Natural black pine (Pinus nigra subsp salzmannii) forests of the Iberian eastern mountains development of the phytoecological basis for their site evaluation

Abstract

A phytoecological study of the Pinus nigra subsp salzmannii forests in the dolomitelimestone mountains of eastern Spain was undertaken. Starting from several floristic and ecological data collected from 355 relevés, classification and ordination numerical analysis were realized. A typification of the different pine forest communities was thus obtained and a series of floristic groups was defined, which can be used as a basis for the classification of distinct sites. Following the phytosociological method, 2 main groups, which can be considered as climax vegetation of the high supra- and mountain-Mediterranean levels, have been defined a continental group, Thalictro tuberosi-Pinetum salzmannii, and a subcontinental group, Lonicero xylostei-Pinetum salzmannii, which represents the southern range limit of Pinus nigra forests in the eastern Pyrenees. © 1995 Elsevier/INRA.