PERIODICUM BIOLOGORUM UDC 57:61 VOL. 119, No 4, 239–249, 2017 CODEN PDBIAD DOI: 10.18054/pb.v119i4.4917 ISSN 0031-5362 original research article Distribution of alien species along sand dune plant communities zonation Abstract DANIJELA STEŠEVIĆ1 2 MILICA LUKOVIĆ Background and purpose: For a fairly long period, Velika plaža in 3 DANKA CAKOVIĆ Ulcinj, Montenegro has been considered to be one of the best-preserved sites NEMANJA RUŽIĆ4 NADA BUBANJA5 with psammophilous vegetation along the Adriatic coast. In recent years, URBAN ŠILC6,7 however, this area has been significantly transformed as a result of various human disturbances (e.g., a non-sustainable approach to touristic develop- 1 University of Montenegro, Faculty of Natural ment, illegal dumping, sand exploitation etc.), and has become prone to alien Sciences and Mathematics, Biology department, Džordža Vašingtona bb, 81 000 Podgorica, plant invasions. We made a transect survey to assess the presence of alien Montenegro (
[email protected]) species in the psammophilous communities. 2 University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Hotel Materials and methods: In order to make a survey of the present state Management and Tourism, Department of Natural of plant life on Velika plaža, its floristic composition and zonation of plant Science, Vojvodjanska bb, 36210 Vrnjačka Banja, communities, 20 transects were set perpendicular to the coast, regularly Serbia (
[email protected]) every 500 m. Quadrats (2 x 2 m) were laid contiguously in the form of a 3 University of Montenegro, Faculty of Natural belt transect starting from the area with the first colonizing plants towards Sciences and Mathematics, Biology department, the end of the sand dune system with forest vegetation.