SOME VEGETATION AND HABITAT FEATURES ON THE PERMANENT PLOT-84 - PLITVICE-LAKES-NATIONAL-PARK, CROATIA

Within the programme entitled A Hundred Permanent Plots of the Republic of Croatia the permanent plot number 84 was set up in the area of the Plitvice Lakes National Park in 1988. The vegetation on that plot belongs to the Genisto-Callunetum illyricum association. In the continental part of Croatia this association is generally used for grazing and is occasionally affected by fires. Due to the fact that for at least 35 years neither pasture nor burning was recorded on plot No. 84, the association developed in an incomplete Aoristic composition, and bushlike type of vegetation succession started appearing. In 1989, however, sudden and unplanned grazing occurred, and the vegetation on that plot burnt on two occasions in 1990. In the first growing season following the lire the Aoristic composition did not change substantially but changes in the species cover values were identified, and nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in the soil were increased.