PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE MONTANE CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF GREECE - MOUNT KILLINI (NE PELOPONNISOS S GREECE)

The montane coniferous forests and their degraded syntaxa included eit her in the Quercetalia ilicis or in the Quercetalia pubescenti-petraea e of the Meso- up to the Mountain-Mediterranean vegetation belts of Mo unt Killini, have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method with 69 phytosociological releves. The application of classification and ordi nation methods resulted in the recognition of seven forest and two scr ub plant communities. These communities could be arranged along an alt itudinal gradient. Their syntaxonomy and structure are described and t he present horizontal and vertical arrangement of the coniferous synta xa is mapped. From these syntaxa, 3 new associations and 1 new subasso ciation are described. The main factors influencing the differences in floristic composition, are altitude and human impact resulting in deg radation of the coniferous forest associations. In addition, differenc es in soil parameters like pH, the presence of organic matter and nutr ients appear to be important. Information on the site characteristics, structure and syndynamical position of the communities is given.