23F5

F. Shrub communities

Shrubs and low woods of of Kermes Oak(Quercus coccifera)

Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: F5.1162 [Quercus coccifera] and [Quercus alnifolia] low woods; PAL. CLASS.: 32. 1162 [Quercus coccifera] and [Quercus alnifolia] low woods; Bondev (1991): 128 Evergreen shrub (pseudomacchia) with a prevalence of Querceta cocciferae usually combined with coppices of Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis and xerothermic grass communities.

Conservation status. None.

Category. Critically endangered [CR – B1 C3 D3 E2 F2 G2 H2 I L2].

General characteristics. The habitat encompasses evergreen, hard-leaved shrubs and low woods (pseudomaquis) dominated by Quercus coccifera that belong to the Mediterranean vegetation type. They occur in areas with transitional-Mediterranean climate: mild, relatively humid winters almost without snow, and hot and dry summers with high average temperatures. The main factors that determine the development of these typical Mediterranean phytocoenoses are the absence of very low winter temperatures and the high summer temperatures as well as the intensive light. They belong to the xerophytic ecological type: very low, mainly atmospheric, humidity that is high during the autumn-winter period and low in summers. Quercus coccifera is a typical evergreen tree or shrub with hard, leathery, spiny leaves. The communities have scrub outlook – most of the trees do not exceed 4 m and originate mainly from shoots. In small patches the trees can become 8–10 m high and can be with a diameter of 30–40 cm. However, the shrub form prevails as a result of the periodical cutting and permanent grazing. The total area of this habitat type in Bulgaria is approx. 95 ha. They occupy areas mainly on the tops of hills with 30–40º tilt. The exposure is mainly southern and its derivatives, eastern, western and very rarely – northern. The bed rock is mainly silicate – Pliocene rocks (crystalline schists, magmatites and pliocene volcanic rocks). The soils are Chromic or Rendzic, shallow, mainly eroded, weak, poor and even underdeveloped. In some places the soils are even washed out and the shrubs grow directly on the rocks. The monodominant coenoses are more widely distributed. The species composition is rich. It includes about 110 species of vascular plants (8 tree species, 9 shrubs and 77 herbs). Together with the edificator often or more frequently some tree species of Mediterranean or sub-Mediterranean type also participate such as Carpinus orientalis, Celtis australis, Fraxinus ornus, Ostrya carpinifolia, Pistacia terebinthus, Pyrus amygdaliformis, Quercus pubescens. The more frequently occurring shrubs are Juniperus oxycedrus, Asparagus acutifolius, Colutea arborescens, Coronilla emerus subsp. emeroides, Jasminum fruticans, Paliurus spina-christi, and more rarely Asparagus verticillatus, Cistus incanus, Clematis viticella, Cotinus cogyggria, Ficus carica, Lonicera etrusca, Osyris alba, Phillyrea latifolia etc. Anemone blanda, A. pavonina, Arum italicum, A. orientale, Astragalus gladiatus, Buglossoides purpurocaerulea, Clinopodium vulgare, Cyclamen hederifolium, Cynosurus echinatus, Dactylis glomerata, Euphorbia apios, Euphorbia barrelieri, Festuca thracica, Geranium robertianum, Melica ciliata, Aristella bromoides (= Stipa bromoides) prevail in the herbaceous cover. Based on the dominant method, the following associations have been described: Quercus coccifera – Stipa bromoides; Quercus coccifera – Juniperus oxycedrus; Quercus coccifera – Juniperus oxycedrus – Brachypodium pinnatum; Quercus coccifera – Paliurus spina-christi; Quercus coccifera – Carpinus orientalis – Buglosoides purpurocoerulea; Quercus coccifera – Juniperus oxycedrus – Cistus incanus. Typical for the phytocoenoses of Quercus coccifera is that they are very rare and make complexes with xerothermic herbaceous and shrub communities. Astragalus onobrychis, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Brachypodium distachyon, Chrysopogon gryllus, Cistus incanus, Medicago constricta, M. falcata, M. minima, M. rigidula, Poa bulbosa, Psilurus incurvus, Thymus atticus prevail in the patches with herbaceous vegetation. These complexes are very rich in Mediterranean species: Alkanna tinctoria, Artemisia campestris, Astragalus monspessulanus, Astragalus spruneri, Avena clauda, Campanula glomerata, Campanula scutellata, Cleistogenes serotina, Colchicum bivonae, Crupina crupinastrum, Echinaria capitata, Festuca hirtovaginata, Fumana arabica, Fumana procumbens, Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis ciliata, Koeleria nitidula, K. splendens, Logfia gallica, Lotus aegaeus, Onobrychis alba, Ononis adenotricha, Rostraria cristata, Salvia viridis, Scorzonera mollis, Securigera securidaca, Tremastelma palaestinum, Trifolium angustifolium, Trifolium hirtum, Trifolium purpureum, Trifolium striatum, Trigonella monspeliaca, Valerianella discoidea, Velezia rigida, Xolanthes guttatus, Ziziphora capitata.

Characteristic taxa.

Distribution in Bulgaria. The Valley of Struma river southwards from Kresna Gorge; in the foothills of Malashevska Mts. at Kamenitsa village and the southern foothills of Pirin Mts.; eastwards from Pirinska Bistritsa river, near Kalimantsi village (southern slopes of St. Ilia hill) and near Petrovo, Kulata and Novo Hodzhovo villages. Single trees occur also in the valley of Mesta River, between Garmen and Debren villages, Gotse Delchev municipality. Subspontaneously the species occurs also in East Rhodopi Mts, near Sredna Kayaloba village; from 120 up to 460 (840) m alt.

Conservation importance. The forests and scrub of Quercus coccifera are of relic origin in Bulgaria and constitute the northern border of the Mediterranean vegetation type. They create favourable environment for tens of thermophilic plant and animal species. The fungus Arachnopeziza aurelia that occurs in this habitat type is of conservation importance.

Threats. Grazing throughout the whole year, logging, eradication of of the trees to obtain arable land and afforestation with Pinus nigra.

Conservation measures taken. The species is included in the Red Data Book of PR Bulgaria (1984) as “rare”, and presently is protected by the Biodiversity Act but no protected areas have been proclaimed in order to specifically protect its localities. Parts of the localities are within sites from the European Ecological Network Natura 2000.

Conservation measures needed. Proclamation of protected areas near Kamenitsa and Kalimantsi villages; monitoring and elaboration of action plan for the conservation of the habitat. Priority should be given to the limitation and management of grazing, logging and afforestation with alien species.

References. Bondev 1984; Velchev & Vassilev 1982; Kitanov 1941; Stojanov 1924, 1941; Stoyanov & Achtarov 1955.

Author: Chavdar Gussev


Shrubs and low woods of Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera) (distribution map)