THE DWARF SHRUBS COMMUNITIES WITHIN LOISELEURIO-VACCINIETEA Eggler ex Schubert 1960 FROM ROMANIAN EASTERN CARPATHIANS

Abstract

A numerical analysis of dwarf shrubs communities within Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea Eggler ex Schubert 1960 class, based on 181 relevés assigned to Loiseleurio-Vaccinion, Rhododendro-Vaccinion and a part of Pinion mugo is presented in this paper. An agglomerative hierarchical clustering (Flexible beta algorithm with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) was performed. Six vegetal associations were distinguished and characterized: Cetrario islandicae-Loiseleurietum procumbentis, Empetro-Vaccinietum gaultherioidis, Rhododendro myrtifolii-Vaccinietum gaultherioidis, Campanulo abietinae-Juniperetum nanae, Campanulo abietinae-Vaccinietum myrtilli and Bruckenthalio-Vaccinietum myrtilli. Detrended correspondence analysis complementarily confirmed the hierarchical clustering. Main environmental factors influencing the floristic composition of clusters were analyzed by canonical correspondence analysis using altitude and Ellenberg indicator values of plants species as variables. Canonical correspondence analysis confirmed that altitude, light and temperature are the main factors influencing the floristic composition of the vegetal communities from Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea.

Keywords

• vegetation
• Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea
• diagnostic species