New Indicator Values for Central Caucasus Flora

In this study we have aimed to extend the concept of indicator values of Ellenberg (1974) and Landolt (1977) for vascular plants of the Caucaus (Sakhokia and Khutsishvili 1975a, b, c), taking account those species which also occur in the Alps (more than 400 species). The resulting Nakhutsrishvili Indicator Values for the Caucasus (see Annex) were compared with those of Elias Landolt for the Alps (Landolt 1977). The results show a high overlap of both sets of indicator values, indicating both, a high overlap of the ecological niche of the species of the Alps and the Caucasus, and also an agreement of both experts for many species and indicator value classes (30–50% congruence). The results show that an extension of Landolt indicator values to the Caucasus is possible, and that the Nakhutsrishvili Indicator Value dataset can now be used for vegetation analysis of the Caucasus