valeriana elongata E1 . . . . . . . . 1 . CD Caricetalia davallianae, Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae Parnassia palustris E1 . . . . . 1 + . . + Allium schoenoprasum subsp. alpinum E1 . . . . . . . . . . Carex frigida E1 . + . . . . . . . . Tofieldia calyculata E1 . . + . . . . . . . ES Elyno-Seslerietea Polygonum viviparum E1 . . . . . . . . . . Carex ferruginea E1 . + + . . 1 + . . . Euphrasia minima E1 . . . . . r + . . . Aster bellidiastrum E1 . . + . . . . . . . Juncus monanthos E1 . . + . . . 1 . . . Sesleria sphaerocephala E1 . . + . . . . . . . Carex firma E1 . . . . . . . . r . Lloydia serotina E1 . . . . . . . . . . Homogyne discolor E1 . . . . . . . . . . Myosotis alpestris E1 . . . . . . . . . . PaT Poo alpinae-Trisetetalia Leontodon hispidus E1 . . . . . . . . . . MA Mulgedio-Aconitetea Veratrum album E1 . . . . . . . . . . Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. ranunculifolium E1 . . . . . . . . . . Adenostyles alliariae E1 . . . . . . . . . . BA Betulo-Alnetea Salix waldsteiniana E2a . . . . . . . . . . Salix appendiculata E2a . . . . . . . . . . Salix glabra E2a . . . . . . . . . . Successive number of relevé (Zaporedna številka popisa) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Folia_2022-1.indb 18 13. 03. 2022 09:11:27 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 19FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pr. Fr. . . . . + + 1 1 . . + . . . . 5 20 . . . . + . + + . . . . 1 . . 4 16 . . . . 2 . . + . . . 2 2 . . 4 16 . . . . . . 2 + . + . . . + . 4 16 . . . . . + . . + . + . . . . 3 12 . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . + . + + . + . . . + + 7 28 + . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 5 20 . . . . + + . . . + . + . . + 5 20 . . . . 1 + . . + . . . + + . 5 20 . . . . . + . . + + . . + . . 4 16 + . + . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . 1 4 . + . + + . . . . . + . . . . 4 16 . + . . . . . . . . + . . 1 . 4 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 2 8 . 1 + + + . + + . + . . . . . 10 40 . . . . + . . + . . . . . 1 + 4 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . + + . . . . 1 . . . + 1 + . 6 24 . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . 5 20 . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . 4 16 . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . 3 12 . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . r . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 4 . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . r . . . . + . . + 3 12 . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1 4 . . . . + . . . . . . + + . . 3 12 . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . 1 4 Folia_2022-1.indb 19 13. 03. 2022 09:11:28 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 20 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 FS Fagetalia sylvaticae Fagus sylvatica E1 . . . . . . . r . . ML Mosses (Mahovi) Bryum sp. E0 . . . . . . . . . 1 Lescuraea plicata E0 . . . . . + . . . . Fissidens taxifolius E0 . . . . . . . . . . Timmia norvegica E0 . . . . . . . . . . Scorpidium cossonii (Drepanocladus cossonii) E0 . . . . . . . . . . Mnium marginatum E0 . . . . . . . . . . Pohlia cruda E0 . . . . . . . . . . Legend-Legenda A Limestone - apnenec D Dolomite - dolomit L Marlstone - laporovec Gr Debris - grušč Li Lithosol - kamnišče Gl Molic Gleysols - organsko-mineralna tla Pr. Presence (number of relevés in which the species is presented) - število popisov, v katerih se pojavlja vrsta Fr. Frequency in % - frekvenca v % Successive number of relevé (Zaporedna številka popisa) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Folia_2022-1.indb 20 13. 03. 2022 09:11:28 DAKSKOBLER & MARTINČIČ: PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SPRING VEGETATION IN THE SUBALPINE 21FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET GEOLOGICA 63/1 – 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1 4 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pr. Fr. Folia_2022-1.indb 21 13. 03. 2022 09:11:28 Folia_2022-1.indb 22 13. 03. 2022 09:11:28