Vascular flora associated to Mediterranean temporary ponds on the island of Minorca

Pere Fraga i Arguimbau

doi:10.3989/ajbm.2008.v65.i2.302

Authors

Pere Fraga i Arguimbau Projecte LIFE BASSES, Departament d’Economia i Medi Ambient, Consell Insular de Menorca

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/ajbm.2008.v65.i2.302

Keywords:

Mediterranean temporary ponds, vascular plants, chorology, life forms, Minorca Island, Spain

Abstract

Mediterranean temporary ponds are a habitat with a high interest for conservation due to their particular characteristics and especially to their biodiversity. Vascular flora is a feature that stands out for its richness and diversity. Minorca has a high representation of this habitat. A complete inventory of vascular plants related to this habitat on the island is presented here for the first time. 360 taxa have been recorded in the pond areas. Most of them are usually found outside the water influence, and just 35 have been found to be exclusive to the inundation area. The quantitative analysis of additional information like abundance within the island, chorology and life forms, compared with that of all the flora on the island, reveals some particular traits for the flora of this habitat, and especially for the plants of the inundated area.

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