ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GRASSLAND FLORA IN THE RIPARIAN ZONE OF OKANJ OXBOW LAKE (VOJVODINA, SERBIA)

Abstract

The flora of the grassland surrounding Okanj oxbow lake, located in the vicinity of the village of Elemir (the Vojvodina Province, Serbia), was found to comprise 182 plant taxa. Of these 182 taxa (166 species, 7 subspecies and 2 varieties, 6 forms and 1 lusus naturae), 174 were used for ecological analysis, i.e., 166 species, 7 subspecies and, because of its plant geographic and ecological importance, one variety (the Pontic-Pannonian element Aster tripolium var. pannonicus). Based on mean values of the ecological indices developed according to Landolt's criteria, it was concluded that the grassland flora in the riparian zone around Okanj oxbow lake was composed of taxa adapted to a habitat having the following average values: medium humid to moderately dry (F-2.65), moderately basic (R-3.28), moderately poor in the biogenic mineral N (N-3.20) and organo-mineral substances (H-2.99), with a moderately adequate aeration (D-3.97), and considerably saline (S+ - 26.44 %). The flora is predominated by heliophilous (L-3.80) and thermophilous (T-4.01) plants adapted to the moderately continental climatic conditions of the studied habitat (K-3.18).