Kanitzia 18. - NYME Természettudományi Kar - Nyugat ...

extreme ecological conditions reflect the great plasticity and adaptability of this relic taxon.
The habitat conditions of the Transylvanian species stands generally approachs and related
biogeographically to the Lower Austrian ones (Central Europe), but they relative differ between
themselves also. The following short site characterisation point out the main variation
in the Transylvanian Basin from the Someş Tableland (Szamosháti-dombság) features to
the Transylvanian Lawland (Erdélyi-Mezőség) characteristics:
▪ Vultureni (Borsaújfalu) „Dealul Mare” (Nagyhegy, 491m) on southern and SEslopes,
alt. 435-480 m, Cluj county; UTM: FT 90; Climate: around 700 mm mean
annual precipitation, 7-8°C mean annual temperature (recorded by SOÓ: 1943-1945);
▪ Groapa Rădăii (Laposdülő), „Coasta lui Orban” (Orbán-dombja), Miheşu de
Câmpie (Mezőméhes), in the region of Şăulia (Mezősályi), landslides on southern
and SW-slopes, alt. 340-400 m, Mureş county; UTM: KM 86; Climate: 490 mm
mean annual precipitation, 8,7°C mean annual temperature at Şărmaş (recorded
by Bădărău et al.: 1999-2002);
▪ Poiana Frăţii (Bethlentanya) „Onisie”, Frata , landslides on southern and SWslopes,
alt. 370-390 m, Cluj-county; UTM: KM 77; Climate: cca 490 mm mean annual
precipitation, 8,7°C mean annual temperature at Şărmaş (recorded by Bădărău et al. ined.,
KOVÁCS 2009 ined.);
▪ Pănet (Mezőpanit), „Dealul Şico” (Sikó-hegy) sourthern slopes and pinnacle,
alt. 380-400m, Mureş county; UTM: LM 06; Climate: 534 mm mean annual pre
cipitation, 8,8°C mean annual temperature at Tg. Mureş (recorded by KOVÁCS
2009 ined.); [Climate data ap. MAKKAI (2003)].
Data of vegetation ecology
Concerning the vegetation ecology of sampling places analysed it can be concluded
that the habitats in the Transylvanian Basin ensuring peculiar ecological conditions
for the survived Krascheninnikovia ceratoides population-stands.
1. The site near the locality Vultureni (site name „Dealul Mare”) is found in the
Şomeş Tableland (Szamosháti-dombság), rather situated on the nemoral zone, the widespread
distribution of the Quercus cerris-dominated forest plant communities indicate not
only relatively/rather humid macroclimatic conditions (700 mm), but continuing floristic
introgressions and coenotic relations with the thermophilous mixed oak and steppe oak
woods. The particular geomorphology of „Dealul Mare”- abrupt reliefs of sand and marle
outcrops, sunny sides, dry steep slopes, landslides–, realize small arid, xeric and semidesert-like
conditions, favourable for the continuity of K. ceratoides population, which are
the most abundant on the lower part of the slopes. There are also several limiting factors:
shrub mantle vegetation (Pruno spinosae-Crataegetum), new plantations (Robinia
pseudoacacia), annual burning of the vegetation, fallow fields, weeds, plant colonizations
(Calamagrostis epigeios, Phragmites australis, Helianthus tuberosus agg.) etc. As a negative
aspect, the annual burning of the vegetation (Fig. 3), limits the fruit formation and the
seed dissemination, with several disavantageous consequences for the biology of popu-lation.
2. The site near the locality Groapa Rădăii (Laposdülő) (site name „Coasta lui
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