Albanian j. agric. sci. 2019; (Special edition) Agricultural University of Tirana

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

The endemic and relic alpine–subalpine in Shutman natural reserve of Kosovo and their conservation status

HAXHI HALILAJ1, LIRIKA KUPE2, AVDYL BAJRAMI1*, XHAVIT MALA3

1PhD candidate, Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

2 Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

3 Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning -DAPK “Sharri Mountain”

Email: [email protected]

Abstract On the territory of the Sharri National Park of Kosovo there are 16 strict natural protected areas, one of which is Shutman Reserve. Until now the biodiversity of endemic and relic in Shutman has not been completely described. The present study is the first on this subject for the Shutman Reserve. The purpose of the study is to investigate the biodiversity of endemic and relic plant species also their conservation status. The plants were collected during the vegetative period, May – September 2018. In total, in this paper are presented 42 vascular plants. From which, 24 species are Balkan endemics, 2 species are sub-endemics, 2 species are steno-endemics and 1specie is Central and South-eastern endemic. Nearly 12 of Shutman’s investigated vascular plants are tertiary and glacial relics. A total of 24 taxa have a protection status. The biological type of species represented mainly by perennial herbaceous plants (95%). The largest percentage of floristic elements to describe appertain the Balkan type (40.48%) and Boral type (9.52%), whereas the hemi-cryptophytic dominate among the life forms, with 59.52%. The data of the paper showed that Reserve of Shutman has a very high level of endemic and relic species. Keywords: Vascular plants, endangered species, floristic element, life form.

Introduction protection on Decision of GRK No. 17/74, 10 February 2016 (GRK, 2016). Kosovo is one of the Balkan countries with The Reserve of Shutman covers an area of the greatest biodiversity, including biodiversity of 5057.39 hectares that consists of a wide mountain belt endemic and relic plants. Sharri Planina is one of the from 1600 m to 2536 m above sea level (Vraca e largest and highest mountain ranges of the Balkan Madhe). The subalpine zone extends above the upper Peninsula, stretching between the Prizren-Metohia forest belt from 1600 - 2100 m (rare 2200 m.) above valley and the Polog valley in the border areas of the sea level (Abdii & Xhulaj, 2016). Higher up is found Kosovo and Republic of North Macedonia. The the alpine zone, where environmental conditions Sharri National Park in Kosovo is located in south- become more extreme due to decreasing temperatures, eastern part of country. It is one the most important increasing solar radiation, strong winds, etc. Balkan and European centers and one of the most Shutman area is dominated by an alpine and qualitative endemism including relics, endemics and continental climate, at times influenced by a median endemic- relics and types (Abdii & Xhulaj, 2016; continental climate (MMPH/AMMK, 2013). The Tomović et al., 2014). Nowadays, on the territory of annual average temperature is 8.6° C. Summers are the Sharri Mountain there are 16 strict natural short and fresh with an average temperature of 18.1° protected areas, one of which is area of high C, with long and relatively cold winters (average mountains "Shutman", putting under natural strict temperature -0.4° C). The annual average precipitation reaches is 1370 mm, with snow cover for around 280

Challenges in Biotechnological and Environmental Approaches, April 23 - 24 101 Halilaj et al., 2019 days per year. Approximately 50% of total annual rain Based on our study, this survey was falls is from April to September, whereas months with conducted in the vegetation period of year 2018 on the less rainfall are January, February, March and August territory of the Strict Nature Reserve of Shutman. (MMPH/AMMK, 2013; Bank et al., 2012; Voit et. al., Identification of plant material were determined 2013). according to the Flora of Albania (Anonymous, 1988- Shutman have a combination of underwater 2000), Atlas of Kosovo Plants (Berisha et al., 2012), land systems, including mountain lakes, oligotrophic Red Book of Vascular Flora of the Republic of interior streams, marshes, extensive pasture, shrub and Kosovo (Millaku et al., 2013) and Excursion Flora of herbaceous vegetation and vegetation of rocky Albania (Vangjeli, 2015; Demiri, 1983). The surfaces (MMPH/AMMK, 2013). The geographical nomenclature used was according to the databases of location, climate and hydrological characteristics, (theplantlist.org). different rock substrata and soil types, are factors The floristic elements are given after Assyov contributing to a rich flora and vegetation and & Petrova (2012), supplemented with data from considerable number rare, relic and endemic plant Asenov (2015) and Vuksanović et al., (2016). The life species. The paleo-environmental conditions allowed forms of the taxa are represented in the systems of the survival of relic taxa, including some of tertiary Raunkiaer (1934). The following abbreviations apply: origin (Olšavská et al. 2016). But, the biodiversity of Ph = phanerophyte, Ch = chamaephyte, H = endemic and relic plants in Shutman is poorly hemicryptophyte, G = geophyte, T = therophyte. explored and no detailed studies are available. The Biological types are defined by Berisha et al. (2012), present study is the first on this subject in the Shutman Millaku et al. (2013) and Anonymous (1988-2000). Reserve. The aim of this study was to provide a list of Information on endemic and relic elements of the endemic and relic plant species together with their vascular plants are presented under same botanical conservation status and an analysis of floristic publications (Zahariev, 2016; Mustafa et al., 2015; elements, biological types, life form for each species. Tomović et al., 2014; Vuksanović et al., 2016; This information is important due to the high Millaku et al. 2008; Millaku et al. 2017; Hajredini et conservation value of strict natural protected area of al., 2013; Mahmutaj, 2015; Petrova & Vladimirov, Shutman. 2010). Threatened status of plant taxa is represented Material and methods according to the Red Book of Vascular Flora of the Study area Republic of Kosovo (Millaku et al., 2013), the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2018), Bern Shutman Reserve is a part of Sharri National Convention (Council of Europe 1979), Annex V of Park of Kosovo. This covers an area of 5057.39 Directive 92/43/ЕЕС (Habitat Directive), European hectares that consists of a wide mountain belt from Red List of Vascular Plants and Appendix II of 1600 m to 2536 m above sea level (Vraca e Madhe). CITES Convention (CITES 2011). The floristic list The subalpine zone extends above the upper forest (Table 1) is provided in alphabetical order by families belt from 1600 - 2100 m (rare 2200 m) above sea and species. level and upper them is found the alpine zone, where environmental conditions become more extreme due Results and Discussion to decreasing temperatures, increasing solar radiation, The floristic list of endemic and relict species strong winds, etc. or important plant species within this paper contains Data collection and species determination 42 vascular plants belonging to 20 families and 28 genera, (Table 1). The most important contributors at

Challenges in Biotechnological and Environmental Approaches, April 23 - 24 102 The endemic and relic alpine–subalpine plant species in Shutman natural reserve of Kosovo and their conservation status family rank with the highest number of the important as 14 families were represented by 1-2 species. plant species are (5 taxa), , Campanula, and Gentiana are the (5), Rosaceae (5) and Campanulaceae with 4 species. genera with the highest number of species (first Two families, especially Gentianaceae and genera presented 4 species and others genera Saxifragaceae, are represented by 3 species. As many presented with 3 species). Table 1: The floristic list of the endemic and relic present in Shutman Natural Reserve Rareness & Taxa Life Floristic Biological Relic and Conservation forms element type endemic plants status ASTERACEAE Achillea abrotanoides Vis. Ch Bal p Bal endemic Achillea chrysocoma Friv. H Bal p Bal endemic EN Achillea corabensis (Heimerl) Micevski Ch Bal p Bal endemic EN Achillea tanacetifolia Mill. H Eur-Sib p LC- IUCN Centaurea nervosa Willd. H Alp-Carp-Bal p Bal endemic

CAMPANULACEAE Asyneuma limonifolium (L.) Janch. H Ap-Bal p Tertiary relics Campanula albanica Witasek H Bal p Bal endemic EN Campanula foliosa Ten. H S-E-Eur p Bal endemic LC Campanula spatulata Sibth. et Sm. G Bal p Bal endemic CAPRIFOLIACEAE Sambucus racemosa L. Ph Boreal sh Tertiary relics LC- IUCN CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium decalvans Schloss. & Vuk. H Bal p Bal endemic Dianthus integer Vis. H Bal p Bal endemic Dianthus scardicus Wettst. H Bal p Steno-endemic NT Dianthus superbus L. H Eur-As p Bal endemic LC Silene roemeri Friv. H Bal-Ap p Bal endemic COLCHICACEAE Colchicum autumnale L. G Eur p LC- IUCN CRASSULACEAE Sempervivum heuffelii Schott H Bal p Sub-endemic LC Sempervivum kosanini Praeger H Bal p Bal endemic NT EMPETRACEAE Empetrum nigrum L. H Boreal p QG relics Rare FABACEAE Onobrychis scardica (Grseb.) Halacsy H Eur-Med p Bal endemic GENTIANACEAE Gentiana lutea L. H Eur p Tertiary relics VU; HD V; LC – ERL Gentiana punctata L. H Alp-Carp p C & SEE endemic LC; LC- IUCN Gentiana verna L. H Eur-As p QG relics subcaulescens L'Hér. ex DC. G Med p Bal endemic LC IRIDACEAE

Challenges in Biotechnological and Environmental Approaches, April 23 - 24 103 Halilaj et al., 2019 Crocus scardicus Kosanin G Bal p Steno-endemic NT; LC- IUCN Crocus veluchensis Herb. G Bal p Bal endemic LAMIACEAE Lamium garganicum L. H Med p Sub-endemic NT LILIACEAE Lilium albanicum Griseb. G Bal p Bal endemic LC Tertiary relics ORCHIDACEAE Nigritella nigra (L.) Rchb. F. G Eur p QG relics CITES II PRIMULACEAE Soldanella alpina L. H Bal p Bal endemic RANUNCULACEAE Anemone narcissiflora L G Boreal p QG relics ROSACEAE Dryas octopetala L. Ch Boreal p QG relics Rare Geum montanum L. H Alp-Carp-Bal p QG relics Potentilla calabra Ten. H S-Eur p Bal endemic EN Potentilla doerfleri Wettst. Ch S-Eur p Bal endemic EN Potentilla speciosa Willd. Ch S-Eur p Bal endemic SALICACEAE Salix reticulata L. Ch Arct -Alp s-sh QG relics LC SAXIFRAGACEAE Parnassia palustris L. H Sub-Boreal p QG relics LC- IUCN Saxifraga scardica Griseb. Ch Bal p Bal endemic LC Saxifraga sempervivum K. Koch Ch Bal-Anat p Bal endemic LC SCROPHYLARIACEAE Linaria peloponnesiaca Boiss. & Heldr. H Bal p Bal endemic Verbascum scardolicum Bornm. H Bal p Bal endemic Life cycle: р – perennial; ssh – semi-shrub; sh – shrub.

Life forms: Ch – Chamaephytes; H – Hemicryptophytes; G – Geophytes; Ph – Phanerophytes. Conservation Status: The Red Book of Vascular Flora of the Republic of Kosovo 1: EN – Endangered, VU – Vulnerable, NT - Near Threatened, LC - Least Concern. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: IUCN - LC (Least Concern). Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: CITES II - Annex II. Directive 92/43/ЕЕС (Habitat Directive): HD5 – Annex V. European Red List of Vascular Plants: ERL- LC (Least Concern). Relic and endemic plants: QG relic - Quaternary glacial relics; C & SEE endemic - Central & Southeastern Europe endemic; Bal endemic - Balkan endemic The total number of endemic taxa described Shutman Reserve makes this massif important for the in this paper is 29 species (69% of all species). The endemic flora in Balkan and Kosovo, a centre of the endemic taxa are represented by 24 Balkan endemic highest floristic richness of the Balkan endemic species; 2 Balkan sub-endemic species; 2 steno- plants. endemics species and 1 Central and Southeastern An area of endemism must have at least two Europe endemic specie. The genera Achillea, endemic species (Linder, 2001; Morrone, 2008; Campanula, Dianthus and Potentilla are amongst Casagranda & de Grosso, 2013). Areas of those most rich in endemic species. The number of the endemism have a central role in biogeography as endemics species identified in this study is significant. they are the analytical units in historical The high number of endemic taxa recorded in biogeography, and are also considered quite

Challenges in Biotechnological and Environmental Approaches, April 23 - 24 104 The endemic and relic alpine–subalpine plant species in Shutman natural reserve of Kosovo and their conservation status relevant for biodiversity conservation endemic flora shows a pronounced hemi-cryptophytic (Casagranda & de Grosso, 2013). In the last character of this area. The hemi-cryptophytic years, endemism has acquired importance in dominate among the life forms, with 25 species or conservation biology since it is considered an 59.52% of the total number of species, followed by outstanding factor for delimitation of chamaephytes and geophytes both with 8 species conservation areas (Casagranda & de Grosso, (19.05 %) and phanerophytes with only one species 2013). Endemism is an important concept in (2.38%). Domination of hemi-cryptophytic in the conservation biology and it is one of the criteria biological spectrum of the important plant species of used to set priorities for species conservation the Shutman Reserve matches the influences of the efforts (Shevock, 1996). Shutman Reserve, as an cold mountain climate. The prevalence of important area of endemism with high hemicryptophytes is characteristic for the floras of cold mountain climates. The higher percentage of biodiversity value, requires special attention for chamaephytes and geophytes can be explained with plant conservation. resistance of these plant species to stressful In Shutman Reserve are investigated 12 environment. Chamaephytes are especially important vascular plants which are relic species. Eight of this in stressful environments, for example in alpine species are quaternary glacial relics and the remaining ecosystems and on rock and nutrient-poor soils four are tertiary relics. Lilium albanicum Griseb., is (Matevski etj. 2011), like Shutman conditions. endemic and tertiary relict specie. Presence of relic Geophytes have their buds buried, and thus protected species of olden epochs show how old and preserved from cold under the ground, therefore these plant is the investigated flora. Tertiary relics are ancient species are resistant to stressful environment and can representatives of Arctic tertiary flora (Zahariev, adapt to harsh environment. 2017). Quaternary glacial relic species have migrated The specific physical and geographical from the north of Europe to the south in the period of conditions of Shutman Reserve determine the last glaciations and the mountains of the Balkan considerable diversity of floristic elements. We have Peninsula have become their refuge (Zahariev, 2017). established 16 different floristic elements (table 2). A detailed list of relict plants is needed not only for The largest number of species belongs of the Balkan the purposes of ecology and environmental protection; type (40.49%) and Boral type (9.53%), following by it will be particularly useful in floristic studies, in floristic elements European and South Eastern conservation biology and in biogeography (Zahariev, European both by 7.14%. The distribution of the 2016). floristic elements correlates with the geographic The spectrum of life forms is an important location of the study area, and confirms the diversity indicator of the ecological conditions in the of conditions in the area. communities. Also, it is an indicator of a complex The floristic analysis indicates that the interdependence of plant life forms and the climatic biological types are represented mainly by perennial and edaphic characteristics features and it reflects herbaceous plants (95.24%), and only one of the adaptation of plants through time and the current species is included in the biological types of is semi- conditions, in agreement with the environmental shrub (2.38%) and shrub (2.38%). The dominance of conditions in which these plants survive (Tomović et perennial herbaceous plants can be explained by the al., 2014). The life forms spectrum of the endemic and influence of environmental factors on alpine– relict flora of the Shutman consisting by four main subalpine species. types. Their number and percentage of them are presented in table 2. The biological spectrum of the

Challenges in Biotechnological and Environmental Approaches, April 23 - 24 105 Halilaj et al., 2019

Table 2: Floristic elements in the flora of Shutman Mountain No. Floristic elements Number of species % of the total number of species 1 Balkan Bal 17 40.49 2 Boreal Boreal 4 9.53 3 European Eur 3 7.14 4 South Eastern European S-E-Eur 3 7.14 5 Alpo-Carpathian-Balkan Alp-Carp-Bal 2 4.76 6 Eurasian Eur-As 2 4.76 7 Mediterranean Med 2 4.76 8 Alpo-Carpathian Alp-Carp 1 2.38 9 Apenninian-Balkan Ap-Bal 1 2.38 10 Arctic-Alpine Arct -Alp 1 2.38 11 Balkan-Anatolian Bal-Anat 1 2.38 12 Balkan-Apenninian Bal-Ap 1 2.38 13 Euro-Mediterranean Eur-Med 1 2.38 14 Euro-Siberian Eur-Sib 1 2.38 15 South European S-Eur 1 2.38 16 Sub-Boreal Sub-Boreal 1 2.38 Total 42 100.00 In these paper we have describe 24 species endemic-relic species of conservation status is higher with protection status. Five of them are included in the in Shutman area. A total of 24 plant species have a Red List of Threatened Plants of the International national or international conservation status. Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2018). All However, a significant number of the endemic and of them are under the category of “Least Concern” relic species has not been evaluated yet according to (LC). Nineteen species included in the Red Book of the IUCN criteria mainly due to insufficient Vascular Flora of the Republic of Kosovo. Nine of information on their populations. The floristic studies them are under the category of “Least Concern” (LC), targeted for species with conservation importance 5 are endangered (EN), 4 species are near threatened” should be carried out in order to preserve the great (NT) and one species is vulnerable (VU). Of the floristic richness of the area. The high number of registered plants one of them Nigritella nigra is endemic, relict and protected species emphasizes not included in the Appendix II of CITES. Gentiana lutea only the high conservation status of the region, but L. is included in the Annex V of Directive 92/43/ЕЕС and the need of effective management for protection (Habitat Directive) and in the European Red List of of biological diversity. Vascular Plants under the category of “Least References Concern” (LC). 1. Abdii, N., Xhulaj, M. (2016). Alpine and Conclusions subalpine flora of Sharr Mountain - (Macedonian Part). Int. J. Adv. Res. 4(9), In the present study was found a high number 2238-2249. of endemic taxa of subalpine alpine plant species. – 2. Anonymous (1988-2000). Flora e This makes Shutman Reserve an important area of Shqipërisë. Akademia e Shkencave të endemism in Kosovo and Balkan that requires special Shqipërisë ed., Vol. 1, 1988; Vol. 2., 1992; attention for plant conservation. The list of relics Vol. 3., 1991; Vol. 4., 2000. described has a significant number to. It will be useful 3. Asenov, A.I. (2015). Systematic and in floristic studies, in conservation biogeography and phytogeographic analysis of the vascular flora of Mt Zemenska, West Bulgaria. in biology. The number of endemics, relics and

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