The florula of hypersaline habitats in Central Mediterranean and its biological traits

Salinity is one of the most widespread soil degradation processes. In fact in saline soils uneven temporal and spatial water distribution and localized high concentration of salts occur, characterizing restricted habitats where most of the present organisms are halophilic or salt tolerant. Soils could be classified hypersaline when salt concentration exceeds certain thresholds (1, 2). For this study were analysed 10 hypersaline soil localities from Sicily (Birgi, Isola Lunga, Salinelle Marsala, Capo Feto, Piana del Signore, Vendicari) and Tunisia (Qurba, Khniss, Ras Dimas, Chebba). These areas are temporarily flooded in autumn and winter, with longer permanence of water in some zones. Salt …