Ecological and Biological Properties of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L.) on the Island of Rab

This paper deals with ecological and biological properties of Holm Oak trees (Quercus ilex L.) on the Island of Rab. Forest ecosystems are influenced by numerous local meteorological and climatic conditions. In spring 2006 four experimental plots (2x2 m), one in the middle forest (both seed and coppiced trees) and three in coppices of different age and structure, were established on the Island of Rab.Rotronic hygromers for measuring air temperature (°C), relative air humidity (%), wet bulb temperature (°C) and dewpoint/frostpoint (oC) were placed on two sites (middle forest and coppice). The values were measured from May 2006 to May 2007. Lux-meter was used for measuring relative light intensity. In 2006 soil humidity (%) was measured five times with Theta Probes model ML2x at the average depth of Holm Oak seedling rooting. On three occasions 30 Holm Oak seedlings were samples for root analysis. The scanner Epson Expression 10000XL and software WinRHIZO ProLA2400 for the analysis of washed roots were used to determine the total root length (cm), average root diameter (mm), volume (cm3), number of tips (pcs), forks (pcs) and crossings (pcs). In order to determine the natural mortality, the seedlings and young plants of Holm Oak were counted on ten occasions during the three years of research (in 2006, 2007 and 2008). The seedling heights were measured at the end of the germination phase and at the end of the first growing season.Minimum air temperature in coppice was lower compared to the middle forest. Microclimatic conditions in coppice are less favorable for the growth and development of vegetation than those in the middle forest. Coppice has higher air temperature and lower relative air humidity compared to the microclimate in the middle forest. Large numbers of natural Holm Oak seedlings and young plants were recorded on all the four experimental plots, which can be attributed to favorable climatic factors influencing the yield on the Island of Rab. A large number of seedlings was obtained in coppice (480,000 – 1,190,000 pcs/ha) compared to the middle forest (465,000 pcs), which can be attributed to the age of the stand, i.e. the size of the fructifying trees and the shrub cover. There is a great variability between the four experimental plots with respect to the end of germination (4/7 – 3/10). The germination of Holm Oak seedlings in the middle forest reached its peak earlier (4 July 2006) than in the coppice (31 July 3 October), which implies the presence of better microclimatic site conditions. On some experimental plots Holm Oak acorns were germ