Morphological variability of differentiated by altitude above sea level population of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

This study identified altitude differentiation in 44 natural populations of the pedunculate oak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranging in altitude from 82 to 860 m. The morphological variation was analyzed on the basis of ten measured and two derived traits, and the populations were divided by altitude into seven groups. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is statistically significant variation between populations, and to identify the nature of altitude differentiation, as important to preservation and use. Fundamental statistical methods were applied to the analysis, with basic statistical parameters, and a discriminant canonical analysis to determine altitude differentiation in the populations. The results obtained point to statistically significant intra- and inter-popu­lation differences. Altitude-related clinal variation is less pronounced, and is determined largely by the microclimatic factors. These indicators will be taken into account in the formulation of guidelines for good management and restoration of the oak forests and their introduction in foothill and mountain regions, and this experiment is essential to further restore and preserve oak pedunculate using in situ and ex situ methods.

Keywords

• pedunculate oak
• morphology of leafs
• morphological variation
• differentiation of population of altitude above sea level