PRATICOLA PHYTOCOENOSES ON TULCEA HILLS ELIZA ŢUPU This paper approaches three of the steppe associations within Festuco-Brometea class, developing on Tulcea Hills: Stipetum lessingianae Soó 1947, Stipetum joanis (Prodan 1939) Puşcaru- Soroceanu et al. 1963 and Festucetum callieri Şerbănescu 1965 apud Dihoru 1970. The associations have not been described so far for this area and are presented in point of chorology, stationary conditions, floral composition and phytosociology, types of bioforms, geoelements, ecological parameters and conservatory value. Key words: vegetal association, Tulcea Hills. INTRODUCTION Through our studies into Tulcea Hills there were identified over 700 cormophyte species and 50 vegetable associations. Tulcea Hills run along the Danube from Tulcea to Dunavăţ. To the West, they are bordered by Niculiţelului Plane, along Teliţei Valley and to the South the same valley cuts them off from Nălbant Mihail Kogălniceanu depression. In East, the border is formed by Danube Delta s Dranov Isle and Razim Lake. The maximum heights are reached in Deniz Tepe (273 m) and Beştepe (247 m) [8]. The lithologic sublayer is highly varied, but mainly dominated by limestone, sandstone and siliceous formations, and the most widespread types of soil are chernozems, brown and grey soils with their various subtypes. The hydrographical network is poorly developed, being represented mostly by brooks which dry up during the summer, partly due to the warm, steppe climate, with warm winters and hot dry summers. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research was materialized in floral surveys performed according to the principles of the Central European School, supplemented and adapted to the local conditions [2]. The surveys were carried out over two consecutive years, 2007 2008, during the vegetation period deemed optimal for the studied area (April June). The taxonomy, the biological forms and the phytogeographical elements are those used by V. Ciocârlan [4]. The papers published by T. Chifu [3] and V. Sanda [11] stood at the basis of the phytocoenological classification. The analysis of the ecological parameters rests upon the system adopted by Ellenberg H [6].
84 Eliza Ţupu 2 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The associations have been classified as follows: Cl. Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. in Br.-Bl. 1949 Ord. Festucetalia valesiacae Br.-Bl. et R.Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949 Al. Stipion lessingianae Soó 1947 1. As. Stipetum lessingianae Soó 1947 2. As. Stipetum joanis (Prodan 1939) Puşcaru-Soroceanu et al. 1963 Al. Pimpinello Thymion zygioidi Dihoru 1969, 1970 3. As. Festucetum callieri Şerbănescu 1965 apud Dihoru 1970 1. THE ASSOCIATION STIPETUM LESSINGIANAE SOÓ 1947 Chorology and stationary conditions. The phytocoenoses have been identified on Stânca Mare (The Big Rock) Hill and Uzum Bair Plane, at average heights of 140 m, on hills with an average slope inclination of 21, oriented towards North- West North-East (North and West included). The floral composition and the phytocoenotic structure (Table 1). The phytocoenoses develop in the same restrictive conditions like the other described associations, almost the same, rich in species, phytosociological association being noticeable. Out of a total of 83 cormophyte species which make up the association, 65% belong to the Festuco-Brometea class within which the species characteristic to the Festucion valesiacae alliance are best represented, with 20% (Artemisia austriaca, Dichanthium ischaemum, Alyssum hirsutum, Stachys recta, Taraxacum serotinum, Salvia nemorosa ssp. tesquicola, Eryngium campestre etc.). The ruderalisation degree is high (22%), fact proved by the presence of species characteristic to the Artemisietea and Stellarietea mediae classes, and the secondary character of the pastures is emphasized by the identification of several phytoindividuals characteristic to the Quercetea pubescentis class (Asparagus verticillatus, Paeonia peregrina etc.). The species of the Festucetalia vaginatae order are also present, thus proving the existence of silicon within the soil composition (Onosma visianii, Bromus tectorum etc.). Furthermore, due to the unfavourable microclimatic conditions, the number of species per survey is rather low (around 23 species), the vegetation is scarce (67% on average) and the testing surface is of around 20 sqm. This is also reflected by the constancy of the species, as follows: only two species (Stipa lessingiana and Teucrium chamadrys) have a high constancy (V) while 11 species (Eryngium campestre, Androsace maxima, Althaea hirsuta, Teucrium polium ssp. capitatum, Festuca valesiaca, Marrubium peregrinum, Poa angustifolia etc.) are underconstant (III) and more than 80% have a low constancy (I, II).
3 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 85
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7 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 89 The spectrum of the bioforms (Fig. 1) is made up by hemychryptophytes 51%, followed by therophytes 32%, chamaephytes 10%, geophytes 4% and phanerophytes 2%. T - Ht 5% Ch 10% G 4% Ph 2% H 51% T 28% Fig. 1. The spectrum of the bioforms. The spectrum of the floral elements (Fig. 2) is dominated by Pontic and Eurasian elements. Other elements add to the spectrum as well: European, Balkan, Sub- Mediterranean, Cosmopolite, Circumpolar and Mediterranean, with reduced percentages. Cosm. 4% Circ. 3% Balc. 6% Pont. 37% Euras. 34% Eur. 14% Submedit. 1% Medit. 1% Fig. 2. The spectrum of the floral elements. The spectrum of the ecological parameters (Fig. 3). The cormophyte species within the association prefer dry and very dry soils, with warm climate and strong luminosity. Considering the soil reaction, the species have a neutral and basic character. With respect to the degree of continentality, one can notice a slight dominance of the species with an intermediary character between the suboceanic and the subcontinental. The species prefer soils poor in azote. Conservatory value. The association also has conservative value due to the 20% rare species: Thymus zygioides, Tanacetum millefolium, Koeleria lobata, Adonis vernalis, etc.
90 Eliza Ţupu 8 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% U T R L Ct N 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 x? Fig. 3. The spectrum of the ecological parameters. 2. THE ASSOCIATION STIPETUM JOANIS (PRODAN 1939) PUŞCARU-SOROCEANU et al. 1963 Chorology and stationary conditions. The plant communities vegetate at an average height of 176 m, mostly on the slopes oriented towards East and West of Uzum Bair Plane. The average slope inclination is of 37. The soil is weakly developed, eroded, rich in nitrates due to simultaneous sheep and cow overgrazing. The limy lithologic sublayer is obvious, visible and at the surface, sandstone fragments or blocks being frequent and the climate is dry with strong solarisation. The floral composition and the phytocoenotic structure (Table 2). We consider that due to restrictive local conditions, the association is poor in species, consisting of only 53 cormophyte species. Table 2 Ass. Stipetum joanis (Prodan 1939) Puşcaru-Soroceanu et al. 1963 No. of survey 1 2 3 4 5 Altitude (m.s.m.) 190 180 180 170 160 Exposition E E V SV NE Slope (degrees) 30 45 40 35 35 Coverage of the vegetation (%) 80 80 50 60 60 Surface (sq.m.) 50 60 50 50 50 Number of species 22 18 26 20 26 K Caract. of ass. Stipa pennata 5 4 2 2 4 V Festucion valesiacae Ajuga chamaepytis + + + III
9 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 91 Alyssum hirsutum + + + III Asperula cynanchica + + + III Chondrilla juncea + I Colchicum tryphyllum + + + III Crocus reticulatus + + II Digitalis lanata + I Eryngium campestre + + + III Euphorbia agraria + I Euphorbia glareosa ssp. dobrogensis + + + III Falcaria vulgaris + + + III Potentilla recta + + + III Rosa gallica + I Sanguisorba minor + + + III Stachys recta + I Tanacetum millefolium + + + + IV Teucrium chamaedrys + 1 + + IV Teucrium polium ssp. capitatum + + II Stipion lessingianae Convolvulus lineatus + I Salvia nutans + + + 2 IV Pimpinello-Thymion zygioidi Scutellaria orientalis + 2 II Thymus zygioides + + + III Festucetalia valesiacae Adonis vernalis + I Festuca valesiaca + I Siderites montana + + + + IV Thymus pannonicus + I Verbascum chaixii + + II Stipo pulcherrimae-festucetalia pallentis Anthemis tinctoria ssp. tinctoria + + II Festucetalia vaginatae Echinops ruthenica + + + + IV Onosma visianii + + II Salsola kali ssp. ruthenica + I
92 Eliza Ţupu 10 Festuco-Brometea Cuscuta epthymum + + II Echium italicum + + II Poa angustifolia + + + III Potentilla argentea + I Quercetea pubescentis s.l. Asparagus verticillatus + + II Carpinus orientalis + I Paeonia peregrina + I Poa nemoralis + I Quercus pubescens (juv.) + + II Viola suavis + + II Rhamno-Prunetea s.l. Crataegus monogyna + + II Prunus spinosa + I Artemisietea et Stellarietea mediae s.l. Althaea hirsuta + + + III Carduus crispus + + II Cichorium intybus + + II Cruciata laevipes + I Erodium cicutarium + + II Marrubium peregrinum + + + III Stellaria media + I Tragopogon dubius + I Viola arvensis + + II Place and date of the surveys: 1 4. Uzum Bair Plane 30. 04. 2007; 5. Beiului Hill 19.05.2007. With respect to floral composition, 70% of the phytoindividuals belong to the Festuco-Brometea class, out of which the characteristic species, Stipa pennata, is present in all surveys and Tanacetum millefolium, Teucrium chamaedrys, Salvia nutans, Siderites montana and Echinops ruthenica have a IV constancy, 13 are underconstant (III), and the 34 other (64%) have a low constancy (I, II). The representatives of Quercetea pubescentis and Rhamno-Prunetea classes, making up 13%, reveal the fact that the pastures settled in secondarily. In the phytocoenotic composition there are species of the Artemisietea and Stellarietea mediae classes in percentage of 13%, creating a certain degree of ruderalisation due to the anthropic activities.
11 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 93 The spectrum of the bioforms (Fig. 4). The spectrum of the bioforms is dominated by hemychryptophytes, distantly followed by therophytes. The rest of the bioforms have very low percentages. G 6% Ph 10% Ch 10% T 19% H 55% Fig. 4. The spectrum of the bioforms. The spectrum of the floral elements (Fig. 5). This spectrum consists of Eurasian, Pontic and European geoelements. Other elements add to the spectrum as well: Balkan, Sub-Mediterranean, Cosmopolite, Circumpolar, Mediterranean, Pannonian, Atlantic-Mediterranean, Caucasian. Euras. 35% Cosm. 4% Circ. 2% Pan. 2% Balc. 10% Medit. 2% Submedit. 4% Atl. Medit. 2% Cauc. 2% Pont. 25% Eur. 12% Fig. 5. The spectrum of the floral elements. The spectrum of the ecological parameters (Fig. 6). The xerofile pastures steppe character of the association phytocoenoses is revealed by the overwhelming presence of the species which prefer dry and very dry soils, warm and Mediterranean climate, with plants which do not take shading too well and plants which require full light. In point of soil reaction, the species have a neutral and basic character, proving the limy sublayer of the studied area. With respect to the degree of continentality, one can notice a slight dominance of the species with an intermediary character between the suboceanic and the subcontinental. The species prefer soils poor in azote.
94 Eliza Ţupu 12 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% U T R L Ct N 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 x? Fig. 6. The spectrum of the ecological parameters. Conservatory value. Significant due to the 23% rare species from Romania s Red Lists, most of them from Pimpinello-Thymion zygyoidi, Stipion lessingianae şi Festucion valesiacae (Crocus reticulatus, Scutellaria orientalis, Salvia nutans, Convolvulus lineatus etc.) alliances. 3. THE ASSOCIATION FESTUCETUM CALLIERI ŞERBĂNESCU 1965 APUD DIHORU 1970 Chorology and stationary conditions. The association was mentioned by M. Petrescu (2007) in the natural reservations on Deniz Tepe and Beştepe Hills, but without the description of the phytocoenotic structure. The surveys for this association have been carried out on Deniz Tepe Hill at an average height of 112 m, on slopes mainly oriented towards North West and South West (West and South East included), with an average slope inclination of 15. Over the lithologic sublayer made up of sandstone, there are argil and fucoid marls. The soils are carbonaceous chernozems and lithosols. The floral composition and the phytocoenotic structure (Table 3). The species characteristic to this association is Festuca callieri which presents maximum constancy and the highest degree of coverage. The species Chondrilla juncea and Melica ciliata have high constancy as well (IV). The species characteristic to the class Festuco-Brometea are predominant, in percentage of 72% (Digitalis lanata, Taraxacum serotinum, Medicago minima, Kohlrauschia, Echium italicum etc.). The association is also made up by species from other vegetation classes: Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Artemisietea, Stellarietea mediae etc. The spectrum of the bioforms (Fig. 7). One can notice the preponderance of hemychryptophytes, followed by therophytes. The geophytes, phanerophytes and chamaephytes are poorly represented.
13 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 95
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98 Eliza Ţupu 16 Ch 9% G Ph 2% 2% Fig. 7. The spectrum of the bioforms. T 35% H 52% The spectrum of the floral elements (Fig. 8). The spectrum of the floral elements reveals the presence of numerous Eurasian elements, closely followed by the Pontic ones. The European, Balkan, Mediterranean, Sub-Mediterranean, etc. with various nuances, and Cosmopolite geoelements are poorly represented. Fig. 8. The spectrum of the floral elements. Cosm. 4% End Dobr. Atl. Medit. Submedit. 2% Circ. 4% 2% 2% Balc. 4% Pont. 30% Euras. 37% Eur. 13% The spectrum of the ecological parameters (Fig. 9). The stationary conditions similar to the ones in the area represented by the previous associations reveal the fact that the species making up this association have the same ecological requirements like the species of the Stipetum joanis (Prodan 1939) Puşcaru Soroceanu et al. 1963 and Stipetum lessingianae Sóo 1947 associations. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% U T R L Ct N Fig. 9. The spectrum of the ecological parameters. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 x?
17 Praticola phytocoenoses on Tulcea Hills 99 Conservatory value. Considerable, due to the species from the Red Lists (17%) which are part of the composition of the association, among which: Festuca callieri, Thymus zygioides, Campanula romanica, Achillea coarctata, Stachys angustifolia, Sempervivum ruthenicum (this is the only place where it was spotted), etc. CONCLUSIONS The described associations act as typical steppe associations, with species which prefer dry soils, warm climates with strong luminosity, generally having a similar floral composition and phytocoenotic structure. Despite the restrictive stationary conditions and the anthropic activities, the plant communities are well represented, thus allowing the identification of the associations and their correct classification within the coenosystem. REFERENCES 1. ANDREI M., An. Univ. Bucureşti, ser. Şt. Nat. Biol., 1963, 38; 37 47. 2. BORZA AL., BOŞCAIU N., Introducere în studiul covorului vegetal, Edit. Academiei R.P.R, Bucureşti, 1965. 3. CHIFU T., Anuar. Compl. Muz. Bucov., 2006, 1 19, 51 114. 4. CIOCÂRLAN V., Flora ilustrată a României Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta, Edit. Ceres, Bucureşti, 2000. 5. DIHORU GH., DONIŢĂ N., Flora şi vegetaţia Podişului Babadag, Edit. Academiei R.S.R., Bucureşti, 1970. 6. ELLENBERG H., Scripta Geobotanica, 1974, 9, 1 97. 7. HOREANU CL., Peuce, 1976, 5, 335 346. 8. MIHĂILESCU V., Dealurile şi câmpiile României, Edit. Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti, 1966. 9. OLTEAN M., NEGREAN G., POPESCU A., ROMAN N., DIHORU G., SANDA V., MIHĂILESCU SIMONA, St., Sint., Docum. de Ecol., 1994, 1, 1 51. 10. PETRESCU M., Dobrogea şi Delta Dunării conservarea florei şi habitatelor, Tipografia Marinex Print, Baia Mare, 2007. 11. SANDA V., Vadecum ceno-structural privind covorul vegetal din România, Edit. Vergiliu, Bucureşti, 2002. 12. SANDA V., ARCUŞ MARIANA, Sintaxonomia grupărilor vegetale din Dobrogea şi Delta Dunării, Edit. Cultura, Piteşti, 1999. 13. SÂRBU ANCA (coordonator), Arii speciale pentru protecţia şi conservarea plantelor în România, Edit. victorbvictor, Bucureşti, 2007. Received January 11, 2010 Botanical Garden, Galaţi E-mail:eliza_tupu@yahoo.com
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