32E6

E. Herbaceous communities and communities of lichens and mosses

Continental petrophytic saline steppes

Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: -; PAL. CLASS.: Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands; HD 92/43: 6240 *Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands.

Conservation status. BDA, HD.

Category. Endangered [EN - A1, 2 B1 B2 C3 D2 E2 F1 G1 H3 I].

General characteristics. This very rare habitat type is represented in Bulgaria by the phytocoenoses of the endemic association Hedysaro bulgaricum-Camphorosmetum monspeliacae Tzonev 2002, distributed only in the central part of the Danubian Plain. These phytocoenoses include different halophytes and representatives of the Pontic-steppe vegetation in stony areas. They occur mostly on saline aptian marls, that reach the surface in the valley of Chervenska Bara river near Dragomirovo village and northeastwards from Ovcha Mogila village in the valley of Studena Reka river – mainly on the territory of Hadzhidimitrovo and Gorna Studena villages, on the right bank of Osam River near Levski town, Kozar Belene and Balgarene villages. The altitude varies from 80 to 170 m. The slopes face South and are from 5° to 45° steep. There is no developed soil cover. The basic substrate is weakly-alevrite bluish-gray to sandy-clayey marls, in which different salts and oxides form reddish concretions. This is the reason for the low projective cover of the coenoses – mostly 40–70%. Some Balkan and regional endemics are typical for the Danubian plain, such as Hedysarum grandiflorum subsp. bulgaricum, Centaurea thracica, Genista sessilifolia subsp. trifoliata, Limonium bulgaricum, and Thesium simplex subsp. moesiacum. With its large white flowers the Bulgarian sweet vetch adds a specific spring aspect to the habitat in May. Usually it occurs in small patches among the tufts of the remaining species in the phytocoenoses: Camphorosma monspeliaca, Agropyron cristatum, Artemisia santonicum, Aster oleifolius, Astragalus corniculatus, Ephedra distachya, Tanacetum millefolium, and in some places Echinops ritro and Kochia prostrata. Some terrophytes (Lappula marginata, Linum corymbulosum, Valerianella coronata)and geophytes (Allium saxatile) also can be described as typical for the habitat. Among relatively widely distributed species are Artemisia austriaca, Bothriochloa ischaemum (= Dichanthium ischaemum), Chrysopogon gryllus, Dianthus pallens, Festuca valesiaca, Filago vulgaris, Galium octonarium, Medicago minima, Salvia nemorosa, Stipa capillata etc. The ruderals Achillea millefolium, Caucalis platycarpos, Centaurea rutifolia, Crepis setosa, Diplotaxis muralis, Nigella arvensis, Reseda lutea, Xeranthemum annuum, etc. also occur.

Characteristic taxa.

Distribution in Bulgaria. Danubian Plain – the central part, near Gorna Studena, Hadzhidimitrovo, Dragomirovo, Ovcha Mogila, Balgarene, Kozar Belene villages and Levski town.

Conservation importance. The habitat is endemic to a small area in Bulgaria. Sometimes rare, endangered and protected species such as Astragalus corniculatus, Ephedra distachya, Hedysarum grandiflorum subsp. bulgaricum, and Limonium bulgaricum occur often.

Threats. Overgrazing and consequent ruderalization and degradation of the habitat, terracing of the slopes and forest plantations (e.g. near Hadzidimitrovo and Gorna Studena villages), construction of roads, communication and sports facilities as well as the extraction of minerals, etc.

Conservation measures taken. The habitat is included in Annex № 1 of the Biodiversity Act and is of conservation priority. Its localities are in sites of the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.

Conservation measures needed. To include the habitat in the National Biodiversity Monitoring System. Proclamation of some of the most representative localities, e.g. Karamandol locality between Levski town and Kozar Belene village, Delihasan locality near Hadzhidimitrovo, etc. as protected areas.

References. Tzonev 2002.

Author: Rossen Tzonev


Continental petrophytic saline steppes (distribution map)