Dinaric Calcareous Block Fir Forest - Ecology

Ecology

Silver fir is a constituent of montane central European forests. As a rare species in dry climates of the Mediterranean, the silver firs presence on Mt. Orjen is restricted to humid northern slopes. A marked difference in the fir's vegetation patterns is seen here. It has a common cause in soil formation. High soil-water content in terrae fuscae on glacial superstratum leads to beech-fir forests. Whereas dry initial rendzinas on glacio-karstic substrate support xeric dinaric calcareaous Silver Fir forests. Latter endemic community rich in submediterranean species has evolutional parallels with Bosnian Pine communities.