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Distribution and diversity of Arctic-Alpine species in the Balkans

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Abstract

The distributions of 77 Arctic-Alpine species in the Balkans are mapped and the centers of their richness and diversity presented. Within the Dinaric Alps these are Mts Vranica, Durmitor, and Prokletije; in the Scardo-Pindhic mountains, Šarplanina–Rudoka–Korab form a continuous chain; in the Rhodope-Rila mountain system there are Mts Vitoša, Rila, and Pirin; while in the Balkan mountain system there are the West and Central part of Stara planina. A comparison of floristic richness and distribution of Arctic-Alpine flora in relation to altitude, geographical location, and geological substrate is made. Correlations between floristic richness and geographical distance of the Balkan mountains from the two main centers of Arctic-Alpine flora in Central Europe are also provided.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funding from the Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia (grant no. 143015, project: Diversity of flora and vegetation in the Central Balkan Peninsula—ecology, chorology, and conservation). We appreciate and thank the reviewers for their valuable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vladimir Stevanović, Snežana Vukojičić, Jasmina Šinžar-Sekulić, Maja Lazarević & Gordana Tomović

  2. Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Kit Tan

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  1. Vladimir Stevanović
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  2. Snežana Vukojičić
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  3. Jasmina Šinžar-Sekulić
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  4. Maja Lazarević
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  5. Gordana Tomović
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  6. Kit Tan
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Correspondence to Kit Tan.

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Stevanović, V., Vukojičić, S., Šinžar-Sekulić, J. et al. Distribution and diversity of Arctic-Alpine species in the Balkans. Plant Syst Evol 283, 219–235 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-009-0230-4

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