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halophytic vegetation on the largest sand area on Croatian coast: The island of Mljet, southern Adriatic. Biologia, Bratislava, 59: 435—445, 2004; ISSN 0006-3088. Results of syntaxonomical research of coastal psammo-halophytic vegetation, rare and endangered on Croatian coast, have been studied. The plant forma-tions are developed on the deposits o...
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The paper describes the Tamaricion dalmaticae alliance and the Tamaricetum dalmaticae association, a new syntaxa localized under the saline or sub-halophilous conditions within the thermo-mediterranean and meso-mediterranean belts of the eastern Adriatic coast. The Tamaricion dalmaticae alliance is considered analogous to the Western Mediterranean...
The flora and vegetation of three small islets with surface areas from 1.04 to 3.31 hectares, lying between the mainland and the Pelješac peninsula in south Croatia, were investigated in 2014 and 2015. The floristic data have been used to analyze life-form and chorological spectra and to assess species-area relationship, the occurrence of islet spe...
Citations
... The area is covered by psammophytic vegetation that belongs to the class Cakiletea maritimae TX et PRSG 1950, with the frequently present Cakile maritima Scop., Salsola kali L. and Euphorbia peplis L., which are creating a vegetation zone 5 -16 m distant from the sea. This zone is followed by a zone of a fragmentarily developed Echinophoro-Elymetum farcti Gehu 1988 association (Alegro et al., 2004). The area, characterised by well-preserved embryonic shifting dunes, has been classified as a Protected Landscape area since 1965 and is included in the NAT-URA 2000 network (CAEN, 2020). ...
... The two new populations of C. trisignata trisignata and C. arenaria viennensis were located within the Natura 2000 network, in priority habitat types, reinforcing the pressure for the conservation of these areas. Sandy beaches in Croatia are rare, small, and fragmented habitats, which makes them highly endangered (Alegro et al., 2004;Stančić et al., 2008;Pikelj & Juračić, 2013). The majority of typical sandy coastal plant species in Croatia are included in the Red List (Nikolić & Topić, 2005), which makes the conservation value of these habitats even higher. ...
Here we present new records of two rare tiger beetles in Croatia, their distribution and habitat selection. Cylindera trisignata trisignata (Dejean, 1822) was recorded in Croatia,for the first time in 115 years, on Mljet Island in Blace Bay. Specimens were collected on a sandy beach, 5 - 6 m from the water’s edge sea coast. Cylindera arenaria viennensis (Schrank, 1781) was found in Croatia, for the first time in 67 years, in Podravina, in Kloštar Podravski. It was collected in an area previously exploited for sand mining, which was later abandoned and left to the natural succession. Both species were recorded in rare natural or semi-natural sandy habitat types that are endangered in Croatia. The survival of these and other psammophilous species depends on the suitable management and protection of sandy habitats.
... Wide beaches display wind ripples directed landwards. The upper parts of wide beaches display halophytic vegetation (Alegro et al., 2004). ...
This study deals with sand beaches of the SE Adriatic archipelago and Pelješac Peninsula. The beaches themselves, as well as their genetically related surroundings are taken into consideration, as both are critical for understanding beach features and processes. Two approaches have been followed in these two areas: the study of sediment composition including heavy mineral associations and the study of geology, morphology and sediment distribution. These features and their combination present the basis for interpretation of present-day processes, as well as for reconstructing how and where the beaches developed and why have they in some places disappeared.
Sediment composition of the studied beaches clearly indicates Pleistocene deposits as the principal sediment source. However, much of this supplied sediment has a short residence time on the beaches due to marine reworking and the bulk of the beach sediment arrives from the sea floor.
The positioning of the studied sand beaches at bayheads, their lengths and shapes, as well as their present status, have been influenced by several main factors. They include: (1) pre-Pleistocene tectonic deformations, (2) pre-Pleistocene weathering and erosion of carbonate sediments, mainly Cretaceous in age, (3) initial distribution of “soft” Pleistocene cover sediments, as well as (4) the history of their reduction and related decline in sediment source capacity or at some locations their complete disappearance. Other main factors are (5) the post-LGM sea-level rise and (6) two climatic events: an important pluvial period from 8.4 to 6 ka BP (maximum from 7 to 6 ka BP) and the transition to Mediterranean climate between 6 and 5.5 ka BP. Beaches with relatively high Pleistocene hinterland supply and correlative, relatively large widths seem to be quasi-stable or possibly even prograde. Beaches of small width and minor to negligible hinterland supply, or those completely deprived of it, suggest ongoing beach recession.
Suggested priorities for the protection of the beaches are directly related to the preservation of hinterland supply. In the case of beaches with negligible or no hinterland sediment supply replenishment projects can be considered.
... Sometimes the reason is the small width of a dune (e.g. Croatia; Alegro et al., 2004), but more frequently natural or human stressors (Šilc et al., 2016a). In zones (ii) to (v) the following plant communities are mainly observed: (ii): Cakilo-Xanthietum strumarii, Salsolo kali-Cakiletum maritimae; (iii): Sporoboletum, Echinophoro-Elymetum farctii, Echinophoro-Elymetum farcti othanthetosum, Eryngio-Sporoboletum virginici, Euphorbio paraliae-Agropyretum junceiformis, Cypero mucronati-Agropyretum juncei; (iv): Ammo philetum australis, Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis, Echinophoro-Ammophiletum australis, Sileno-Vulpietum; and (v) Ephedra distachya, Euphorbio-Silenetum nicaeensis, Ephedro distachyae-Silenetum subconicae, Crucianellietum maritimae, Artemisio variabilis-Ephedretum distachyae, Plantagini albicantis-Scabiosetum albae and Tortulo-Scabiosetum albae (Šilc et al., 2016a). ...
This book contains 22 chapters covering topics on the ecophysiology, mechanisms of adaptation to climate change and practical uses of halophytes.
... et Tx. ex Westhoff, et al. 1946and Cakiletea maritimae Tx. et Preising in Tx. ex Oberd 1952(Alegro et al. 2004). The soil formed from this sand can be classified as arenosol and represents the very first stage of soil development from this substrate. ...
... Mljet contains the largest contiguous area covered with this type of vegetation. Mljet includes Blace, Mala Saplunara and Velika Saplunara Bays (Alegro et al. 2004). ...
We present the first confirmed record of the threatened yellow-winged digging grasshopper, Acrotylus longipes (Acrididae: Oedipodinae), from Croatia, from the island of Mljet, in Blace Bay. The yellow-winged digging grasshopper was found on sandy dunes covered with psammophytic vegetation characteristic of this type of habitat. Previously, only two localities of this species were reported from Croatia, both from photographs. This confirmed locality opens the possibility of a wider distribution of this species on similar habitats throughout Croatia.
... R. Br. Sandy coastal habitats in Croatia are very rare and psammophytic vegetation of the order Ammophiletalia is extremely endangered ( Alegro et al. 2004). Due to the very small and localized areas of these habitats, as well as by the quoted psammophytic species they are also colonized by many species of neighbouring ruderalized habitats as can be seen from those three phytosociological relevés (Tab. ...
A regionally extinct taxon, Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link subsp. arundinacea H. Lindb., has been rediscovered in the Croatian flora after 78 years. Previously it was known only from two coastal sand dune sites in Northern Dalmatia. The habitat t the locality of Crnika near Lopar on the northern Adriatic island of Rab is destroyed and A. arenaria subsp. arundinacea does not grow there anymore. At the second locality, on the sand dunes of Kraljičina plaža in the vicinity of the town of Nin, A. arenaria subsp. arundinacea was rediscovered and confirmed after 174 years. This is the only population of this taxon in Croatia, counting 48 mature individuals where the psammophylous habitat of Kraljičina plaža is under strong anthropogenic influence. This taxon is now classified as critically endangered (CR) and merits adequate active protection and conservation of its psammophylous habitat.
... Horvatić (1934Horvatić ( , 1939 was the first to study and provide a deeper insight into this vegetation type according to the Braun-Blanquet method, on the islands of Pag and Rab (Croatia), and he added new data in 1963 (Horvatić 1963). Extensive studies in Croatia were carried out by Trinajstić (1974Trinajstić ( , 1989aTrinajstić ( , 1995, Trinajstić & Jasprica (1998) and Alegro et al. (2003Alegro et al. ( , 2004 Trinajstić & Jasprica (1998) and in Montenegro by Trinajstić (1989b) and Mijović et al. (2006Mijović et al. ( , 2012. ...
... We compiled all available vegetation relevés from the eastern Adriatic coasts that have been elaborated on, taking the study area as a whole. Previous studies have been restricted to particular beaches or countries (Mullaj 1989, Alegro et al. 2004, Mijović et al. 2012. We demonstrated that the vegetation of sandy shores belongs to six plant communities (Table 1, Fig. 2): Cakilo-Xanthietum italici (cluster 1), Euphorbia paralias community (cluster 2), Euphorbio paraliae-Agropyretum junceiformis (clusters 4-6), Eryngio-Sporoboletum virginici (cluster 3), Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis (cluster 8) and Scabiosa argentea-Ephedra distachya community (cluster 7). ...
... Vegetation of cluster 1 is found in zone of deposition, embryonic dunes are colonised by vegetation classified in clusters 2 to 6. Vegetation of cluster 8 thrives on white dunes, while cluster 7 is found on grey dunes. Such complete zonation is not developed at all localities because sand dunes along the northeast Adriatic are narrower (15-20 m; Alegro et al. (2004)) than similar beaches in the southern Adriatic or in parts of Italy and Greece. The vegetation of sand dunes is better developed and richer in species in the south (Trinajstić 1989a). ...
The eastern Adriatic coast is mainly rocky and consequently there are only few well developed sandy beaches. Sand dunes are found mainly in the south, in Montenegro and Albania. Eastern Adriatic was under-researched in the past and is a white spot in the well-known pan-European psammophilous vegetation. We collected all available vegetation relevés (published and unpublished) and historical references of sand dune vegetation from the eastern Adriatic coast (Croatia, Montenegro and Albania). After classification and ordination an overview is presented of different plant communities along a seashore-inland zonation and their geographical distribution. The first group of embryonic foredunes comprises the Cakilo-Xanthietum, Euphorbia paralias community, and Eryngio-Sporoboletum, while the second group is found on more stable foredunes with Euphorbio paraliae-Agropyretum junceiformis, Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis, and Scabioso argenteae-Ephedretum distachyae. The last is newly described and is found only along the Albanian coast. Compared to surrounding countries number of plant communities is lower particularly on fixed dunes. Presence of habitat ‘Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes’(2210) is newly reported for Albania.Sand dunes are important habitats from a nature conservation point of view as they are endangered due to strong human impact. We urge protection of sand dune habitat types since they are still in good condition in Albania, while in Croatia sand dune plant communities are fragmentarily developed and in Montenegro under strong human impact.
... associated with halophilous or nitro-halophilous habitats (Jasprica et al., 2016), while others were related to the dry rocky grasslands and garrigue. Threatened taxa (2.8 %) are primarily distributed within the coastal brackish and halophilous communities, particularly on gravelly or sandy soils rich in nutrients, which are among the most threatened habitats in the eastern Adriatic (Alegro et al., 2004;Pandža et al., 2007;Jasprica et al., 2015b). ...
This paper is a first contribution to knowledge of the vascular plant species diversity of the NE Adriatic Island of Olib (26.13 km 2). The total vascular flora of the island comprises 465 taxa of native and naturalised vascular plants, and 69 commonly cultivated taxa. The Mediterranean character of Olib flora is reflected by a large proportion of taxa belonging to the families Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae and a clear domination of the steno-Mediterranean plants, accompanied by a high percentage of therophytes. Although a low level of human influence is shown, the presence of exotic taxa outside cultivation has to be monitored due to their potential naturalisation. With this in mind, this article aimed at updating the statuses of the species Ipomoea quamoclit and Aptenia cordifolia in the checklist of Croatian vascular plants.
Ovaj rad prvi je prilog poznavanju raznolikosti vaskularne flore sjevernojadranskog otoka Oliba (26,13 km 2), koja prema našem istraživanju obuhvaća 465 domaćih i udomaćenih biljnih svojta te 69 češće uzgajanih vrsta. Sredozemni karakter olipske flore ogleda se u velikoj zastupljenosti svojta iz porodica Poaceae, Fabaceae i Asteraceae, te prevladavanju steno-mediteranskih vrsta s visokim udjelom jednoljetnica (terofiti). Usprkos tome što je utjecaj čovjeka na otoku danas slab, pronašli smo više stra-nih vrsta izbjeglih iz uzgoja, što ukazuje na potrebu nadziranja njihovog budućeg širenja i mogućeg udomaćivanja. Smatramo potrebnim i da se vrste Ipomoea quamoclit i Aptenia cordifolia uključe u popis hrvatske flore.
... Connection with the sea is restricted to one narrow passage. This situation provides very still water and unobstructed sedimentation of sand (Alegro et al., 2004). ...
Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve is a diploid species that usually shows a small bushy growth form. It is an important component of the halophytic annual pioneer vegetation of salt marshes. This hyper-saline vegetation is rare and threatened by a wide variety of pressures (tourist and industrial practices, coast management, invasive species) in the European Mediterranean area. S. patula is a characteristic species in the habitat 1310 "Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand". This paper shows an analysis (by GLM and PCA) on the germination response to temperature and salinity of three populations of S. patula from different localities (Italy, Spain and Croatia) in order to identify the key factors controlling germination phases for the implementation of projects on conservation and environmental restoration of the hypersaline environments. We assessed the interspecific competitiveness of species related to several localities. The germination of S. patula was mainly influenced by temperature and salinity and secondly by the site of collection of seeds. In fact, even though S. patula optimal temperature range was between 25 and 35°C, the pattern of the germination response curve shows three distinct levels induced by the site of collection of seeds. For salinity, S. patula showed the ability to germinate at high salinities even in this case with distinct levels induced by the site of collection of seeds. This might suggest an adaptation of S. patula to the different sites bioclimatic conditions here estimated by summer and annual aridity. The population of Sentina Natural Regional Reserve had higher percentages of germination under saline conditions than the other populations. The seeds of the population from Blace were less salt tolerant than those of the populations from Sentina and Girona in the recovery responses. In conclusion, the local environmental conditions, especially Io and Ios2, are important variables to characterize and diversify the seed germination behavior in the three populations. In addition, S. patula seeds are able to germinate in high percentages in a rather wide range of temperature and salt concentration. Thus, it can be stated that the S. patula populations studied can be easily multiplied and successfully used for projects on conservation and environmental restoration of hypersaline environments.
... The cluster analysis (CA) has defined a backshore scrubs pollen-derived vegetation pattern ( Pd VP; Supplementary Figs S1 and S2), which fits with the modern shoreline vegetation 31,32 , and which corresponds to the main loading (+ 0.88) in the principal component analysis (PCA) based on Pd VPs (PCA-Axis1 pollen ; Fig. 2). The PCA-Axis1 pollen time series (77.64% of the total inertia) is positively correlated (Lag 0 + 0.63, P value < 0.001) with the PCA-Axis1 ostra scores (68.41% of the total inertia; based on ostracods; Supplementary Fig. S2) which are loaded by marine lagoonal (+ 0.91) and coastal (+ 0.38) ostracod assemblages in positive deviations (Fig. 2). ...
Storm surges, leading to catastrophic coastal flooding, are amongst the most feared natural hazards due to the high population densities and economic importance of littoral areas. Using the Central Mediterranean Sea as a model system, we provide strong evidence for enhanced periods of storminess leading to coastal flooding during the last 4500 years. We show that long-term correlations can be drawn between storminess and solar activity, acting on cycles of around 2200-yr and 230-yr. We also find that phases of increased storms and coastal flooding have impacted upon mid-to late Holocene agricultural activity on the Adriatic coast. Based on the general trend observed during the second half of the 20 th century, climate models are predicting a weakening of Mediterranean storminess. By contrast, our new data suggest that a decrease in solar activity will increase and intensify the risk of frequent flooding in coastal areas.
... Considerable research has been done on the halophyte vegetation along the western Adriatic (cf. Poldini et al. 1999, Merloni 2007, Tomaselli et al. 2011, Sciandrello & Tomaselli 2014, and references therein) and eastern Adriatic coasts (Janković & Stevanović 1983, Alegro et al. 2004, Kaligarič & Škornik 2006, 2007, Pandža et al. 2007, Shehu et al. 2010, Šajna et al. 2013), but there remain sites that have not yet been investigated. Among these is a coastal salt-marsh situated on the central east coast of the Adriatic in south Croatia. ...
The present phytosociological study of the eastern Adriatic coastal salt-marsh at Blato, Croatia, is based on the Braun-Blanquet approach. Five plant associations were recorded in the area: Juncetum maritimo-acuti, Puccinellio festuciformis-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Scirpetum maritimi, Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae and Cressetum creticae. The association Cressetum creticae was found for the first time in Croatia as well as on the eastern Adriatic coast. This therophytic and halo-nitrophilous association shows a monospecific or paucispecific character and occupies the most haline and the driest parts of the salt-marsh. The association develops during the summer on silty clay substrates with organic matter derived from the decay of plants of the neighboring communities. According to key soil factor analysis no differences of grain size of the soils among the associations were found, while regarding electrical conductivity, Cl- and Na+ concentrations were higher in the Cressetum creticae than in any of the others associations. The particular original features of the site regarding its flora and vegetation would justify some measures of protection and management.
