Korol S.O., Korol T.O., Golubeva E.I. How Does Elevation above Sea Level Affect the Morphometric Growth of Pinus Nigra in Montenegro // Ecosystems: Ecology and Dynamic. No. 2 2022. P. 164-181. | Abstract | PDF | Reference |
Montenegro belongs to the Mediterranean climate zone, but due to the presence of high mountain ranges on a fairly limited territory, there is a multitude of microclimatic varieties: in the coastal part there is a zone of pronounced Mediterranean climate; in the flatland part of the country the climate is a changed Mediterranean; in mountainous areas – a zone of severe mountain climate with cold long winters. In the diversity of the flora of this region, an important place is occupied by the Black Pine (Pinus nigra), which grows both in the mountainous parts and in the valleys and, according to some versions, gave the country its name. It is of interest to analyze the variability of the morphometric parameters of this plant species depending on the growing conditions.
This study is based on the establishment of a field practice in biogeography in the summer of 2021, held in Montenegro. The aim of the work was to determine the dependence of modification changes in Black Pine on the height of growth above sea level according to the following indicators: tree height, crown diameter, trunk diameter, and needle length. Measurements of adult representatives of Pinus nigra were taken at 8 recorded sites located at different heights above sea level, starting from the minimum coastal line of the sea (12.5 m) to the maximum growth height of Pinus nigra in Montenegro (1270.1 m) in the mountains. At each point, 10 mature trees were selected, visually reflecting the most common morphometric indicators for each selected high-altitude plateau with uniform growing conditions (flat surface, slope orientation, central part of the tree mass, forest stand density).
The results of measurements and statistical analysis established a significant negative correlation between height above sea level and morphometric growth rates of Pinus nigra.
Keywords: Montenegro, Pinus nigra, Black pine, vegetation of Montenegro, flora of Montenegro, habitats of Black pine, habitats of Pinus nigra, altitudinal zonality, modification variability of Pinus nigra.
DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2022-2-164–181
EDN: QWBKDZ