Natural heritage
BIOLOGY

LAND FLORA

Although the flora of the Kornati islands has been studied for almost 200 years, it is still not fully known. The most studied - vascular flora (Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms) of Kornati archipelago has so far included 537 plant taxa, which represent about 10% of the total number of listed vascular flora in the Croatian territory. It is estimated that in the area of  the Kornati islands there are around 700 to 800 plant species.

In the vegetation-fitogeographic sense, Kornati belong to Eumediterranean vegetation zone of Mediterranean-littoral zone of the Mediterranean region, and fitogeographically they belong to the Eastern Adriatic sector of the Adriatic province. In this sense, the basis forest vegetation related to climate zones is built by Myrtle-Quercetum ilicis, the vegetation of rocks by Phagnalo-Centaureetum ragusinae and coastal reefs Plantagini-Limonietum cancellata. The larger islands are covered with pasture vegetation, which is rather very poor in species, because forests were systematically burned to obtain grazing areas over a long historical period.

The following species have to be mentioned as substantial species of this region: the Dubrovnik knapweed (Centaurea ragusina), Corydalis vulgaris, Sese tomentosum, Illyrian iris (Iris illyrica), Convolvulus lineatus, Euphorbia dendroides, species from families of Orchidaceae, etc.

The present vegetation could be divided into twenty plant communities, some of which are represented only in fragments. Among major communities following can be included:

hazmofiti vegetation of rock cracks - Phagnalo-Centaureetum ragusinae, as well as an endemic community related to limestone rocks of the eumediterrenean vegetation zone with the characteristic species of the Dubrovnik knapweed (Centaurea ragusina) as Illyrian – Adriatic endemic plant ;

hyalofill limestone vegetation of the coastal cliffs - Plantagini-Limonietum cancellata with characteristic types: narrow-leafed plantain (Plantago holosteum) and Limonium cancellatum;

Euphorbia dendroides with the status of rare species in Croatia;

forest communities of myrtle and oak (Myrtle-Quercetum ilicis)  with  their degradative stages;

vegetation of pastures on lithosol as the most widespread of Kornati islands with Stipo-salvietum officinalis brachypodietosum ramosi - related to the relatively highly degraded limestone karst and community of Festuco koelerietum splendentis, cennected to areas that are relatively less degraded than the previous communities. Both communities have the appearance of "bare" rocks and emerged as the final stage in the process of degradation of forest vegetation.

Continental vegetation is without any doubt the result of a long (thousands of years long) presence and activities of men in this area.

CONTITENTAL FAUNA

Very little is known about the fauna of the Kornati islands. None of the continental fauna groups has been closely observed, and published studies almost don’t exist. At the symposium about the Nationa Park “Kornati”, held in year 1995 in Murter, only one article was presented and it was about Coleoptera. Even this is a sign that unexplored fauna is becoming a problem.  Namely, there was a statement in the above mentioned article that according to literature there have been 168 families of Coleoptera recorded in Kornati, which is without any doubt insufficient, if we keep in mind that these 168 families form only 4,4% of Coleoptera fauna for which it has been confirmed to inhabit east Adriatic islands.

Some information about fauna is almost hundred years old, while other rest on oral communication which is difficult to check or take seriously. But lately, several projects have been started with the purpose of exploring and listing the insular fauna (owls, gulls, cormorants, reptiles, snails, ets.).

Relatively poor fauna on the land (both by number of species and by the number of units) is without dispute a result of sparse vegetation, i.e. presence and activities of men in Kornati

BENTHIC FLORA

Benthic flora of the National Park Kornati has 352 families (up to now), which respresents approximately 52% of total number of recorded benthic families in Adriatic (682 families) and 3 types of sea flowering plants (Angiospermae). Red algae (Rhodophyta) prevails in numbers with 225 families, and then we have families of brown algae (Phaeophyta) with 75 families and green algae (Chlorophyta) with 52 families. This relation between the number of red and brown algae shows us that the benthic flora has a mild subtropic meaning. From flora elements in the explored flora atlatnic elements dominate with 123 families, followed by the mediterrenean elements with 96 families, and cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan elements with 60 families. Up to this moment 13 Adriatic endemic plants have been determined, which makes 3,6% from the total (till now determined) benthic algae in Kornati.

Special attention has been paid to exploration of specially protected underwater zone around the islet of Purara, where 225 families of benthic flaura have been determined up to now, which makes 64% of the total number of determined benthic algae in the national park.

When discussing biological resources in the NP “Kornati” we could certainly say that the biocoenosis of the sea bottom, and particulary the flora part, is in best condition.

SEA FAUNA

Only lately more attention has been given to exploration of the sea fauna (especially life communities of the sea bottom and fish). Over 850 families of macro- and meiofauna have been determined according to the present researches.  When comparing to other parts of the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterrenean, the real assumption is that at least 2500 to 3000 families of benthic and pelagic fauna lives in the Kornati aquatorium.
As examples of awereness of the diversity of groups it is possible to mention:

Corals (Anthozoa) – the Adriatic 56 species, the Kornati islands 22 species (3% of the total number in the Adriatic)

Mollusk (Mollusca) – the Adriatic 951 species, the Kornati islands 177 species (19% of the total number in the Adriatic)

Polychaeta – the Adriatic 569 species, the Kornati islands 127 species (22% of the total number in the Adriatic)

Crustacean Decapoda – the Adriatic 213 species, the Kornati islands 55 species. (26% of the total numbret in the Adriatic)

Echinodermata – the Adriatic 103 species, the Kornati islands 64 species (62% of the total number in the Adriatic)

Fish (Pisces) – the Adriatic 410 species, the Kornati islands 160 species (3% of total number in the Adriatic).

For the present researches of the sea fauna of the Kornati islands we could say that they were built simultaneously and uncoordinated. However, a large amount of information was gathered which, unfortunately, wasn’t published or analyzed. Pelagic ecosystems and benthic micro- and meiofauna remained practically unfamiliar up to this day – except for benthic foraminifera that live mainly on the cliffs of outer islands (It has been estimated that there are approximately 150 species).

Unfortunately, any kind of information for some taxonomy species is missing, e.g. Protozoa, Turbellaria, Nemetodes, Nemertina, some species of Crustacea, etc.

There is also a lack of information about so-called smaller species of microfauna, such as Hydrozoa, Gastropoda, Decapoda – Natantia.

There is also a lack of information about numerous species of sea fauna which are important for the pelagic system, such as Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Phyllopoda, Chaethognatha, Tunicata, ichtioplancton. Then we have some species which are very important for a certain type of habitat of benthic ecosystem, such as Hydrozoa, Nemetodes, Polycheata, Ostracoda, Copepoda-Harpacticoida, Amphipoda, etc.