PHYTOCEONOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa Mill.) COMMUNITIES IN THE BELASITSA REGION

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1 PHYTOCEONOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa Mill.) COMMUNITIES IN THE BELASITSA REGION Marjana LUBENOVA 2, Violeta DIMITROVA 1, VladimirVELEV 1 & Svetla BRATANOVA-DONCHEVA 1 1 CentralLaboratory of General Ecology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 2 Gagarin Street, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria 2 University of Sofia, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology 8 Dragan Tzankov Blvd, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria *Corresponding author: Sv. Bratanova Doncheva, svbratan@ecolab.bas.bg ABSTRACT Lubenova M., Dimitrova V., Velev V. & Bratanova-Doncheva S. (2004): Phytoceonological investigation of chestnut /Castanea sativa Mill./ communities in the Belasitsa regio. Proceedings of the 2 nd Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of Macedonia with International Participation, , Ohrid. Special issues of Macedonian Ecological Society, Vol. 6, Skopje. The study of the Castanea sativa Mill. formation in Belasitsa mountain revealed four main associations with high participation of chestnut: Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa, Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa, Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalwas Mixoherbosa, Castanea sativa+platanus orientalwas Mixoherbosa. The transect method was used and the assessments were made by the scales of Braun-Blanquet (1951) for abundance, coverage and sociability and after Ponjatovskaja (1964) for frequency. The distribution of the main associations was mapped. Key words: Castanea sativa Mill. Associations, communities, Belasitsa mountain. Introduction The chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) has a restricted distribution in Bulgaria. One of its major locations was situated on the northern parts of Belasitsa Mountain and was the subject of this investigation. The communities of C. sativa in Bulgaria have not been the subject of separate investigations from a floristic and a phytocenological point of view. Detailed information on the chestnut distribution and the state of its phytocenoses are missing. Some data on this species and its communities was presented in some floristic summary works (Toshev, 1902; Stojanov 1921; Urumov, 1935, 1950, Vezev, 1963, Stojanov, Stefanov, Kitanov, 1966; Jordanov and col., 1966; Kostadinova and Dimitrov, 2002). Some geobotanical and phytoclimatical data on the chestnut habitats in the West Balkan Range were also published (Kochev, 1971). The phytocenological structure of chestnut forests was studied by Velev et al. (2000). Investigations of the floristic diversity in chestnut stands were presented in the foreign literature (Romane, 1997; Fisher, 1996). A specialized phytocenological map of the cenoses of Castanea sativa Mill. in Bulgaria does not exist. However, their distribution was illustrated in some general vegetation maps of Bulgaria, i.e Map of the forests in Bulgaria (1939, 1961 M 1: ), Map of the vegetation (1980, M 1: ), The vegetation of Bulgaria - Map with explanatory text (M ditions of global change which started from The present report was a part of this project. The aim of the present investigation was to reveal the species composition and structure of the plant communities of C. sativa as the first step towards understanding the functioning of these ecosystems and for taking decisions about their future sustainable management. The main associations of the chestnut, their composition and structure was studied. A comparison of the representativeness of each association in the different type of forests was made. Materials and methods The chestnut forests were visited every month during the period May-October, The transect method was basically used. The investigations were carried out in two transect directions: east-west (Rajdac, Petrich, Belasitsa, Kolarovo, Samuilovo, Kamena, Javornitsa, Kluch, Scrut, Gabrene)- 30 km and north south ( m above sea level) 20 transects. Description of the phytocoenoses along the transects was done at every change in the forest communities. Some 45 plots of 30x30 m were described. The quantitative participation of plant species was assessed by the scales of Braun-Blanquet (1951) for abundance, 29

2 Marjana LUBENOVA et al. coverage and sociability and Ponjatovskaja (1964) for frequency. The transects crossed two types of stands: young coppice in bad state where sylviculture actions were undertaken and old coppice in bad state. Mapping was made on Arc View 3.1. The sylviculture map of Petrich /1999/ was used as the base. Results According to the adopted typization of forest vegetation in Bulgaria the chestnut forests were assigned to the following category: forest phytocenosis, deciduous forests. According to the phytocenological classification these communities belong to the North- Mediterranean mesophytic and xeromesophytic vegetation in the belt of hornbean-oak wood. The chestnut belt in Belasitsa mountain occupies an area of 1461 ha and is situated at m above sea level. Chestnut associations in Belasitsa mountain Our investigations resulted in the identification of 272 vascular plant species. They were grouped in the following main associations with prevailing participation of Castanea sativa Mill. 1. Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa 2. Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa 3. Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalwas Mixoherbosa 4. Castanea sativa+platanus orientalwas Mixoherbosa Association Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa L.(4.4.IV), at some places the growing of Castanea sativa Mill (3.4.III) had a higher frequency and coverage. Singly present were Viburnum lantana L.,. Carpinus orientalwas Mill., and the growing of Juglans regia L Fagus sylvatica L., and more often Fraxinus ornus L. and Tilia platyphyllos Scop.. The total project coverage of the herb floor was 40-50%. There were many species with small coverage such as: Primula acaulwas L., Lathyrus laxiflorus (Desf)O.Kuntze., Lathyrus niger (L.)Bernh., Galium aparine L., Geum urbanum L., Vicia cassubica L., Pulmonaria officinalwas L., Coronilla emerus L., Euphorbia amygdaloides L., Mellica uniflora Retz., Poa bulbosa L., Geranium robertianum L., Potentilla micrantha Romond ex DC, Doronicum columnae Ten.. Pteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn. (5.4.IV) was also prevailing in participation at some places. Primula acaulwas L. (2.1.II), Scilla bifolia L., Ranunculus ficaria L. and Cardamine bulbifera (L.)Crantz (2.1.II) determined the spring aspect. In the summer the appearance of the floor was given by: Chamaecytwasus supinus (L.)Link., Chamaecytwasus hirsutus (L.)Link., Physospermum cornubiense (L.)DC, Dactylwas glomerata L., Clinopodium vulgare L.(2.4.II), Campanula sparsa Friv. Autumn ephemeroides for the whole association were: Cyclamen hederifolium Ait (2a.3.II), which can be found rather often and more rarely Crocus pulchellus Herb. and Colchicum autumnale L.. The species Calamintha sylvatica Bromf (2.3.II) and Salvia glutinosa L.(2.3.II) were typical for the autumn period, too. Association: Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa This association was present at about m above sea level. The slope was 15 to 32, and the exposure was mostly northeast to north. The soils are CAMBWASOLS, CMx, FAO, 1988 and CAMBWASOLS, CM, FAO, The sylviculture characteristics of this association were the following: Age - between years; density - 0,1-0,9; diameter cm; height of stand m; site index - I-V. The communities within the association were with well-formed three-floor structure. Dominant in the first layer was Castanea sativa Mill (5.4.V). Co-dominants were Fagus sylvatica L.(4.4.IV), Quercus dalechampii Ten (3.1.III). Singly-occurring were Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Tilia tomentosa Moench, Carpinus betulus L., Prunus avium L., Juglans regia L. and around roads Robinia pseudoacacia L.. The tree floor was with plain structure and canopy 0,6. The shrub floor had average height 1,5 m and coverage 50%. It was formed mainly by Corylus avellana The association was found at about m above sea level. The slope was 15 to 37, the exposure was mostly northwest and north. The soils are CAMBWASOLS, CMx, FAO, 1988, type argic. for this association were: age- between years; density- 0,1-0,9; diameter cm; height of stand m; site index - I-V. Dominant in the first floor was Castanea sativa Mill (5.5.V). Co-dominants were Fagus sylvatica L.(4.1.IV), Quercus dalechampii Ten (2.1.II). and spots of cultures of Pinus nigrа Arm. and Pinus sylvestrwas L.. Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Prunus avium L., Quercus robur L., Acer pseudoplatanus L. were met singly. The tree floor was typically with plain structure but on places a sub-floor of Acer pseudoplatanus L, Prunus avium L. and Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. was formed. The canopy was 0,6. The coverage of shrubs and growings was less then 30% and in general a second floor was not formed. 30 Zbornik na trudovi od 2-ot Kongres na ekolozite na Makedonija

3 The growing of Quercus daleshampii Ten., Ulmus minor Mill., Ilex aquifolium L Acer platanoides L., Sorbus torminalwas (L.)Cr., Sorbus aucuparia L. were met singly. Many species, as Euvonimus latifolifolus (L.)Mill, Sambucus nigra L, Cornus mas L., Crataegus monogina Jacg., Juniperus communwas L. take part in the second floor, if it was set up. There was not marked dominant. The total project coverage of the herb floor was 40-50%. There were many species with a smaller coverage or the participation of Pteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn. (5.4.V) was predominant. These were: Hieracium hoppeanum Shult., Saponaria officinalwas L., Sanicula europaea L., Clematwas vitalba L., Saxifraga rotundifolia Vel., Anthrwascus sylvestwas (L.) Hoffm., Polypodium vulgare L., Lysimachia vulgarwas L., Scutellaria altwasima L., Prunella vulgarwas L., Cystopterwas fragilwas (L.)Bernh., Ligustrum vulgare L., Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds)Beauv.. Association: Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalis Mixoherbosa The association was situated at about m above sea level. The slope was from 13 to 34, the exposure was mostly northwest and north. The soils were CAMBWASOLS, CMx, FAO, for this association were: age - between years; density - 0,5-1,0; diameter cm; height of stand m; site index - II-V. The communities were with well-formed three-floor structure and the edificator was Castanea sativa Mill (5.4.V). There was artificially introduced Pinus sylvestris L. (3.3.III). The bush stratum was with average height of 1,0 m and coverage 40%. The dominant species was Carpinus orientalis Mill.(4.4.IV). Corylus avellana L. (3.1.III) was present as a co-dominant. Cornus mas L., Juniperus communwas L., Juniperus exelsa Bieb. and growings of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Castanea sativa Mill. were rare. The total project coverage of the herb floor was 50%. It included many species with small coverage such as: Digitalis grandiflora Mill., Anthemis tinctoria L., Limodorum abortivum (L.) Schwartz., Sanicula europaea L., Scutellaria columnae All., Prunella laciniata (L.)L., Potentilla argentea L., Dactylis glomerata L., Clinopodium vulgare L., Campanula sparsa Friv. Rarely Pteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn. (3.4.III) was prevailing. Association: Castanea sativa + Platanus orientalis Mixoherbosa The chestnut formation was situated as a strip in the foothill belt of the mountain. In many places mainly along humid gullies and streams it was intersected by the formation of Platanus orientalis L. Here was a separate association with prevailing participation of Castanea sativa Mill. The association was found at about m above sea level. The slope was from 16 to 32, the exposure was mostly north. The soils were CAMBISOLS, CMx, FAO, 1988, type argic. for this association were: age - between years; density - 0,3-0,8; diameter cm; height of stand m; site index - II-V. Co-dominants in the first layer were Castanea sativa Mill. (4.4.IV) and Platanus orientalis L.(4.4.IV). Alnus glutinosa (L.)Gr. и Prunus avium L. were met singly. The canopy was 0,7. The coverage of shrub species was less then 30% and a second floor was not formed in general. The Cornus mas L., Celtis australis L., Rosa canina L., Corylus avellana L. and growing of Fagus sylvatica L. и Tilia platyphyllos Scop. are meet singly. The general project coverage of the herb floor was 70%. There were many species with small coverage or the participation of Pteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn. (5.4.V) was prevailing. These are: Lychnis coronaria (L.)Desr., Galium pseudaristatum Schur., Salvia verticillata L., Fragaria vesca L., Rosa myriacantha DC ex Lam., Dactylis glomerata L., Clinopodium vulgare L., Campanula sparsa Friv., Calamintha sylvatica Bromf., Salvia glutinosa L., Coronilla varia L., Lathyrus aureus (Stev.)Brandza., Lathyrus venetus (Mill.)Wohlf., Trifolium alpestre L., Aegopodium podagraria L., Mycelis muralis (L.)Dum. Distribution of chestnut associations and other groups of plants The distribution of the main associations of Castanea sativa Mill. in Belasitsa is shown in Fig.1. The most common association in the studied region was Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa followed by Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa The distribution of the chestnut associations in different types of forests studied is shown in Tab. 1. The four described associations were present in the young coppice. In the old coppice the association Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalis Mixoherbosa which was not present. 31

4 Marjana LUBENOVA et al. Tab. 1. The distribution of Castanea sativa Mill associations in different types of forests studied were also the same. The difference was in the presence of growings of Castanea sativa Mill. as a codominant in the second floor and the appearance of Robinia pseudoacacia L. at some places. The associations Castanea sativa + Platanus orientalis Mixoherbosa and Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa were not described by Popov (1965) although he mentioned that the chestnut formation was crossed by the formation of Platanus orientalis L. In conclusion we did not observe indications for the replacement of Castanea sativa Mill. by other species, nothwithstanding the present bad phytosanitary state of the chestnuts. *OC - old coppice in bad state; YCS - young coppice in bad state where sylviculture actions wer undertaken Separate groups of species were formed around roads and cuttings in the mountain. They contained mainly species as: Robinia pseudoacacia L., Epilobium angustifolium L., Persicaria hydropiper (L.)Spash., Tussilago farfara L., Plantago major L., Berteroa incana (L.)DC, Urtica dioica L., Rubus idaeus L., Rubus caesius L., Tanacetum macrophylum (W.etK.) Schultz-Bip., Artemisia vulgaris L., Agrimonia eupatoria L., Inula salicina L., Achillea millefolium L., Verbascum nigrum L. Discussion We can see that two types of structure are characteristic for the chestnut stands: a three-floor structure represent by the associations: Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa, Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalis Mixoherbosa, and a two-floor structure with the associations Castanea sativa Mixoherbosa, Castanea sativa + Platanus orientalis Mixoherbosa. The invasion of specie from other communities was not present although at some places Fagus sylvatica L. or Quercus daleshampii Ten. prevailed and cultures of Pinus sylvestris L. were present at lower places. Typical species not associated with flors were Vitis vinifera L. and more often - Clematis vitalba L.. At some places over-floor trees of Castanea sativa Mill. and a subfloor were present. All the described associations were present in the young coppice. In the old coppice the association Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalis Mixoherbosa was not present. The comparison of our data with findings of Popov (1965) showed that 40 years ago the main associations of the chestnut formation were: Castanea sativa Corylus avellana Mixoherbosa and Castanea sativa Carpinus orientalis Mixoherbosa. These two associations were the same as those established by us. The dominant structure in the lower floors References Bondev I. (1991). The vegetation of Bulgaria, map 1: with explanatory text, St. Kliment Ohridski, Univ. Press.(in bulgarian). Bratanova-Doncheva Sv., Mihailov Sv. (1995). Processes of degradation in ecosystems of Castanea sativa Mill. in Belasitsa. In: International conf. Ecological prognosis and problems, Vratsa, p (in bulgarian). Fisher J., Grandianny M., Kessler F., Renaux A., Romane F. (1996). Plant species biodiversity changes after chestnut coppice clear-cut in the Cevennes, In: Dynamics and Function of Chestnut Forest Ecosystems in Mediterranean Europe. (CAST), CNRS, France, Second Annual Report. Kostadinova S., Dimitrov D. (2002). New data on the vascular flora of Mt. Belasitsa, Phytologia Balcanica 8(3), Sofia, Ninov N. (1997). Soils In: Geography of Bulgaria. Physical geography. Publ House Prof. Marin Drinov, p (in bulgarian). Pavlov D. (1995). Phytocenology, Martilen, Sofia, p (in bulgarian). Ponjatovskaja V Field geobotany, vol.iii, p (in russian). Popov S. (1965). The chestnut stands in Belasitsa and Ograjden, Diploma Thesis, Faculty of Biology, University St. Kliment Ohridski. (in bulgarian). Romane F., Hauter S., Valerino L. (1997). Factors affecting biodiversity in chestnut ecosystems along a gradient from coppice to orchard in Cevennes mountains, In: Biological Criteria for Sustainable Developments in Natural Degenerated Forest of Mediterranean Europe, F. Romane, CNRS, France. Stojanov N., (1921). Floristic materials from Mt Belasitsa, Ann. Sofia Univ. St. Kliment Ohridski (in Bulgarian). Sylviculture project of Petrich, (1999). (in bulgarian) Velev V., Bratanova-Doncheva Sv., Vatseva R., (2000). Distribution of chestnut in Bulgaria and its protection, Proceeding of Jub. Scient. Conf. University of Forestry, vol I, p (in Bulgarian) 32 Zbornik na trudovi od 2-ot Kongres na ekolozite na Makedonija

5 Fig. 1. Assosiations of Castanea sativa Mill. In Belasitsa Mountain. 33