The conservation value of karst dolines for vascular plants in woodland habitats of Hungary: refugia and climate change

In this study, the authors aimed to compare the vegetation pattern and species composition of dolines under different climate regimes of Hungary with regard to regional species pools. The fieldwork was carried out between 2005 and 2012. Twenty dolines were selected in the Mecsek Mountains (southern Hungary) and nine dolines in the Aggtelek Karst area (northern Hungary). More than 900 vascular plants and more than 2,000 plots were included in the study. The moving split window technique, nestedness analysis and principal coordinates analysis were used to reveal the vegetation patterns in dolines. The authors found remarkable differences between the species composition of the two regions, dolines of both regions play a similar role in the preservation of different groups of species. Many plants, in particular mountain species, are restricted to the bottom of dolines where appropriate environmental conditions exist. In conclusion, the karst dolines of Hungary can be considered as reservoirs for many vascular plant species.