Assessment of Herbaceous Plant Composition, Diversity, and Indicator Species in the Juniperus drupacea Forest Openings of the Mountain Parnonas in Greece

: A signiﬁcant challenge in community ecology is the establishment of ecological baselines, which permit the evaluation of the variations in ecological dynamics at different temporal and spatial scales. To our best knowledge, few studies have been conducted in the forest openings of Mt. Parnon to establish a baseline for future monitoring. Hence, a ﬂoristic study of the herbaceous plant species composition, diversity, cover, and biomass was conducted in the forest openings of the Mt. Parnon-Natura 2000 Site in Greece to develop an ecological baseline that could be utilized in decision making for conservation and the sustainable use of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services in the forest ecosystem of Mt. Parnon. In the spring season, a thorough ﬂoristic survey was performed on Mt. Parnon for two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022. Herbaceous plant composition, diversity, cover, biomass, and plant indicator species (indicator value analysis) in the forest openings of Mt. Parnon were assessed. In the studied area, 63 plant species belonging to 58 genera from 20 families were recorded. The most numerous families were Asteraceae and Poaceae, followed by Fabaceae. Variable plant diversity, herbaceous plant cover, and produced biomass were recorded in different sites. It is noteworthy that some plant species could be regarded as indicators of the sites in the study area [ Geranium molle L., Cerastium candidissimum Correns, Vicia villosa Roth, Euphorbia myrsinites L., Odontarrhena muralis (Waldst. & Kit.) Endl., Medicago lupulina L., Lotus corniculatus L., Crepis fraasii Sch. Bip., Bellis sylvestris Cirillo, and Trifolium stellatum L.], and information about these indicators, including Ellenberg type indicator values, is also provided. This study contributes to the understanding of the relevant ecological topics and provides key elements that could be utilized in decision making for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services on Mt. Parnon.


Introduction
Greece sits at the intersection of three major continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa).It has a long coastline and a wide range of ecosystems and is host to a wide variety of landscapes that hold significant aesthetic and cultural significance.Over half of the country is covered in semi-natural ecosystems and habitats, with 33% of the total area covered by forests and wooded regions, 13% by grassland, and 21% by scrubland.Wetlands and water comprise 2% of the Greek land, while barren land comprises 3%.Croplands, which account for 24% of the terrestrial terrain, and built-up areas, which account for 3%, are the most extensively managed and exploited areas [1][2][3][4].
Greece has diverse ecosystems, landscapes, and a high biodiversity.According to Dimopoulos [5], 6811 taxa (plant species and their subspecies) are distributed across 1089 genera and 184 families in Greek flora.Flora of Greece is rich in endemic species, comprising 1278 endemic species (22.2% of all species), and 452 endemic subspecies (22.1% of all subspecies) [5].
Juniperus drupacea Labill. is the tallest species of juniper, forming a conical tree 10 to 25 m tall, exceptionally up to 40 m, and with a trunk up to 1 to 2 m thick.It is a plant species with an ecological, medicinal, and economic value which makes it an interesting research topic.The species, commonly referred to as Syrian juniper, belongs to the family Cupressaceae.Currently, the species is primarily distributed in southeast Turkey, western Syria, Israel, and Lebanon.In Europe, its natural populations are confined to the southeastern portion of the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece [6][7][8][9].Specifically, over 95% of the J. drupacea populations in Greece are found on Mt.Parnon [6], with a few recorded populations in tiny patches on Mt.Taygetos [7][8][9].Due to its decay-resistant wood, J. drupacea was once utilized for carpentry and fuel in Greece.However, its status as an endangered species prevents its widespread use today as it belongs to natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special conservation areas [10].Based on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) [11], J. drupacea is a species of least concern (LC) on a global scale.In Europe, however, it is classified as endangered (EN) [12] based on the criteria B1ab(iii) + 2ab(iii) [11].According to FEK 121D/1980 [13], its ecological value has been recognized in Greece since 1980, when J. drupacea forests were designated a "natural monument under preservation".In 1992, it was added to Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC as a priority habitat type, and the summits of Mt.Parnon and Malevi Monastery were designated as special protected areas (code: GR 2520006) under Natura 2000 [10].
Mt. Parnon hosts numerous species that contribute to biodiversity.The dominant primary producers in forest ecosystems are vascular plants, which are highly accurate indicators of the abiotic environment in which they thrive.In the EU Habitats Directive [10], plants are assumed to serve as habitat indicators and conservation status indicators.The aggregation of plant indicator values (e.g., Ellenberg indicator values [14]) is a commonly used method to assess local conditions in vegetation studies (e.g., [15,16]).It is plausible that the distribution and abundance of plant species are constrained by several abiotic factors, primarily climatic conditions (e.g., light, temperature, and precipitation), and soil characteristics (e.g., nutrient content, pH, and chemical composition) [17][18][19].Species' responses to these variables determine their ecological tolerance (the range of conditions under which they can persist) and optimum (the value that is optimal for the species' survival, development, growth, and reproduction) [19,20].Additionally, biotic factors, such as functional diversity, may operate as a mediator in the relationship between productivity and the diversity of herbaceous species in natural ecosystems [21].According to Cadotte et al. [22], great functional diversity may indicate high trait divergence among plant species.
Hence, the main objectives of this study were to investigate characteristics of J. drupacea forest openings on Mt.Parnon: (a) the vascular plant composition on Mt.Parnon; (b) the plant diversity (species richness, Shannon-Weiner index, and Simpson index) among the investigated sites; (c) the plant cover and biomass among the sites; and (d) the relationships between herbaceous plant species and sites by using indicator value analysis (IndVal) to identify possible indicator species for the specific sites.This study seeks to gather data to help address research gaps related to the importance of forest openings that create a micro-niche and new growth opportunities for a wider variety of plants that affect forest ecosystem services.

Study Site
The present study was conducted on 10 sites (S1-S10) of Mt.Parnon (37 Peloponnesian Peninsula and includes the mountain mass of Parnonas.The map of the study area was created in the software QGIS (Figure 1).Its total area is about 55,767.52 ha, and its maximum and minimum altitudes are 1920.0and 99.0 m, respectively.Geologically, the Mt.Parnon range is a part of the Gavrovo-Tripoli zone and primarily comprises a calcareous substrate.The characteristics of the sites are presented in Table 1.It is one of Peloponnisos' oldest regions and, like Taygetos, was long secluded.Mt.Parnon combines natural landscapes of high aesthetic value with remarkable manmade landscapes, such as the traditional settlements, historic monasteries, and a traditional rural landscape.The conifer forests of Abies cephalonica Loudon and Pinus nigra subsp.pallasiana (Lamb.)Holmboe flourishes on its slopes.Castanea forests are also extant in good condition and cover a large area [6,13].

Study Site
The present study was conducted on 10 sites (S1-S10) of Mt.Parnon (37°19′39.27″Ν, 22°35′0.94″Ε), a Natura 2000 site.Τhe region (GR2520006) is located on the southeastern Peloponnesian Peninsula and includes the mountain mass of Parnonas.The map of the study area was created in the software QGIS (Figure 1).Its total area is about 55,767.52 ha, and its maximum and minimum altitudes are 1920.0and 99.0 m, respectively.Geologically, the Mt.Parnon range is a part of the Gavrovo-Tripoli zone and primarily comprises a calcareous substrate.The characteristics of the sites are presented in Table 1.It is one of Peloponnisos' oldest regions and, like Taygetos, was long secluded.Mt.Parnon combines natural landscapes of high aesthetic value with remarkable manmade landscapes, such as the traditional settlements, historic monasteries, and a traditional rural landscape.The conifer forests of Abies cephalonica Loudon and Pinus nigra subsp.pallasiana (Lamb.)Holmboe flourishes on its slopes.Castanea forests are also extant in good condition and cover a large area [6,13].2).The climate of the region is Mediterranean.From the data recorded at the nearest meteorological station at Malevi Monastery, total precipitation in spring 2021 was 52.1 mm, whereas it reached 105.4 mm in spring 2022.The mean daily air temperature ranged from 8°C to 24.5 °C in spring 2021 and from 6°C to 23.9 °C in spring 2022 (Figure 2).

Sampling
The sampling of herbaceous plant species was conducted at 10 sampling sites measuring 100 m 2 in forest openings that were accessible in the spring seasons of 2021 and 2022 (Figure 3a) because plants are in their flowering and the maximum of their productive capacity (plant biomass).At each sampling site, the plant species were recorded in nine 1 m 2 sub-quadrats within a 100 m 2 quadrat (Figure 3b), and the species richness and number of individuals of each plant species and the total percentage of plant cover were measured [23].To determine the plant samples, the"Flora Europaea" [24,25], the "Flora Hellenica" [26], and the vascular plants of Greece:an annotated checklist [5] were used.Life form, chorology, and status categories of plant species follow the system of Dimopoulos et al. [5,9] and Raunkiaer 1934 [27].A total surface cut of all above-ground plant parts of nine 1 m 2 sub-quadrats within a 100 m 2 quadrat at each sampling site was then conducted and transported to the laboratory.All the plant species of each of 1 m 2 sub-quadrat were placed in a drying oven (BINDER FED 400) at a temperature of 65 °C for 48 h, and the dry herbage biomass was then weighed on a precision balance to determine the dry weight [28].

Sampling
The sampling of herbaceous plant species was conducted at 10 sampling sites measuring 100 m 2 in forest openings that were accessible in the spring seasons of 2021 and 2022 (Figure 3a) because plants are in their flowering and the maximum of their productive capacity (plant biomass).At each sampling site, the plant species were recorded in nine 1 m 2 sub-quadrats within a 100 m 2 quadrat (Figure 3b), and the species richness and number of individuals of each plant species and the total percentage of plant cover were measured [23].To determine the plant samples, the"Flora Europaea" [24,25], the "Flora Hellenica" [26], and the vascular plants of Greece:an annotated checklist [5] were used.Life form, chorology, and status categories of plant species follow the system of Dimopoulos et al. [5,9] and Raunkiaer 1934 [27].A total surface cut of all above-ground plant parts of nine 1 m 2 sub-quadrats within a 100 m 2 quadrat at each sampling site was then conducted and transported to the laboratory.All the plant species of each of 1 m 2 sub-quadrat were placed in a drying oven (BINDER FED 400) at a temperature of 65 • C for 48 h, and the dry herbage biomass was then weighed on a precision balance to determine the dry weight [28].

Statistical Analyses
The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests for the confirmation of the normal distribution of data were used.Plant diversity was assessed using the following biodiversity indices [29,30]: Species richness (S): It measures the number of species in a sampling site.The more species there are in a sample, the richer the sample is.

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The Shannon diversity index (H): The index considers the number of species present in the sample and the relative number of individuals present for each species.It is used to quantify specific biodiversity.Values less than 1.5 are interpreted as sites with relatively low species diversity, while those greater than 2.0 are high.Mathematically, the Shannon index is calculated by the following expression: where H′ is the species diversity index, s is the number of species, and pi is the proportion of individuals of each species belonging to the ith species of the total number of individuals.

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The Simpson dominance index (D) considers not only the number of observed species but also their degree of dominance.It is calculated using ni as the abundance of a specific taxon in a specific sampling area, divided by the total number of taxa present in it.The value of the Simpson index (D) varies between 0 and 1.The higher the value of the index, the lower the diversity.

Statistical Analyses
The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests for the confirmation of the normal distribution of data were used.Plant diversity was assessed using the following biodiversity indices [29,30]: Species richness (S): It measures the number of species in a sampling site.The more species there are in a sample, the richer the sample is.

•
The Shannon diversity index (H): The index considers the number of species present in the sample and the relative number of individuals present for each species.It is used to quantify specific biodiversity.Values less than 1.5 are interpreted as sites with relatively low species diversity, while those greater than 2.0 are high.Mathematically, the Shannon index is calculated by the following expression: where H is the species diversity index, s is the number of species, and p i is the proportion of individuals of each species belonging to the ith species of the total number of individuals.

•
The Simpson dominance index (D) considers not only the number of observed species but also their degree of dominance.It is calculated using n i as the abundance of a specific taxon in a specific sampling area, divided by the total number of taxa present in it.The value of the Simpson index (D) varies between 0 and 1.The higher the value of the index, the lower the diversity.
The Simpson index is given by the following formula: where N is the total number of individuals in the sampling plot, and n i is the number of individuals belonging to species i.
All the above indexes were examined with the Species Diversity and Richness IV software [31].
Regarding the control of differences in the values of the biodiversity variables studied between the two sampling years, the method of repeated measures analysis of variance under the general linear model (ANOVA) was used.No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected between the two sampling years, and for this reason, the average was used to increase the robustness and generalization of the results, incorporate annual variation, and produce a logical basis on which their future trends could be analyzed [4].
To study changes in plant species composition in the biocommunity, the "Indicator Value-IndVal" method of Dufrene and Legendre [32] was used.This method assigns "indicator species" (IndVal > 50%) to each sampling area based on the relative abundance of the species and their frequency of occurrence in the samples.The IndVal index ranges between 0 and 100.A species is a perfect indicator of a particular area when the IndVal index equals 100.The calculation of the IndVal index values was conducted with the IndVal software [33].Moreover, only for the "indicators species" that emerged from the IndVal method, the Ellenberg indicator values were used to express plant preferences for light indicator values (L), temperature indicator values (T), moisture indicator values (M), reaction indicator values (R), nutrient indicator values (N), and salinity indicator values (S).More information about the Ellenberg indicator values and related information can be found in Tichý [34].All the above indicator values can be utilized in decision making for biodiversity conservation and management.
In terms of herbaceous plant diversity (species richness, Shannon-Wiener, and Simpson), the randomization test of Solow (1993) revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the sampling sites.Specifically, the highest plant diversity was recorded at the S1, S2, S3, and S4 sites, followed by the S5 and S6 sites, and the lowest plant diversity was recorded at the S7, S8, S9, and S10 sites (Table 2).
Figure 5 shows the mean herbaceous plant cover (%) on the S1-S10 sites.Significant statistical differences (F = 113.44 and p = 0.00) were detected in the percentage of herbaceous plant cover among the different sites of the study area.Specifically, the highest values were observed at S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S9, followed by S7 and S8, and the lowest values were observed at S10.In terms of herbaceous plant diversity (species richness, Shannon-Wiener, and Simpson), the randomization test of Solow (1993) revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the sampling sites.Specifically, the highest plant diversity was recorded at the S1, S2, S3, and S4 sites, followed by the S5 and S6 sites, and the lowest plant diversity was recorded at the S7, S8, S9, and S10 sites (Table 2).1.89d 0.71a * For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.
Figure 5 shows the mean herbaceous plant cover (%) on the S1-S10 sites.Significant statistical differences (F = 113.44 and p = 0.00) were detected in the percentage of herbaceous plant cover among the different sites of the study area.Specifically, the highest values were observed at S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S9, followed by S7 and S8, and the lowest values were observed at S10.   ).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.
Figure 6 shows the mean produced biomass of herbaceous plant species (g/m 2 ) on the S1-S10 sites.Significant statistical differences (F = 4.48 and p = 0.00) were detected in the produced biomass among the different sites of the study area.Specifically, the highest values were observed at S2, followed by S1, S3, S4, subsequently by S5, S6, and then by ).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.
Figure 6 shows the mean produced biomass of herbaceous plant species (g/m 2 ) on the S1-S10 sites.Significant statistical differences (F = 4.48 and p = 0.00) were detected in the produced biomass among the different sites of the study area.Specifically, the highest values were observed at S2, followed by S1, S3, S4, subsequently by S5, S6, and then by S7, S8, S9, while the lowest values were observed at S10. ).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.
Figure 6 shows the mean produced biomass of herbaceous plant species (g/m 2 ) on the S1-S10 sites.Significant statistical differences (F = 4.48 and p = 0.00) were detected in the produced biomass among the different sites of the study area.Specifically, the highest values were observed at S2, followed by S1, S3, S4, subsequently by S5, S6, and then by S7, S8, S9, while the lowest values were observed at S10. ) in the sampling sites.For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Identifying Indicator Plant Species
The IndVal procedure, which was used to evaluate possible indicator species in herbaceous plant communities, showed that one species (Muscari neglectum) could be regarded as eurytopic (Table 3).Additionally, several herbaceous plant species (IndVal > 50%)-Geranium molle (S1), Cerastium candidissimum (S2), Vicia villosa (S3), Euphorbia myrsinites (S4), Odontarrhena muralis (S5), Medicago lupulina (S6), Lotus corniculatus (S7), Crepis fraasii (S8), Bellis sylvestris (S9), and Trifolium stellatum (S10)-were recorded at each site.These species should be regarded as "characteristic indicator species" of each site.Ellenberg indicator values for the above plant species, providing a proxy measure of environmental conditions, are presented in Table 4.Our study showed that the most numerous families were Asteraceae and Poaceae, followed by Fabaceae, which reflects the prevailing situation in the Greek area, as these families are among the three most numerous families in Greece and the Mediterranean [9,35,36].According to Gilliam [37], the understory is an important component of forest ecosystems; it influences energy flow and nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and regeneration ability.Furthermore, the understory responds quickly to both natural and manmade disturbances [38], such as avoiding erosion and creating favorable microenvironments for the development of other species [39], microenvironments, and stand conditions [40].
Plant diversity and cover were observed at high levels at most of the sites.This is probably due to the fact of the topographic diversity and the existing vegetation of Mt.Parnon [6].Additionally, sufficient nutrients and water based on the soil type of the sites may have contributed to the development of rich vegetation and cover.Thus, species with high productivity rates and the ability to produce rich above-ground vegetation and cover are favored in plant communities of the forest openings [41,42].
The lower plant diversity and cover recorded at some sites may be a result of the increased degree of shading of the trees due to their high coverage, which decisively affects the available solar radiation for the plants (photosynthesis) growing in the understory [41,42].The effect of tree shading on herbaceous plant composition, diversity, and cover is related to the different plant species present in the understory.Specifically, boreal Poaceae species are favored by light and moderate shading, while thermal species and almost all legumes are limited [43,44].

Herbaceous Plant Biomass at the Sites
Biomass is a basic characteristic of vegetation that reflects the fertility of soil re-sources used by specific plant species [45].At most of the sites, the biomass production was recorded at satisfactory levels.It is documented that the amount of production in natural ecosystems is affected by the species, age, and density of the trees in the overlying stand, as well as the species and shade tolerance level of the herbaceous plants [46].According to Wolters et al. [47], the production of herbaceous plants is directly affected by the quality and age of the trees in the upland, the available nutrients in the soil, and the management measures applied.
It is known that soil texture plays a key role in carbon storage and strongly influences nutrient retention and availability.Additionally, the plants of the Fabaceae family enrich the soil with nutrients, especially with nitrogen, increasing soil productivity.This is a possible reason for the plant biomass production of the sites.Halpern and Lutz [48] and McCarthy et al. [49] have highlighted the significance of topography for herbaceous understory vegetation [44,[50][51][52][53][54][55].

Typical Herbaceous Plant Species
Researchers evaluate various management practices in terms of the environmental, social, and productive benefits that ecosystems must offer by recording the population fluctuations of specific organisms.The plant species are used as indicators in forested areas and play a particularly beneficial role in these ecosystems.A useful hypothesis to consider is that the minimum biodiversity necessary to maintain a particular ecosystem function may be represented by a single keystone species or a functional group [56].
According to IndVal analysis, the herbaceous plant species, Muscari neglectum, could be regarded as eurytopic and is characterized by its ability to live in a wide variety of sites and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions.Therefore, it is present in all sites of the study area.
According to IndVal analysis, the herbaceous plant species, Bellis sylvestris (S9), Cerastium candidissimum (S2), Crepis fraasii (S8), Euphorbia myrsinites (S4), Geranium molle (S1), Lotus corniculatus (S7), Medicago lupulina (S6), Odontarrhena muralis (S5), Trifolium stellatum (S10), and Vicia villosa (S3), were recorded as "characteristic indicator species".Based on Tichý [34] and Zolotova [57], the plant species, Bellis sylvestris, is characterized by values of ecological indicators that interpret the ecological conditions in which it is adapted to grow.More specifically, it is a plant that generally prefers well-lit but also partially shaded positions.It is an indicator of slightly acidic conditions (pH 6-6.9), and it is found both in habitats that are more or less poor in nutrients and in habitats with moderate nutrient availability.Crepis fraasii is a plant that prefers partially shaded positions; it has moderate moisture requirements and is found both in habitats that are more or less poor in nutrients, as well as in habitats with moderate availability of nutrients.Euphorbia myrsinites is a plant that prefers well-lit and warm sites.It has moderate moisture requirements and is an indicator of weakly acidic to weakly basic conditions.Geranium molle prefers dry to cool habitats.It is an indicator of weakly acidic to weakly basic conditions and occurs both in habitats that are more or less rich in nutrients, as well as in habitats with moderate nutrient availability.Medicago lupulina prefers sunshiny but also partially shaded sites.It has moderate moisture requirements and is an indicator of biotopes with moderate availability of nutrients and weakly acidic to weakly basic conditions.Trifolium stellatum prefers partially shaded locations and is an indicator of dry to cool habitats that are moderate nutrient availability.Vicia villosa prefers full of light but also partially shaded locations.It is found in dry to cool habitats and is an indicator of weakly acidic to weakly basic conditions.Vicia villosa is an indicator of habitats that are richer in nutrients, as well as in habitats with moderate nutrient availability [58].

Conclusions
The present research highlights the importance of the J. drupacea ecosystem in terms of enhancing plant biodiversity on Mt.Parnon.On Mt.Parnon, moderate to high plant diversity, cover, and biomass of herbaceous plants were observed on most sites of the study area.
Moreover, the "indicator plant species" that have emerged at sites could be used to indicate the environmental conditions according to Ellenberg-type indicator values.This study gathers data to help address research gaps related to the importance of forest openings that create a micro-niche and new growth opportunities for a wider variety of plants that affect forest ecosystem services.
Future research should focus on the evaluation of the environmental impacts on the plant diversity of forest openings, which could be utilized in decision making for conservation and the sustainable use of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services on Mt.Parnon.Additionally, the comparison of forest openings with some other type of vegetation occurring in the habitat could be an important indicator of the ecosystem status for the relatively easy and inexpensive assessment of ground vegetation monitoring as well as constituting an acknowledged basis for ecosystem biodiversity assessment.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Variation of mean daily temperature and precipitation in the study area according to the data from the nearest meteorological station at Malevi Monastery.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Variation of mean daily temperature and precipitation in the study area according to the data from the nearest meteorological station at Malevi Monastery.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Distribution of plant species across families in the investigated J. drupacea forest openings in the Mt.Parnon.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Distribution of plant species across families in the investigated J. drupacea forest openings in the Mt.Parnon.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Mean cover (%) of herbaceous plants in the sampling sites (S1-S10).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Mean cover (%) of herbaceous plants in the sampling sites (S1-S10).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Mean cover (%) of herbaceous plants in the sampling sites (S1-S10).For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Mean biomass of herbaceous plants produced (g/m 2) in the sampling sites.For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Mean biomass of herbaceous plants produced (g/m 2) in the sampling sites.For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.

Table 1 .
The characteristics of the sites on Mt.Parnon.The climate of the region is Mediterranean.From the data recorded at the nearest meteorological station at Malevi Monastery, total precipitation in spring 2021 was 52.1 mm, whereas it reached 105.4 mm in spring 2022.The mean daily air temperature ranged from 8 • C to 24.5 • C in spring 2021 and from 6 • C to 23.9 • C in spring 2022 (Figure

Table 1 .
The characteristics of the sites on Mt.Parnon.
* For all sites with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant.Sustainability 2023, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 21

Table 3 .
IndVal analysis for herbaceous plant species.

Table A11 .
Herbaceous plant species at the S10 site.