Abstract
The rocky habitats of southern Portugal are ecosystems with extreme xericity conditions, associated with special abiotic strains. In these unstable ecological conditions, a considerable diversity of plant communities occurs. The objective of this study, carried out in the Algarve and Monchique, and the Mariánica Range biogeographical sectors, is to compare chasmo-chomophytic communities of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, using a phytosociological approach (Braun–Blanquet methodology) and numerical analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis). From these results, two new communities were identified, Sanguisorbo rupicolae-Dianthetum crassipedis and Antirrhinetum onubensis, as a result of floristic and biogeographical differences from other associations already described within the alliances Rumici indurati-Dianthion lusitani and Calendulo lusitanicae-Antirrhinion linkiani, both included in the Phagnalo saxatilis-Rumicetea indurate class.
Highlights
Habitats are very important natural or semi-natural places that need to be continuously studied to preserve them and their inhabitants, especially the plant endemic species that characterize them [1,2]
Among the wide spectrum of habitats, we focus on plant communities that develop on rocky habitats, which are often associated with crests, cliffs, lithosols, rocky soils or rock outcrops
The phytosociological and syntaxonomical vegetation analysis of the chasmo-chomophytic communities dominated by Dianthus crassipes (Rumici induratiDianthion lusitani alliance) and Antirrhinum onubensis (Calendulo lusitanicae-Antirrhinion linkiani alliance) allow us to distinguish two new communities: Sanguisorbo rupicolaeDianthetum crassipedis and Antirrhinetum onubensis
Summary
Habitats are very important natural or semi-natural places that need to be continuously studied to preserve them and their inhabitants, especially the plant endemic species that characterize them [1,2]. Among the wide spectrum of habitats, we focus on plant communities that develop on rocky habitats, which are often associated with crests, cliffs, lithosols, rocky soils or rock outcrops In these edaphoxerophilous biotopes that appear to be evidence of extreme xericity conditions, namely great edaphic drought as a result of the soil’s reduced capacity for water retention [5,11]. This environment offers the ideal conditions for a highly specialized type of vegetation: the chasmo-chomophytic communities, which encompass rupicolous vegetation that colonizes earthy broad crevices, rocky soils and lithosols (chomophytes) or narrow rocky fissures (chasmophytes). The phytosociological and syntaxonomical vegetation analysis of the chasmo-chomophytic communities dominated by Dianthus crassipes (Rumici induratiDianthion lusitani alliance) and Antirrhinum onubensis (Calendulo lusitanicae-Antirrhinion linkiani alliance) allow us to distinguish two new communities: Sanguisorbo rupicolaeDianthetum crassipedis and Antirrhinetum onubensis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
