Steppe flora in Serbia – distribution, ecology, centres of diversity and conservation status

Abstract

The steppe flora and vegetation represents a significant part of the Eurasian temperate grassland biome. In Serbia, this flora is a part of the biome’s western border zone and its characteristics therefore may be modified. The aim of this study was to determine the number of steppe taxa in Serbia and to conduct a chorological and ecological analysis of this flora. The results of diversity analysis and summary distribution of steppe taxa were presented on 50 × 50 km grids using the Universal Transverse Mercator projection. Regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between steppe species richness and the altitude. Floristic similarity between the geographical groups were analysed using the clustering method and species fidelity to each cluster was calculated. The species conservation status is also presented. In total, the presence of 233 steppe taxa in the investigated area was recorded. The most frequent families are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae and Caryophyllaceae with Dianthus, Astragalus, Allium, Stipa, Cytisus, Centaurea and Silene as genera that contribute the most to steppe flora in Serbia. According to the chorological and life form spectra, Pontic European taxa and hemicryptophytes are the most numerous. Geological substrate like loess, sand, and other unbound sediment, as well as the lower altitudinal ranges proved to be most suitable for the development of steppe flora in Serbia. The distribution of steppe flora in Serbia indicates Deliblato Sand and Mt Fruska Gora as centres of diversity. The study suggests that the cumulative effect of environmental factors is important to consider in the planning of steppe species conservation.