Open AccessBalkan endemic plants in C entral S erbia and K osovo regions: distribution patterns, ecological characteristics, and centres of diversity
Author(s) -
Tomović Gordana,
Niketić Marjan,
Lakušić Dmitar,
Ranđelović Vladimir,
Stevanović Vladimir
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/boj.12197
Subject(s) - endemism , taxon , subspecies , biology , ecology , eudicots , floristics , flora (microbiology) , phytogeography , species richness , caryophyllaceae , geography , botany , taxonomy (biology) , genetics , bacteria
The aim of the present study is to determine the exact number of the B alkan endemic taxa at specific and subspecific rank in the C entral S erbia and K osovo regions, as well as their distribution, and to perform a chorological and ecological analysis of this flora. Detailed and long‐term field studies confirmed the presence of 492 B alkan endemic species and subspecies in the investigated area. The most important contributors at family rank in the B alkan endemic flora are A steraceae, C aryophyllaceae, F abaceae, B rassicaceae, and L amiaceae, with H ieracium , D ianthus , C entaurea , and S ilene being the genera with the highest number of endemic taxa. In the chorological and life form spectra of the Balkan endemics, taxa from S outh E uropean and C entral E uropean mountainous chorological groups and hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes are the most abundant. The presence of endemic plants in 11 geographical provinces in C entral S erbia and K osovo regions was also analyzed and cluster analysis was used to classify the geographical provinces according to their floristic similarities. The final analyses of distribution and magnitude of endemism include summary mapping of all the endemic taxa at 10 × 10‐km U niversal T ransverse M ercator maps. High‐mountainous areas of M ts Prokletije and M ts Š ar‐ P lanina are distinctive centres of richness and diversity of the B alkan endemic flora in C entral S erbia and K osovo regions. Most endemics were recorded on limestone and at 1500–2000 m a.s.l. Vegetation classes A splenietea trichomanes , F estuco‐ B rometea , E lyno‐ S eslerietea , and E rico‐ P inetea are the richest in endemic taxa. A catalogue of the B alkan endemic taxa in C entral S erbia and K osovo regions, with their threatened and legally protected status, is also presented. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2014, 176 , 173–202.