Approach to climatophilous vegetation series of Serra da Estrela (Portugal)

Abstract

This work contains the study results of climatophilous vegetation series from Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain on the Portuguese mainland. Located in central-northern Portugal in the Estrelensean Sector (Carpetan-Leonese Subprovince), the Serra da Estrela has several bioclimatic stages, mainly resulting from slope and altitude ranges: mesomediterranean, submediterranean mesotemperate, supramediterranean, submediterranean supratemperate, and submediterranean orotemperate. In each of these belts are observed changes in plant communities that determine variations in terms of the vegetation series. The methodology was based on Dynamic-Catenal Phytosociology. The results show the presence of five climatophilous series; their structural characteristics and dynamics are described in this paper: 1. Lycopodio clavati–Junipereto nani S.; 2. Saxifrago spathularis–Betuleto celtibericae S.; 3. Holco mollis–Querco pyrenaicae S.; 4. Arbuto–Querco pyrenaicae cytisetoso grandiflori S.; e 5. Viburno tini–Querco roboris S.