Analysis of vascular flora geoelements from the left side of izvorul muntelui – bicaz accumulation lake

ANALYSIS OF VASCULAR FLORA GEOELEMENTS FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF IZVORUL MUNTELUI – BICAZ ACCUMULATION LAKE

OANA ZAMFIRESCU*

Abstract: This paper presents the analysis of floristic elements belonging to the vascular flora identified in natural plant communities from the left side of Izvorul Muntelui – Bicaz accumulation lake. From the studied area, we inventoried 719 vascular species, among which 309 (43,34%) are eurasiatic (Eua), 126 (17,67%) are european (Eur), 65 (9,12%) are circumpolar (Circ), 10 (1,26%) are alpine (Alp), 36 (17,67%) are pontic (Pont), 7 (0,96%) are mediterranean (Med), 8 are carpathic endemic, 1 is dacic-panonic, and 1 is dacic-balcano-anatolian.

Keywords: vascular flora, floristic analysis, geoelements

Introduction

We chose to carry out this research, because, despite the floristic richness of Izvorul Muntelui – Bicaz area, the region was scarcely studied from a floristic point of view. In this matter, there are seven published papers that reveal a total number of 390 species for the region [1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13].

Material and Methods

The research began in 1996 and finished in 2001. Initially, we carried out an extensive research in order to get a general idea about the target area. Secondly, followed an intensive stage that consisted in repeated vascular species identifications along several transects. This transects include all the relief forms and vegetation types from the area.

The description of floristic elements was made after Al. Beldie, V. Ciocarlan, V. Sanda et. al. “Caracterizarea ecologica si fitocenologica a speciilor spontane din flora Romaniei”. The nomenclature was given after V. Ciocarlan “Flora ilustrata a Romaniei – Pteridophyta si Spermatophyta” 2000, and I. Sarbu et. al. “Flora ilustrata a plantelor vasculare din estul Romaniei” 2001.

Results and Discussion

The research area belongs to the euraiatic domain. This fact is supported by the high proportion of the eurasiatic element (Eua.), represented by 309 species, which means 43,34% of the total identied species (Table I, Figure 1). Among these, 166 species are pure eurasiatic, 81 species are eurasiatic – mediterranean, 52 species are eurasiatic – continental, 3 species are eurasiatic – circumpolar, 3 species are eurasiatic – arctic – alpine, 2 species are eurasiatic - mountainous, 1 species is eurasiatic – alpine (Gentiana verna), and 1 species is eurasiatic – cosmopolite (Taraxacum officinale) (Figure 2).

The european characteristic is given by the high percentage of the european geoelement (Eur.) (126 species = 17,67%) (Figure 3), that includes 79 pure european species, 26 european – mediterranean species, 11 european continental species, and 2 european – alpine species (Homogyne alpina, Adenostyles alliariae). In addition, there are 74 more central – european (Euc.) species (Figure 5). Among these last-mentioned species category, 38 are pure central – european, 22 are central – european – mediterranean, 12 are central – european – mountain, 1 is central – european – alpine (Acinos alpinus ssp. alpinus), and 1 is central – european – pontic – mediterranean (Clematis recta).

The cold climate elements (Circ. si Alp.) are also well represented (Figure 4, 6). Thus, circumpolar element is represented by 65 species (9,12%) distributed in the following categories: 61 species pure circumpolar, 2 species circumpolar – arctic- alpine (Athyrium distensifolium, Cystopteris montana), and 2 species circumpolar boreal (Cardamine pratensis ssp. pratensis, Antennaria dioica).

The alpine element (Alp.) is represented by 10 species (1,26%), which are 4 alpine –carpathic – balcanic, 2 alpine – carpathic (Aconitum degenii, Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. alpestris), 1 alpine – balcanic (Achillea stricta), 1 alpine – arctic (Cerastium fontanum ssp. fontanum), and 1 alpine – european (Bupleurum falcatum ssp. falcatum) (Figure 6).

The thermophylic elements (Med., Pont., Med.-Pont.) are weakly represented: 36 pontic species representing 17,67% of the total number of species (19 pontic – mediterranean species, 6 pontic – panonic species, 4 pontic – mediteranean – central european species, 5 pontic – panonic – balcanic species, 1 pontic – balcanic species (Verbascum alpinum), and 1 pontic – caucazian species (Anchusa ochroleuca) – Figure 7, 7 mediteranean specii (0,98%).The small number of these elements suggest, a colder climate, by one side, and the presence of small calcareous rocky patches that conserve southern elements, by the other side.

The autochthonous elements (End., Dac., Dac.-Balc.) are represented by 8 carpathic endemic species (Aconitum moldavicum, Hepatica transilvanica, Dianthus tenuifolius, Dentaria glandulosa, Symphytum cordatum, Campanula carpatica, Leucanthemum waldsteinii, Silene zawadskii) – Figure 8, 4 dacian species, out of which 1 species is dacic – balcanic (Melampyrum bihariense), 1 species is dacic – panonic (Centaurea indurata), and 1 species is dacic – balcanic – anatolian (Rhinanthus rumelicus).

Conclusions

This research contributes with 329 vascular species, which are new for the studied region.

The floristic analysis revealed that the most dominant geoelements are the eurasiatic (43,34%) and the european (28,09%) ones. This idea comes to confirm that the studied region belongs to the eurasiatic domain.

Elements characteristic for cold climate are also well represented (Circ – 9,12%, Alp – 1,26%) while the thermophylic ones are quite rare.

Bibliography

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Table I. The number of species of the floristic elements

Figure 1. Spectrum of floristic elements from the left side of Izvorul Muntelui – Bicaz accumulation

Figure 2. Eurasiatic elements spectrum

Figure 3. European elements spectrum

Figure 4. Circumpolar elements spectrum

Figure 5. Central european elements spectrum

Figure 6. Alpine elements spectrum

Figure 7. Pontic elements spectrum

Figure 8. Carpathic elements spectrum