RIQUEZA Y RAREZA FLORÍSTICAS EN LOS AFLORAMIENTOS DOLOMÍTICOS DE LAS CORDILLERAS BÉTICAS (SUR DE ESPAÑA): ENSAYO PRELIMINAR

Floral richness and rarity in the dolomitic outcrops of the Baetic Ranges (southern Spain): a preliminary essay. The dolomitic areas of the Baetic Ranges house extremely peculiar plant communities. These communities are diverse and especially rich in endemic species. The vegetation and flora of the dolomitic outcrops have not been studied from a conservation point of view. This work is focused on the distribution, richness and current level of protection of these areas, consequently, it allows us to evaluate the efficacy of the protected areas network. In order to meet this goal, a "presence/absence" database of the dolomitic taxa has been carried out, according to UTM cells sized an area of 10 · 10 km. These cells have been used as "Operational Geographic Units" (OGU's). In due course, the richness, the continuous and discontinuous rarity of every OGU have been evaluated. The results depicted the great importance of the Malacitano-Almijarense sector of the Baetic province (especially where the Trevenque mountain is located) as a spot of richness and endemicity of dolomitic taxa. In addition, the protected areas network appears to be quite efficient in meeting conservation objectives in the Region of Andalusia, whilst it is clearly deficient in the Region of Murcia and the Province of Albacete (included in the Region of Castilla-La Mancha).