Distribution of North American ash species in the Drava River basin and Danube basin (Croatia)

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: D. Kremer
• Author: R. Pernar
• Author: M. Ančić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry; (Department of pharmaceutical botany)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES; Forestry

Abstract (english)

There are two North American ash species which have been acclimatized in north Croatian forest ecosystems: the white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) and the green ash (F. pennsylvanica Marshall). In the lowlands forests of the Drava River basin and Danube basin a total number of 960 subcompartments with North American ash species were established. According to the collected dendrological material the green ash was determined in twenty subcompartments. In those subcompartments the white ash was not found. Accordingly, the distribution of an important neophyte for wood production in the Drava River basin and Danube basin has been mapped for the first time. North American ash species are present in small, mostly isolated depressions where they were planted at the
beginning or in the middle of the 20th century. Also, they spontaneously spread to many locations and with other pioneer species colonize swamps and river islets. In these locations
the green ash has a pioneer and reclamation role in preparing habitats for the arrival and success of the native narrow-leaved ash (F. angustifolia Vahl). The timber value of North American ash species is small because the trees are usually bent by wind, snow and
ice. Also, the trees of North American ash species were more often pulled down than the trees of native species.

• Keywords (english): lowland forest; exotic species; neophyte; ash; Fraxinus americana; Fraxinus pennsylvanica; distribution; Drava; Danube; Croatia
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Acta Botanica Croatica
• Numbering: vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 57-66
• p-ISSN: 0365-0588
• e-ISSN: 1847-8476
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:163:928450
• Publication: 2006
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/3347
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-05-12 11:05:16