Evaluation of Juniperus communis populations in relation to ellenberg indicatory values of associated species

Juniperus communis L. is one of the most cosmopolitan conifer species found in both the eastern and western hemispheres. Our present study was aimed at evaluation of Juniperus communis populations according to indicatory values of associated species diversity. Fourteen sites of J. communis L. located in such habitats as coastal brown dunes covered with natural Scots pine forests; J. communis shrubs; transition mires and quaking bogs; subcontinental moss Scots pine forests and xero-thermophile fringes were selected. Light, temperature, continentality, soil moisture / reaction / nitrogen of the sites were calculated by weighted average method [1] using species indicatory values [2]. Average indicatory values of herbaceous species in proportion to species percentage cover indicated that the most contrasting (having the highest indicatory values) habitats of J. communis according to the light gradient was xero-thermophile fringes also transition mires and quaking bogs; according to the temperature gradient – xero-thermophile fringes; according to the continentality – xero-thermophile fringes and coastal brown dunes covered with natural Scots pine forests; according to the moisture – transition mires and quaking bogs; according to the soil reaction and nitrogen – xero-thermophile fringes. In conclusion according to the Ellenberg indicatory values the most distinct habitat type of J. communis was xero-thermophile fringesBiologijos katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij