EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

forests (oligotraphent) are benchmarks of
the variety of types – from dry to moist,
from poor to rich, from basic to acidic. In
transitional zones from spring to brook, the
landscape is characterised by alder forests
(fi g. 2.9). Th e transition toward mixed hillside
forests and alder carrs is smooth and
structured at a small scale. A multitude of
biotopes which is threatened all over Europe,
such as chalk tuff springs, transition and
quaking bogs, and natural eutrophic lakes
form a mosaic with the beech forest. A highly
diff erentiated vegetation mosaic has developed
on the banked steep slopes down to the
Baltic Sea. Physiog nomically, the complex of
beech forests on limestone, service tree-beech
shrub, juniper-dogwood shrub, Silene-Libanotis
seams, and grass of Parnassus-hawkbit
communities (Parnassia palustris-Leon todon
hispidus community) corresponds to
the vegetation complexes rich in blue grass
(Sesleria) that are found in natural forest
limit sites on limestone in the highlands. Th e
forests on the coastal slopes are to be rated
as highly signifi cant in terms of naturalness.
Th e sites are partly kept clear by the
natural dynamic forces of the coast, or
are even develop anew over and over again.
Flora
While the mean number of species of the
herb layer in the Dentario-Fagetum on the
central Stubnitz plateau is just short of
20, it comprises over 30 species in the wood
barley-beech forest (NATIONAL PARK
PLAN 1998). Hallmarks of the thermophilic
forms are, in particular, forest orchids
alongside with Kidneywort (Hepatica
nobilis). Th is includes helleborines (Cephalanthera
rubra, C. longifolia, C. damasonium)
and the Lesser Butterfl y-orchid (Platanthera
bifolia). Th e Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium
calceolus) has very good growth conditions
in Vincetoxicetum hirundinariae
on limestone. Less frequent species found
near the coast include Coral Root (Coral-
lorrhiza trifi da) and Ghost Orchic (Epipogium
aphyllum).
Th e beech’s undergrowth includes, among
others, English Holley (Ilex aquifolium),
which is characteristic of Atlantic Europe.
On moraine sites, ivy (Hedera helix) will
partly account for the beech's undergrowth
across the whole area. Th is is most probably
to be ascribed to the high atmospheric humidity
in north exposure.
Fauna
Th e diversity of biotopes in contact with
the sea and the maritime climate provide
favourable living conditions to a host of
species, some of which having their only or
most important habitat in Jasmund. With
regard to the birds, the ecological peculi arities
are associated with the chalk cliff . Th is
place provides rock breeders with the only
one natural breeding place in the entire
Northeast German region. Peregrine (Falco
peregrinus), Common Swift (Apus apus),
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), and
House Martin (Delichon urbica, some
800 breeding pairs) breed in the chalk cliff .
A total of 153 bird species occur in the
Jasmund National Park, 86 of which being
breeding birds and 67 birds of passage
(NATIONAL PARK PLAN 1998);
in 2009, 54 breeding bird species have been
noted in the nominated component part
(tab. 2.7). Th e avifauna of Jasmund's beech
forests is composed of about 30 species.
Particular mention deserves the occurrence
of all three fl ycatchers, the Pied, Spotted,
and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula
hypoleuca, Muscicapa striata, Ficedula parva)
in high densities. Jasmund is quite probably
one of the few forest regions in Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania which is regularly
in habited by the four warbler species
Chiff chaff (Phylloscopus colly bita), Willow
Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Wood
Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) and Greenish
Warbler (Phylloscopus trochi loides).
2. DESCRIPTION
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
47