The synecology of endemic relict species Ramonda serbica (Gesneriaceae)

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the plant communities of Ramonda serbica, primarily intended to increase knowledge of their species and syntaxonomic diversity. The dataset included 204 vegetation plots (relevés) of the two Balkan Ramondas (R. serbica and R. nathaliae), 174 digitised from published literature sources and 30 new ones from field sampling of R. serbica in Montenegro and North Macedonia. Nineteen associations and subassociations of R. serbica were identified, using hierarchical cluster analysis (the Sørensen index as a distance measure and the Flexible Beta method, ß −0.25). Three associations (Micromerio julianae-Ramondetum serbicae, Hylocomio splendentis-Ramondetum serbicae, Neckero pumillae-Ramondetum serbicae), three subassociations (Micromerio julianae-Ramondetum serbicae subass. allosoretosum persicae, Ceterachi officinarum-Ramondetum serbicae subass. festucetosum dalmaticae and subass. hylotelephietosum maximi) and one alliance Exsertotheco crispae-Ramondion serbicae are described as new. Both hierarchical cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination support the distinction of 3 chorological/ecological groups of R. serbica communities: Adriatic-Ionian (xerophilous), Moesian (xero and mesophilous communities) and Illyrian-Scardo-Pindic (hygromesophilous). Communities of the Adriatic-Ionian cluster belongs to alliances Edraianthion, Centaureo cuspidatae-Portenschagillion ramosissimae and Campanulion versicoloris, of the Moesian one to Edraiantho graminifolii-Erysimion comati, and the Illyrian-Scardo-Pindic one to novel alliance Exsertotheco crispae-Ramondion serbicae.

Keywords:

• Ramonda serbica plant communities
• chasmopyhtic vegetation
• classification
• nomenclature revision
• Balkan Peninsula

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Petar Marin, Verica Stojanović, Gordana Tomović, Marjan Niketić, Martin Magnes for assistance with the literature; Milan Chytrý and Dmitar Lakušić for valuable discussions considering data analysis and results interpretation; Andraž Čarni for help with nomenclature, anonymous reviewers for their useful suggestions; Filip Küzmič for help in the field work, Iztok Sajko for preparing of the maps; Eduardo Pagliere for improving English.

Authors’ contributions

DS, DC conceived the idea; DS, BA, MSV, UŠ and HM sampled vegetation in Montenegro; RĆ and VM sampled vegetation in North Macedonia; DS, MSV, BA, RĆ and VM identified herbarium material; DS, MSV, ĐM, KV and MN reviewed national and international literature and expanded the database; DS, ĐM and UŠ made the statistical analyses; UŠ prepared figures; DS coordinated the study, summarized the data, led the writing; all authors critically revised and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Funding

The study was supported by the Ministry of Sciences and Education in Montenegro and OeAD (bilateral project “Vegetation of rocks with focus on Moltkietalia petraeae plant communities”, grant No. ME09/2017). Urban Šilc was supported by ARRS grant P1-0236.