<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Using the (unweighted) average linkage clustering (UPGMA) method we classified 458 phytosociological relevés of <italic>Larix decidua</italic> forests in the Southeastern Alps into 25 clusters. Based on their analysis we described the following new subassociations: <italic>Rhodothamno-Laricetum deciduae geetosum rivalis, sorbetosum chamaemespili, piceetosum abietis, adoxetosum moschatellinae, cystopteridetosum fragilis, cyclaminetosum purpurascentis, dryadetosum octopetalae</italic> and <italic>sorbetosum ariae</italic>. The selected method proved adequate in identifying the differences between larch stands on potential subalpine spruce and beech sites, and larch forests on the upper forest line, as well as the differences between initial larch stages on the upper forest line and more stable development stages on better developed soils on promontories and ledges above the upper beech forest line. Larch forests occur mainly in the altitudinal belt between (1,500) 1,600 and 1,800 (1,900) m, on shady aspects and slopes that are steeper than 30°. They are some of the best preserved forest types in the Southeastern Alps, on smaller surface areas (Macesnje above the Beli Potok valley in the Julian Alps) even virgin forests, and their role as biotopes is exceptional.</p></abstract>

Using the (unweighted) average linkage clustering (UPGMA) method we classified 458 phytosociological relevés of Larix decidua forests in the Southeastern Alps into 25 clusters. Based on their analysis we described the following new subassociations: Rhodothamno-Laricetum deciduae geetosum rivalis, sorbetosum chamaemespili, piceetosum abietis, adoxetosum moschatellinae, cystopteridetosum fragilis, cyclaminetosum purpurascentis, dryadetosum octopetalae and sorbetosum ariae. The selected method proved adequate in identifying the differences between larch stands on potential subalpine spruce and beech sites, and larch forests on the upper forest line, as well as the differences between initial larch stages on the upper forest line and more stable development stages on better developed soils on promontories and ledges above the upper beech forest line. Larch forests occur mainly in the altitudinal belt between (1,500) 1,600 and 1,800 (1,900) m, on shady aspects and slopes that are steeper than 30°. They are some of the best preserved forest types in the Southeastern Alps, on smaller surface areas (Macesnje above the Beli Potok valley in the Julian Alps) even virgin forests, and their role as biotopes is exceptional.

Phytosociological analysis of European larch forests in the Southeastern Alps

Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Biology

Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Phytosociological analysis of European larch forests in the Southeastern Alps"}

Using the (unweighted) average linkage clustering (UPGMA) method we classified 458 phytosociological relevés of Larix decidua forests in the Southeastern Alps...

Phytosociological analysis of European larch forests in the Southeastern Alps

Published Online: Jul 28, 2018

Page range: 247 - 519

Received: Apr 10, 2018

Accepted: Jun 11, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2018-0004

Keywords
phytosociology, synsystematics, hierarhical classification, UPGMA, Julian Alps, Karavanke, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, Italy, Natura 2000

© 2018 I. Dakskobler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Phytosociological analysis of European larch forests in the Southeastern Alps

Published Online: Jul 28, 2018

Page range: 247 - 519

Received: Apr 10, 2018

Accepted: Jun 11, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2018-0004

Keywordsphytosociology, synsystematics, hierarhical classification, UPGMA, Julian Alps, Karavanke, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, Italy, Natura 2000

© 2018 I. Dakskobler et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
phytosociology, synsystematics, hierarhical classification, UPGMA, Julian Alps, Karavanke, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Triglav National Park, Slovenia, Italy, Natura 2000