Title: RIPARIAN FOREST COMMUNITIES ALONG WATERCOURSES IN THE SUTJESKA NATIONAL PARK (SE BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)
Abstract: The paper deals with the floristic and ecological diversity of the riparian forest and scrub communitiesof the Sutjeska National Park in SE Bosnia and Herzegovina. Watercourses of the NP are represented bymontane to submontane small rivers and creeks with fast-flowing water and frequent strong but shortfloods. This caused specific types of riverine forest vegetation to develop along their banks. Classificationand ordination methods of numerical analysis were applied on 42 relevés sampled in the field. Theclassification has revealed five ecologically interpretable relevé groups: (1) willow scrub of Salix eleagnosand S. caprea on fertile fine grained deposits; (2) forests of Alnus glutinosa and Salix alba also onfiner deposits; (3) narrow strips of Alnus glutinosa along the low banks of smaller streams; (4) narrowstrips of Alnus glutinosa along the steep banks of wider streams; (5) thermo-mesophilous scrub of Salixeleagnos and Ostrya carpinifolia on gravel beds. All five groups are floristically and ecologically welldistinguished. While groups 1 and 3 are similar to already described communities from Central Europe(Salicetum eleagno-purpureae and Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae, respectivelly), groups 4 and5 most probably present, up to date, undescribed associations. Group 2 is rather floristically and ecologicallyheterogeneous, and as such possess transitional character (between Salicion albae and Alnionincanae alliances). Ordination revealed ecological gradient from nutrient rich (groups 1 and 2) to lessnutrient rich communities (groups 4 and 5).