English - Convention on Biological Diversity

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COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Angiosperms (Shopova 1966). This research has gradually become more intensive
and comprehensive, involving a larger number of domestic and foreign researchers.
• The vegetation diversity of higher plant groups is represented by 30 vegetation
classes, 60 orders, 90 alliances and over 260 associations. The aquatic macrophytes
(class Lemnetea and class Potametea), which are found in the three natural lakes of
the country, are very well studied. Also well studied is the lowland marsh vegetation
(class Isoeto-Nanojuncetea and class Phragmitetea), whereas there is little data
about wetland vegetation located in mountain marshes. Lowland meadows (class
Molinio-Arrhenatheretea) are relatively well studied; however, meadows from the
mountain to the subalpine belt are insufficiently studied. Halophytic vegetation
(class Thero-Salicornietea) can be found on small areas and is completely studied,
while the vegetation of hilly pastures (class Festuco-Brometea) is in a phase of
intensive research. Plant communities present on silicate soils are better studied than
those found on carbonate soils. The forest and shrub vegetation is quite rich and
diverse, and is represented by 100 associations. Some of them should be revised and
harmonised with the International Code on Phytocenological Nomenclature. The
mountain and high mountain vegetation is not sufficiently studied and the existing
data is out of date. Because of this, some revisions and new research are necessary.
With regard to the extent of study of individual faunal groups, from a taxonomic
standpoint the well-studied phyla include: Porifera (sponges), Plathelminthes
(flatworms), Mollusca (Molluscs), Annelida (segmented worms) and Chordata
(Chordates). The study of the Chordates is complete. Concerning the phylum Protozoa
(Protozoans), the free living Protozoans are well studied; however, only representatives
of the subphylum Ciliophora (Ciliated protozoans) have been studied from the parasitic
Protozoan forms. As for the phylum Nemathelminthes (roundworms), the class Rotifera
(Rotifers) is well studied, while of the class Nematoda, the aquatic free-living
Nematodes and parasitic Nematodes are more completely studied. Terrestrial Nematodes
have been studied only fragmentarily.
Within the phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods), which has numerous species, the
subphyla Branchiata (Branchiate arthropods) and Chelicerata (Chelicerates) are fully
studied. The class Myriapoda (Myriapods) of the subphylum Tracheata (Tracheates) is
well studied, unlike the class Insecta (Insects), where complete data exist only for the
orders Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Lepidoptera (butterflies), Odonata (dragonflies),
Orthoptera (grasshoppers) and Plecoptera (stoneflies). The other orders of this class,
with their numerous families, genera and species, are only fragmentarily studied or have
never been subject to any systematic study.
Currently, as in the past, the primary areas of research into Macedonian faunal
biodiversity are the ecosystems of the three natural lakes, which abound in limnofauna,
as well as the other fauna inhabiting the lake basins. In addition, the fauna of hilly
pastures and lowlands, and that of mountain ecosystems, has been well explored, while
the fauna of forest ecosystems has rarely been studied.
3.2. Biogeography
The great floristic and faunal diversity of the Republic of Macedonia can be
explained due to its central geographical position in the Balkan Peninsula and the
various influences to which its territory has been exposed. The fluctuations of
temperatures before, during and after the Ice Age caused multiple, dramatic migrations