Comparative analysis of the vascular floras of the Moraca and Cijevna canyons (Montenegro)

Abstract

The vascular floras of the canyons of the Moraca and Cijevna Rivers in Southern Montenegro are analyzed. A great number of Mediterranean plants were observed in these canyons, clearly indicating that they belong to the Adriatic sub-Mediterranean floristic subregion. This is additionaly confirmed by the prevailing occurrence of Mediterranean hemicryptophytes, geophytes, and therophytes. The floristic differences observed between these two canyons are mostly caused by their different geographical positions, resulting in stronger Mediterranean influence in the Cijevna Canyon, but stronger continental impact in the Moraca Canyon. Thus, the Cijevna Canyon has more Mediterranean and evergreen plant species.

New faunistic data on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the southern part of Montenegro

“…We consider the locality 14 (Cijevna River Canyon) especially interesting as we collected two species new for Montenegro there (Camponotus gestroi and C. honaziensis) and a rare subspecies Crematogaster auberti savinae. This is probably characteristic of the site with several different habitats and the fact that the Cijevna River Canyon is known as significant glacial refugium as already shown in floristic studies (Bulić et al 2008). Thus, this is the northernmost known locality of C. gestroi in the Balkan Peninsula, where the species has so far been recorded from southwestern Bulgaria (Lapeva-Gjonova et al 2010), central and southern Republic of Macedonia (Bračko et al 2014) and Greece (Borowiec & Salata 2012).…”

Phytogeographic Characteristics of Montane Coniferous Forests of the Central Balkan Peninsula (SE Europe)

“…Although there are numerous data collected during the intensive development of floristic and phytocenological science over the 20th century, which constitute a valuable source of information for the description, quantification, and analysis of biodiversity at local and regional scales [ 18 , 19 ], recent studies that systematically address various aspects of Balkan floristic diversity [ 6 , 7 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ] did not pay full attention to the floristic diversity and phytogeography of the coniferous forests of the Balkan Peninsula.…”

Fissidens fontanus,a new species to Montenegro

“…The length of the river in Montenegro is 32 km. From a nature conservation aspect, the most important section of the river in Montenegro is Cijevna canyon with 959 registered plant species (Bulić et al 2008). The studied site also belongs to this canyon.…”