| dc.description.abstract | Surveys of weed flora and vegetation of the western Balkan Peninsula (1939-2006) were used to study changes in diversity and species composition. Data from the sample plots were stored in TURBOVEG format. A large data set of arable weed flora and vegetation was compiled and analyzed with direct (CCA- Canonical Correspondence Analysis) and indirect ordination (DCA - Detrended Correspondence Analysis), regression and beta (2) diversity analysis. Five environmental variables (altitude, season, year, crop, phytogeographical region) were used to determine broad-scale changes in diversity and weed species composition. The expertise built on collaborations between the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia and the Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia, allowed the introduction of new approaches in study of weed flora and vegetation in Serbia and the North-Western Balkans. According to this study, we conclude that the importance of spatial factors (phytogeography) and type of crop among environmental factors for diversity and species composition in the NW Balkan. Comparing rank of importance of environmental variables on species composition shows a decrease of influence of crop type. Phytosociological data sets are valuable for detecting temporal trends, although inclusion of explanatory variables linked to management would help answer some specific agricultural questions. New knoweldge and accepted methods (multivariate anlasys in study of weed vegetation) were implemented in the research of national project (III 46008: Development of integrated management of harmful organisms in plant production in overcome resistance and improve food quality and safety), several research papers published in national and internationi journals and one PhD thesis. | sr |
