Pešturina glacial
Artistic paleo-reconstruction of vegetation during a glacial phase in the MIS 4-3 interval The pine (Pinus nigra) on the right symbolizes the importance of gymnosperms during these generally cold and arid episodes in the Balkans. There is no reduction in plant diversity compared to the warm phase, but the vegetation belts are compressed due to the climatically inhospitable nature of both the highlands (periglacial environments with tundra-like vegetation) and the lowlands (aridity, steppes-dominated by Artemisia). Conifers, including P. mugo and beeches and firs, have descended to mid-altitudes, even into the valleys. The refugia are situated at mid-altitudes, favored by the microclimate with less thermic contrast and the influence of orographic rainfall.
Carrión JS, Amorós G, Ochando J, Magri D, Marín-Arroyo AB, Sánchez-Giner MV, Amorós A, Munuera M, Di Rita F, Michelangeli F, Roksandic M, Mihailović D. Welcome to the Forest Theatre: Unveiling a Balkan Refugium through Paleoart. Quarternary Science Reviews, Volume 338, 15 August 2024, 108829.
