STUDIA BOTANICA HUNGARICA. Vegetation studies on the rocky grasslands of Hór Valley (Bükk Mountains, Hungary)

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1 STUDIA BOTANICA HUNGARICA (Àntea: Fragmenta Botanica) XXIII pp Vegetation studies on the rocky grasslands of Hór Valley (Bükk Mountains, Hungary) By Z. K. DOBOLYI (Received December 15,1991) Abstract: Limestone rocky grasslands at three sites have been investigated cenologically on the basis of 50 cenological samples. Four sample groups obtained by cluster analysis have been analysed statistically according to floral element, life form, cenological character, ecological parameters and nature conservation ranks. The investigated communities belong to the Seslerio-Festucion pallentis Klika association group, have a great value from the viewpoint of nature conservation, but signs of degradation appear in their composition. With 4 tables and 4 figures. INTRODUCTION Hór Valley lies in the southern part of the Bükk Mountains and it descends in a north to south direction. It is bordered by m high hills, parent material of which are Triassic limestone and clay slate. Rocky slopes occur frequently on the limestone hills especially on steep slopes which are covered not by forest but by grassland vegetation. The aim of this investigation was to study the structure of rocky grasslands on three representative sites of the Hór Valley: Odor-vár, Füzérkő and surrounding areas of the Subalyuk cave. The investigated sites belong to the Bükk National Park and have great importance from the viewpoint of nature conservation. METHOD Sampling was carried out so that the visibly differentiable types of grassland vegetation were represented. Fifty sample plots have been taken from a 2 x 2 m quadrate according to the BRAUN-BLANQUET method (1964). Cover is expressed in values transformed by van der MAAREL (1979) on a scale 1 to 9. The samples have been classified by an agglomerative method based on Czekanowski's similarity function and the average reduction strategy with help of the SYN-TAX III package (PODANI1988).

2 The four largest sample groups were analysed statistically on the basis of their species' characteristics (floral element, cenological character, life form, ecological parameters: requirements for soil ph (R), temperature (T), water (F) and nitrogen content of soil (N) (SOO )) and nature conservation rank (SIMON 1988). The values of features characterizing the sample groups have been calculated according to percentage pro rata of plant mass, that is the sum of the transformed cover values concerning one feature has been expressed in percentage of sum of all cover values of all species. (One species may belong to several categories with respect to several features, so the sum of percentage values may exceed 100 %). RESULTS The examined grasslands are floristically very rich: 123 vascular plant species have were found in the 200 square metres covered by the samples (Table 1). The dendrogram was cut at 0.58 similarity level. As a result of the classification we gained four larger samples groups as well as some smaller ones. The four larger sample groups consist of: 1=6,11=9,111=8 and IV= 13 samples (Fig. 1). According to the floral composition and the constancy values samples of all the four groups belong to the Seslerio-Festucion pallentis Klika association group. Floral elements which express relatively small phytogeographical area appeared in high quantities in all four groups (Table 3). In the distribution of the floral element spectrum it is remarkable that in group I the proportion of Mediterranean, Pontic, Pannonian and Continental elements is the highest. Group IV is the richest in Carpathian, Balkanian and Alpine elements. Plants respond to particular environmental circumstances of rocky grasslands (dry, shallow soil, extreme micro-climate) with special life forms. Accordingly Chamaephyta and Therophyta species are found in high proportion on the studied sites (Table 4). As expected, in the distribution of cenological characters rock-grass elements (Festuco-Brometea, Festucetalia valesiaceae, Festucion) are predominant (Fig. 2). The considerable proportion of Quercetea pubescenti-petraeae species may be explained that these grasslands are of relatively small area, surrounded by forests and forest-species invade into these sites. Considering the distribution of cenological spectrum, group I is the most intact rocky grassland. Chenopodietea and Secalietea elements indicate degradation of the vegetation, which observations show to be due to tourism and high game density. Considering the cenological spectrum, sample groups II and III are the most degraded. Because of the species richness and their intact state the rocky grasslands are of outstanding importance for nature conservation. The analysis based on nature conservation ranks (SIMON 1988) shows the high value of the studied sites. The ratio of protected species is particularly high, especially in groups I. and IV. (Fig. 3) Analyses of the ecological requirements gave results as expected: limestone

3 rocky grasslands require mildly basic, dry and poor in nitrogen soil and mean warm microclimate. The presence of N4 elements is a sign of degradation, as well (Fig. 4). REFERENCES BRAUN-BLANQUET, J. (1964): Pflanzensoziologie. - Wien - New York, 865 pp. MAAREL, E. van der (1979): Transformation of cover-abundance values in phytosociology and its effects on community similarity. - Vegetatio 39(2): PODANI, J. (1988): SYN-TAX III. User's Manual. -Abstracta Botanica 12: PRISZTER, SZ. (1985): Synopsis systematico-geobotanicafloraevegetationisque Hungáriáé VII. - Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 683 pp. SIMON, T. (1988): Nature conservation ranks of the Hungarian vascular flora. - Abstracta Botanica 12: SOÓ, R. ( ): Synopsis systematico-geobotanicafloraevegetationisque Hungáriáé I-VI. - Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, (1964): 519 pp., (1966): 655 pp., (1968): 506 pp., (1970): 614 pp., (1973): 723 pp., (1980): 556 pp. Author's address: DOBOLYI, Z. K. Botanical Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1476 Budapest, Pf.: 222 HUNGARY

4 Table 1. Species and ihar cover values in sample plotl Species r IS S l Achillea pannon ica Schede Acinos arvensis (Lam.) Dandy ? Aconitum vulparia Rchb. Adonis vemalis L Agropyron intermedium Host Agropyron reptns (L.) P. B. 5 AJuga genevensis L. Allium ßavum L Allium montanum F. W. Schmidt 1 1 Alyjjum alyssoides L Alyssum montanum L ? 7 3 Anthemis tinctoha L. Anthehcum ramosum L. Armaria leptociados (Rchb.) Gus. 1. 2? 1? Artemisia campestris L. 1?? Asperula cynanchica L ? 7 1 Aspttnium ruta-muraria L J Asplenium tri chômant s L 1. /4jf«j- linosyris (L.) Benih. BiscuteUa laevigata L 1 Campanula sibirica L. Cardaminopsis arenosa (L.) Hay Carduus couinus W. et K. Ca/Tur humais Ley st.?? , Carex îiparicarpos Gaud. 3?? 2... CofTut montana L Carl in a vulgaris L 2 2 Centaurea micranthos S. G. GmeL 2 Centaurea rhenana Bor ? Cerastium arvense L. 6? <> ? Cerastium pumilum Cuit. 1 Ceterach officinarum DC. in Lam J Convolvulus arvensis L CcvnujmajL. 1 Cruciata ptdemontana (Bell. Ehrend Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L ?? Dianthuspontederae (Keen.) Soó ? > 2 2 Dictamnus albus I. 2. 3? 3 2? Dorycnium germanicum (Gremh') Rildi 3? Draba lasiocarpa Roch. 1 Echium vulgare L J ? 7 Brophila vem a (L) Chev Bryngium campestre L.? Erysimum odoratum Ebjh. Euphorbia cyparissias L. l Fatlopla convolvulus (L.) A. Love Festuca pollens Host 7 % Festuca valesiaca Schleich, ex Gaud. 8! CO T3 g ÏÏ &5 3 D. r-f 1 < CO ct SS 5' vi & 3 TS '"Ö ft

5 Table 1. (continued) Species i J ? lï Fragana viridis Duch Fumaria schleichen Soy - Will Galium glaucum L Galium mollugo L 1. 1 Galium verum L. 1 2 Geranium columbinum L Geranium rotundifolium L Geranium sanguineum L Geum urbanum L 1 Helianthemum ovatum Hieracium bauhini Schult, ex Bess. Hieracium ip. Hypericum maculatum CT. Hypericum perforatum L 2 Inula ensifolia L. 2 Irispumila L. 2 /n'j variegata L Isatis linctoria L Jovibarba h irt a (L.) Opiz 1 2 3? Koeleria eristata QL) Pers Lactuca perennis 1* ? Lamium amplexicaule L 1 Lathyrus sphaericus Retz. 1 l Linaria genistifolia (L.) MB t 2 2 Medicago minima (L.) L 3 î Melica ciliata L Minuartia sttacea (TtamH.) Hay Origanum vulgare L. Orthantha lutea (L) Kern. Papaver dubium L, Fou badensis Haenle in Wind Poa pannonica Kom. 2 2 Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Dnice Potentiüa arenaria Borkh ? Potentiüa argentea I Potentiüa recta L. PotentiUa reptans h Pulsatilla grandis Wender. Salvia pratensis L. 2 2 Sanguisorba minor Scop Scabiosa ochroleuca L. 2 2 Scorsonera austriaca Willd. 2 Sedum acre L Sedum album L ! Sedum maximum (L.) Hofïim I Sedum sexangulare L. cm Grimm Sempervivum marmoreum Gris S«M/I ojj«um Cr. em. Simk

6 Table 1. (continued) Species t t 30 SlJlria hiu/irana Schut.?? Silin» nmorasis W. et K Stimm otitis (L.) Wibd Stachys ricta L Stipa pulchirrima C. Koch Stipa tina Stev. em Cdak Taraxacum latvigatum (WiDd.) DC. 1 Tnicrium chamaidrys L Í i 3 Tnicrium montanum L f? Thisium linophyüon L. 1 Thlatpi jankat Kern ? 1. Thymus giabnsctns Willi ?.. 5 Thymuspannonicus AH J Thymus ap. Tragopogort dubius Scop. Trifolium arvin s* L Turritis glabra L. 1 1 Valirianiüa locusta (L.) Latt. 1 1 Virbascumphomicium L. 3 2 Vironica austriaca L. 1 1 Vironica chamatdrys L Vironica spicala L ficia lathyroidis L Piri«titrasfurma (L) Schieb Wnca hirbaaa W. et K 3 2 lïo/a arvtnsis Man Fi'o/a tricolor L ?. 2

7 Table 2. Data of the sample plots No Site Date Exposure Angle of slope [ ] 1 Odorvár E 40 2 Odorvár S 45 3 Odorvár E 40 4 Odorvár E 30 5 Odorvár SE 30 6 Odorvár SE 30 7 Odorvár E 35 8 Odorvár E 45 9 Odorvár E Odorvár SE Odorvár SE Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Odorvár SE Odorvár SE Odorvár E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő E Füzérkő NE Füzérkő NE Füzérkő NE Füzérkő NE Füzérkő E Subalyuk E Subalyuk E Subalyuk E Subalyuk E Subalyuk E Subalyuk SE Subalyuk SE Subalyuk SE Subalyuk SE Subalyuk NE Subalyuk NE Subalyuk NE Füzérkő E 15

8 No Site Date Exposure Angle of slope n 42 Füzérkő NE Füzérkő NE Füzérkő E Odorvár SE Odorvár SE Subalyuk NE Subalyuk E Subalyuk E Subalyuk NE 30 Table 3. Distribution of phytogeographical spectrum on the groups (percentage) Sample groups Floral elements I II III IV Cosmopolitan Circumpolar Eurasian South Eurasian Continental European Central European South-Eastern European Atlantic Mediterranean Submediterranean Balkan Pontian Pannonian Carpathian Alpine Table 4. Distribution of life forms on the group (percentage) Sample groups Life form Therophyta Hemitherophyta Hemicryptophyta Chamaephyta Geophyta I II III IV

9 Fig. 1. Dendrogram of a matrix of Czekanowski's index of similarity

10 Fig. 2. Distribution of cenological characters on the groups F.-Brometea = Festuco-Brometea, Elia val. = Festucetalia valesiaceae, Sesl. Fion = Seslerio-Festucion, Bromo-Fion = Bromo-Festucion, Aspl.-F.ion = Asplenio-Festucion, Q.etea p.p. = Quercetea pubescenti-petraeae, Chen.etea = Chenopodietea, Sec.etea = Secalietea Fig. 3. Distribution of nature conservation ranks on the groups V = species protected in Hungary, E = natural species predominating in plant communities, K = main components, also native to the area, TP = natural pioneer elements, TZ = native species that toierate disturbance, GY = cosmopolitan weeds

11 II IV Fig. 4. Distribution of ecological requirements (R, T, F and N values) on the groups