Structure and productivity in kermes oak shrublands ( Quercus coccifera L.)

Shrublands with kennes oak ( Quercus cσccifera L.) as dominant species play an important role in the nutrition of grazing animals during all seasons of the year. In this work the results are presented of a study and researchconceming the productive structure of kennes oak shrublands, the distribution of their available production in different heights from soil were investigated. The research was carried out at the villages of Pente Vryses and Lophiscos (Thessaloniki Prefecture) on an area of 545 ha, covered by herbage and woody vegetation. The experimental design was a system of double sampling with stratification. In the first phase aerial photographs, orthophotographs and topographical maps were used, on which the rangeland types were separated and delimited; the research area was estimated and stratified in four classes of 0-15%, 16-40%, 41 -70%, 71 -100%. That was followed by the design of ground sampling for the measurement of shrub cover (2nd phase). Apart frοm shrub cover, the structure of kennes oak shrublands and the available kennes oak shrublands production in three height classes of 0- 50 cm, 0-100 cm and 0-150 cm. The greatest change in the upper height class structure of these shrublands was observed on these plots when shrub cover was over 40%. The maximum quantity of total available production (herbaceous and shrubby) is produced by kennes oak shrublands of up to 15% coνer and 50 cm height. The distribution of the available shrub production followed a decreasing course in relation to shrubs height.