Analele ştiinţifice ale Universităţii Al.. Cuza aşi Tomul LV, fasc. 2, s. a. Biologie vegetală, 2010 THE PHYTOCOENOSS OF PNUS SYLVESTRS WTH BETULA PENDULA FROM THE SUPEROR BASN OF PUTNA RVER (VRANCEA COUNTY) RAMONA ROTARU * Abstract: As a result of the studies made in the superior basin of the Putna river during 2007 and 2008 years, the authors had identified the phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula and included these phytocoenosis in the association Leucobryo-Pinetum Mateeszkiewiez 1962 subas. betuletosum pendulae (Burduja et Ştefan 1982) Coldea 1991. The phytocoenosis are described in a phytocoenological table and analysed from the point of view of corology the floristic compositions, vertical structures of trees, bioforms, floristic elements and ecological indices. Key words: phytocoenosis, floristical composition, bioforms, floristic elements and ecological indices. ntroduction The presentation of this paper contains the result of the studies made in the superior basin of the Putna, Vrancea County, between 2007-2008, regarding the phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula which have a very important spreading on the Moldavian Oriental Carpathians territory, and have been described from 800-1500m altitude, on abrupt slopes and with North exposition, from the basin of Tazlãu, Trotuş, Suceava, Moldova and Râmnicul Sãrat rivers, as well in Hãş maş Mountains [1, 2, 9, 12]. Our researches completes some studies that had been made in the past and they confirm the existence of the phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula in the superior basin of Putna river, from where were described relatively recently [13]. Regarding the phytocenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula existing in the investigated area, we present in this paper one association, included in the following phytocoeno-system [3, 4]: Class Vaccinio Piceetea Br. -Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1939 Order Piceetalia excelsae Pawlowski in Pawlowski et al. 1928 Alliance Piceion excelsae Pawlowski in Pawlowski et al. 1928 Ass. Leucobryo-Pinetum sylvestris Matuszkiewicz 1962 subass. betuletosum pendulae Burduja et Ştefan 1982 Material and methods Vegetal communities from Vaccinio-Piceetea have been characterized through phytosociological relevées used as sampling method. Each plant species has been quantified in field using Braun - Blanquet scale presenting the abundance-dominance * Al.. Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, Carol Bd., No 20 A, 700506, aşi, Romania 79
indices from + to 5. Phytosociological relevées have been ordered and grouped in vegetal associations on the basis of characteristic, dominant and differential species [4]. The biological forms and floristic elements for each species are those that have been given by V. Ciocârlan [5] and the values used for ecological analysis (for light, temperature, humidity, soil ph and nitrogen content of soil) have been established by Ellenberg [7]. Results and discussions Our researches with regarding the phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula from the superior basin of Putna river, could not include a wide area, especially on the altitude, because the area occupied by these phytocoenosis is extremely abrupt and damaged. The phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula are well represented in the superior basin of Putna river, mostly at high altitudes. n this paper these phytocenosis were described in Bârseşti, Cascada Putnei, Coza, Culmea Muşat and Lepşa. These phytocenosis from the investigated area grow on abrupt slopes of 70 inclination and with South exposition, in general. The floristical composition and analysed phytocoenosis shows that species characteristic to the coenotaxa subordinated to the Vaccinio-Piceetea class from which this association does part are well represented (over 25%) and there is a significant difference between these two phytocoenosis types. The characteristic species for this association, Pinus sylvestris, has a high density and dominance for all the phytocoenosis and the edifying species, Betula pendula, realizes a high dominance in some phytocoenosis and she is presented in all the relevées. Analysed phytocoenosis emphasizes the absolute dominance (approximate 50%) of the characteristic species to the Querco-Fagetea class, and a more important participation of the species characteristic to the Festuco-Brometea class. Mention that species which have a higher constancy indices (V şi V) realizes a low procent (12 %) for example: Betula pendula, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Fagus sylvatica, Fragaria vesca, Pinus sylvestris, Poa nemoralis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Veronica officinalis, Viola reichenbachiana, etc. The vertical structure of trees is clearly indicated: - layer trees has a height of 10-17m. All relevées show that the coverage is over 70-75%. n the composition of layer trees take a parte belong the two dominantion and edificatory species, Pinus sylvestris and Betula pendula, which are accompanied by species that: Cerasus avium, Piceea abies, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus dalechampii, etc. - layer shrubs is poorly represented (with a coverage of 5-30%), and there are represented only by species with low frequency: Corylus avellana, Rosa canina, Calluna vulgaris, Lonicera nigra, Juniperus communis, Crataegus monogyna, Cornus sanguinea, Cytisus nigricans, etc. - layer juvenil (regeneration) is well present in some phytocoenosis, mostly natural one, and highlights the sapling of Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Sorbus aucuparia, Carpinus betulus and Quercus dalenchampii. A representation lower have the sapling of Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior, etc. Together, layer shrubs and layer juvenile realize in some phytocoenosis a coverage of 30-40%. 80
- layer herbaceous is well developed, shows the clear prevalence of species with indices of abundance - higher dominantion: Fragaria vesca, Oxalis acetosella, Luzula luzuloides, Hieracium transsylvanicum, Campanula persicifolia, Poa nemoralis, Pteridium aquilinum, Festuca rubra, etc. - layer undergrowth is well developed in aproximative all phytocoenosis in which dominantion species is Vaccinium myrtillus and it is accompanied by Vaccinium vitisidaea. This determined as layer herbaceous and layer undergrowth to realize coverings over 40% (table ). After the analysis of the relevées, we notice the following: The bioform spectrum indicates that the floristic structure is dominated by hemicryptophytes (44.08%), followed by phanerophytes (27.95%), chamaephytes (5.37%), hemitherophytes (5.37%), geophyte (4.30%), therophytes (3.22%), chamaephytes (phanerophytes) (2.15%), hemicryptophytes (chamaephytes) (2.15%), chamaephytes (hemicryptophytes) (1.07%), phanerophytes (chamaephytes) (1.07%), hemicryptophytes (geophyte) (1.07%), hemicryptophytes (hydro-helophytes) (1.07%) and therophyteshemitherophytes (1.07%); The phytogeographic spectrum shows the predominance of eurasian elements (30.10%), followed by European elements (15.05%), central European (13.97%), cosmopolitan (5.37%), eurasian continentale (4.30%), eurasian (submediterranean) (3.22%), Carpathians-Balkan (2.15%), adventitious (1.07%), central european mediterranean (1.07%), central European (submediterranean) (1.07%), central European - submediterranean (1.07%), circumpolar (11.82%), circumpolar-submediterranean (1.07%), central European mountain (1.07%), European.asian (1.07%), continentale European (1.07%), mediterranean-carpathians-balkan (1.07%), submediterranean (1.07%), pontico (1.07%), pontico-pannonian (1.07%) and pontico-mediterranean-central European elements (1.07%); The spectrum of ecological indices (fig. 3) shows the clear prevalence of the the light plants (L 7-25.80%) with a spreading area in the temperate climate (T 5-35.48%), in Central Europe (Ct4-34.40%), most numerous of the species are mesophytes (U 5-29.03%), amphitolerant to the soil reaction (R x -37.63%) and to the content of mineral nitrogen in soil (N x -22.58%). Conclusions The phytocoenosis of Pinus sylvestris with Betula pendula identified in the superior basin of Putna river have very similar floristic and phytocoenologic composition to those described from the Oriental Carpathians and, in particular with those described from the bazinul of Râmnicu Sãrat and Putna river. REFERENCES 1. BARABAŞ N., 1974 - Contribuţii la studiul vegetaţiei din bazinul Tazlãului.Stud. Com. Muz. Ştiinţ. Nat. Bacãu, 7: 93-178. 2. BURDUJA C, ŞTEFAN N., 1982 - Cercetãri fitocenologice asupra pinetelor din bazinul superior al râului Râmnicu -Sãrat, Culeg. Stud. Art. Biol., Grãd. Bot. aşi, 2: 234-242. 3. CHFU T., 2007 - Sintaxonomy of the vegetal groups over the Moldova territory (România). Anuar. Complex. Muz. Bucovina (2004 2006): 51-114. 81
4. CHFU T., MÂNZU C, ZAMFRESCU OANA, 2006 - Flora & vegetaţia Moldovei (România). aşi, Edit. Univ. Al.. Cuza. 5. COCÂRLAN V., 2000 - Flora ilustrată a României. Pteridophyta et spermatophyta, Bucureşti, Edit. Ceres. 6. CSÜRÖS ŞT., SPÂRCHEZ Z., 1963 - Cercetãri fitocenologice în pãdurile de pe muntele Scãrişoara - Belivara (Munţii Apuseni), Studia Univ. Babeş Bolyai Cluj, ser. Biol., 2: 7-15. 7. ELLEMBERG H., 1974 - ndicator values of vascular plants in Central Europe, Göttingen, Scripta Geob., 9: 1-97. 8. MHĂLESCU SMONA, 2001 - Flora şi vegetaţia masivului Piatra Craiului, Bucureşti, Edit. Vergiliu. 9. MTTELU D., BARABAŞ N., 1974 - Vegetaţia vãii Trotuşului (), Stud Com. Muz. Ştiinţ. Nat. Bacãu, 7: 75-92. 10. MTTELU D., CHFU T., ŞTEFAN N., 1987 - Contribuţie la studiul vegetaţiei din judeţul Suceava, Anuar. Muz. Ştiinţ. Nat. Jud. Suceava, 9: 51-60. 11. MTTELU D., TODERAŞ ELENA, 1989 - Flora şi vegetaţia rezervaţiei Piatra Pinului - Gura Humorului, judeţul Suceava, Anuar. Muz. Suceava: 121-122. 12. NECHTA NCOLETA, MTTELU D., 1996 - Vegetaţia din Munţii Hãşmaş, Cheile Bicazului şi Lacul Roşu, Stud Cerc. Muz. Ştiinţ. Nat. Piatra Neamţ : 213-287. 13. ŞTEFAN N., SÂRBU., CORO M., OPREA A., TĂNASE C, CURĂSCU ŞT. 1997 - Rezervaţia naturalã Cheile Tişitei (jud. Vrancea). Bul. Grãd Bot, aşi, 6, 1: 251-274. 14. ŞUTEU ŞT., 1970 - Aspecte ale vegetaţiei lemnoase de stâncãrii din Cheile Râmeţului. Contrib. Bot. Cluj: 221-228. Table - Ass. Leucobryo - Pinetum sylvestris Matuszkiewicz 1962 betuletosum pendulae Burduja et Ştefan 1982 Number of relevé 1 2 3 4 5 6 K Altitude (m.s.m.) 650 800 650 485 650 650 Exposition SE SE V S S S nclination in degree ( ) 75 75 35 70 70 70 Trees layer covering (%) 70 70 70 70 75 75 Shrubs layer covering (%) 30 5 5 5 30 30 Herbaceous layer covering (%) 40 40 75 40 30 30 Surface of relevée (%) 400 400 400 400 400 400 Number of species 44 32 45 33 39 35 Car. ass.: Pinus sylvestris 4 4 4 4 3 2 V Pinus sylvestris juv. + + 1 1 1 1 V Dif. of subass.: + + + + 2 Betula pendula juv. 1 - + + 2 Betula pendula 2 3 V V Dicrano -Pinion Chamaecytisus hirsutus - + - - - - Pyrola media - - - - + - Veronica officinalis + - + + + + V Viola canina + - + - - - Piceetalia excelsae Calamagrostis arundinacea - - + - - + Melampyrum sylvaticum - - - - + + Vaccinio Piceetea - + - - - Calluna vulgaris - - - - + + Hieracium murorum - + + - + + V Hieracium transsilvanicum - 1 - - + - Juniperus communis - + - - - - Lonicera nigra + - - + - + Luzula luzuloides ssp. luzuloides - + - - 2 2 Abies alba juv. - 82
Orthilia secunda - - - + + - Oxalis acetosella - + + - - - Picea abies - + - - - - Picea abies juv. - 1 - - + + Sorbus aucuparia juv. + + + - + - V Vaccinium myrtillus 2 2 + 1 + + V Vaccinium vitis-idaea - - + - + - Erico -Pinetea Cirsium erisithales + - - - - + Cytisus nigricans - - + - + + Helianthemum nummularium ssp. obscurum - - - + - - Querco Fagetea s.l. + + - - - Acer pseudoplatanus juv. + + - + - - Brachypodium sylvaticum + + + 2 + + V Campanula persicifolia - - - + + + Campanula rapunculoides - - + - - - Cardamine impatiens + - - - - - Carex sylvatica - - - + - - Carpinus betulus juv. 2 - - - - - Cerasus avium juv. - - + - - + Corylus avellana + + - - - - Crataegus monogyna - - + + - - Crataegus monogyna juv. - - + - - - Cruciata glabra - - + + - - Dryopteris carthusiana + - - + - - Epilobium montanum - - + + - - Fagus sylvatica juv. - + + - + + V Fraxinus excelsior juv. + + - - - - Galium odoratum - - - + - - Galium schultesii + + + + + + V Geranium robertianum - - + + - - Geum urbanum + - - - - + Lamium maculatum + - - + - - Mycelis muralis - + + + - - Myosotis sylvatica - - + + - - Poa nemoralis 2-2 1 1 1 V Polystichum aculeatum - + - - - - Pulmonaria rubra - - + - - - Quercus dalechampii - - - - + - Quercus dalechampii juv. + - - - - - Rubus hirtus - + + + - - Salvia glutinosa + - + - + - Sanicula europaea - - - - - - - Sedum maximum + + + - + + V Stachys sylvatica + - - + - - Tilia cordata juv. - - + - - + Ulmus procera - - + - - - Viola reichenbachiana + + + - + + V Acer campestre juv. - Asplenietea trichomanes s. l. Polypodium vulgare - + - - - Spiraea chamaedryfolia - + - - - - - Molinio Arrhenatheretea Festuca rubra - - 3 - - Medicago lupulina + - - - - - - 83
Festuco -Brometea s. l. Campanula sibirica + - - - + - Carlina vulgaris - - + - - - Clinopodium vulgare + - - - + - Dianthus carthusianorum - - - - - + Erysimum odoratum + - - - - + Euphorbia cyparissias + - + + + - V Melica ciliata - - + + - - Phleum phleoides - - - - + - Pimpinella saxifraga - - + - - - Teucrium chamaedrys + - + - - - Thymus pannonicus + - - - - + Rhamno -Prunetea Clematis vitalba + - - + - - Cornus sanguinea + - - + - - Rosa canina + - - + + - Trifolio -Geranietea Astragalus glycyphyllos + - - - - + Coronilla varia + - - - - - Galium album + - + - + + V Lychnis viscaria - - - - + + Peucedanum oreoselinum - - - - + + Pteridium aquilinum - 1 - - + - Vincetoxicum hirundinaria - - + - - - Galio Urticetea s. l. Robinia pseudoacacia - - + - - - Rubus caesius - - + - - - Urtica dioica + - - - - - Epilobietea angustifolii s. l. Digitalis grandiflora - - - - + + Eupatorium cannabinum + + - - - - Fragaria vesca + + + 1 + - V Variae syntaxa Artemisia absinthium + + - - - - Cirsium arvense - - - + - - Hieracium pilosella - - - - + + Lysimachia vulgaris - - + - - - Setaria pumila - - - - + + Place and date of relevées: Lepşa (rel. 1): 17.06.2007; Culmea Muşat (rel. 2): 8.06.2008; Coza (rel. 3): 21.06.2008; Bârseşti (rel. 4): 21.06.2008; Cascada Putnei (rel. 5): 17.06.2008; (rel. 6): 17.06.2008. 84