Phytosociology, ecology and conservation status of Salvia brachyodon (Lamiaceae), a narrow endemic of Eastern Adriatic

[EN] We studied the site ecology of Salvia brachyodon (Lamiaceae), a narrow endemic of the eastern Adriatic, which is now restricted to only three sites, using the sigmatistic method and numerical analyses. Four floristically and ecologically well-defined groups of stands, representing different syntaxa, were identified, corresponding to the sampling sites. The majority of stands represent dry eastern (sub)Mediterranean rocky grasslands at different successional stages towards (sub)Mediterranean forest vegetation. Compared to the evolutionary and ecologically closely related and sympatric S. officinalis, the morphologically easily distinguishable S. brachyodon differs in its flowering phenology and prefers relatively cooler, wetter, deeper and nutrient richer soils, which are developed on dolomite or dolomitic limestone at higher elevated sites. Despite its ability to cope with interspecific competition by means of clonal reproduction better than its congener, the populations are severely threatened by abandonment of traditional land use and by fires, making the species endangered (EN) according to IUCN criteria.

[CR] Na podlagi sigmatistične metode in s pomočjo numeričnih analiz smo proučevali ekologijo rastišč kratkozobe kadulje Salvia brachyodon (Lamiaceae), ozkega endemita vzhodnega Jadrana omejenega na zgolj tri nahajališča. Ugotovili smo štiri tipe sestojev, ki se floristično in ekološko dobro razlikujejo in se ujemajo z lokacijami rastišč. Večina sestojev pripada suhim vzhodnomediteranskim kamnitim traviščem vrazličnih sukcesijskih fazah v smeri submediteranskih gozdnih sestojev. Kratkozoba kadulja se od evolucijsko in ekološko ozko sorodnega ter simpatričnega žajblja (Salvia officinalis) dobro loči v morfologiji in fenologiji cvetenja, bolje tudi uspeva na relativno svežih, vlažnih, globljih in z nutrienti bogatih tleh na dolomitu ali dolomitiziranem apnencu na večji nadmorski višini. Čeprav se v primjerjavi z žabljem bolj uspešno razmnožuje s kloni, populacije kratkozobe kadulje ogrožajo požari in zaraščanje njenih rastišč vsled opuščanja tradicionalnega gospodarjenja. Skladno s kriteriji IUCN štejemo kratkozobo kaduljo za ogroženo (EN)

This research was financially supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF – a joint initiative of the Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank) and by bilateral grants between the Republics of Slovenia and Montenegro BI – ME/1

Introduction Materials and Methods Field sampling Species range, population sizes and conservation status Community assemblage data analyses Results Community ecology and species assemblage Ecological preferences of S. brachyodon and S. officinalis Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and IUCN status Discussion Acknowledgments Literature