In: Phyton 55, Fasc. 1 (2015): S. 41-68 with 4 figures DOI: 10.12905/0380.phyton55(1)2015-0041

Vegetation Pattern on the Western Slope of the Devínska Kobyla Mt. in Southwest Slovakia
Key words: Dry grasslands, forest fringe vegetation, shrub vegetation. – Phytosociology, vegetation science, secondary succession. – Vegetation of Slovakia.

Hegedüšová K. & Valachovic? M. 2015. Vegetation pattern on the western slope of the Devínska Kobyla Mt. in southwest Slovakia. – Phyton (Horn, Austria) 55 (1): 41–68, with 4 figures.

Summary

Recent vegetation data of dry grasslands and successive shrub vegetation in the Devínska Kobyla Mt., southwestern Slovakia, mainly belonging to the alliances Festucion valesiacae, Bromo pannonici-Festucion pallentis, Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati (Festuco-Brometea), Geranion sanguinei (Trifolio-Geranietea sanguinei), Prunion fruticosae and Berberidion vulgaris (Rhamno-Prunetea) are presented here. The 70 phytosociological relevés were sampled mostly during 2009 and 2010. The expert system for identification of grassland vegetation of Slovakia, numerical classification and ordination technique were applied to determine the 9 main vegetation types (associations) and to find the responsible environmental drivers related to their distribution patterns, respectively. Results of DCA support our assumption, that the major environmental gradients in species composition of vegetation were associated with moisture, nutrient content, light and temperature following the average Ellenberg indicator values. The results presented here will be base for future comparisons of vegetation changes as a consequence of the recommended pasture management started in summer 2013.