09G1

G. Forests

Neutrophilic common beech forests

Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: G1.6922 Southeastern Moesian neutrophilic beech forests, G1.6923 Southeastern Moesian subalpine beech forests, G1.6932 Balkan Range neutrophilic beech forests, G1.6933 Balkan Range subalpine beech forests; PAL. CLASS.: 41.19221 South-eastern Moesian bedstraw-beech forests, 41.19222 South-eastern Moesian fir-beech forests, 41.1923 Southeastern Moesian subalpine beech forests, 41.1932 Balkan Range neutrophilic beech forests, 41.1933 Balkan Range subalpine beech forests; HD 92/43: 9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests; Bondev (1991): 32 Ordinary beech (Fageta sylvaticae) forests in the Balkan mountain range, partly with laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis), 33 Mixed ordinary beech (Fagus sylvatica), white fir (Abies alba) and spruce (Picea abies) forests, 34 Mixed ordinary beech (Fagus sylvatica), white fir (Abies alba) and silver pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests, 35 Mixed ordinary beech (Fagus sylvatica), silver pine (Pinus sylvestris), white fir (Abies alba) and spruce (Picea abies) forests.

Conservation status. BDA, BC, HD.

Category. Nearly Threatened [NT – A1, 2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 I L3].

General characteristics. Neutrophilic beech forests are the most widely distributed beech forests in Bulgaria. They occur at relatively high altitude from 700 to 1800 (2100) m alt., in areas with typical mountainous climate. The forests occupy mainly northern slopes, ravines and valleys. The soils are neutral, slightly acidic or alkaline, rich in nutrition elements, humid Eutric, Dystric and Mollic Cambisols.The participation of boreal and Central European species is typical for the mesophytic beech forests and  makes them similar to Central-European beech forests. The prevailing species are Fagus sylvatica subsp. sylvatica and Fagus sylvatica subsp. moesiaca. At lower altitudes, the beech forms mixed broad-leaved forests with the participation of Acer heldreichii, A. pseudoplatanus, Betula pendula, Carpinus betulus, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus tremula, Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus glabra, while at higher altitudes the forests are mixed broad-leaved-coniferous with Abies alba, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris.Usually, no shrub layer exists but relatively constant are Daphne mezereum, Lonicera xylosteum, Rubus idaeus, Salix caprea, Sambucus racemosa. The mesophilic beech forests are characterized by a rich floristic composition and abundant herbaceous layer compared to the remaining types of beech forests in Bulgaria. Most often dominants are Anemone nemorosa, Dentaria bulbifera, Galium odoratum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Sanicula europea, Melica uniflora.

Syntaxonomically the neutrophilic beech forests belong to alliance Asperulo-Fagion, order Fagetalia sylvaticae and class Querco-Fagetea. The existing habitat subtypes are classified on the bases of the established associations and plant communities:

1. Typical neutrophilic beech forests (association Asperulo-Fagetum). The typical neutrophilic forests are the most widely distributed type of beech forests in Bulgaria. They occupy mostly the middle part of the beech vegetation belt at 1000–1500 m alt. in the Balkan Range, Sredna Gora Mts., Ossogovo Mts., Belasitsa Mts., Rhodopi Mts., Rila Mts., Pirin Mts., Ruy Mts., Vlahina Mts., Konyavska Mts.,Vassilyovska Mts. and Mikrenski heights. They have relatively low cover of the herbaceous synusium dominated mostly by Dentaria bulbifera, Galium odoratum and Mycelis muralis is typical for this subtype.

2. Mesophytic beech forests on relatively poor soils (association Festuco drymejae-Fagetum). This subtype comprises forests on poor to medium rich, humid Dystric Cambisols and shadowy slopes at 600 up to 1500 m alt. The tree layer is with relatively lower cover. Carpinus betulus and Quercus dalechampii are subediphicators. The higher soil humidity presupposes the occurrence of meso-hygrophytes such as Eupatorium cannabinum and Prunella vulgaris. The main dominant is Festuca drymeja.Permanent are also Galium odoratum, Prenanthes purpurea and Rubus hirtus. The mesophytic beech forests occur on relatively poor soils in mainly in Ossogovo Mts., the Balkan Range, Ruy Mts., Rhodopi Mts., Sredna Gora Mts. and Mikrenski heights.

3. Beech forests with Luzula sylvatica (community Luzula sylvatica–Fagus sylvatica). These forests occupy very steep slopes from 850 up to 1500 m alt. on slightly acidic Dystric Cambisols. They are transitional stage between the acidophilic and neutrophilic beech forests and occur mainly in the Balkan Range, Belasitsa Mts., Ichtiman Sredna Gora Mts., Rila Mts., Vrachanska Mts., and West Rhodopi Mts. The typical outlook of the herbaceous synusium is due to the following species: Amblystegium serpens, Hieracium sabaudum gr., Luzula sylvatica, Mycelis muralis, Poa nemoralis,and Polypodium vulgare.

4. Mixed fir-beech and spruce-beech forests (community Abies alba-Fagus sylvatica). These are mixed forests of Fagus sylvatica with Abies alba, Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris. The ratio between the tree species is dynamic. Today, there is a tendency towards replacement of the coniferous species by beech trees. The mixed coniferous-beech forests are of fragmented distribution in the belt of the coniferous vegetation between 1000 and 1500 (1800) m alt. The soils are  Eutric, Dystric and Humic Cambisols. This habitat subtype occurs most widely in Rila-Rhodopi massif – the largest area covered by coniferous forests. Their intrazonal character is confirmed by the distribution of herbaceous species typical for the coniferous forests (Melampyrum sylvaticum, Moehringia pendula and Picea abies). They used to be more widely distributed during the Atlantic period, when the climate was more favourable in comparison to the present day conditions.

5. Hygromesophytic and meso-hygrophytic beech forests (association Umbilico erecti-Fagetum). These are the most humid beech forests in Bulgaria. They occur along the river banks and on shadowy slopes of the river valleys from 800 up to 1600 m alt. The soils are Eutric Cambisols and Diluvial Colluvisols. The herbaceous layer is low. Together with the numerous meso-hygrophytes (Carex remota, Circaea lutetiana, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Cardamine pectinata, Lunaria rediviva, Petasites albus, Phyllitis scolopendrium), many Balkan and East-sub-Mediterranean species like Angelica pancicii, Daphne blagayana and Umbilicus erectus also occur. These forests occur more widely on the northern slopes with numerous rivers of the Central Balkan Range as well as in Sredna Gora Mts., Lozenska Mts. and Vassilyovska Mts. A small, but specific group of beech forests, that shelter relic Tertiary Euxinian flora belong to the subassociation Umbilico erecti-Fagetum laurocerasetosum. They occur in the Central Balkan Range at 950–1400 m alt. and are a relic type of beech forests related to the Balkan refugium of beech forests during glaciation. The relic characteristics of these forests are underlined by the Euxinian species Laurocerasus officinalis, Periploca graeca and Trachystemon orientalis, as well as by the sub-Atlantic – sub-Mediterranean species Taxus baccata.Their floristic composition is close to the one of the forests of the Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis),that occur in the East Balkan Range and Strandzha Mts.

Characteristic taxa.

Distribution in Bulgaria. The largest areas covered by the neutrophilic beech forests are in the Balkan Range. They occur also in the Forebalkan, Vitosha Mts., Rila Mts., Rhodopi Mts., Pirin Mts., Ruy Mts., Ossogovo Mts., Belasitsa Mts., Sredna Gora Mts., Vlachina Mts., Konyavska Mts. and Lozenska Mts; 700 to 1800 (2100) m alt.

Conservation importance. The neutrophilic beech forests in Bulgaria cover about 270 000 ha. In some phytocoenoses occur the following species of conservation status: Lathyrus transsilvanicus, Campanula latifolia, Taxus baccata, Lathyrus grandiflorus, Rhynchocorys elephas, Cirsium oleraceum, Lathrea rhodopaea, Acer heldreichii, Atropa belladonna,etc., as well as the fungi of conservation importance – Amanita porphyria, Boletus pulverulentus, B. regius, B. rhodoxanthus, Calocybe jonides, Clavariadelphus ligula, C. pistillaris, Cortinarius coerulescens, C. praestans, Creolophus cirrhatus, Grifola frondosa, Hericium coralloides, Hygrocybe murinacea, Hygrophorus poetarum, Lentaria byssieda, Leucopaxillus compactus, Macrotyphula fistulosa, Phyllotopsis nidulans, Rhodocybe gemina, Russula solaris, Sarcosphaera coronaria, Strobilomyces strobilaceus, Tricholoma acerbum, Tuber puberulum.

Threats. Unregulated and wrongly conducted logging, fires, infrastructure constructions.

Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex №1 of the national Biodiversity Act. Parts of the neutrophilic beech forests are within protected areas – Boatin, Tsaritchina, Kupena, Mantaritsa, Steneto, Sokolna, Peeshti Skali, Tsarnata Reka, Stara Reka Strict Nature Reserves; Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan National Parks; Vitosha, Vrachanski Balkan, Sinite Kamani, and Rilski Manastir Nature Parks; Konski Dol, Savchov Chair, Bogdan Managed Nature Reserves as well as in sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria

Conservation measures needed. Mapping and monitoring of the best preserved and vulnerable habitats; improved guarding of the forests.

References. Bozilova 1986; Garelkov 1967; Garelkov & Stiptsov 1995; Michalik 1985, 1990, 1993; Penev et al. 1969; Soo 1963, 1964; Stojanov1941; Tzonev et al. 2006.

Author: Marius Dimitrov


Neutrophilic common beech forests (distribution map)