Coastal sand dune vegetation of Velika plaža (Montenegro)

Velika plaža (Ulcinj, Montenegro) is the largest sandy beach along the coast of the eastern Adriatic that still has well-developed sand-dune vegetation. Although the characterization of the flora and vegetation of Velika plaža has been addressed by many authors, knowledge on its vegetation remained poor. We made a phytosociological study of sand beach vegetation comprising both dunal and wetland areas to provide a comprehensive survey of sand dune vegetation and habitat typology of Velika plaža. Based on 149 relevés (both from literature and recent field work), and with numerical classification (Flexible beta) and ordination (Non-metric multidimensional scaling) our results show that the vegetation of Velika plaža is much more diverse than previously known. Altogether, 19 plant communities from 6 vegetation classes were identified. Among them we described two new associations: Cuscuto cesatianae-Phyletum nodiflorae and Onobrychido caput-galli-Vulpietum fasciculatae.

Classification and diversity of perennial sand-dune vegetation in Serbia

Sand dunes are one of the critically endangered habitats in Europe. This vegetation type is under a strong anthropogenic influence. Its natural value is very high since many plant species with a narrow distribution are found there. The classification of Serbian sand-dune vegetation and the status of the described associations has not been validated by numerical analyses. This research presents an evaluation of sand-dune vegetation in Serbia on the basis of literature data, as well as new releves. Psammophytic vegetation in Serbia was classified into two alliances, annual and ruderal Bassio laniflorae-Bromion tectori and perennial Festucion vaginate. The aim of this research was the classification of the alliance Festucion vaginatae, perennial, drought-tolerant, tussock-forming vegetation on sand. As proposed by OptimClass, Jaccard distance and flexible beta data (?=-0.25) were used for the classification. Classification results were confirmed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination. The result of the classification established that only two associations, Alysso gmelini-Festucetum vaginatae and Festucetum vaginatae, are present in Serbia. These associations are divided into groups that mostly correspond to traditional subassociations.