11G1
Limestone common beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: G1.661 Middle European dry-slope limestone beech forests; PAL. CLASS.: 41.161 Middle European dry-slope limestone beech forests; HD 92/43: 9150 Medio-European limestone beech forests of the Cephalanthero-Fagion; Bondev (1991): 46 Mixed Mizian beech (Fagus sylvatica subsp. moesiaca)and black pine (Pinus nigra) forests, 48 Mizian beech (Fageta moesiacae) forests (on limestone).
Conservation status. BDA, HD, BC.
Category. Nearly Threatened [NT – A1, 2 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 H1 I L3].
General characteristics. Xeromesophilic forests developing on calcareous, often shallow soils – Luvic Phaeozems and Rendzic Leptosols. The main tree species is the common beech (Fagus sylvatica subsp. sylvatica and Fagus sylvatica subsp. moesiaca). Tilia tomentosa, T. cordata, Carpinus betulus and C. orientalis also participate in the composition of the tree layer.The beech forests with Pinus nigra also belong to this habitat type. They are relic forests and are a succession stage of the process of replacement of the black pine forests by beech forests.The shrub layer consists of Acer campestre, Cornus mas, Fraxinus ornus and Ligustrum vulgare.Species typical for the thermophilic oak forests from class Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae and the alliance Quercion frainetto (Brachypodium pinnatum, Lathyrus niger, Mycelis muralis, Physospermum cornubiense) participate in the herbaceous layer.Participation of species from the family Orchidaceae (Cephalanthera spp., Dactylorhiza cordigera, Epipactis spp., Neottia nidus-avis, Orchis pallens) is also typical.
Syntaxonomically the limestone common beech forests belong to class Querco-Fagetea, order Fagetalia sylvaticae and alliance Cephalanthero-Fagion. Two subassociations are distributed on the territory of Bulgaria: Tilio tomentosae-Fagetum sylvaticae and Galio pseudarsistati-Fagetum sylvaticae. The first is distributed in NE Bulgaria, Vitosha Mts., East Forebalkan and the Balkan Range. Prevailing and constant species are Acer campestre, Arctium lappa, Bromus ramosus, Cornus mas, Glechoma hederacea, Hedera helix, Lathyrus laxiflorus, Melissa officinalis, Mercurialis perennis, Milium effusum, Muscari botryoides, Piptatherum virescens, Polygonatum latifolium, P. odoratum, Rubus hirtus, Ruscus aculeatus, R. hypoglossum, Tamus communis, Tilia tomentosa, and Viola riviniana.The beech forests of this association have fragmented distributions among forests and scrub with oaks, Oriental hornbeam and Silver lime at altitudes of 150–900 m. They occupy shady slopes of shallow valleys. They belong to the thermophilic group and are close to the communities from the suballiance Doronico orientalis-Fagenion and Ostryo-Fagenion in species composition. The limestone common beech forests that are affiliated to the association Galio pseudarsistati-Fagetum sylvaticae and occur mainly in West and Central Bulgaria. Typical is the participation of species characteristic for the forests from the alliance Quercion frainetto (e.g. Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Helleborus odorus, Lathyrus niger and Physospermum cornubiense) and the presence of a relatively well developed shrub layer with Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna and Fraxinus ornus.Other constant species are Dentaria bulbifera, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Sanicula europaea and Viola odorata.
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Brachypodium pinnatum, Carex sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, Cephalanthera spp., Dactylorhiza cordigera, Epipactis spp., Euphorbia amygdaloides, Fagus sylvatica subsp. moesiaca, Fagus sylvatica subsp. sylvatica, Galium pseudaristatum, Glechoma hederacea, G. hirsuta, Hedera helix, Helleborus odorus, Lathyrus laxiflorus, L. niger, Melica uniflora, Mycelis muralis, Neottia nidus-avis, Physospermum cornubiense, Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Rubus hirtus, Ruscus spp., Tamus communis, Tilia tomentosa, Viola odorata.
- Fungi: Macromycetes – Boletus aestivalis, B. queletii, B. regius, B. rhodopurpureus, B. rhodoxanthus, B. satanas, Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Cortinarius bulliardii, C. rufoolivaceus, Gymnopus hariolorum, Hericium erinaceum, Hygrophorus cossus, H. poetarum, H. russula, Lactarius volemus, Ramaria botrytis, Tricholoma acerbum; Micromycetes – Apiognomonia errabunda, Phyllactinia guttata (on Fagus sylvatica), Diatrype disciformis; Hypoxylon fragiforme; Microsphaera alphitoides (on Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto), Pyrenopeziza compressula, Urocystis floccosa (on Helleborus odorus).
- Animals: Invertebrates – Verigo spp., Aglia tau, Rosalia alpina, Morimus funereus,Vertebrates – Strix aluco, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Certhia familiaris, Barbastella barbastellus, Glis glis, Dryomys nitedula, Muscardinius avellanarius, Martes martes, Ursus arctos.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Shumen plateau, Central and East Forebalkan (C and E) Balkan Range, Vitosha Mts. Golo Bardo Mts., Lyulin Mts., Ruy Mts., Lozenska Mts., Sredna Gora Mts., Rhodopi Mts. from 100 to 1300 m alt.
Conservation importance. The limestone common beech forests of Bulgaria cover about 100000 ha. Plant species of conservation value occur in some phytocoenoses: Daphne laureola, Lathyrus montanus, species from fam. Orchidaceae (CITES). Fungi species of conservation value also occur – Boletus regius, B.rhodopurpureus, B. rhodoxanthus, B. satanas, Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Cortinarius bulliardii, Elasmomyces mattirolianus, Hericium erinaceum, Hygrophorus poetarum, H. russula, Rhodocybe gemina, and Tricholoma acerbum.
Threats. Unregulated logging, fires, infrastructure development.
Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex №1 of the national Biodiversity Act. Parts of this habitat are within protected areas – Bukaka Strict Nature Reserve, Central Balkan National Park, Vrachanski Balkan, Vitosha and Balgarka Nature Parks, Ostritsa Managed Nature Reserve and in sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Mapping and monitoring of the best preserved and most vulnerable habitats; improvement of the forest guarding.
References. Tzonev et al. 2006.
Author: Marius Dimitrov
