17F3
Common juniper (Juniperus communis) scrub
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: F3.164 Sub-Mediterranean Common juniper thickets; PAL. CLASS.: 31.884 Sub-Mediterranean Common juniper thickets; HD 92/43: 5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grassland.
Conservation status. BDA, HD.
Category. Nearly Threatened [NT – A1, 2 B1 C1 D2 E2 F1 G1 H1 I L2].
General characteristics. This habitat type comprises the phytocoenoses of Juniperus communis that occur almost throughout Bulgaria from the oak belt up to the mountain belt, and in some places reach the timberline (Central Rhodopi Mts.). The species occurs in the subalpine belt as well, where it forms communities with Vaccinium myrtillus, and sometimes with Vaccinium vitis-idaea. The communities of Juniperus communis result from the phytodynamic successions of the following vegetation types: mezophilic and xerophilic herbaceous communities from Festuco-Brometea and Elyno-Sesleretea which occur on poor soils and are subjected to grazing or have been abandoned. This is a complex shrub-herbaceous vegetation type that occurs on limestone and silicate. The communities of the Common juniper are a result of logging activities in the forests of Quercus dalechampii, Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Pinus nigra, P. sylvestris, etc. This habitat covers mainly southern slopes, but sometimes occurs on western or eastern slopes as well. It develops on eroded Cambisols and more rarely on Rendzic. The soils are shallow and skeletal with frequent rock outcrops. In most cases the slopes are steep, sometimes reaching 40º.
The phytocoenoses of J. communis have two-layer structure. Their projective cover varies considerably, from 30% up to 80%. Representatives of Festuca spp., Agrostis spp., Nardus stricta, Bothriochloa ischaemum(= Dichanthium ischaemum), Chrysopogon gryllus most often dominate in the herbaceous layer. Single trees of Cerasus avium (= Prunus avium), Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, Picea abies, Pyrus pyraster, Acer pseudoplatanus, A. campestris, Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Prunus cerasifera, Ulmus minor, Fraxinus ornus, Sorbus torminalis and shrubs of Juniperus oxycedrus, J. sibirica and J. pygmaea, Rosa spp., Crataegus monogyna, Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rubus caesius occur among the shrubs of the Common juniper. The occurrance of these trees and shrubs depends upon the altitude and the neighbouring forest and shrub coenoses, as well as on the origin of the communities of the Common juniper. The herbaceous layer in the coenoses of Juniperus communis is polydominant with Agrostis capillaris, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Festuca valesiaca, Nardus stricta, Vaccinium myrtillus.
In some cases, in the upper part of the coniferous and the subalpine belts, J. communis can be co-dominant with Vaccinium myrtillus or J. sibirica (Balkan Range, Ossogovo Mts.), and in others, with J. pygmaea (Central Rhodopi Mts.). In the lower and middle mountain belt Common juniper makes communities with J. oxycedrus (Sredna Gora, Rhodopi Mts.). Juniperus communis is a heliophilic plant but is indifferent to soil humidity, hence it can occur both on wet soils and in dry stony places. Therefore the habitat can occur at various altitudes and species with various ecological characteristics, can participate as co-dominants together with J. communis.
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Achillea clypeolata, Agrostis capillaris, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Briza media, Bromus inermis, Carlina vulgaris, Chrysopogon gryllus, Crataegus monogyna, Eryngium campestre, Festuca spp., Juniperus communis, Plantago media, Pteridium aquilinum, Rosa spp., Teucrium chamaedrys, T. montanum, Verbascum spp.
- Fungi: Macromycetes – Hysterium acuminatum, Lactarius bresadolianus, Pythia cupressina;Micromycetes – Caldesia sabina, Gymnosporangium claviforme, Phyllactinia mali, Podosphaera clandestina, Septoria crataegi (on Crataegus monogyna), Gymnosporangium cornutum, G. gaeumannii, Lophodermium juniperinum (on Juniperus communis), Erysiphe heraclei, Puccinia eryngii (on Eryngium campestre), P. calcitrapae (on Carlina vulgaris); P. cesatii, Sporisorium andropogonis (on Dichanthium ischaemum), Septoria salviae (on Salvia nemorosa), Uromyces striolatus (on Euphorbia cyparissias).
- Animals: Invertebrates – Ephipiger ephipiger; Vertebrates – Acanthis cannabina, Lanius colurio, Sylvia communis, Emberiza citrinella.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range, Rhodopi, Vitosha, Rila, Ossogovo, Sredna Gora, Lozenska mountains; from 500 up to 1900 m alt.
Conservation importance. The following species of conservation importance occur in this habitat: Armeria rumelica, Chamaecytisus absinthioides subsp. absinthioides, Elymus rhodopaeus, Inula aschersoniana, Jovibarba heuffelii, Marrubium frivaldskyanum, Micromeria dalmatica subsp. bulgarica, Morina persica, Ononis adenotricha, Petkovia orphanidea, Rhamnus rhodopeus, Saxifraga sempervivum, S. stribrnyi, Scabiosa rhodopensis, Sedum stefco, Sesleria rigida subsp. achtarovii, Sideritis scardica, Thalictrum simplex subsp. rhodopaeum, Trachelium rumelianum as well as a fungus of conservation importance, Pithya cupressina.
Threats. Fires, logging, grazing, collection of galbules for medicinal purposes, extent of the arable land, erosion, soil-slides. The anthropogenic impact on the habitat used to be considerable in the past. A tendency for restoration and increasing of the areas covered by Common juniper has been observed recently as a result of the abandonment of the arable land.
Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex №1 of the national Biodiversity Act. Parts of it are within protected areas: Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan National Parks, Vitosha Nature Park and sites of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Termination of fires; monitoring and mapping of the habitat.
References. Bondev & Lyubenova 1983; Ganchev & Kochev 1964; Ganchev 1961; Kochev 1967; Stefanov & Ganchev 1958; Valchev et al. 1994; Zahariev 1934.
Authors: AntoninaVitkova, Alexander Tashev
