<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Using hierarchical clustering with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) we arranged 603 phytosociological relevés of beech forests on the present upper forest line, mainly from the Julian Alps and the Trnovo Forest Plateau (we also included the relevés from the Karawanks and the Kamnik Alps), into 32 clusters. Based on their analysis and comparison with previously described similar (alti)montane-subalpine beech communities we classified most of the relevés into the association <italic>Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum</italic> and its new subassociations <italic>ericetosum carneae, cardaminetosum trifoliae, luzuletosum niveae, luzuletosum luzuloidis</italic>, <italic>calamagrostietosum variae, allietosum victorialis, adoxetosum moschatellinae</italic>, <italic>stellarietosum nemorum</italic> and several new variants. The altitude of the studied stands is predominantly 1400 to 1550 m (the upper line is at 1660 m); they occur at all aspects, frequently on steep and very steep slopes, mainly on limestone and dolomite limestone, the predominant soil type is rendzina. These stands are species rich (on average 61 species per relevé, altogether more than 500 vascular plants) and have many species in common with the stands of associations <italic>Rhododendro hirsuti-Fagetum</italic> and <italic>Rhodothamno-Laricetum</italic>.</p>
</abstract>

Using hierarchical clustering with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) we arranged 603 phytosociological relevés of beech forests on the present upper forest line, mainly from the Julian Alps and the Trnovo Forest Plateau (we also included the relevés from the Karawanks and the Kamnik Alps), into 32 clusters. Based on their analysis and comparison with previously described similar (alti)montane-subalpine beech communities we classified most of the relevés into the association Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum and its new subassociations ericetosum carneae, cardaminetosum trifoliae, luzuletosum niveae, luzuletosum luzuloidis, calamagrostietosum variae, allietosum victorialis, adoxetosum moschatellinae, stellarietosum nemorum and several new variants. The altitude of the studied stands is predominantly 1400 to 1550 m (the upper line is at 1660 m); they occur at all aspects, frequently on steep and very steep slopes, mainly on limestone and dolomite limestone, the predominant soil type is rendzina. These stands are species rich (on average 61 species per relevé, altogether more than 500 vascular plants) and have many species in common with the stands of associations Rhododendro hirsuti-Fagetum and Rhodothamno-Laricetum.

Vegetation analysis of the subalpine beech forest on the upper forest line in the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia and NW Italy) and in the northern Dinaric Alps

Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Using hierarchical clustering with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) we arranged 603 phytosociological relevés of beech forests on the...

Vegetation analysis of the subalpine beech forest on the upper forest line in the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia and NW Italy) and in the northern Dinaric Alps

Published Online: Jul 08, 2021

Page range: 373 - 564

Received: Sep 26, 2020

Accepted: Feb 12, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0013

Keywords
phytosociology, synsystematics, hierarchical classification, UPGMA, beech communities, upper forest line, Julian Alps, Trnovo Forest Plateau, Triglav National Park, Natura 2000, Slovenia, Italy

© 2021 Igor Dakskobler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Vegetation analysis of the subalpine beech forest on the upper forest line in the Julian Alps (NW Slovenia and NW Italy) and in the northern Dinaric Alps

Published Online: Jul 08, 2021

Page range: 373 - 564

Received: Sep 26, 2020

Accepted: Feb 12, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0013

Keywordsphytosociology, synsystematics, hierarchical classification, UPGMA, beech communities, upper forest line, Julian Alps, Trnovo Forest Plateau, Triglav National Park, Natura 2000, Slovenia, Italy

© 2021 Igor Dakskobler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
phytosociology, synsystematics, hierarchical classification, UPGMA, beech communities, upper forest line, Julian Alps, Trnovo Forest Plateau, Triglav National Park, Natura 2000, Slovenia, Italy