Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Botany
PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF LIGULARIA SIBIRICA (L.) CASS. HABITATS FROM ZÄNOAGEI GORGES (BUCEGI MOUNTAINS), ROMANIA Andreea Natalia MATEI University of Pitesci, Targu din Vale Street Nr. 1, RO—110040 Pitefti, andreeamic_natalia@yahoo.com Abstract: Often plant communities provide mechanisms that can adapt or mitigate those changes caused by environmental factors. Climatic oscillations during glacial periods have led to the migration of a large numbers of plant species, looking for some optimal conditions for survivial. One of those species is the glacial relict Ligularia sibirica (L.) Cass. The present paper aims to present the species of community importance, Ligularia sibirica (L.) Cass, in Cirsio waldsteinii-Hemcleetum transsilvanici Pawl, et Walas 1949 plant association from Zänoagei Gorges, Scropoasa and Seven Springs Waterfall, all included in Bucegi Natural Park. The sporadic Ligularia sibirica species grows in Romania’s habitats, such as eutrophic and oligotrophic marshes, meadows, wet soils or in hygrophilic communities on the riverbanks, in both bright spots and also in the shade of canopy trees. To achieve the aim of this paper was necessary to study the identified association in terms of biodiversity, taxonomy, bioforms, geo-elements and genetic structure analysis. Ellenberg indices analysis will complement this study as it can provide significant details regarding the structural evolution in time of the studied population from ecological point of view. Ellenberg indices analysis includes factors such as light, temperature, humidity, soil reaction and nitrogen content. The present paper also includes the degree of conservation and biodiversity offered by the studied association for Ligularia sibirica (L.) Cass, species. Keywords: Ligularia sibirica (L.) Cass., plant associations, habitat, relict Introduction Ligularia genus includes many species in Asia and Europe, most of them, respectively 123 being found in China. [19] Ligularia sibirica (L.) Cass species arrived in Europe between glacial and interglacial period being now distributed in 11 countries such as: Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, France and Ukraine. In Romania, the species on interest is distributed in 32 Natura 2000 sites. [1] In our country the species was first identified in 1796 in Taul lui Dumitru swamp. [15] Berne Convention protects Ligularia sibirica relict species through Annex I - Strictly protected flora species (Bern treaty number 104). Moreover the degree of endangerment established by IUCN, consider the studied species as Data Defhcient (DD). [2] The species of community interest is protected by the Habitats Directive, Annexes lib and IVb, OUG 57/2007 (Law 49/2011). The Carpathian Red List of Forest Habitats and Species mentions the studied species in near threatened (NT) cathegory. [12] Due to the high humidity of the area that surrounds the Ialomita River, in time was developed a hygrophyllic type of vegetation with a relict character, such as the species of M A R I S I A, XXXVI, p. 51-64
