Starting from the premise that a specific constellation of site factors is best expressed through soil and vegetation characteristics, the main objective of this study is the precise examination and detailed definition of the soil and phytocenological characteristics of the investigated localities. The soil characteristics encompass field−collected data, a presentation of the soil’s fundamental physical and chemical properties, classification of soil types, and information on the soil water balance (WBL). The phytocenological characteristics include a species list across all three vegetation layers, with corresponding abundance and coverage values, along with a description of basic site conditions (altitude, exposure, slope, geological substrate and site coordinates). An analysis of ecological spectra is also provided, covering life forms, species’ moisture preferences, soil pH, nitrogen content, and their relationships to light and temperature. Soil and vegetation data were collected across seven localities, within communities of four Tertiary relict species found in the ‘Ðerdap’ National Park: Turkish hazel Corylus colurna, common walnut Juglans regia, European nettle tree Celtis australis, and holly Ilex aquifolium. Of the four Tertiary relict species, only J. regia is not classified as protected. I. aquifolium is strictly protected, while C. australis and C. colurna are under protection. Although communities of these species occur in other parts of Serbia, the walnut−nettle tree community Celtido−Juglandetum has been recorded exclusively in the Ðerdap area. The significance of these relict species and their communities lies in their contribution to biodiversity preservation – since they are typically represented by a small number of individuals – and in their value for understanding evolutionary processes and phytogeographic patterns of the region. Relict woody species in the area of ‘Ðerdap’ National Park occur in the following plant communities: the community of beech and walnut Juglando−Fagetum moesiacae, the pure community of walnut Parietario−Juglandetum , the depleted community of beech and hazel Corylo colurnae−Fagetum moesiacae, to the community of walnut and nettle tree Celtido−Juglandetum and to the community of beech and holly Ilici−Fagetum moesiacae. The following soil types were studied in the research area: Molic Leptosol (Brunic, Skeletic), Colluvic Regosol (Eutric), Rendzic Leptosol (Calcaric, Skeletic), Haplic Cambisol (Eutric, Skeletic) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric).

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