Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)

Botany

Marilena ONETE, Roxana ION, Florian Paul BODESCU

Plant associations: Doronico carpatici—Saxifragetum aizoidis Coidea (1986) 1990 (Syn.: Saxifragetum aizoidis auct. rom. Saxifragetum aizoidis Boncaiu 1971 non Horvat 1935; Saxifragetum moschataeaizoidis Boscaiu 1971).

Habitat R5419 occurs in small patches surrounding water with a total Romanian extent of about 100 ha. Sites for R5419 occur at altitudes between 980-1900 m, with mean annual temperatures of 1.0—5.5°C and annual precipation of 1000—1350 mm. The habitat is found in mountainous valleys with a calcareous substrate and soils that are eutricambosoils, humid with

pH = 6.8-7.1.

Habitat structure for R5419: a hygro-heliophilous habitat situated at the edge of springs that flush calcareous screes and boulders. The herbaceous layer is dominant and 15—30 cm high. Diagnostic and characteristic species cover 35—55%.

The conservation value is very high, being a priority habitat, endemic to the South-East Carpathians. The species composition is diverse (Table 3).

Table 3: Diagnostic, characteristic and other important species of Romanian habitat code R5419

Diagnostic species______________________________________________________________

Saxifraga aizoides__________________Doronicum carpaticum__________________________

Characteristic species________________________________________________________

Saxifraga aizoides__________________Doronicum carpaticum__________________________

Other important species_________________________________________________________

Saxifraga stellaris__________________Cardamine amara______________________________

Caltha laeta_______________________Epilobium nutans______________________________

Chrysosplenium alternifolium________Epilobium alsinifolium__________________________

Crepis paludosa____________________Deschampsia caespitosa__________________________

Silene pusilla_______________________Chaerephyllum hirsutum________________________

Pinguicula vulgaris________________Stellaria nemorum

Viola biflora______________________ Cratoneuron commutatum

Bryum pseudotriquetrum____________Cratoneuron filicinum___________________________

Philonotis calcarea

Endemic species________________________________________________________________

Achillea schurii____________________Chrysosplenium alpinum (sub-endemic)___________

Doronicum carpaticum___________________________________________________________

Threats

All threats are due to human influence directly on the habitat and indirectly on travertine formation [19]. The main threats that affect the habitat directly are physical: drainage of springs/ wetlands; changes in land use; overgrazing pressure; excessive trampling (by humans or animals); underground springs drying out; changes in flooding regime; and excessive deforestation of surrounding forests.

Other threats are chemical in character: eutrophication (the habitat is sensitive to nitrogen concentration because of the lack of a peat layer that might attenuate this effect); and decrease in oxygen concentration of underground water because of organic pollution. Only the physical threats may be readily monitored.

In considering the sensitivity of habitat 7220* from Directive Annex I water-dependent habitats [21] refers to existing pressures as well as to developments that may be considered in the future. Assessment of water dependency stresses that the habitat requires water from groundwater. In this respect, potential hydrological impacts comprise: changes in groundwater

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