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Abstract

Campanula tommasiniana is a typical chasmophyte occupying calcareous rock crevices and cracks along a wide range of ecological gradients, demonstrating a high degree of ecological plasticity and stress tolerance with regards to abiotic factors. Generally, three ecologically and floristically distinct groups of stands were recognized and typified according to a sigmatistic approach: (a) Seslerio juncifoliae-Campanuletum tommasinianae ass. nov., with stands occupying higher elevated sites fully exposed to sun and strong winds; (b) Seslerio autumnalis-Campanuletum tommasinianae ass. nov., representing stands predominantly developed within thermophytic beech stands, semi- to fully- shaded by the tree canopy; (c) Cystopteri fragilis-Campanuletum tommasinianae, sciophytic, stands adapted to moisture and coldwith high frequency and coverage of bryophytes. Results of DCA analyses using a unimodal model suggest that Campanula tommasiniana is primarily a plant of open and exposed sites of higher elevation despite being most frequently found in rock crevices within thermophytic and altimontane beech forests.

Keywords

Campanula tommasiniana Campanulaceae Dinaric Alps ecology endemic species Liburnian karst Mt. Ucka phytosociology

Article Details

How to Cite
Surina, B., & Martincic, A. (2014). Ecology and niche assembly of Campanula tommasiniana, a narrow endemic of Mt Ucka (Liburnian karst, northwestern Adriatic). Acta Botanica Croatica, 73(1). Retrieved from https://www.abc.botanic.hr/index.php/abc/article/view/815