HACQUETIA 11/1 • 2012, 17-46 DGI: 10.2478/v10028-012-0002-5 effect of management modification on the coenological composition of the north adriatic pastoral landscape (cicarija, croatia) Ivana VITASOVIC KOSIC1*, Federico Maria TARDELLA2 & Andrea CATORCP Abstract The research aim was to assess the dynamics of the North Adriatic pastoral landscape (Cicarija, Croatia) with regard to the coenological composition of grassland communities, and, more specifically, to: i) assess the current grassland mosaic from a coenological viewpoint; ii) assess the effects of management abandonment on grassland species composition, also taking into account, as a basis for comparison, data on pastoral communities collected in the past decades. To achieve the research aims, 73 phytosociological relevés were carried out; for each of them field data (altitude, aspect, slope, landform) and information on grassland management were collected. Multivariate analysis of phytosociological relevés led to the identification of four vegetation types (Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae, Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris, Brachypodium rupestre-dominated stands, and Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti), which were linked to landform and to grassland management. Comparison in terms of social behaviour type composition of the grassland communities surveyed in the present study with the ones surveyed in the past decades, highlighted that the current management (grassland abandonment, as well as low intensity grazing and not periodic mowing) is leading to a percentage loss of pasture and meadow characteristic species, in favour of successional and ruderal ones. Key words: grasslands, North Adriatic, management, phytosociology, social behaviour type. Izvleček Namen raziskave je bil ovrednotiti dinamiko severnojadranske pašniške krajine (Cicarija, Hrvaška) predvsem cenološke sestavo travniških združb. Posebej smo želeli ugotoviti: i) trenuten travniški mozaik s cenološkega vidika, ii) spremembe opuščanja gospodarjenja na vrstno sestavo travnikov s primerjavo podatkov o pašnikih, pridobljenih v preteklih desetletjih. Naredili smo 73 fitocenoloških popisov in za vsakega od njih smo pridobili podatke o višini, legi, nagibu, krajinski obliki in informacijo o gospodarjenju. Z multivariatnimi analizami smo ugotovili štiri vegetacijske tipe (Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae, Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris, združbo z dominantno vrsto Brachypodium rupestre in Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti), ki smo jih povezali s krajinsko obliko in načinom gospodarjenja. Primerjava sestave zgradbe travniških združb glede na sinsociološko pripadnost vrst med današnjimi in starejšimi popisi je pokazala, da trenuten način gospodarjenja (opuščanje gospodarjenja, nizka intenziteta paše in le občasna košnja) vodi v izgubo značilnih vrst pašnikov in travnikov na račun vrst razvitejših sukcesijskih stadijev in vrst ruderalnih rastišč. Ključne besede: travniki, severni Jadran, gospodarjenje, fitocenologija, fitosociološka pripadnost vrst. 1 Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetosimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; e-mail: ivitasovic@agr.hr 2 School of Environmental Sciences, University of Camerino, via Pontoni 5, I-62032 Camerino (MC), Italy; e-mail: andrea.catorci@unicam.it, dtfederico.tardella@unicam.it * Corresponding Author 1. INTRODUCTION European semi-natural calcareous grasslands, species-rich ecosystems, have been considered priority habitats by the European Union (92/43/ EEC Directive) and judged worthy of conservation (Pärtel et al. 1999, Norderhaug et al. 2000, Myklestad and Sœtersdal 2004, Klimek et al. 2006). Throughout Europe, owing to their low agricultural productivity (Willems 1990, van Dijk 1991), these managed pastures are in strong decline and threatened by abandonment (Luick 1998, Zervas 1998, Dullinger et al. 2003, Sebastià et al. 2008). This trend has been also observed in the North Adriatic pastoral landscape (Kaligaric et al. 2006) and on the Cicarija mountainous plateau as well (Vitasovic Kosic 2011, Vitasovic Kosic et al. 2011). Thus, the understanding of change due to abandonment or management modification is a key factor for biodiversity conservation. Indeed, it is known that grassland management acts as a driving force in plant community diversity (Mil-chunas & Lauenroth 1993, Biondini et al. 1998, Collins et al. 1998, MacDonald et al. 2000, Adler et al. 2001, Bullock et al. 2001, Kahmen et al. 2002, Wilson et al. 2003, Frank 2005, Altesor et al. 2006, de Bello et al. 2006, 2007, Catorci et al. 2011). However, the use of simple measurements of species richness to understand plant community shifts due to management modification can lead to misleading conclusions for conservation aims (Campetella et al. 2004). The analysis of plant communities phytosociological composition, instead, has proven useful in understanding ecosystem dynamics and properties (scheiner 1992, Borhidi 1995, Díaz et al. 2001, Decocq et al. 2004). This approach provides information on the mechanisms underlying species assemblages (Kolasa & Rollo 1991, Alard & Poudevigne 2000), allows a better understanding of the relationship between environmental features and plant diversity (Díaz & Cabido 1997, Lavorel et al. 1997, McI-ntyre et al. 1999, Pillar 1999, Hunt et al. 2004), and permits modelling floristic and vegetation shifting due to changes in management type or in disturbance intensity (Kelly 1996, Noble & Gitay 1996, Hobbs 1997, Kleyer 1999). Thus, the assessment of plant communities' coenologi-cal composition may provide useful information for the improvement of grassland management practices, according to the principles of adaptive management (Holling 1978). Our research aim was to assess the dynamics of the North Adriatic pastoral landscape with regard to the coenological composition of grassland communities, using social behaviour types analysis, in consideration of the ongoing process of abandonment of management activities. Hence, the specific research goals were to: i) assess the current grassland mosaic from a coenological viewpoint; ii) assess the effects of management abandonment on grassland species composition, also taking into account, as a basis for comparison, data on pastoral communities collected in the past decades. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 Study area The study area (about 1,000 ha) is located to the north of the Istrian Peninsula, on the Cicarija mountainous plateau (45° 29' 56" - 45° 30' 00" N, 13° 59' 54" - 14° 00' 29" E), ranging from 250-300 to 850-900 m a.s.l., and it is proposed as a Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Natura 2000 network (92/43/EEC Directive) as an important site for habitat 62A0 and bird species conservation. The climate is transitional between mediterranean and continental pre-Alpine, with cool, rainy winters and long, dry summers (Poldini 1989). The mean annual temperature is 12.6 °C, the coldest in February (0-2 °C) and the warmest in July or August (18-22 °C). Precipitation is about 1500 mm/year, most of which falls in autumn; a less pronounced secondary peak occurs as spring turns to summer. From a bioclimatic viewpoint, the study area belongs to the sub-mediterranean belt (Kaligarič 1997) and the epi-mediterranean zone of the mediterranean-mountain vegetation belt (Čarni 2003). The territory is characterised by karstic phenomena (dolines, caves, etc.); the bedrock consists of limestone; soils are generally brown, shallow and clast-rich. Pastures are for the most part un-dergrazed because of the low density of grazers (sheep) or abandoned; meadows are not regularly mown, are abandoned or, in some cases, derive from seeded forage meadows that have been abandoned (Vitasovic Kosic et al. 2011). The pastoral landscape is characterized by pastures and meadows, referred to the Scorzo-neretalia villosae order (Festuco-Brometea class) and Arrhenatheretalia elatioris order (Molinio-Ar-rhenatheretea class), respectively. 2.2 Data collection Data collection was planned according to a stratified sampling method in order to sample all the topographic conditions, related to altitude, aspect, slope and landform, and all types of grassland use (mowing, grazing, mowing abandonment, and grazing abandonment). During 2009, 73 relevés were carried out using the Braun-Blanquet method (1964) in 10 x 10 m plots (100 m2). Field data (altitude, aspect, slope, landform) and information on grassland management were collected for each plot. Phytosociological papers which report data collected during the past decades on grasslands of the study area and neighbouring territories (Poldini 1980, 1985, 1989, Poldini & Oriolo 1994, Kaligaric & Poldini 1997) were consulted. Species were grouped in social behaviour types (SBTs) (Borhidi 1995, Bartha et al. 2008, Catorci et al. 2011a). SBTs aggregate species with similar preferences for the associated habitats, i.e. based on their coenological role, that is the role that a plant species plays in the community (Borhidi 1995) considering species in regard to their auto-ecology, morphology and physiological performances (Alard & Poudevigne 2000). Species SBTs were assessed in accordance with Mucina et al. (1993), Biondi et al. (2001, 2005), Aeschimann et al. (2004), and Carni et al. (2005), following the most accepted phytosociological placement of each species: pasture species (characteristic of Fes-tuco-Brometea, Tuberarietea guttatae, and Sedo-Scle-ranthetea classes); meadow species (characteristic of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class); successional and ruderal species (characteristic of Trifolio-Geraniet-ea, Rhamno-Prunetea, Querco-Fagetea, Artemisietea vulgaris, and Stellarietea mediae classes). 2.3 Data elaboration Phytosociological relevés were submitted to cluster analysis using the Complete link algorithm (Or-loci 1978), based on chord distance. To this purpose Braun-Blanquet values were transformed according to the van der Maarel scale (1979). For the syntaxonomical placement of the grassland types, local phytosociological studies (Poldini 1980, 1985, 1989, Poldini & Oriolo 1994, Kaligaric & Poldini 1997) were consulted. The species nomenclature followed the Flora Croatica Database (Nikolic 2011) and Flora d'Italia (Pignatti 1982). A synoptic table was made to compare the current coenological composition of syntaxa emerging from the phytosociological interpretation of Cicarija grassland communities, with one of the same syntaxa identified in the North Adriatic pastoral landscape by other authors during the past decades (Poldini 1989, Kaligaric & Poldini 1997). The SBT frequency distribution of each relevé group reported in the synoptic table was calculated. Cluster analysis was performed using SYNTAX 2000 software (Podani 2001). 3. RESULTS 3.1 Phytosociological analysis The multivariate analysis of phytosociological relevés (Figure 1) shows a separation into two main clusters (I and II), the latter divided into two subclusters (Ila, lib). Cluster I aggregates relevés ranging from 200-250 to 650-700 (888) m a.s.l., spread on flat or slightly concave surfaces, on the transition belt between slopes and flat lands, with quite deep soils (Table 1). The assessment of floristic and ecological features allows this community to be referred to the Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae association (Scorzonerion villosae alliance). Such grasslands are mainly managed as hay meadows. Cluster IIa includes relevés ranging from 500-550 to 700-750 (852) m a.s.l., spread on flat or slightly convex relief tops and on slightly or moderately steep slopes, with shallow soils and outcropping rock (Table 2). The assessment of floristic and ecological features enables such a community to be referred to the Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris association (Saturejion sub-spicatae alliance). Group lia is further separated, at a lower dissimilarity level, into two subgroups (lia1, IIa2), the former referred to grazed pastures, the latter to ungrazed and unmown grasslands, which are referred to a variant differentiated by Brachypodium rupestre. Cluster lib aggregates relevés spread generally on flat lands, on the bottom of depressions between relief tops, with deep clayey soils, between 500-550 and 700-750 m a.s.l. (Table 3). From a phytosociological viewpoint they are referred to Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti (Arrhenatherion ela-tioris alliance). This type of grassland, once used as pasture and hay meadow, at present is mostly unmanaged. 0 4 2 3 5 31 32 33 68 34 35 6669 72 73 70 71 6 7 8 9 10 23 63 64 65 62 67 38 39 4011 12 1315 14 16 17 18 21 2425 26 27 28 56 57 58 41 43 4246 47 48 51 5253 19 2022 29 30 3637 49 50 5944 45 5455 60 61 Figure 1: Dendrogram of phytosociological relevés (I - Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae; Ila1 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris; IIa2 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Brachypodium rupestre variant; lib - Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Pol-dini 1980). Slika 1: Dendrogram fitocenoloških popisov (I - Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae; IIa1 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris; IIa2 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Brachypodium rupestre varianta; IIb - Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980). The synoptic table (Table 4) shows the comparison of phytosociological composition between the above mentioned groups and the respective syntaxa drawn from the literature (Poldini 1989, Kaligaric & Poldini 1997). 3.2 Social behaviour types composition Table 5 shows the percentage frequency distribution of social behaviour types in each group of relevés reported in the synoptic table (Table 4). With regard to Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae, relevés from Cicarija grasslands, compared with Kaligaric & Poldini's (1997) ones (Table 5, columns 1 and 2), show a lower frequency of pasture species and a higher occurrence of succes-sional and ruderal elements (mostly from fringe habitats and fallow fields, mainly belonging to Trifolio-Geranietea and Artemisietea vulgaris classes). Similar differences have been observed also in Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris (Table 5, columns 3, 4, and 5). Social behaviour types variations are particularly pronounced in abandoned grasslands (cluster IIa2), because of the higher percentage of successional and ruderal species, mostly due to herbaceous and woody fringe species (Trfolio-Geranietea and Rhamno- Prunetea classes), and to nitrophilous elements (Artemisietea vulgaris class). With regard to Antho-xantho-Brometum erecti (Table 5, columns 6 and 7), Cicarija grasslands have a higher percentage value of successional and ruderal species (in particular belonging to Trifolio-Geranietea, Artemisi-etea vulgaris, and Rhamno-Prunetea classes), and a lower value of meadow elements, compared with Poldini's (1989) relevés, while the frequency of pasture species is constant. 4. DISCUSSION From the comparison of the relevé groups emerging from multivariate analysis (Figure 1) and of the collected field data (Tables 1-3), it can be observed that relevés segregation into clusters at the highest dissimilarity level is linked to landform, which, in turn, affects soil characteristics. These findings are consistent with plant communities distribution modeling, proposed by Vitanzi et al. (2009), and with Poldini's (1989) description of grassland communities' distribution in relation to landforms. Clusters segregation into subclus-ters at a lower dissimilarity level mostly depends on grassland use/non-use. Comparing species composition of the above mentioned syntaxa of grassland communities, sampled in the study area, with the ones reported in previous studies (Table 4), it can be argued that, at present, all the plant communities have a relatively high percentage of successional species (mostly herbaceous and shrubby fringe) (Table 5). This is due to grassland abandonment, as observed also by Catorci et al. (2011b) in the Apennines, and, probably, to the low intensity use of the whole pastoral system. More particularly, cluster I (Figure 1) groups relevés in which, apart from the elements of Scorzonerion villosae alliance and of the upper syntaxonomic units, a considerable number of meadow, successional and ruderal elements (transgressive species from Molinio-Ar-rhenatheretea, Trifolio-Geranietea, and Artemisietea vulgaris classes) occur. In cluster Ila, successional and ruderal species (belonging to Trifolio-Gerani-etea, Rhamno-Prunetea, and Artemisietea vulgaris classes) are associated with the typical species composition of Saturejion subspicatae alliance and of the upper units. Such elements are more frequent in abandoned pastures (subcluster IIa2) than in the ones subjected to a low disturbance intensity (subcluster IIa1). Cluster lib aggregates relevés characterized by the typical elements of meadows (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class) and by a conspicuous number of pasture species (Festuco-Brometea class) and of successional and ruderal species (Trifolio-Geranietea, Rhamno-Prunetea, and Artemisietea vulgaris classes). Despite their floris-tic similarity, mainly due to the dominance of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea species set, these relevés have a heterogeneous composition, probably because of the different origin of these grasslands. As a matter of fact, they derive from recolonisation processes of abandoned seeded meadows by Molinio-Arrhenatheretea species or, conversely, they are the result of the abandonment of Ar-rhenatherum elatius-dominated meadows. The lower frequency of meadow species in this group than in Poldini's (1989) relevés, in favour of suc-cessional and ruderal ones, can be explained by considering that, in accordance with Catorci & Gatti (2010), the occurrence of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class characteristic species set is linked to the contemporary presence of mowing, high soil nitrogen content, and high soil Available Water Capacity, so that the abandonment of mowing and/or fertilization cause the loss of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea species. Moreover, the occurrence of Brachypodium rupestre in Cicarija unmanaged grassland communities (Tables 2 and 3) is consistent with several studies, which emphasize the role of B. pinnatum and B. rupestre in the invasion of unmanaged grasslands, through processes of competition, and the related conservation problems (During & Willems 1984, Bobbink & Willems 1987). The reduction in grazing pressure, for instance, was primarily referred as a cause of the spread of B. pinnatum in the United Kingdom (Wilson et al. 1995, Buckland et al. 2001) and of B. rupestre in the Apennines (Bonanomi & Allegrezza 2004). Table 6 shows schematically the types of land use (pasture, meadow), their relation with landforms, and the observed dynamic trends of Cicarija grassland syntaxa, and reports some hypotheses about their evolution in case of protracted abandonment. 5. CONCLUSIONS The coenological analysis of Cicarija grasslands indicated that grassland abandonment, under-grazing and not periodic mowing (low disturbance) are leading to a coenological variation, which consists in a percentage loss of pasture and meadow characteristic species in ungrazed and unmown grasslands, respectively, in favour of successional and ruderal ones (Vitasovic Kosic et al. 2011). More specifically, the analysis of SBT frequencies shifts highlighted that the current management is causing the homogenization of grassland communities coenological composition (Table 5). On the other hand, other studies indicate that intensive farming activities also cause landscape homogenization in central Europe (Poschlod & Wallis DeVries 2002, Robinson & Sutherland 2002, Benton et al. 2003, Tscharntke et al. 2005). Thus actually, both high and low intensity use are liable to lead to a progressive ho-mogenization of pastoral landscape. However, as stated by Bakker (1998), differences in local grazing intensity may be very influential on plant communities' composition, at intermediate scales, while at small scales may cause the occurrence of micro-patterns, resulting in a system of pulsing patches. Moreover, it is known that dry grasslands on steep slopes or shallow soils are more resistant to vegetation change caused by abandonment than grasslands on flatter sites, hence they are more suitable to preserving plant biodiversity; on the contrary, mesophilous meadows are less resistant (Bennie et al. 2006), and hence they are more vulnerable than pastures to the loss of species diversity because of management abandonment. Such considerations suggest that pastures and meadows should be subjected to different types of regulation in order to preserve their diversity. In particular, a general low pressure of grazing can be maintained by means of grazing rotation, favouring the contemporary presence of ungrazed, undergrazed and moderately grazed pasture patches, while intensive grazing should be avoided because of the low resilience of dry pastures (Hirst et al. 2005). In pastures abandoned a long time ago, shrub clearing should be planned. In meadows, regular mowing should be maintained and incentivized; moreover, fertilization might be necessary, in specific cases, to improve productivity and preserve the meadow characteristic species set. Finally, the implementation of management plans for Cicarija grasslands will contribute to protecting one of the biodiversity hot spots in Europe, proposed as a Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Natura 2000 network, rich in endemisms, threatened plant species and floristic entities that reach in this area the edge of their range. 6. 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Accidental species: rel. 4 — Clematis vitalba, +; rel. 6 — Carduus pycnocephalus, +; Silene latifolia subsp. alba, +; rel. 7 — Rumex crispus, +; Erigeron annuus, +; Briza minor, +; Allium sp., +; rel. 8 — Juniperus communis, +; Pinus nigra, +; rel. 10 — Lu-zula multiflora, +; rel. 11 — Acinos arvensis, +; rel. 12 — Cerastium arvense subsp. strictum, +; rel. 13 — Carduus nutans, 1; Cirsium arvense, +; rel. 15 — Scolymus hispanicus, 2. Table 2: Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Ht. 1931 Brachypodium rupestre variant (rell. 15-40) Locality and date of the relevés: rel. 1 — Brest pod Uckom (15/06/2009); rel. 2-4 — Slum, near Genetic center (15/06/2009); rel. 5 — Slum, pasture on the hill (15/06/2009); rel. 6 — Jelovice, pasture on the hill (17/06/2009); rel. 7-8 — Slum, near Genetic center (23/06/2009); rel. 9 — Slum, near Genetic center (08/09/2009); rel. 10 — Zbevnica (10/07/2009); rel. 11 — Zbevnica (23/06/2009); rel. 12-13 — Brgudac-Lanisce (08/07/2009); rel. 14 — Lanisce, abandoned pasture (08/07/2009); rel. 15-19 — Jelovice (16/06/2009); rel. 20-21 -Vodice (16/06/2009); rel. 22 — Vodice, abandoned pasture (16/06/2009); rel. 23 — Jelovice, abandoned pasture in the village (17/06/2009); rel. 24 — Jelovice, abandoned grassland (17/06/2009); rel. 25 — Jelovice, abandoned pasture, dolines (17/06/2009); rel. 26 — Jelovice, abandoned pasture (17/06/2009); rel. 27 — Jelovice, dolines, succession with Laserpitium siler (17/06/2009); rel. 28 — Jelovice, dolines, succession (17/06/2009); rel. 29 — Jelovice-Vodice, main road (17/06/2009); rel. 30 — Jelovice-Vodice, main road, 1 km futher than rel. 29 (17/06/2009); rel. 31 — Dane-Brest under Žbevnica (10/07/2009); rel. 32 — Vodice, pasture (08/07/2009); rel. 33 — Vodice, pasture (08/07/2009); rel. 34 — Vodice, pasture (08/ 07/2009); rel. 35 — Lanišce, abandoned pasture (09/07/2009); rel. 36-37 — Račja vas, abandoned grassland (09/07/2009); rel. 38-39 — Račja vas-Rašpor, abandoned pasture (09/07/2009); rel. 40 — Rašpor-Trstenik (09/07/2009). Accidental species: rel. 5 — Viola odorata, +; rel. 6 — Viola odorata, +; rel. 7 — Cerastium arvense subsp. strictum, +; Carduus nutans, +; rel. 8 — Ce-rastium arvense subsp. strictum, +; rel. 9 — Doryc-nium hirsutum, +; rel. 12 — Daucus carota, +; rel. 15 — Cirsium arvense, +; Poa bulbosa, +; rel. 16 — Rhinanthus glacialis, +; rel. 17 — Sorbus aucuparia, +; Cirsium arvense, +; rel. 18 — Sorbus aucuparia, +; Poa bulbosa, +; rel. 22 — Rhamnus saxatilis, +; rel. 23 — Rhamnus saxatilis, +; Ajuga reptans, +; Convolvulus arvensis, +; rel. 25, 28 — Verbascum pulverulentum, +; rel. 29 — Cytisus nigricans, +; Po-tentilla reptans, +; Thlaspi perfoliatum, +; Gentiana lutea subsp. symphyandra, +; rel. 30 — Potentilla reptans, +; Gentiana lutea subsp. symphyandra, +; rel. 31 — Cytisus nigricans, +; Acinos arvensis, +; rel. 32 — Silene latifolia subsp. alba, +; rel. 33 — Silene latifolia subsp. alba, +; Clematis vitalba, +; rel. 34 — Acer campestre, +; Scolymus hispanicus, +; Pastinaca sativa, +; rel. 35 — Quercus cerris +; rel. 36 — Apera spica-venti, +; rel. 37 — Acer campestre, +; Fraxinus excelsior, +; rel. 38 — Fraxinus excelsior, +; Rhinanthus glacialis, +; Vicia villosa, +; rel. 39 — Daucus carota, +; rel. 40 — Apera spica-venti, +; Thlaspi perfoliatum, +. rel. 12 — Vodice-Dane, abandoned pasture (09/07/2009); rel. 13 — Jelovice, abandoned pasture (10/07/2009); rel. 14 — Jelovice, wetter meadow (10/07/2009); rel. 15 — Klenovscak, abandoned meadow, dolines (10/07/2009); rel. 16 — Klenovscak, dolines (10/07/2009). Accidental species: rel. 1 — Cornus mas, +; Rhamnus saxatilis, +; Stachys recta, +; rel. 2 — Gentiana lutea subsp. symphyandra, +; Inula ensifolia, +; rel. 3 — Echium vulgare, +; Crepis sancta, +; Li-num narbonense, +; Dianthus sanguineus, +; Linum tenuifolium, +; Hieracium bahuinii, +; Peucedanum cervaria, +; Calamintha menthifolia, +; rel. 4 — Silene vulgaris, +; Lilium bulbiferum, +; Allium sp., +; rel. 5 — Luzula multiflora, +; Pinus nigra, +; rel. 6 — Carduus pycnocephalus, +; Picris hieracioides, +; rel. 7 — Cichorium intybus, +; Clematis vitalba, +; rel. 8 — Knautia purpurea, +; rel. 9 — Dianthus monspessulanum, +; rel. 10 — Paeonia mascula, +; Leucanthemum vulgare, +; rel. 12 — Aristolochia clematitis, +; Prunus spinosa, 1; Rhamnusfallax, +; rel. 13 — Plantago holosteum, +; Laserpitium siler, +; rel. 14 — Campanula pyramidalis, +; Pseudolysima-chion spicatum subsp. barrelieri, +; rel. 15 — Potentilla reptans, +; rel. 16 — Allium sphaerocephalon, +. Table 3: Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980 Locality and date of the relevés: rel. 1 — Vodice, abandoned meadow, karst field (16/06/2009); rel. 2 — Vodice, abandoned meadow (16/06/2009); rel. 3 — Jelovice, meadow (17/06/2009); rel. 4 — Dane, abandoned meadow (17/06/2009); rel. 5 — Dane, abandoned pasture (17/06/2009); rel. 6 — Brgudac, abandoned meadow, village (08/07/2009); rel. 7 — Brgudac, abandoned meadow (08/07/2009); rel. 8 — Račja vas, meadow along the main road (09/07/2009); rel. 9 — Račja vas, abandoned pasture, near the cemetery (09/07/2009); rel. 10 — Klenovščak, meadow along the road (09/07/2009); rel. 11 — Vodice-Dane, abandoned meadow (09/07/2009); Received 9. 5. 2011 Revision received 16. 11. 2011 Accepted 21. 11. 2011 Table 1: Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatič in Horvatič 1958. Tabela 1: Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatič in Horvatič 1958. Relevé no. 1 2 S 4 5 6 V s 9 10 11 12 n 14 15 16 1V Relevé no. in Figure 1 1 4 2 S 5 S2 68 S4 S5 66 69 V2 U V0 V1 Altitude (m a.s.l.) 661 661 661 661 660 522 s16 s2V sss s21 sS1 49S 49S 2s6 2s6 2SS 661 Slope (°) 0 0 0 0 0 V 10 0 10 0 0 S S 0 0 0 0 Aspect 0 0 0 0 0 E E 0 NW 0 0 SSW W 0 0 0 0 Relevé area (m2) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 2s 100 100 2s 100 100 100 100 100 Cover (%) 100 100 100 100 100 90 e lo 9V e lo 100 lope 00 100 100 100 100 100 90 9s 100 Landform § M § M g a a ^ ^g ^ eg tí m m g ng n e -S c -S S S * S e s- ma ma Characteristic and differential species of Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Knautia illyrica 2 2 + + + + + + + + + + 1 + 1 1 16 100 Galium verum 1 + + 1 2 + 1 + 1 1 + + + 1 14 88 Festuca valesiaca + 1 1 1 + 1 1 1 2 1 1 11 69 Sanguisorba minor subsp. muricata + + + + + + 6 38 Rhinanthus minor + + + 2 + + 6 38 Trifolium campestre + 1 + . + 4 25 Characteristic species of Arrhenatherion elatioris alliance and upper units Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata 1 1 1+ + 1 + + 1 + + + 1 + + 1 16 100 Arrhenatherum elatius subsp. elatius 2 3 31 1 2 3 1 + + 1 1 + + 14 88 Poa pratensis 1 1. + 1 2 + + + + 1 + + + + 14 88 Trifolium repens subsp. repens 1 + 2+ 1 + 1 7 44 Anthoxanthum odoratum 3 1 ++ 1 + + 7 44 Achillea millefolium + +. 1 + + + + 7 44 Betónica officinalis subsp. serotina + + +. + + + 6 38 Trisetum flavescens .+ + 1 + 1 5 31 Trifolium pratense subsp. pratense 1 1 3. 1 1 5 31 Prunella vulgaris + +. + + 4 25 Rumex acetosa ++ + + 4 25 Holcus lanatus + + +. 1 4 25 Plantago lanceolata + 1. + + 4 25 Colchicum autumnale + + 2 13 Gentiana pneumonanthe + + 2 13 Tragopogon orientalis + + 2 13 Plantago major + + 2 13 Taraxacum officinale + + 2 13 Ranunculus acris +. 1 6 Stellaria graminea +. 1 6 Cerastium fontanum + 1 6 Thalictrum simplex subsp. galioides + 1 6 Transgressive species from Scorzoneretalia villosae order and Festuco Brometea class Festuca rupicola 2 2 +1 + + 1 1 1 + 1 1 1 2 1 1 16 100 Salvia pratensis 1 2 ++ + + + + + + + + 1 1 1 1 16 100 Briza media 1 1 ++ + + + + + + + + + 1 + + 16 100 Medicago falcata + + ++ + 1 2 1 + 1 1 1 1 1 + 1 16 100 Brachypodium rupestre 1 1 14 3 + 1 + 2 1 2 1 1 2 14 88 Plantago media + + 1. + + + + + + + + + + 13 81 Relevé no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pres Fr.% Filipendula vulgaris + + + + + + + 1 + 1 1 + + 13 81 Scorzonera villosa + + + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 1 2 2 13 81 Bromus erectus 2 3 1 3 3 3 1 2 2 3 2 2 12 75 Galium lucidum + + 1 + + + 1 1 1 + + + 12 75 Centaurea bracteata + 2 3 1 1 3 + + + + 1 11 69 Medicago lupulina s.l. 1 1 1 1 + + + + + + + 11 69 Polygala nicaeensis + + + + + + + + + + + 11 69 Koeleria macrantha + + + + + 1 1 + 1 + + 11 69 Scabiosa triandra 1 2 + + + + + + + 1 10 63 Lotus corniculatus + + + + 1 + 1 + + 9 56 Hypericum perforatum 1 + + + + + + + + 9 56 Leucanthemum liburnicum + + + + + + + + 8 50 Carduus collinus 1 + + + + + + + 8 50 Lotus corniculatus subsp. hirsutus + + + + + + + 7 44 Asperula aristata s.l. + + + + + + + 7 44 Anthyllis vulneraria + + + + + + + 7 44 Tragopogon pratensis + + + + + + + 7 44 Buphthalmum salicifolium + + + + + 1 1 7 44 Euphorbia verrucosa 1 + + + + + 6 38 Globularia punctata + + + + + + 6 38 Hippocrepis comosa + + + + + + 6 38 Genista sylvestris + + + + + 5 31 Centaurea triumfettii subsp. adscendens + + + + + 5 31 Stachys subcrenata + + + + + 5 31 Carex humilis 2 1 + + + 5 31 Thymus longicaulis + + + + + 5 31 Gentiana cruciata + + + + + 5 31 Koeleria splendens + + + + + 5 31 Trifolium montanum 1 + + + + 5 31 Euphorbia cyparissias + + + + + 5 31 Thymus pulegioides + + + + + 5 31 Dianthus balbisii subsp. liburnicus + + + + + 5 31 Daucus carota + + + + 4 25 Ononis spinosa subsp. antiquorum + + 1 + 4 25 Rhinanthus freynii 1 1 1 + 4 25 Centaurea weldeniana + + + + 4 25 Danthonia alpina + 1 + + 4 25 Eryngium amethystinum + + + + 4 25 Teucrium chamaedrys + + + + 4 25 Orchis militaris + + + + 4 25 Vicia cracca + + + 1 4 25 Arabis hirsuta + + + + 4 25 Galium corrudifolium 2 2 1 + 4 25 Sesleria juncifolia 1 + + 3 19 Bromus condensatus 3 1 1 3 19 Tragopogon dubius + + + 3 19 Allium carinatum + + + 3 19 Prunella laciniata + + 2 13 Hypochaeris maculata + + 2 13 Carexflacca s.l. 1 1 2 13 Inula hirta + + 2 13 Leontodon crispus + + 2 13 Scorzonera austriaca + + 2 13 Teucrium montanum + + 2 13 Genista sericea + + 2 13 Relevé no. 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pres Fr.% Centaurea rupestris + 1 2 13 Dianthus sylvestris subsp. tergestinus + + 2 13 Orchis morio . . + . + 2 13 Ferulago galbanifera 1 + 2 13 Asphodelus albus + + 2 13 Thalictrum minus + + 2 13 Prunella grandiflora + + 2 13 Ingressive species from Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei class Lathyrus latifolius + 1 + + + + + + 8 50 Knautia drymeia + + + + 1 + 1 1 8 50 Campanula rapunculus + + . . + + + + + 7 44 Scorzonera hispanica + + + + + + + 7 44 Orobanche lutea . . + . + + + + 5 31 Trifolium alpestre + + 1 1 1 5 31 Agrimonia eupatoria + + + + 4 25 Coronilla coronata + + + 3 19 Veronica jacquinii . . + . + + 3 19 Seseli libanotis + + + 3 19 Trifolium rubens + . . . + 2 13 Valeriana wallrothii . + . . + 2 13 Veronica chamaedrys . . . + + 2 13 Serratula lycopifolia + + 2 13 Anthericum ramosum s.l. + + 2 13 Polygonatum odoratum + + 2 13 Chamaecytisus hirsutus + + 2 13 Viola hirta + + 2 13 Companions Elymus repens + . . . 1 + + + 1 2 + + + + 11 69 Sedum acre . 2 + . + + + + + + 8 50 Dorycnium pentaphyllum + + + + + + 6 38 Pastinaca sativa ... 1 + + + 4 25 Picris echioides + + + + 4 25 Vicia villosa + + . . 1 + 4 25 Briza minor + + + . + 4 25 Crataegus monogyna + . . + + + 4 25 Prunus mahaleb + . . . + + + 4 25 Rubus caesius . . + + + + 4 25 Plantago argentea 1 1 + + 4 25 Ajuga reptans + + + . 3 19 Erigeron annuus . + + . + 3 19 Petrorhagia saxifraga . . . + + + 3 19 Pyrus pyraster . + . . + + 3 19 Calamagrostis varia 2 2 2. 3 19 Rhinanthus glacialis . + + . + 3 19 Medicago sativa . . + 1 + 3 19 Helleborus multifidus subsp. istriacus + + + 3 19 Senecio erucifolius + + 2 13 Cirsium arvense + + 2 13 Convolvulus arvensis . . 2 . + 2 13 Silene latifolia subsp. alba + + 2 13 Rumex crispus + + 2 13 Galium mollugo + + 2 13 Juniperus communis . . . + + 2 13 Acer campestre + + 2 13 Fraxinus excelsior + + 2 13 Relevé no. Fraxinus ornus Cytisus nigricans Allium roseum Genista sagittalis s.l. Luzula luzuloides Viola odorata Carex sp. Hypericum tetrapterum Trifolium alpinum Accidental 9 10 11 12 B 14 15 16 Pres. Fr.% D O n n n D D n O 22 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 + + + + + + + + + + + + 2 8 2 5 2 1 2 0 1 Table 4: Synoptic table of Cicarija grassland vegetation, compared with phytosociological tables from Istria and surrounding territories, based on data collected in the past decades [column 1: cluster I, table 2 - Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatic in Horvatic 1958 (present study); column 2: Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatic in Horvatic 1958 (rel. 44-48, Table 1 in Kaligarič & Poldini 1997); column 3: subcluster Ila1, Table 3 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 (present study); column 4: subcluster IIa2, Table 3 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 Brachypodium rupestre variant (present study); column 5: Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 (rel. 41-50, Table 2 in Kaligarič & Poldini 1997); column 6: sub-cluster IIb, table 4 - Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980 (present study); column 7: Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980 [sub Arrhenatheretum elatioris sensu Poldini non Br.-Bl. 1925 brometosum erecti (rel. 13-33, Table 56 in Poldini 1989)]. Tabela 4: Sinoptična tabela vegetacije travnikov v Cicariji in primerjava s fitocenološkim gradivom iz Istre in sosednjih območij [stolpec 1: klaster I, tabela 2 - Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatic in Horvatic 1958 (ta članek); stolpec 2: Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Horvat & Horvatic in Horvatic 1958 (popisi 44-48, tabela 1 v Kaligarič & Poldini 1997); stolpec 3: subklaster IIa1, tabela 3 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 (ta članek); stolpec 4: subklaster IIa2, tabela 3 - Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 Brachypodium rupestre varianta (ta članek); stolpec 5: Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Horvat 1931 (popisi 41-50, tabela 2 v Kaligarič & Poldini 1997); stolpec 6: subklaster IIb, tabela 4 - Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980 (ta članek); stolpec 7: Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Poldini 1980 [sub Arrhenatheretum elatioris sensu Poldini non Br.-Bl. 1925 brometosum erecti (popisi 13-33, tabela 56 v Poldini 1989)]. Column no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Characteristic species of Scorzonerion villosae alliance Knautia illyrica IV III II V I V Leucanthemum liburnicum III V I II I III Daucus carota II I I II IV Rhinanthus freynii I II I II I Medicago falcata III I IV V II Ferulago galbanifera V II I I I Hypochaeris maculata I II I I Dianthus sanguineus II I I I Ranunculus bulbosus I I IV Dorycnium herbaceum I I I Prunella laciniata II I I Melampyrum barbatum subsp. carstiense II I Characteristic and differential species of Saturejienion subspicatae suballiance and Saturejion subspicatae alliance Centaurea rupestris I III V V IV I Carex humilis I III V III V II No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Bromus condensatus III IV III I Stachys subcrenata I IV IV II Dorycnium germanicum IV IV I IV Euphorbia verrucosa IV I IV II Teucrium montanum IV IV V I Scorzonera austriaca III III II I Muscari botryoides I II I Gentiana tergestina I I I Centaurea cristata subsp. tommasinii I I I Stipa pennata subsp. eriocaulis IV II II Satureja montana subsp. subspicata IV I I Dianthus sylvestris subsp. tergestinus II II I Seseli elatum subsp. gouanii I I Globularia cordifolia III Crepis chondrilloides I Euphrasia illyrica I Characteristic species of Scorzoneretalia villosae order Scorzonera villosa III V IV V III V I Festuca rupicola III III II IV IV V II Polygala nicaeensis III III III IV II IV III Salvia pratensis V IV V II V V Lotus corniculatus subsp. hirsutus III V I V II III Globularia punctata II V V III IV II Thymus longicaulis II III I III IV II Galium lucidum I IV I III II IV Centaurea triumfettii subsp. adscendens I I I III I II Leontodon crispus I II II I II I Genista sylvestris I II III IV III II Lathyrus latifolius III II I I III I Centaurea weldeniana II I I II II II Pseudolysimachion spicatum subsp. barrelieri I I I I I Euphorbia nicaeensis I II IV II IV Asperula cynanchica I I III I III Koeleria splendens III III III IV II Inula hirta I IV II I I Plantago holosteum IV III III III I Chrysopogon gryllus III IV I I Danthonia alpina I II II II Potentilla tommasiniana I I I III Cirsium acaule II I I II Centaurea bracteata I III III IV Inula ensifolia I II II I Allium senescens subsp. montanum I II I I Buphthalmum salicifolium I I IV III Betónica officinalis subsp. serotina I I III III IV II Genista sericea I II II I Narcissus radiiflorus I III I Potentilla alba I I I Serratula lycopifolia I I I Linum narbonense II I I Gentiana cruciata I II II No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Carlina acaulis I I Potentilla australis I I Ruta graveolens I I Cytisus pseudoprocumbens II Ruta divaricata I Characteristic species of Festuco-Brometea class Plantago media IV V I III III V V Bromus erectus II V I III V IV IV Filipendula vulgaris III V V V I V Hippocrepis comosa III III II III I II Teucrium chamaedrys II I IV IV IV II Briza media III II IV I V III Sanguisorba minor II III I II II V Eryngium amethystinum I III IV IV V II Euphorbia cyparissias I I IV IV IV II Trifolium montanum I V II I II Carex flacca s.l. I I I I I Anthyllis vulneraria III IV V III II Lotus corniculatus II III II III V Galium verum I III I V III Festuca valesiaca I I I IV IV IV Brachypodium rupestre I III I I Medicago lupulina III I IV V Trifolium campestre III I II III Scabiosa triandra IV III I II III IV II Tragopogon pratensis II III I III Thymus pulegioides II I I II III Galium corrudifolium I IV IV II Brachypodium pinnatum I I V V Orchis militaris I I II II Thalictrum minus III V II I Allium sphaerocephalon I I III I Linum tenuifolium I I III I Hypericum perforatum I I I III Plantago argentea I I I II Carduus collinus II IV III I Linum catharticum I II I Vicia cracca II II I Potentilla heptaphylla I II II Satureja montana subsp. montana I II II Asperula aristata s.l. I III III Knautia purpurea I I I Orchis morio I I I Satureja montana subsp. variegata I II IV Achillea collina I I IV Koeleria pyramidata I II I Trinia glauca II II II Sanguisorba minor subsp. muricata I II IV Jurinea mollis III I II Sesleria juncifolia III III I Stachys recta I I I No. of relevés 17 14 26 10 16 21 V Allium carinatum . . .III Leucanthemum vulgare ...I.I Ononis spinosa subsp. antiquorum III . . . .II Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. poliphylla . IV . . III Helianthemum ovatum . IV . .II Carex caryophyllea . III . . I Pulsatilla montana . II . . II Hieracium pilosella . II . . I Leontodon hispidus . I . . . . V Anthyllis montana subsp. jacquinii . . II III Melica ciliata . . IV I Senecio scopolii . . I III Cuscuta epithymum . . I I Phyteuma orbiculare . . I I Salvia sclarea . . I I Senecio doronicum . . I I Arabis hirsuta . . II . .II Dianthus monspessulanus . . I . . I Koeleria macrantha . . . III . IV Dianthus balbisii subsp. liburnicus . . . I . II Hieracium bauhinii . . . I . I Asphodelus albus . . . I . I Prunella grandiflora ...I.I Silene vulgaris ...I.I Tragopogon dubius . . . I . I Onobrychis viciifolia II . Polygala vulgaris I . Carex montana . I Onobrychis arenaria . I Orchis ustulata . I Festuca rubra . . II Globularia meridionalis . . . Asperula purpurea .... IV Medicago prostrata . . . . III Agropyron intermedium . . . . II Thesium divaricatum . . . . II Hieracium piloselloides . . . . II Campanula glomerata . . . . I Hyssopus officinalis subsp. aristatus .... I Avenula pubescens . . . . . . III Cerastium tenoreanum . . . . . . II Pimpinella saxifraga . . . . . . II Characteristic species of Arrhenatherion alliance, Arrhenatheretalia order and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class Plantago lanceolata V I II II . II V Dactylis glomerata II II I III .V IV Anthoxanthum odoratum I III I I . III V Trifolium pratense subsp. pratense IV III . II V Poa pratensis III II . V V Arrhenatherum elatius subsp. elatius I I. V V Trisetum flavescens II I. II III Rhinanthus minor I I. II II 5 I. ViTAsovic Kosic, F. M. Tardella & A. Catorci: Effect of management modification on the coenological Composition No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Achillea millefolium IV . II III . Prunella vulgaris II .I II . Trifolium repens I .I III . Colchicum autumnale I .I I. Tragopogon orientalis I .I I. Holcus lanatus I II I Cerastium fontanum I. I IV Ranunculus acris .I II Stellaria graminea I .I I. Plantago major I I. Lathyrus pratensis I . III Tragopogon porrifolius I .I Plantago altissima I .I Senecio jacobaea II II Gentiana pneumonanthe .I I. Thalictrum simplex subsp. galioides .I I. Rumex acetosa II III Taraxacum officinale I IV Centaurea jacea II Crepis biennis I Genista tinctoria I Lolium perenne . IV Galium album . III Festuca pratensis .I Bellis perennis .I Companions Trifolium rubens II II II II I II Luzula multiflora I I I II Trifolium alpestre III II IV II . Picris hieracioides II II I I. Chamaecytisus hirsutus II II II I. Sedum acre II I III III . Scorzonera hispanica I I II III . Seseli libanotis I I II I. Orobanche lutea I I II II . Dorycnium pentaphyllum I II III II . Knautia drymeia I III III III . Helleborus multifidus subsp. istriacus I III II I. Pinus nigra I II III I. Elymus repens I II II IV . Juniperus communis I II II I. Allium species I II I. Petrorhagia saxifraga I II I. Peucedanum oreoselinum I II . II Pastinaca sativa I II I Rhinanthus glacialis I I Anthericum ramosum II II I Viola hirta I I II Inula salicina III II Helianthemum salicifolium III II Geranium sanguineum I II 43 No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Dictamnus albus I . I I Rosa canina I . III III Campanula rapunculus II . I III Peucedanum cervaria I. II I Briza minor I. I II Lilium bulbiferum I. I I Silene latifolia subsp. alba I. I I Senecio erucifolius I. I I Convolvulus arvensis I. I I Cirsium arvense I. I I Clematis vitalba I. I I Rubus caesius I. I II Medicago sativa III . I I Tragopogon tommasinii . II I II Serratula radiata I I I Prunus mahaleb II III II Laserpitium siler II III I Cornus mas I II I Crataegus monogyna I I II Polygonatum odoratum I I I Fraxinus ornus I I I Campanula pyramidalis I I I Ajuga reptans I I II Dorycnium hirsutum II . I Carduus nutans I. I Cerastium arvense subsp. strictum I. I Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica III . II Scolymus hispanicus I. I Acinos arvensis I. I Poa bulbosa I. I Quercus cerris I. I Carex species II . I Cichorium intybus I. I Galium mollugo I. I Erigeron annuus I. I Rumex crispus I. I Carduus pycnocephalus I. I Crepis sancta I. I Vicia angustifolia I. III Bothriochloa ischaemon .I II Verbascum blattaria II I Bunium alpinum subsp. montanum I II Vincetoxicum hirundinaria I II Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii I I Inula spiraeifolia I I Viola odorata I I Rhamnus fallax II I Trifolium alpinum II I Agrimonia eupatoria I II Vicia villosa I II Allium roseum I I No. of relevés 17 5 14 26 10 16 21 Veronica jacquinii .I Genista sagittalis .I .I Gentiana lutea subsp. symphyandra .I .I Cytisus nigricans .I .I Coronilla coronata .I .I Aristolochia clematitis .I .I Echium vulgare .I .I Rhamnus saxatilis .I .I Acer campestre .I .I Valeriana wallrothii .I .I Calamintha menthifolia .I .I Fragaria vesca .I .I Fraxinus excelsior .I .I Prunus spinosa .I .I Paeonia mascula .I .I Potentilla reptans .I .I Veronica chamaedrys .I II Euphorbia palustris I . Danthonia decumbens I . Filago vulgaris I. Aira elegantissima I. Stellaria holostea I. Calamagrostis arundinacea I. Hypericum hirsutum I. Vicia sativa I. Chamaespartium sagittale . III Festuca tenuifolia .I Potentilla recta .I Calamintha nepeta I. Verbascum chaixii .I Silene italica .I Lotus angustissimus .I Apera spica-venti .I Salix caprea .I Sorbus aucuparia .I Thlaspi perfoliatum .I Verbascum pulverulentum .I Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa .I Frangula rupestris II . Bupleurum veronense I. Artemisia alba I. Fumana procumbens I. Viola rupestris I. Picris echioides . II Luzula luzuloides .I Calamagrostis varia .I Hypericum tetrapterum .I Pyrus communis .I Crepis taraxacifolia III Veronica arvensis III Myosotis arvensis II No. of relevés 1l 5 14 26 10 16 21 Coronilla varia Sedum sexangulare Cerastium glutinosum Bromus hordeaceus Centaurea vochinensis II II II I I Table 5: Social behaviour type composition (in %) of Cicarija grassland syntaxa, compared with the one of the same syntaxa, surveyed in the past decades in Istria and surrounding territories. Column numbers are the same as reported in Table 4. Tabela 5: Sestava zgradbe travniških združb glede na sinsociološko pripadnost vrst (v %) travniških sintaksonov Cicarije. Primerjava popisnega gradiva s popisi narejenimi v preteklih destletjih in iz sosednjih območij. Številke stolpcev so enake kot v Tabeli 4. Social behaviour type 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Pasture 51.1 82.1 11.2 51.1 90.1 50.0 50.0 Meadow 11.2 9.3 3.4 8.2 1.2 10.6 25.0 Successional and ruderal 29.8 8.0 23.3 33.3 8.1 36.2 25.0 Other 1.9 0.0 2.1 1.4 0.0 3.2 0.0 Table 6 : Management type, landform, and dynamic state related to use/non-use, of the identified grassland syntaxa. Possible trends in case of protracted abandonment are also shown. Tabela 6 : Način gospodarjenja, krajinska oblika in dinamično stanje glede na status uporabe/neuporabe v ugotovljenih travniških sintaksonih. Nakazani so možni trendi v primeru nadaljnega opuščanja. Management type Pasture Meadow Landform Flat or slightly convex relief tops, slightly or moderately steep slopes, with shallow soils and outcropping rock Flat or slightly concave surfaces, at the transition between slopes and flat lands, with quite deep soils Flat lands, bottom of depressions between relief tops, with deep soils Use Carici humilis-Centaureetum rupestris Danthonio-Scorzoneretum villosae Arrhenatheretum elatioris "typicum" Abandonment Brachypodium rupestre variant Brachypodium rupestre variant ? Anthoxantho-Brometum erecti Protracted abandonment Brachypodium rupestre community ? Brachypodium rupestre community ? Nitrophilous tall herbs community ?