Title
Southeast Carpathian and Balkanic Rhododendron-mountain pine scrub (Pinus mugo, Rhododendron myrtifolium) in the south with Bruckenthalia spiculifolia, on siliceous rocks
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Ukraine: Carpathians; Romania: in all high mountain massifs above 1600-1700 m in the north and 1800-1900 m in the south (Rodnei, Calimani, Bucegi, Fagaras, Paring, Retezat); Bulgaria: Stara planina (central part), eastern Rila mountains (not shown on the map); Macedonia: Jakupitza mountains (not on the map)
area frequency
32 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Rhododendro myrtifolii-Pinetum mugi Borza 1959 em. Coldea 1985 (Pinetum montanae Soó 1928, Pinetum mughi Sav. 1939, Pinetum mughi piceetosum et cembretosum Borza 1934, Pinetum mughi carpaticum Csűrős et al. 1951, Pinetum mughi carpaticum Borhidi 1958), Rhododendron myrtifolium+Vaccinium uliginosum ass. (Bondev 1959), Rhododendron myrtifolium+Juniperus sibirica-Pleurozium schreberi ass. (Bondev 1991).
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Three-layered, approx. 1-2 m high, at lower altitudes densely closed, at higher altitudes more scattered communities with prevailing Pinus mugo, Juniperus communis subsp. alpina and Rhododendron myrtifolium in the shrub layer. The species-deficient herb layer is densely closed, dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus and occasionally with Rhododendron myrtifolium. The moss layer is well developed. Pinus cembra, Picea abies, Sorbus aucuparia and Larix decidua in the transition to the forest communities bordering below.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Shrub layer
Pinus mugo, Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Rhododendron myrtifolium, Ribes petraeum, Rosa pendulina, Lonicera nigra
Herb layer
Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium uliginosum, Calamagrostis villosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Gentiana punctata, Geum bulgaricum, Festuca nigrescens, Juncus trifidus, Senecio carpathicus, Ligusticum mutellina, Luzula sylvatica, Homogyne alpina, Soldanella hungarica subsp. major, Huperzia selago, Veratrum album, Adenostyles alliariae
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Pleurozium schreberi, Cetraria islandica, Cladina stellaris, Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens, Polytrichum juniperinum, Sphagnum girgensohnii
Diagnostically important species
Pinus mugo, Rhododendron myrtifolium; Vaccinium uliginosum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Juncus trifidus, Homogyne alpina, Bruckenthalia spiculifolia among others
Ecological variants
---
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Sesleria comosa, Festuca valida, Crocus veluchensis, Bruckenthalia spiculifolia.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
Forests: Pulmonario filarskianae-Alnetum viridis, Rhododendro myrtifolii-Piceetum, Bruckenthalio-Piceetum; dwarf shrub communities: Adenostylo-Doronicetum austriacae, Rhododendro myrtifolii-Vaccinietum with Pinus mugo, Vaccinium myrtillus, Pleurozium schreberi, Sesleria comosa, Festuca airoides, Juniperus communis subsp. alpina, Festuca valida.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grasslands (B46, B47, B54), krummholz shrubs (C39), spruce forests (D37), species-rich beech forests (F135).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
---
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Pasture grounds, grasslands; Potentillo ternatae-Festucetum supinae, Violo declinatae-Nardetum, Hyperico grisebachii-Calamagrostietum villosae.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Senecio-Rumicetum alpini.
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
mountainous country, high-mountain regions, particularly steep northern and north-west slopes (slope 20-45°); very diverse relief, with debris fields, ledges etc.
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
subalpine; 1700 (1800)-2000 (2400) m
Geology (bedrock)
siliceous rock (Palaeozoic, Precambrian)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
dark altimontane soils (Ninov 1982), ranker, podzole; (leptosols; regosols; orthic podzols)
soil moisture, water balance
fresh, moist
soil reaction
very acidic to weakly acidic
soil fertility
oligotrophic to meso-eutrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
X
average annual temperature
1-6 °C
average annual precipitation
900-1400 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
9-13 °C
average temperature of the coldest month
-7 to -4 °C
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
cool and humid climate (as a transition type between the continental and Mediterranean climate).
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Natural scrub occasionally in inaccessible regions; severely damaged by clearing and therefore highly endangered (particularly in Romania). In Bulgaria attempts are being made to establish a national park in the Rila mountains.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
all natural communities; species worthy of protection: Rhododendron myrtifolium, Gentiana punctata, Geum bulgaricum, further Pinus mugo.
causes of endangerment
Clearing, grazing, firewood collection by herdsman, tourism (buildings etc.), recreational activities.
required measures for protection and restitution
Protection of semi-natural, well preserved stands; restoration of destroyed mugo pine scrub.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Bulgaria: Rila mountains, region of "Belmeken"; Romania: Bihor, Calamani, Bucegi, Retezat mountains.
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
---
Most important references (author, year)
Bondev 1991; Borhidi 1958a; Coldea 1985; Coldea 1990; Coldea & Wagner 1997/1998; Ivan, Doniţă, Coldea, Sanda, Popescu, Chifu, Boşcaiu, Mititelu & Paucă-Comănescu 1993; Soó 1928
Compiled by
Z. Neuhäuslová based on documents by I. Bondev and referring to the book by D. Ivan et al. 1993
