We examined the temporal changes of a boundary between a karst shrubforest and a closed
rock sward on the Tubes Mountain (Mecsek Mts., South Hungary). Within 16 years, karst
shrubforest expanded at the expense of the rock sward, species number has dropped
in the forest patch (while it has not changed considerably in the other quadrates).
Abundances of some species have suffered great changes. Percentage cover of grass
species has decreased where canopy cover has increased.Key words: vegetation boundary,
monitoring, shrubforest-rock sward mosaic complex
