La vegetazione del litorale di Manfria, presso Gela (Sicilia), area soggetta a vincolo archeologico.

The results of a phytosociological investigation about a coastal area of S. Sicily, close to Gela, are presented. The coexistence of several lithological substrata, as well as the particular climatic conditions of this area, gives rise to a noteworthy floristic and vegetational biodiversity. As matter of fact, a set of N. African species are here localized, taking part to peculiar vegetation types, sometimes exclusive of this sicilian coast-stretch. The observed plant communities are represented by psammophilous associations of Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea and Malcolmietalia, salt-marsh vegetation of Sarcocornietea and Phragmito-Magnocericetea, halophilous rupicolous shrublands of Crit…

Classificare per conoscere, identificare per riconoscere

Florintesa, a program agreement for the italian botanical gardens and the national floristic heritage.

OUR CLAIM: "The Botanical Gardens are, par excellence, responsible for carrying out the important mission of the conservation of our flora, through specific actions on live plants and their seeds, along with education and outreach aimed at spreading a new environmental culture, more careful and respectful of the essential needs of life, more sensible to the aesthetic and scientific value of the national flora" To overcome the isolation and strengthen their role in our society, the University Botanical Gardens have become promoters of national and European consortiums: examples are the working group "Botanical and Historic Gardens" of the Italian Botanical Society (1) and, on the global leve…

Effetti dell'attività antropica sulla flora spontanea delle coste benacensi.

Viene presentato uno studio floristico effettuato tra il '92 ed il '94 lungo la sponda bresciana del lago di Garda, su una fascia compresa tra 0 e 100 m sul livello del lago. Tra le entità censite sono state distinte cinque diverse florule rappresentative dei diversi ambienti e tipi vegetazionali presenti nell'area studiata. La comparazione tra lo spettro biologico ed i gruppi corologici dell'elenco floristico generale e quelli di ciascuna florula, evidenzia differenze significative tra gli ambienti a confronto, che, nella stessa area, sono sottoposti a gradi di antropizzazione diversa: oltre a favorire l'insediamento di una ricca flora alloctona, l'azione antropica ha modificatol'equilibri…

Taxonomical remarks on Trifolium savianum Guss. and its relationship with T. uniflorum L.

In the frame of investigations on endemic or rare taxa of the Sicilian flora, Trifolium savianum Guss., a misappreciated species occurring in a small area of Peloritani mountains (NE Sicily) is examined. According to literature data, the species has been considered as a synonym of T. uniflorum L. (Lojacono, 1891; Zohary, 1969; Jafri, 1980; Zohary & Heller, 1984; Greuter, 1989), as a variety (Gibelli & Belli, 1892; Vierhapper, 1919; Fiori, 1925) or as a subspecies of the aforesaid species (Nyman, 1878; Coombe, 1968; Tutin et al., 1968; Pignatti, 1982). The analysis of morphological features, carried out on herbarium and living matherial, has highlighted that T. savianum can be considered as …

8110 Ghiaioni silicei dei piani montano fino a nivale (Androsacetalia alpinae e Galeopsietalia ladani)

Flora d'Italia

This second edition of the Flora of Italy, complemented by the Digital Flora of Italy, summarizes the results of the botanical exploration in Italy during the last two hundred years. Italy is not only a beautiful country of extraordinary landscapes, rich environments, valleys and mountains along the whole Apennine Peninsula, in its centre the Eternal City and from north to south filled with many towns with incomparable art treasures. Placed in the mid of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy has also an astoundingly rich flora spreading from the shores to the highest mountains, with floristic environmental hotspots in the Alps (Dolomites, Mt. Baldo, Maritime Alps), along the Tyrrhenian coast, and on…

Fine-grain beta diversity in Palaearctic open vegetation: variability within and between biomes and vegetation types

Aims: To quantify how fine-grain (within-plot) beta diversity differs among biomes and vegetation types. Study area: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database spanning broad geographic and ecological gradients. Next, we calculated the slope parameter (z-value) of the power-law species–area relationship (SAR) to use as a measure of multiplicative beta diversity. We did this separately for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens and for the three groups combined (complete vegetation). We then tested whether z-values differed between biomes, ecological-physi…

The Querco-Fagetea class in Sicily: an example of boreal temperate vegetation in the central Mediterranean area

Un viaggio botanico nell’Alto Garda Bresciano

European Vegetation Archive (EVA): an integrated database of European vegetation plots

Biurrun, Idoia/0000-0002-1454-0433; Rojo, Maria Pilar Rodriguez/0000-0001-5449-9386; Ermakov, Nikolai/0000-0001-7550-990X; De Sanctis, Michele/0000-0002-7280-6199; Svenning, Jens-Christian/0000-0002-3415-0862; Virtanen, Risto/0000-0002-8295-8217; Agrillo, Emiliano/0000-0003-2346-8346; Onyshchenko, Viktor/0000-0001-9079-7241; Marceno, Corrado/0000-0003-4361-5200; Willner, Wolfgang/0000-0003-1591-8386; Fernandez-Gonzalez, Federico/0000-0003-1234-4065; Jansen, Florian/0000-0002-0331-5185; Swacha, Grzegorz/0000-0002-6380-2954; Dengler, Jurgen/0000-0003-3221-660X; Guarino, Riccardo/0000-0003-0106-9416; Sopotlieva, Desislava/0000-0002-9281-7039; Venanzoni, Roberto/0000-0002-7768-0468; Chytry, Mil…

The habitat monitoring under article 17 of the 92/43/eec Directive in Italy: the contribution of vegetation science

The 4th National Report ex Art. 17 of the 92/43/EEC Directive in Italy (period 2013-2018) will try to fill a number of gaps still affecting the former versions of the Italian Reports, where territorial data were still missing for large parts of the country and the assessment was mostly based on the use of the expert opinion. Similar inconsistencies also emerged in other European countries (State of nature in the EU, EEA 2015). In order to reach this aim, a nationally shared protocol for monitoring the vegetation-based Annex I Habitats is currently under development. The most prominent issues addressed by the ongoing project are: i) fixing standardized, updated and scientifically grounded me…

Some European green roof norms and guidelines through the lens of biodiversity : do ecoregions and plant traits also matter?

Abstract Green infrastructure and in particular green roofs are crucial to meet the challenge of sustainable urbanisation fostered by the current European Research and Innovation agenda. Several documents were issued in the last decades in Europe for regulating the design, construction and up-keep of roof greening. In particular, the actual German guidelines have been widely adopted as a reference basis for green roof design and regulation worldwide, because of its exhaustiveness and proven building- and landscaping tradition. With the aim to assess the effectiveness of green roof guidelines and norms in supporting plant and soil biodiversity in different ecoregions, and particularly of the…

Distance decay 2.0 – a global synthesis of taxonomic and functional turnover in ecological communities

AbstractUnderstanding the variation in community composition and species abundances, i.e., β-diversity, is at the heart of community ecology. A common approach to examine β-diversity is to evaluate directional turnover in community composition by measuring the decay in the similarity among pairs of communities along spatial or environmental distances. We provide the first global synthesis of taxonomic and functional distance decay along spatial and environmental distance by analysing 149 datasets comprising different types of organisms and environments. We modelled an exponential distance decay for each dataset using generalized linear models and extracted r2 and slope to analyse the streng…

The invasion history of Elodea canadensis and E. nuttallii (Hydrocharitaceae) in Italy from herbarium accessions, field records and historical literature

AbstractWe analysed the invasion history of two North American macrophytes (Elodea canadensis and E. nuttallii) in Italy, through an accurate census of all available herbarium and field records, dating between 1850 and 2019, and a rich literature collection describing the initial introduction and naturalisation phase that supports the results obtained by the occurrence records. Elodea canadensis arrived in Italy before 1866 and had two invasion phases, between the 1890s and 1920s and between the 1990s and 2000s; E. nuttallii, probably arrived in the 1970s, started invading in 2000 and the invasion is still ongoing. Botanical gardens and fish farming played a crucial role in dispersal and na…

Il punteruolo delle palme

Benchmarking plant diversity of Palaearctic grasslands and other open habitats

© 2021 The Authors.

Dai balconi ai parchi urbani: buone pratiche per un giardinaggio consapevole

Prodotto nell’ambito del progetto LIFE15 GIE/IT/001039 “Alien Species Awareness Program”(ASAP), è un opuscolo di tipo tecnico-pratico che intende fornire alcune informazioni di base sulle piante esotiche invasive presenti in Italia nonché, seguendo le buone pratiche dettate nel Codice di condotta definito nell’ambito della Convenzione di Berna, proporre un numero non esaustivo di specie native da utilizzare in alternativa alle piante esotiche invasive inserite nella Lista di Rilevanza Unionale e per le quali vi è divieto di importazione, commercio, possesso, riproduzione, trasporto, utilizzo e rilascio in natura. E’ indirizzato a tutti coloro che sono coinvolti direttamente o indirettamente…

Facebook groups as citizen science tools for plant species monitoring

I social network sono canali di comunicazione utilizzati per condividere enormi quantità di dati, che possono essere utilizzati per la ricerca scientifica, anche nel campo della biodiversità. Per sapere quanto i dati ricavati dai social network possono integrare quelli raccolti per scopi scientifici, è necessario individuarne i bias. Utilizzando i dati estratti da un gruppo Facebook specializzato nella flora vascolare siciliana, abbiamo analizzato quali sono i caratteri che aumentano la probabilità che una pianta spontanea venga fotografata e postata su un social network. A tal fine, abbiamo confrontato frequenze e attributi delle specie fotografate dai membri del gruppo Facebook con quelli…

Ellenberg’s Indicator values for the Flora of Italy – first update: Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Monocotyledoneae

Ellenberg’s indicator values are an useful tool to delineate the relationship between plants and environment, recognising to each species a functional role as biological indicator. In the frame of the second edition of the Pignatti’s “Flora d’Italia”, some new informative systems are under preparations, in order to support geobotanical/applied studies, including a complete and updated review of the Ellenberg’s indicator values for the whole bulk of species mentioned in the flora of Italy. This first contribution includes a list of 380 species of Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae and Monocotiledoneae that complete the first assignment of the Ellenberg’s indicator values to the flora of Italy, publi…

8240 *Pavimenti calcarei

The vegetation of temporary ponds of Sardinia

The Mediterranean temporary ponds are considered priority habitat in the Directive 92/43/EEC (habitat n. 3170*) and detailed information on their floristic composition and susceptibility to invasive species seems a central issue for their preservation, because the development and maintenance of seasonal vegetation is merely the resultant of the development and maintenance of its component individuals. Sardinia presents fairly large extensions of land where such habitats are still well represented, thought not investigated in depth. Basing on literature and unpublished data, a survey on the current phytosociological knowledge of the temporary ponds of Sardinia is presented. Our field studies…

Floristic, phenological and chorological differences in the annual vegetation of Sardinia.

The therophytic flora of Sardinia has been split into four main groups, basing on the ecologic requirements of species. The following groups have been recognized: flora of dry entisoils, flora of periodically swampy or submerged entisoils, flora of coastal sites, flora of fields, road edges and human settlements. Either, most frequent or exclusive species were ascribed to each group. A species was considered “exclusive” when its relative frequency outside a given group was estimated ≤10%. Differences have been highlighted within the groups, dealing with chorology, growth form, flowering time, colour of flowers, pollination and seed dispersal strategies.

41a Escursione Sociale, Parco Alto Garda Bresciano, 23-26 Giugno 1999.

Le flore come opere aperte: nuove soluzioni per l’archiviazione e il reperimento di informazioni botaniche

Negli ultimi due decenni si sono verificati numerosi cambiamenti nell’approccio sistematico-tassonomico allo studio dei vegetali. La moderna delimitazione di ciascuna specie può includere da un lato conoscenze derivanti dall’indagine a livello ecosistemico e all’estremo opposto quelle derivanti dall’indagine a livello molecolare. La tassonomia del 21° secolo sarà sempre più fortemente orientata verso una definizione “olistica” delle specie, che verranno archiviate non più solo negli erbari, ma anche, e soprattutto, in archivi digitali interattivi, progettati per fungere da “collettori di informazione tassonomica multilivello”. In tali archivi possono infatti confluire dati morfologici, biom…

Educational or emotional languages? An interactive experiment with the Lucanian flora (S-Italy)

In the frame of dissemination activities for a still-in-progress work on the Sites of Community Importance (see EU Directive 92/43) of Basilicata (a region of Southern Italy), an interactive tool (IIT) for the identification of vascular plants growing there has been illustrated to two groups of people, following two different approaches: one focused on textual parts and on scientific accuracy, the other on images and on the visual comparison of different objects. The reactions were measured in terms of number of accesses to the IIT, elapsed time from the demonstration to the first individual access, and number of queries in the first week after the IIT was distributed. The most clicked opti…

The vegetation of mining dumps in SW-Sardinia

The vegetation of mining dumps of SW-Sardinia includes several endemic or rare species, that have been confined to such artificial habitats by a millennial mining activity. The extreme edaphic specialisation of these species reflects with unusual fidelity the heterogeneity of substrata, therefore creating a system of plant communities that largely contributes to the environmental diversity of this part of the island. The phytosociological study presented in this paper recognized eight associations, distinguished by the cluster analysis in two main groups, the first including hemicrypto-chamaephytic vegetation, the second including nanophanerophytic garigues. Six associations are belonging t…

Distribution maps of vegetation alliances in Europe

Aim The first comprehensive checklist of European phytosociological alliances, orders and classes (EuroVegChecklist) was published by Mucina et al. (2016, Applied Vegetation Science, 19 (Suppl. 1), 3-264). However, this checklist did not contain detailed information on the distribution of individual vegetation types. Here we provide the first maps of all alliances in Europe. Location Europe, Greenland, Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cyprus and the Caucasus countries. Methods We collected data on the occurrence of phytosociological alliances in European countries and regions from literature and vegetation-plot databases. We interpreted and complemented these data using the expert knowledge…

Taxonomical and phytogeographycal remarks on Trifolium savianum Guss., a misappreciated species of the Italian flora.

The taxonomic position, chorology and phytosociological role of Trifolium savianum, a misappreciated species of the Italian flora, are examined. The species is closely related to T. uniflorum, E.-Mediterranean element, from which it differs in several morphological features regarding leaves, flowers and fruits. Distinction of the two taxa at the specific level is also supported by their geographical isolation dating back to the end of the Messinian period. From the phytosociological point of view, T. savianum is a member of an orophilous grassland rich in chamaephytes belonging to Plantaginion cupani, alliance of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. This community is proposed as a new association, name…

Scale dependence of species–area relationships is widespread but generally weak in Palaearctic grasslands

Questions: Species–area relationships (SARs) are fundamental for understanding biodiversity patterns and are generally well described by a power law with a constant exponent z. However, z-values sometimes vary across spatial scales. We asked whether there is a general scale dependence of z-values at fine spatial grains and which potential drivers influence it. Location: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We used 6,696 nested-plot series of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens from the GrassPlot database with two or more grain sizes, ranging from 0.0001 m² to 1,024 m² and covering diverse open habitats. The plots were recorded with two widespread sampling approaches (rooted presenc…

Species–area relationship and small-island effect of vascular plant diversity in a young volcanic archipelago

International audience; Aims: Aeolian islands form an active volcanic archipelago. By using updated vascular plant checklists for islands and islets, we tested four hypotheses: (i) Island speciesarea relationship (ISAR) of alien species has lower c-and higher z-values than native species, (ii) islands with active volcanoes have lower species richness than expected for native and alien species, (iii) ISAR of native species shows lower c-and higher z-values than ISARs of Mediterranean land bridge archipelagos and (iv) species richness of smaller islets is independent of area.Location: Aeolian Archipelago, Mediterranean Basin.Taxon: Vascular plants, identified and named according to the Flora …

Genetic diversity in Sicilian populations of Quercus ilex (Fagaceae)

Raimondo, F. M., Scialabba, A., Guarino, R. & Spallino, R. E.: Genetic diversity in Sicilian populations of Quercus ilex (Fagaceae). — Fl. Medit. 23: 245-253. 2013. — ISSN: 1120-4052 printed, 2240-4538 online. Recent studies on the genetic structure of the Italian populations of Quercus ilex demonstrated their high diversity, particularly in the Sicilian metapopulation. In order to check if the holm oak stands in the mountains of NW Sicily could have some relationship with Q. ilex subsp. ballota (distributed in Spain and NW Africa), 26 specimens from the Sicilian most distinctive Q. ilex populations have been compared with some representative populations of the Italian Peninsula, North Afri…

The integrated action framework of Rete Natura 2000 Basilicata

Basilicata Natura 2000 network consists of 50 Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and 17 Special Protection Zones (SPZs), covering alltogether more than 17% of the regional area. This network, partially overlapping other forms of land protection, represents a valuable environmental, agricultural and cultural heritage, in which the safeguard of natural resources and landscapes has to be coupled with the needs of the local population; especially in relation to development and social welfare. The Natura 2000 project involved a panel of experts belonging to 15 different institutions, to form a steering committee with the following professional and scientific skills: vegetation, landscape, fauna…

An “Uncertainty Principle” for the Mediterranean annual dry grasslands

Preliminary results of diachronic researches on the spatial arrangement and species richness in Mediterranean annual dry grasslands (Tuberarietea guttatae) demonstrated that the patchiness resulted minimized and the temporal stability maximized at elevations offering the best compromise between the summer drought stress and the winter cold stress. Moreover, the temporal stability of the Mediterranean annul dry grasslands could not necessarily be related with their demographic inertia, meaning that the turnover and rearrangement of species within the community do not necessarily implicate significant changes in the average species composition over time. On the other hand, the survival chance…

A revision of Helichrysum panormitanum s.l. (Asteraceae) in the Italian and Maltese floras

As part of the ongoing researches on Asteraceae for the new edition of the Italian Flora, a revision of Helichrysum panormitanum s.l. is presented here. On the basis of previously published morphological and chemical data, as well as our morphological and chorological observations, we hereby propose to recognize six subspecies under H. panormitanum: subsp. panormitanum, subsp. stramineum, subsp. brulloi subsp. nov., subsp. messeriae, subsp. latifolium, and subsp. melitense comb. nov. All these taxa are endemic to Sicily and Egadi Islands (Italy), except H. panormitanum subsp. melitense which is endemic to Gozo island (Maltese archipelago). A diagnostic key for the six accepted subspecies is…

New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #60 to #82

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 8 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 49 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Calabria, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria. Relevés and figures are provided as Supplementary material respectively 1 and 2.

Fine‐grain beta diversity of Palaearctic grassland vegetation

QUESTIONS: Which environmental factors influence fine-grain beta diversity of vegetation and do they vary among taxonomic groups? LOCATION: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. METHODS: We extracted 4,654 nested-plot series with at least four different grain sizes between 0.0001 m² and 1,024 m² from the GrassPlot database, covering a wide range of different grassland and other open habitat types. We derived extensive environmental and structural information for these series. For each series and four taxonomic groups (vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, all), we calculated the slope parameter (z-value) of the power law species–area relationship (SAR), as a beta diversity measure. We tested whe…

Finite Mixture Model-based classification of a complex vegetation system

Aim: To propose a Finite Mixture Model (FMM) as an additional approach for classifying large datasets of georeferenced vegetation plots from complex vegetation systems. Study area: The Italian peninsula including the two main islands (Sicily and Sardinia), but excluding the Alps and the Po plain. Methods: We used a database of 5,593 georeferenced plots and 1,586 vascular species of forest vegetation, created in TURBOVEG by storing published and unpublished phytosociological plots collected over the last 30 years. The plots were classified according to species composition and environmental variables using a FMM. Classification results were compared with those obtained by TWINSPAN algorithm. …

Plant hunting: exploring the behaviour of amateur botanists in the field

We asked what are the behavioural and logistic preferences of professional and amateur botanists when exploring flora in the field. We extracted temporal and spatial data on vas- cular plant species occurrences from three datasets of Sicilian flora: a subset of iNaturalist, a dataset collected by a Facebook group focused on the flora of Sicily and a subset of the professional database European Vegetation Archive. We used the time span of individual contributor’s activity as a proxy of their commitment to collecting information about the flora of Sicily. Climate and landscape data were used to better characterize the spatial and temporal activity of data contributors. Finally, we assessed wh…

Il contributo delle scienze botaniche

Considerazioni tassonomiche sulle querce caducifoglie della Sicilia

On the basis of literature, herbarium and field investigations, a survey on the species of deciduous oaks occurring in Sicily is presented. A morphological description fitted with photos and drawings and completed by some chorological and ecological observations is reported for each species. Finally it is emphasized that the phenotypical variability observed in Sicily among the Q. pubescens group, even if let to consider the S.Thyrrhenian area as a probable speciation center of the group, on the other hand should also be related to the deforestation, which favoured the genetic mixing among populations.

A plant sociological approach for extensive green roofs in Mediterranean areas

Extensive Green roofs can be an important mean for environmental mitigation if designed according to the principles of restoration ecology. Moreover, if optimally executed, properly managed and of sufficient extension, they could be assimilated to meta-populations of natural habitats, worth to be included in the biodiversity monitoring networks. The best example supporting this hypothesis is the Lake water plant Moos in Wollishofen (Zurich, Switzerland) where, on three 100 years old units of extensive green roofs, occur most of the typical flora of Mesobromion, including high density of some endangered orchid species. With this work, we propose a methodology approach for green roofs in Medi…

Plant communities, synusiae and the arithmetic of a sustainable classification

We propose an equation to evaluate the efficiency of a classification as a function of the effort required and the population size of data collectors. The formula postulates a “classification efficiency coefficient”, which relates not only to the complexity of the object to be classified, but also to the data availability and representativeness. When applied to the classification of phytocoenoses, the equation suggests that a classification system based on vascular plants offers the best compromise between sampling effort, resolution power and data availability. We discuss the possibility of basing a vegetation classification on plot records for all macroscopic photoautotrophic organisms co…

A web collaborative project to store and map botanical data

Syntaxonomy of the Parietarietea judaicae class in Europe.

On the basis of literature and unpublished data, a syntaxonomical review about the chasmophilous sinanthropic vegetation occurring in the Mediterranean territories and in the Atlantic and Central Europe was carried out. These plant communities are linked to masonry walls and rocky faces heavily disturbed by men, which are colonized by a fairly specialized flora dominated by hemicriptophytes, chamaephytes and mosses. From the syntaxonomical point of view, in accordance with the greatest part of the authors who studied the matter, the wall vegetation must be considered in a well-distinguished class whose valid name is Parietarietea judaicae Oberd. 1977, rather than in the Asplenietea trichoma…

A formal classification of the Lygeum spartum vegetation of the Mediterranean Region

Aims: We examined all available literature and some unpublished data on the We examined all available literature and some unpublished data on the grasslands dominated by Lygeum spartum from Southern Europe and North Africa to produce a formalised classification of this vegetation and to identify the main factors determining its plant species composition. Location: Mediterranean Basin and Iberian Peninsula. Methods: We used a dataset of 728 releves, which were resampled to reduce unbalanced sampling effort, resulting in a dataset of 568 releves and 846 taxa. We classified the plots by TWINSPAN, interpreted the resulting pools, and used them to develop formal definitions of phytosociological …

A test on Ellenberg indicator values in the Mediterranean evergreen woods (Quercetea ilicis)

The consistency and reliability of Ellenberg’s indicator values (Eiv) as ecological descriptors of the Mediterranean evergreen vegetation ascribed to the phytosociological class Quercetea ilicis have been checked on a set of 859 phytosociological releves × 699 species. Diagnostic species were identified through a Twinspan analysis and their Eiv analyzed and related to the following independent variables: (1) annual mean temperatures, (2) annual rainfall. The results provided interesting insights to disentangle the current syntaxonomical framework at the alliance level demonstrating the usefulness of ecological indicator values to test the efficiency and predictivity of the phytosociological…

Il progetto ECONET-COHAST: strategie per la conservazione degli habitat costieri di Torre Manfria

Contributo alla conoscenza della vegetazione forestale dell’Egeo.

Nell'ambito di ricerche fitosociologiche nell'area egea vengono presentati i risultati relativi alle formazioni forestali attualmente osservabili nelle isole dell'Egeo meridionale. Questo tipo di vegetazione è stato in precedenza oggetto di studio da parte di vari autori, fra cui in particolare Krause et al. (1963), Zohary & Orshan (1966), Barbero & Quezel (1980), Costa et al. (1984) e Géhu et al. (1989, 1990, 1992), che hanno esaminato sotto il profilo fitosociologico alcune isole dell'Egeo quali Eubea, Creta, Rodi e Karpatos. Allo scopo di ampliare le conoscenze su quest'area del Mediterraneo, ancora poco nota dal punto di vista vegetazionale, sono state effettuate indagini su numerose is…

Biodiversity surveys of grassland and coastal habitats in 2021 as a documentation of pre-war status in southern Ukraine

This paper presents two sampling-event datasets with occurrences of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens collected in May-June 2021 in southern Ukraine. We aimed to collect high-quality biodiversity data in an understudied region and contribute it to international databases and networks. The study was carried out during the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) Field Workshop in southern Ukraine and the Dark Diversity Network (DarkDivNet) sampling in the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park. By chance, these datasets were collected shortly before the major escalation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Surveyed areas in Kherson and Mykolaiv Regions, including established monitoring plo…

GrassPlot v. 2.00 : first update on the database of multi-scale plant diversity in Palaearctic grasslands

Abstract: GrassPlot is a collaborative vegetation-plot database organised by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and listed in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD ID EU-00-003). Following a previous Long Database Report (Dengler et al. 2018, Phyto- coenologia 48, 331–347), we provide here the first update on content and functionality of GrassPlot. The current version (GrassPlot v. 2.00) contains a total of 190,673 plots of different grain sizes across 28,171 independent plots, with 4,654 nested-plot series including at least four grain sizes. The database has improved its content as well as its functionality, including addition and harmonization of header data (land use,…

Florintesa: patrimonio floristico e Orti botanici in Italia

Syntaxonomic survey of the class Pegano harmalae‐Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.‐Bl. & O. Bolos 1958 in Italy

After a general outline on the syntaxonomical framework of the class Pegano harmalae-Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolos 1958, the occurrence of this vegetation in the Italian territory is examined. In Italy, this vegetation is mostly found on clayish or marly substrata, particularly if slightly enriched with nitrates and chlorides. With reference to the Rivas-Martinez bioclimatic classification, the Italian stands have an infra- to thermo-Mediterranean thermotype (marginally up to the meso-Mediterranean one) with dry or arid ombrotype. In particular, this vegetation is well represented in Sicily, while in Sardinia and along the Italian Peninsula, it progressively becomes more rare a…

Indagini geobotaniche sulla componente terofitica della flora sarda.

L’abbondanza di terofite contribuisce largamente alla caratterizzazione paesaggistica e naturalistica della Sardegna. Inoltre, molte delle specie annuali che compongono la flora dell’isola possiedono un valore storico-culturale, poiché riflettono diversi tipi di utilizzo delle risorse territoriali da parte dell’uomo. Le attività agricolo-pastorali, lo sviluppo tecnologico e l’urbanizzazione hanno incrementato il numero e la frequenza delle specie terofitiche presenti sull’isola. Attualmente, esse rappresentano circa il 40 % della flora sarda (Camarda, 1984a; Bocchieri, 1995) e possiedono un ruolo ecologico di prim’ordine, sia nella produzione di biomassa, sia nella protezione del suolo dall…

The Lygeo-Stipetea class in Sicily

Basing on literature data and unpublished relevés from Sicily, a survey of the syntaxa belonging to the class Lygeo-Stipetea Rivas-Martínez 1978 is presented. This perennial vegetation is characterized by the dominance of big caespitose hemicryptophytes, and it is widely distributed in Sicily from the sea level up to 1500 m a.s.l. The class is represented in Sicily by two orders, floristically and ecologically well differentiated: Lygeo-Stipetalia, including the sole alliance Moricandio-Lygeion exclusively of clayey substrates, and Hyparrhenietalia hirtae, including five alliances (Hyparrhenion hirtae, Avenulo cincinnatae-Ampelodesmion mauritanici, Thero-Brachypodion ramosi, B…

8130 Ghiaioni del Mediterraneo occidentale e termofili

""Flora Italiana Digitale": an interactive identification tool for the Flora of Italy

The digital facilities of the second edition of Pignatti's "Flora d'Italia" are presented. A software, called FID (i.e. "Flora Italiana Digitale") will link together a random-access interactive identification tool, a thesaurus, synoptic tables and one template for each single species, including a distribution map (referred to the Italian regions), "ecograms", a text-box and up to 24 high-resolution colour images. The FID follows a "shareware phylosophy". All contents and images can be integrated and/or replaced over time, in order to continuously improve the diagnostic and qualitative performance of the utilities provided. Ideally, the community of users should interact on the web, so that …

I TETTI VERDI DI TIPO ESTENSIVO: BIODIVERSITÀ AD ALTA QUOTA

Le città sono state paragonate da Odum a degli organismi eterotrofi che basano la loro crescita ed espansione sull’uso indiscriminato di risorse e sono causa di perdita irreversibile e frammentazione degli habitat naturali. I tetti verdi rappresentano uno strumento essenziale di mitigazione e compensazione ambientale all’interno del tessuto urbano dove, l’alta densità edilizia e l’elevato disturbo antropico concedono poco spazio alle dinamiche naturali. In particolare, i tetti verdi per la biodiversità caratterizzati da mosaici di micro-habitat diversi e contigui tra loro, possano ospitare specie con caratteristiche morfo-funzionali diverse. L’approccio noto come habitat template, consiste …

Preliminary checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora

The richness and uniqueness of the flora growing on gypsum substrates in Italy is known since the XIX century (Macchiati, 1888). Furthermore, the concept of plant gypsophily can be defined as the exclusiveness (or virtually exclusiveness) for living in gypsum outcropping rocks. Thus only those plant species, which show preference – or even exclusivity - for gypsum substrates, would be classified as gipsophilous (Mota et al., 2011). The main aim of this research has been the elaboration of a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora. The study was made possible through international collaboration between the "Mediterranea" University of Reggio Calabria (Italy) and the University of Almería…

Biodiversità e stenocoria all’interno delle diverse classi di vegetazione dei monti Peloritani: l’effetto dell’azione umana sugli spettri biologici e corologici ponderati.

Il bacino del Garda fu colonizzato dall'uomo sin dal Neolitico. Uno studio floristico effettuato tra il '92 ed il '94 lungo la sponda bresciana su una fascia compresa tra 0 e 100 m sul livello del lago, ha permesso di evidenziare le relazioni esistenti tra l'attività umana e la distribuzione di determinati contingenti floristici nell'area anzidetta. Gli interventi umani più evidenti sono stati i seguenti: * Bonifica, drenaggio o diserbo delle zone umide. Sostituzione con colture irrigue od attrezzature balneari. * Elimina-zione dei boschi ascrivibili all'ordine dei Populetalia albae dalle conoidi di deiezione e dalle sponde moreniche subpianeggianti a sud del bacino. Sostituzione con prati …

Oasi di Slander

L’Oasi di Slander, naturalmente, non esiste. Ma è del tutto pensabile, immaginabile, e viene in- fatti descritta, in maniera agile intelligente e creativamente perfida. È un gioco, ma non un gioco innocente, anzi crudele per le allusioni e per i sentimenti che lascia trasparire. Soprattutto è anche un lavoro di mano competente e talora geniale. Racconta, con non sempre caritatevole humour, di una “derelict land” che il Signor Slander vuole far diventare un parco in- cantato e fruibile. Non senza introdurre sconcertanti regole urbanistiche, botaniche ed altro che condurranno a imprevedibili complicazioni. È una malizia letteraria. Ma, attenzione: sembra puro divertimento per i nostri lettori…

Reciprocal extrapolation of species distribution models between two islands – Specialists perform better than generalists and geological data reduces prediction accuracy

Abstract This study aims to test the extrapolation effects of species distribution models (SDM) using three groups of predictor variables: climate, relief and geology (bedrock type). We highlight potential ecological differences for selected taxa, regarding both generalists and specialists in terms of edaphic conditions. We used distributional data of 12 woody species shared by two large Mediterranean islands (Crete and Sicily) to calibrate Maxent models of their potential distribution. We trained models with data from Crete and extrapolated to Sicily and vice versa. We tested ten proxies for the three variable groups and compared AUC values as a measure of model performance. Extrapolation …

Il progetto ECONET-COHAST. Strategie per la conservazione degli habitat costieri.

Scale-dependent plant diversity in Palaearctic grasslands: a comparative overview

Here we present an extensive overview of plant diversity values in Palaearctic grasslands for seven standard grain sizes from 0.0001 to 100 m². The data originate from 20 studies, including the Field Workshops of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG), ranging geographically from Spain in the west to Siberia in the east, from Sicily in the south to Estonia in the north and from the sea coast up to 3100 m a.s.l. The majority of data is from dry grasslands (Festuco-Brometea, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Cleistogenetea squarrosae), but there are also some mesic, wet, saline, acidic, alpine and Mediterranean grasslands included. Among others, we compiled data from 1795 1-m², 1109 10-m² and 338 100…

Habitat type and island identity as drivers of community assembly in an archipelago

Aim: Ecoinformatics offer new opportunity to test islands as biogeographic and eco- logical models. In this paper we predicted three hypotheses: (1) plot-based data issu- ing from vegetation surveys can be used to predict Island Species-Area Relationships (ISARs) or island similarity; (2) the habitat area is an independent predictor of species richness patterns within island; (3) species richness and composition are more de- pendent on habitat type than island identity in land-bridge islands. Area: Tuscan Archipelago, Italy. Methods: We assembled a database of all the vegetation plots available for the archi- pelago. For the first hypothesis we calculated ISARs, using Arrhenius model, and B…

Circummed pine forest database: An electronic archive for mediterranean and submediterranean pine forest vegetation data

Large thematic databases of vegetation plots are increasingly needed for vegetation studies and biodiversity research. In this paper, we present the CircumMed Pine Forest Database (GIVD ID: EU-00-026), which in November 2018, comprised records from 6317 pine-dominated vegetation plots (relevés) and associated vegetation types from 20 countries of the Mediterranean Basin, Near East and Crimea. These vegetation plots were collected through a detailed literature search for plots not previously included in the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), in order to fill geographic gaps in data coverage. The database comprises Mediterranean (including Oromediterranean) pine-forest vegetation plots from b…

Piante nuove o interessanti rinvenute lungo la sponda occidentale del lago di Garda.

Some species floristically interesting, collected on the west coast of Garda lake, are reported.

Thirty years unmanaged green roofs: Ecological research and design implications

Abstract The variations in species composition and assemblage of unmanaged simple-intensive green roofs in Hannover, Germany, were investigated over a thirty year period, in order to assess the persistence of the initial seed mixture and to evaluate floristic changes. The roofs were greened in 1985 with soil-based turf rolls sown with a mixture of five grasses (Festuca rubra, Festuca ovina, Agrostis capillaris, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis). Three sets of 120 phytosociological releves, sampled in 1987, 1999 and 2014, have been compared to assess: (1) nestedness vs spatial turnover, (2) functional diversity and (3) the importance of vegetation dynamics on green roof performance and desig…

Staying alive on an active volcano: 80 years population dynamics of Cytisus aeolicus (Fabaceae) from Stromboli (Aeolian Islands, Italy)

Abstract Cytisus aeolicus is a narrow endemic species restricted to the Aeolian archipelago (SE Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) and it is one of the most evolutionarily isolated plants in the Mediterranean flora. Historical and literature data suggest that both metapopulations and isolated individuals of C. aeolicus are gradually shrinking. Field investigations and drone images demonstrate that the C. aeolicus metapopulation from Stromboli experienced a strikingly fast increase during the last decades. As of 2019, more than 7000 ± 3000 mature individuals occur on Stromboli, i.e. 14 to 20 times more than those counted during the last census, 25 years ago. The diachronic analysis of aerial photos conc…

‘Back to the Future’—Oak wood-pasture for wildfire prevention in the Mediterranean

In the summer of 2021, enormous wildfires in the Mediterranean eliminated huge areas of mainly coniferous forest, destroyed adjacent settlements and claimed the lives of many people. The fires indicate effects of climate change and expose consequences of rural demographic changes, deficits in regional and touristic development planning and shortcomings in forest policy. This forum article highlights the dimensions of the problem, calls for a paradigm shift and shows solutions. Land abandonment, woody plant encroachment and non-reflective afforestation are leading to increasing amounts of combustible biomass. To prevent disastrous fires in future, fundamental changes in tree species composit…

Database Species-Area Relationships in Palaearctic Grasslands

The Database Species-Area Relationships in Palaearctic Grasslands (GIVD ID EU-00-003) is an initiative of the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and primarily functions as repository for all data sampled during the EDGG Research Expeditions. During these expeditions two types of highly standardised sampling of dry grassland vegetation in the Palaearctic realm are carried out: (i) nested-plot sampling on squares of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 m2; (ii) additional normal releves of 10-m2 plots. For all plot sizes, the terricolous vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens are recorded that are superficially present (shoot presence). Additionally, for all 10-m2 plots species cover i…

Agricoltura di qualità e rete natura 2000: “laboratori” del cambiamento

Through the centuries, rural communities have managed their environment creating a rich landscape diversity. This represents an historical heritage both for the region and for humanity because the "world" itself represents the sum of widespread fragmentation processes following specific laws. The intense socio-economic changes of the last century, the rise of the "global" markets, in particular, have radically changed the landscape configuration and its natural quality across Europe. Natura 2000 network and the network of protected areas are currently the "open laboratories" to test a model of development that is compatible with the priceless treasure such as: species, habitats, landscape a…

Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy

Our understanding of the richness and uniqueness of the flora growing on gypsum substrates in Italy has grown significantly since the 19th century and, even today, new plant species are still being discovered. However, the plants and plant communities, growing on gypsum substrates in Italy, are still a relatively unknown subject. The main aim of this paper was to elaborate a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora, to increase knowledge about this peculiar flora and for which conservation efforts need to be addressed. Through a structured group communication process of experts (application of the Delphi technique), a remarkable number of experienced Italian botanists have joined togethe…

OGM: effetti sulla biodiversità e sulle catene trofiche.

A Territorial Contradiction

Spatial planning and environmental restoration are essential corollaries to the management of protected natural areas; however, without a sound awareness of the evolutionary consistency of biocoenoses, the harmonious integration between human activities and ecosystem preservation remains an unattainable utopia. The theorisation of a balanced welfare, inspired by the universal tendency of ecosystems to reach a steady state, has to go along with the defection from any economic greed. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

Ecological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVE) 1.0

Aims: To develop a consistent ecological indicator value system for Europe for five of the main plant niche dimensions: soil moisture (M), soil nitrogen (N), soil reaction (R), light (L) and temperature (T). Study area: Europe (and closely adjacent regions). Methods: We identified 31 indicator value systems for vascular plants in Europe that contained assessments on at least one of the five aforementioned niche dimensions. We rescaled the indicator values of each dimension to a continuous scale, in which 0 represents the minimum and 10 the maximum value present in Europe. Taxon names were harmonised to the Euro+Med Plantbase. For each of the five dimensions, we calculated European values fo…

Ceterach officinarum Willd. subsp. bivalens D.E. Mey

Il portale del progetto Rete Natura 2000 Basilicata

VegItaly: The Italian collaborative project for a national vegetation database

Abstract Two years after its official start, the national vegetation database VegItaly, a collaborative project supported by the Italian scientific community and developed by a large group of scientists, is presented. This article offers a concise overview of the content of the database, currently consisting of 31,100 vegetation plot, including published and unpublished data. Some basic statistics are analysed; for example, data distribution in space and time, represented vegetation types expressed as physiognomic categories. Although rather young and still in progress, VegItaly already contains data from all the Italian regions and stands as an optimal candidate for the development of an I…

6220 *Percorsi substeppici di graminacee e piante annue dei Thero- Brachypodietea

Conservation of Ptilostemon greuteri (Asteraceae), an endemic climate relict from Sicily (Italy): state of knowledge after the discovery of a second population

Ptilostemon greuteri is one of the most endangered and poorly studied woody vascular plant species of the Mediterranean Basin, endemic to Sicily (Italy). Several peculiar traits confer to P. greuteri a character of uniqueness and an enigmatic attractiveness. In fact, at first glimpse the largest individuals of this species remind the most remarkable and peculiar cases of herbaceous genera (e.g., Echium, Senecio) turned woody on insular or insular-like mountain ecosystems. Following the discovery of a second population of this rare species, a project aiming at the study and conservation of P. greuteri was set up. We present here updated information on the distribution, conservation status, b…

INN2000 - Intesa Natura 2000: valori e patrimoni nel settore natura.

The role of Characeae in the communities of the vegetation class Potametea

The stonewort vegetation is commonly classified into the phytosociological class Charetea fragilis F. Fukarek ex Krausch 1964; however, the Characeae are not exclusively found in vegetation stands ascribed to this class but also in other habitat types. In our preliminary investigations, we draw the attention to the relationship between the classes Charetea fragilis and Potametea pectinati Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 in some Sicilian biotopes. In some cases, the Charetea vegetation is ecologically and spatially distinct, although close, from that referable to the Potametea. In some other cases, one or more species of Characeae are structurally intrinsic to the vegetation of Potametea: on…

Ecologia e distribuzione di Chamaerops humilis L. (Arecaceae) nella Sicilia nord-orientale

I settori costieri e collinari della Sicilia nord-orientale e delle Eolie sono stati esplorati ai fini della raccolta di informazioni aggiornate sulla distribuzione dei popolamenti di palma nana e sulle caratteristiche ecologiche delle stazioni che li ospitano. I risultati delle indagini di campo sono stati integrati dalla verifica dei toponimi locali legati ai nomi dialettali della specie. Si con- ferma la totale assenza della palma nana lungo l’intero settore costiero dei Nebrodi. Dei nove popolamenti accertati, quattro si trovano alle Eolie, due sul versante ionico e tre sul versante tir- renico dei Peloritani; uno di questi ultimi, localizzato su Capo Calavà, risulta inedito. La conco- …

La classe Parietarietea judaicae Oberd. 1977 in Italia.

The class Parietarietea judaicae Oberd. 1977 in Italy. On the basis of literature and unpublished data, a synthesis on the synanthropic chasmophilous perennial vegetation occurring in the Italian territories has been carried out. These plant communities are linked to masonry walls and rocky faces heavily disturbed by man, and are dominated by hemicryptophytes, chamaephytes and bryophytes. From the syntaxonomical point of view, in accordance with the majority of the authors who studied the matter, the wall vegetation should be ascribed to a well-distinguished class, Parietarietea judaicae Oberd. 1977, rather than to the Asplenietea trichomanis class, as proposed by other authors. Within the …

5330 Arbusteti termo-mediterranei e pre-desertici

Note illustrative alla carta geomorfologica e della vegetazione dell’area della Rupe

Note illustrative alla carta geomorfologica e della vegetazione del conoide dell’Avisio.

Regional metacommunities in two coastal systems: spatial structure and drivers of plant assemblages

Aim Biogeographical patterns in metacommunities are still poorly understood, and different processes are expected to occur in different habitats. We analysed the regional plant metacommunities of coastal habitats to test whether (1) the influence of space and climate differs between two habitats differentiated along the seashore–inland gradient, and (2) regional variation in species composition of these habitats can be ascribed to different metacommunity paradigms. Location The entire coast of the Iberian Peninsula, south-western Europe. Methods We collected data on the plant species composition of coastal sites on sand dunes across 3000 km of coastline. The sites were classified into two h…

Alien plant invasions in Mediterranean habitats: an assessment for Sicily

AbstractLevels of plant invasions in different habitat types were assessed in several regional studies, but few of them were from the Mediterranean. Here we compare the levels of vascular plant invasion across habitats and plant communities of Sicily. We used a large dataset of plant species presences/absences in vegetation plots to analyze the invasion patterns across habitats considering biogeography, life form and phenology of alien plants. Vegetation plots were classified based on the EUNIS classification of European habitats. The invasiveness of each species was expressed in terms of its absolute and percentage frequency. Representation of different life forms and phenological patterns…

La scelta delle piante destinate al verde ornamentale tra percezioni e cambiamenti: Anthosart green tool, uno strumento per conoscere, selezionare, adottare le piante della nostra quotidianità secondo criteri sostenibili

The presence and importance of plant life on the planet does not seem to reach our sensory perception, therefore activate reactions of interest, and correct ecological behaviour. The increasing number of extinct species witnesses the human oblivion towards ecosystems. The concept of plant blindness describes the phenomenon that produces significant consequences on nature conservation. Urban green infrastructure, part of our daily life, is the right place to re-connect with plant systems. Designing and creating “built green” by means of nature-based solutions and local species pool is the main goal of Anthosart green tool, a free and user-friendly on-line tool, which can be useful for design…

Il supporto della SISV alla realizzazione di un manuale nazionale per il monitoraggio degli habitat della Direttiva 92/43/EEC in Italia

A partire dall’entrata in vigore della Direttiva 92/43/EEC, la sorveglianza dello stato di conservazione degli habitat elencati nell’Allegato I ed il relativo monitoraggio periodico a intervalli di sei anni sono diventati un obbligo per tutti i paesi membri dell’UE, in base a quanto previsto negli Articoli 11 e 17. Nel 2011 è stato pubblicato un documento che fornisce le linee guida di riferimento europee per il monitoraggio di habitat e specie (Evans & Arvela 2011). Su questa base metodologica, la Società Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione (SISV), avvalendosi di un ampio gruppo di soci esperti, ha avviato un dibattito interno su principi, criteri, parametri e strumenti per il monitoragg…

VegItaly: Technical features, crucial issues and some solutions

VegItaly is at present the largest Italian vegetation database. It is the result of a collaborative project aspiring to represent a major reference for the Italian vegetation scientists. The paper emphasizes its benefits for phytosociological data management and describes the solutions adopted to solve several technical problems, like the treatment of different vegetation stratification systems, the conversion of vegetation cover values, taxonomic and syntaxonomic issues, data import and access. The structure of the taxonomic list produced to support the storing of data is described. It allows an easy management of synonymic relationships and is constantly updated according to new publicati…

Contribution to a Taxonomic Revision of the Sicilian Helichrysum Taxa by PCA Analysis of Their Essential-Oil Compositions

The chemical profile of the essential oils in ten populations of the genus Helichrysum Mill. (Asteraceae), collected in the loci classici of the nomenclatural types of the taxa endemic to Sicily, were analyzed. Our results confirm that the analysis of secondary metabolites can be used to fingerprint wild populations of Helichrysum, the chemical profiles being coherent with the systematic arrangement of the investigated populations in three main clusters, referring to the aggregates of H. stoechas, H. rupestre, and H. italicum, all belonging to the section Stoechadina. The correct nomenclatural designation of the investigated populations is discussed and the following two new combinations ar…

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 7

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions of taxa in the genera Abies, Actinidia, Aloe, Amaryllis, Anredera, Arctotheca, Bidens, Cardiospermum, Celosia, Commelina, Cotoneaster, Cyclamen, Eclipta, Euphorbia, Grevillea, Hedera, Hibiscus, Impatiens, Juglans, Kalanchoe, Koelreuteria, Lindernia, Melinis, Myriophyllum, Nandina, Nicotiana, Oenothera, Oxalis, Parthenocissus, Phoenix, Phyllanthus, Physalis, Plumbago, Pteris, Quercus, Setaria, Symphytum, Tagetes, and Washingtonia. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published e…

Cosentinia vellea (Aiton) Tod. subsp. bivalens (Reichst.) Rivas Mart. et Salvo

More nature in the city

According to projects and practices that the Italian botanists and ecologists are carrying out for bringing “more nature in the city”, new insights for a factual integration between ecological perspectives and more consolidated aesthetic and agronomic approaches to the sustainable planning and management of urban green areas are provided.

Distance decay 2.0. A global synthesis of taxonomic and functional turnover in ecological communities

Caio Graco-Roza was funded by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), the Carlos Chagas Filho Research Support Foundation (FAPERJ) and the Ella and Georg Erhnrooth Foundation; Jan Altman by research grants INTER-EXCELLENCE LTAUSA19137 provided by Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, 20-05840Y of the Czech Science Foundation, and long-term research development project no. RVO 67985939 of the Czech Academy of Sciences; Otso Ovaskainen was funded by Academy of Finland (grant no. 309581), Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence Funding Scheme (223257), and the European Research Council (ERC) unde…

Reliability and effectiveness of Ellenberg’s indices in checking flora and vegetation changes induced by climatic variations

Two methods are proposed to assess the significance of time-spanned local variations of Ellenberg’s indicator values in floristic and phytosociological data sets respectively. Both methods are based on frequencies and averages of the indicator values within and among data sets. Main goal of proposed methods is to determine the threshold above which the observed variations are to be considered significant. In order to relate the observed floristic variations to recent climatic changes, attention was focused on the Ellenberg’s indices dealing with the main climatic variables: heliophany, temperature and precipitation. Study-cases from Zannone Island (Pontine Archipelago, Mediterranean region)…

La disintegrazione del paesaggio rurale

In Italia, la prima legge riguardante i beni storico-paesaggistici è stata emanata nel 1922. Nonostante questa rappresenti un risultato significativo per quei tempi, in quanto ai contenuti, rimane lontana dal cogliere la completa essenza del paesaggio. Ancora oggi, molte politiche e iniziative per la protezione del paesaggio appaiono viziate dall’originaria impostazione della disciplina, trascurando i valori legati alla biodiversità e ai servizi ecosistemici, fondamentali per la conservazione dei paesaggi tradizionali e per la stessa sopravvivenza della specie umana. L’articolo sottolinea la necessità di una maggiore consapevolezza del ruolo funzionale esercitato dall’agricoltura, intesa co…

Contribution to the knowledge of the therophytic flora of Sardinia

The abundance of therophytes, largely contributes to the naturalistic value of Sardinia. Moreover, most of the annual species belonging to the Sardinian flora have an historical and cultural value, as they followed the men in his migrations and still reflect the different ways of traditional land exploitation characterising the island. As a matter of fact, the development of human technology increased number and frequency of the annual plants of Sardinia. Nowadays, annuals occur in several habitats of the island, where they play a primary ecological role, both as biomass producers and protecting the soil from rill erosion during the rainy season, at least where the environmental factors do …

Studi tassonomici sulle popolazioni italiane di Halocnemum strobilaceum (Amaranthaceae)

Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) Bieb. fu descritto da Pallas (1771) con il nome di Salicornia strobilacea su campioni provenienti dal Mar Caspio. Questo arbusto succulento fu successivamente segnalato per varie località costiere e dell’entroterra del Mediterraneo, dell’Europa orientale e dei territori interni dell’Asia Minore e centrale fino alla Mongolia. In passato vari autori hanno evidenziato che le popolazioni costiere del Mediterraneo risultano abbastanza differenziate dalle quelle dell’entroterra dei territori euro-asiatici, corrispondenti queste ultime alla specie sensu strictu. Le differenze riguardano soprattutto l’habitus, come pure alcuni rilevanti caratteri morfologici, già evi…

Species–area relationships in continuous vegetation: Evidence from Palaearctic grasslands

Aim Species-area relationships (SARs) are fundamental scaling laws in ecology although their shape is still disputed. At larger areas, power laws best represent SARs. Yet, it remains unclear whether SARs follow other shapes at finer spatial grains in continuous vegetation. We asked which function describes SARs best at small grains and explored how sampling methodology or the environment influence SAR shape. Location Palaearctic grasslands and other non-forested habitats. Taxa Vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens. Methods We used the GrassPlot database, containing standardized vegetation-plot data from vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens spanning a wide range of grassland types throu…

Phytosociological notes on the Lygeum spartum grasslands from Crete.

Lygeum spartum grasslands from Crete have been studied by the application of the phytosocological method. A new alliance, Scorzonero creticae-Lygeion sparti and three new associations and have been recognized. The first, Limonio hyssopifolii-Lygeetum sparti occurs on halomorphyc badlands in the Sitia territory (NE Crete); the second Erodio crassifolii-Lygeetum sparti grows on heavily eroded clayey outcrops close to Hyerapetra (SE Crete); the third Convolvulo oleifolii-Lygeetum sparti, substitutes the previous one some Km eastward from Hyerapetra, on stratified marls alternated to conglomerates. Within the last association, two subassociations have been recognized: limonietosum roridi (typic…

Probabilistic and preferential sampling approaches offer integrated perspectives of Italian forest diversity

Aim: Assessing the performances of different sampling approaches for documenting community diversity may help to identify optimal sampling efforts and strategies, and to enhance conservation and monitoring planning. Here, we used two data sets based on probabilistic and preferential sampling schemes of Italian forest vegetation to analyze the multifaceted performances of the two approaches across three major forest types at a large scale. Location: Italy. Methods: We pooled 804 probabilistic and 16,259 preferential forest plots as samples of vascular plant diversity across the country. We balanced the two data sets in terms of sizes, plot size, geographical position, and vegetation types. F…

Scale- and taxon-dependent patterns of plant diversity in steppes of Khakassia, South Siberia (Russia)

The drivers of plant richness at fine spatial scales in steppe ecosystems are still not sufficiently understood. Our main research questions were: (i) How rich in plant species are the natural steppes of Southern Siberia compared to natural and semi-natural grasslands in other regions of the Palaearctic? (ii) What are the main environmental drivers of the diversity patterns in these steppes? (iii) What are the diversity-environment relationships and do they vary between spatial scales and among different taxonomic groups? We sampled the steppe vegetation (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens) in Khakassia (Russia) with 39 nested-plot series (0.0001-100-m(2) plot size) and 54 additional 1…

Flora-Fauna-Habitat Biotopes in Italy: policy and management issues

Studio geobotanico del Parco Eolico di Ulassai

Il Parco Eolico di Ulassai sembra la materializzazione di un ossimoro: gli imponenti aerogeneratori, quasi avessero compiuto un viaggio a ritroso nel tempo, sorprendono l’osservatore in un paesaggio antico, modellato da una gestione del territorio rimasta pressoché invariata da millenni. Nello spazio tra la torre eolica 43 e i resti del Nuraghe Cea Arcis, poco discosto, è riassunta la storia di un luogo sardo recondito ma significativo. Tra gli aerogeneratori disseminati sulle dolci ondulazioni del Parco Eolico, si aggirano indolenti gli animali al pascolo: mucche, pecore, capre, maiali. Tutt’attorno, l’orizzonte è segnato dai profili scultorei e primordiali dei tacchi d’Ogliastra. E quei 2…

The orophilous communities of the Pino-Juniperetea class in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean area

Orophilous plant communities of the Pino-Juniperetea class, occurring in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean area, are examined. This vegetation is characterized by the dominance of trees and shrubs, mostly represented by conifers belonging to the genera Juniperus, Abies and Pinus. These communities are nowadays relegated to the supra- and oromediterranean belt, and show a fragmentary distribution, which is an evident proof of their relict connotation. The comparison among these communities, based on original and literature data, has highlighted a remarkable floristic and structural homogeneity, together with a series of geographical vicariances. From the phytosociological point of view, …

From risk assessment to in-context trajectory evaluation - GMOs and their social implications

Purpose: Over the past twenty years, GMOs have raised enormous expectations, passionate political controversies, and an on-going debate on how should these technologies be assessed. Current risk-assessment procedures generally assess GMOs in terms of their potential risk of negatively affecting human health and the environment. Yet, is this risk-benefit approach appropriate to a deliver a robust assessment of GMOs? In this paper, we question the validity of current risk-assessment from both a social and an ecological perspective, and we elaborate an alternative approach, namely in-context trajectory evaluation Methods: This paper combines frame analysis, context analysis and eco-social anal…

Impact of information technology on future floras

Some important facilities offered by the information technology to innovate the development of traditional floras are illustrated and discussed. These include: random access interactive tools for the identification of species, low cost, easy updating, virtually unlimited space for high resolution images and texts, on-line utilities, strong synergy between authors and users. It is argued that the combination of printed books with integrated digital utilities and data-sources is the most desirable structure for future floras.

A multi-scale approach to assess the impacts of roads on biodiversity and geomorphology.

Aspetti del Rosmarino-Thymetum capitati Furnari, 1965 presso la Torre di Monterosso (Sicilia centro-meridionale)

A phytosociological study on the garrigue characterized by Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymbra capitata, settled on coastal lithosols unsuitable for agriculture, in the municipality of Realmonte (Southern Sicily, Agrigento province), is presented. The field work allowed, as well, to ascertain the vulnerability of the studied sites, due to the instability and erosion of the substrates, along with anthropogenic threats related to the urban sprawl affecting the area.

Studio geoambientale dei Biotopi “Foci dell’Avisio”, “La Rupe” e “La Rocchetta” finalizzato alla Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale

Thematic cartography in a GIS (Geographic Information System) have been employed to assess the direct impact produced on geological, geomorphologic and vegetation settings by the construction of a new motorway between the town of Mezzolombardo (TN) and the snout of the Non Valley (Rocchetta area). geological, geomorphologic and vegetation maps have been created at a 1:5,000 scale and implemented in a GIS. The geological map concerns not only the Mesozoic substratum and the size of the rocky outcrops, but also the complex Quaternary deposits occurring in the area. Similarly, by adopting the polygonal units of the geomorphologic map, the main goal was a complete and continuous definition of t…

Proposal for a parametrization of site conditions in the Mitrakos' indices.

The influence of slope gradient and exposure, of altitude and of distance from the sea on the winter and summer stresses sustained by the Mediterranean vegetation have been parametrized. An example of vegetation changes driven by the variation of any of such environmental factors is reported, and a mathematical formula is proposed to determine a monthly value to add to or subtract from the drought stress and cold stress values, estimated by the Mitrakos' index, in order to better approximate reality. Values obtained in such way can be used in synecology and phytosociology to express in a synthetic-correlative way the ecological valence of plant communities with respect to the main physiogno…

Global endemics-area relationships of vascular plants

Endemics–Area Relationships (EARs)are fundamental in theoretical and applied biogeography for understanding distribution patterns and promoting biodiversity conservation. However, calculating EARs for vascular plant species from existing data is problematic because of biased knowledge of endemic species distributions and differences between taxonomies. We aimed to overcome these challenges by developing a new standardized global dataset based on expert knowledge to produce a set of global EARs. We developed a nested circle design, with grain sizes of 10 4 , 10 5 , 10 6 , 10 7 , and 10 8 km 2 , respectively, and a global distribution of plots based on a stratified random scheme. The number …

New Data on Native and Alien Vascular Flora of Sicily (Italy): New Findings and Updates

In this paper, based on fieldwork and herbaria surveys, new data concerning the presence of 32 native and alien vascular species for Sicily (Italy) are provided. Among the native species, the occurrence of the following taxa is reported for the first time or confirmed after many decades of non-observation: Aira multiculmis, Arum maculatum, Carex flacca subsp. flacca, Mentha longifolia, Oxybasis chenopodioides, Najas minor and Xiphion junceum. Furthermore, we document the presence of three native species (Cornus mas, Juncus foliosus and Limonium avei) that, despite being repeatedly observed in Sicily and reported in the literature, are inexplicably omitted by the most recent authoritative ch…

Botanical excursions in central and Western Sicily - Field Guide For the 60th IAVS Symposium

The impact of Information Technology on the identification of species and archiviation of taxonomic and floristic data.

In plant taxonomy, classification aims at reconstructing an evolutionary history, usually represented by means of phylogenetic trees. The approach followed by the classification is hierarchical, and rather in coherence with the dichotomies traditionally used for identifying a certain species. But classification and identification are different, since the latter just aims at finding the name of a specimen, eventually in order to get information on it. There are many ways to identify a specimen: to trace it back to its origin, by following the bifurcations of its phylogenetic tree is one possibility, but not always the easiest and quickest one. This theme has been touched during the symposium…

On the origin and evolution of the Mediterranean dry grasslands.

A synthesis on the functional types of Mediterranean dry grasslands is outlined. Three different types are outlined: wintergreen perennial dry grasslands, wintergreen ephemeral dry grasslands, summergreen perennial dry grasslands. The first type is the most primitive, including several relict species, often characterized by very disjoint, sometimes anfi-saharian distribution ranges. The second type is resulting from an evolutionary trend towards short-lived life strategy, triggered by climatic and topographic perturbations that affected the Mediterranean region in the Plio- and Pleistocene. The third type, only marginally occurring in the Mediterranean region, is deriving from Holarctic and…

3230 Fiumi alpini con vegetazione riparia legnosa a Myricaria germanica

An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes

The traditional use of native wild food plants (NWFP) may represent a valuable supplementary food source for the present and future generations. In Sicily, the use of wild plants in the human diet dates back to very ancient times and still plays an important role in some rural communities. Moreover, in this regard, the natural and cultural inheritance of this island is wealthy and diversified for several reasons. First, Sicily hosts a rich vascular flora, with 3,000 native and 350 endemic plants. Second, due to its central position in the Mediterranean, the island has acted as a veritable melting pot for the ethnobotanical knowledge of the rural communities of the entire basin. We reviewed …

The orophilous dwarf-shrub vegetation of Mt. Troodos (Cyprus).

A phytosociological survey on the orophilous dwarf-shrub vegetation of Mt. Troodos (Cyprus) is presented. Four associations are described, the first three being linked to the upper supramediterranean bioclimatic belt: Nepeto troodi-Hypericetum stenobotryos, dwelling the summit plateaux on ultramaphic sediments, Salvietum willeanae, substituting the previous one in hollow sites, where the snow-cover lasts longer, Onosmo troodi-Astragaletum chionistrae, colonizing eroded soils on steep, windy slopes, Alysso cyprici-Genistetum crudelis replacing the Nepeto troodi-Hypericetum stenobotryos at lower altitudes, within the lower supramediterranean belt. Due to the noteworthy floristic autonomy of t…

Steppes of Southern Siberia - Experiences from the 6th EDGG Research Expedition to Khakassia, Russia (22 July – 1 August 2013)

The 6th EDGG Research Expedition took place in summer 2013 in the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains, part of the Altai-Sayanian mountain region (Republic of Khakassia, Russia). A group of 14 scientists from seven countries studied the variety of steppe vegetation in two regions of the "Khakassky" Reserve – Lake Itkul (Shira region) and Podzaploty (Ordzhenikidzevsky region). Standardised sampling procedures including nested-plot series and phytosociological relevés of 10-m2 plots were used to sample steppes of European-Siberian (Festuco-Brometea) and Central Asian (Cleistogenetea squarrosae) types. All terricolous plants present in the plots were sampled, including perennial and annual vascular pla…

Cartografia tematica geologica, geomorfologica e vegetazionale nella valutazione di impatto ambientale. Analisi del progetto della circonvallazione di Mezzolombardo (TN) e del suo imbocco nella Val di Non

L’utilizzo della cartografia tematica all’interno di un Sistema Informativo Territoriale (SIT) ha condotto, attraverso una serie di procedure originali, alla valutazione dell’impatto (VIA) prodotto su alcune componenti ambientali dall’eventuale realizzazione di un nuovo tracciato stradale a scorrimento veloce tra il comune di Mezzolombardo (TN) e l’imbocco della Val di Non nei pressi della località la Rocchetta. Per gli scopi di questa analisi, sono state realizzate, attraverso il rilevamento di terreno, carte di dettaglio a scala 1:5.000 di tipo geologico, geomorfologico e vegetazionale direttamente inserite all’interno di un SIT. La cartografia geologica tiene conto, oltre che della compo…

Stato di conservazione e studio di popolazione di Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris e sue relazioni con la sottospecie coltivata (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa).

A stochastic model of seed dispersal pattern to assess seed predation by ants in annual dry grasslands

A combined field experiment and modelling approach has been used to provide evidence that ants may be responsible for an observed lower patchiness and higher plant diversity in the neighbourhood of ant nests, within Mediterranean dry grasslands belonging to the phytosociological class Tuberarietea guttatae. The hypothesis was that seeds occurring in clumps may have an higher probability to be harvested than seeds having a scattered distribution. In order to test this hypothesis, four analysis steps have been performed. First, the seed productivity and dispersal pattern was recorded for four plant species found, either more abundant beside the ant nests (Tuberaria guttata, Euphorbia exigua) …

Grasslands and Shrublands of the Mediterranean Region

The Mediterranean Region extends to the 1.6% of the world’s land surface and more than the half of the Mediterranean-type ecosystems of the world. The remarkable species richness in the Mediterranean Region mainly originates from an exceptional habitat diversity and the presence of several natural barriers facilitating the segregation and differentiation of local taxa and biocoenoses. In this article, we deal with the habitats characterized by grasslands and shrublands that clearly show the adaptations to what could be called “the Mediterranean syndrome”, i.e., the intrazonal Mediterranean grasslands and shrublands (MG&S). The main driving forces of the adaptive radiation and high biodi…

La biodiversità vegetale e relativa cartografia del pS.I.C. “Torre Manfria” (Gela – CL)

Economia, ecologia e tecnologia: riflessioni su una convivenza difficile

Revisione tassonomica delle querce caducifoglie della Sicilia

Taxonomical revision about the deciduous oaks of Sicily.— On the basis of literature, herbarium and field investigations, a survey on the species of deciduous oaks occurring in Sicily is presented. A morphological description fitted with drawings and completed by some chorological and ecological observations is reported for each species. Finally it is emphasized that the phenotypical variability observed in Sicily within the Q. humilis group, even if let to consider the S.Thyrrhenian area as a probable speciation center of the group, on the other hand should also be related to the deforestation, which favoured the genetic mixing among the populations. The present study brought to the recogn…

A new naturalized alien plant in Sicily: Cotula australis (Sieber ex Spreng.) Hook. f. (Asteraceae) on the Acropolis of Lipari Island (Aeolian Archipelago)

In February 2018 a copious population of Cotula australis Hook f. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) was found on the cobblestones of the Acropolis of Lipari Island (Aeolian Archipelago, NE Sicily). This population represents the first record in southern Italy and is located at a distance of about 470 km as the crow flies from the nearest neighbour. From the phytosociological point of view, C. aus- tralis dominates a therophytic subnitrophilous dwarf vegetation of trampled sites which can be ascribed to the cosmopolitan class Polygono-Poetea annuae Rivas Mart. 1975. This plant communi- ty is proposed as a new association, Galio muralis-Cotuletum australis, which can be considered a Mediterranean vic…

Floristic traits and biogeographic characterization of the Gennargentu massif (Sardinia)

A study on the vascular flora of the Gennargentu Massif (Central-Eastern Sardinia) is presented. According to our results, the flora consists of 948 taxa: 686 species, 249 sub- species, 10 varieties and 3 hybrids, belonging to 97 families and 427 genera. Three taxa are new findings for the flora of Italy and eight for that of Sardinia. Life form analysis revealed, in particular, dominance of 35.65 % hemicryptophytes, 34.6 % therophytes, 12.13 % geophytes and 11.6 % (nano)-phanero- phytes. As concerns chorology, the Mediterranean element is largely prevailing (68.14%), mainly represented by circum- Medit. (29.1 %) and Euro-Medit. (23.07 %). Endemics are 14.87% of the whole flora (141 taxa), …

Shrines in Central Italy conserve plant diversity and large trees

Sacred natural sites (SNS) are instances of biocultural landscapes protected for spiritual motives. These sites frequently host important biological values in areas of Asia and Africa, where traditional resource management is still upheld by local communities. In contrast, the biodiversity value of SNS has hardly been quantitatively tested in Western contexts, where customs and traditions have relatively lost importance due to modernization and secularization. To assess whether SNS in Western contexts retain value for biodiversity, we studied plant species composition at 30 SNS in Central Italy and compared them with a paired set of similar but not sacred reference sites. We demonstrate tha…

A new species of Anthemis sect. Hiorthia (Asteraceae) from SE Sicily

A new species of Anthemis sect. Hiorthia (Asteraceae) is described from Sicily. This taxon, named A. piagnattiorum, is confined to a restricted area of the Hyblaean territory (SE Sicily), in the Natural Reserve of Cava Grande (Cassibile, Siracuse), where it takes shelter on carbonate rocky habitat and participates, with other Sicilian endemic taxa, to the composition of a termophilous chasmophytic community (Putorio calabricae–Micromerietum microphyllae).

Absolute zapovednost’ as an ethical model

There is a substantial difference between protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries. The former are a rational answer to the current decline of biodiversity and, as such, they are widely accepted in our society; the latter respond to an ethical need, which is not very common so far. This is the reason why administrators and public opinion are reluctant to accept the non-usability of areas that, to be preserved, require maintenance, patrolling and monitoring costs. The challenge of increasing the consensus around wildlife sanctuaries goes far beyond the establishment of protected areas. It lies in making desirable a sober lifestyle, with general awareness of the environmental consequences of …

Origin and evolution of the Mediterranean dry grasslands.

In the Mediterranean region, three main structural types of dry grasslands can be recognized: those dominated by perennial caespitose grasses (wintergreen perennial dry grasslands, Lygeo-Stipetea), those dominated by thermoxerophilous therophytes (ephemeral dry grasslands, Tuberarietea guttatae), those dominated by chamaephytes, thistles and relatively small hemicryptophytes (summergreen perennial dry grasslands, Festuco-Brometea). All three kinds are commonly represented all over the Mediterranean territories, especially in the dry most areas. Relevant physiognomic, adaptive and floristic differences are featuring the three mentioned typologies. Lygeo-Stipetea and Festuco-Brometea may grad…

Towards a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous vascular flora.

The strict relationship between plants and particular types of substrate has long been known to botanists and plant ecologists who have dealt with this issue. The peculiar flora growing on Italian gypsum substrates has been underlined since the nineteenth century (1, 2, 3). The concept of plant gypsophily can be defined as the exclusiveness or marked preference for living on gypsum outcropping rocks. Thus, only those plant species which show preference, or even exclusivity, for gypsum substrates, should be classified as gypsophilous (4). The main aim of this research has been to provide a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora. The study was made possible through international collabor…

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 11

Publisher Copyright: © This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1. Peer rev…

The orophilous dwarf shrub vegetation of Mt Troodos (Cyprus)

The results of a phytosociological survey on the orophilous vegetation dominated by dwarf, often thorny, scrubs occurring on the top of Mt. Troodos (Cyprus) are presented. The vegetation at issue ranges between 1500 and 1950 m, within the meso- and supramediterranean bioclimatic belts, where it dwells ultramaphic and serpentinitic substrata on windy slopes and summit plateaux. These plant communities face intense summer drought and cold winters, with av. two months of snow cover. The ombrotype of the dwelled sites ranges from subhumid to lower humid, with an av. rainfall about 1000 mm/year. Due to the human activity, secondary habitats became also available, mainly represented by sites with…

5220 *Matorral arborescenti di Zyziphus

Plant-ant interaction in xerophilous ephemeral vegetation of S.E. Sardinia.

Frequency and abundance of annual plants have been measured in 40 square plots, 0.36 m2 each, settled in an area of approximately 5 ha at the foothill of the Sarrabus massif, in S.E. Sardinia. 20 plots were randomly distributed at less than 5 m from the ant nests, further 20 at more than 30 m from the ants nests. The results showed a significantly lower plant density next to the ant nests, together with an higher species richness. Far from the nests, plots resulted dominated by relatively few species with a patchy distribution, while next to the nests the distribution of frequencies resulted more homogeneous. It is suggested that harvesting ants may contribute to the small-scale regulation …

Classification of European and Mediterranean coastal dune vegetation

Aims: Although many phytosociological studies have provided detailed local and regional descriptions of coastal dune vegetation, a unified classification of this vegetation in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin has been missing. Our aim is to produce a formalized classification of this vegetation and to identify the main factors driving its plant species composition at a continental scale. LocationAtlantic and Baltic coasts of Europe, Mediterranean Basin and the Black Sea region. - Methods: We compiled a database of 30,759 plots of coastal vegetation, which were resampled to reduce unbalanced sampling effort, obtaining a data set of 11,769 plots. We classified these plots with TWINSPAN, int…

The Lygeo-Stipetea class in Sicily

A survey of the botanical place names of the Iglesiente area (South West Sardinia)

Contributo alla conoscenza floristica dei monti Sicani (Sicilia): resoconto dell’escursione del Gruppo di Floristica (S.B.I.) nel 2012

The results of the excursion of the “Gruppo di Floristica” of the Italian Botanical Society held in the Sicani Mountains (CW-Sicily) on May 3-6, 2012, are here presented. During the research a total of 532 taxa was recorded. Three of them, the native Rosa squarrosa and the alien Phyllostachys aurea and Vitis ×koberi are new to Sicily, and 14 are new to the Sicani Mts. On the other side, we confirm the exclusion of Erica manipuliflora from the flora of the region.

Scale-dependent patterns and drivers of vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen diversity in dry grasslands of the Swiss inneralpine valleys

AbstractThe inner-alpine dry valleys of the Swiss Alps are characterized by subcontinental climate, leading to many peculiarities in dry grassland species composition. Despite their well-known uniqueness, comprehensive studies on biodiversity patterns of the dry grasslands in these valleys were still missing. To close this gap, we sampled 161 10-m2 vegetation plots in the Rhône, Rhine and Inn valleys, recording vascular plants, terricolous bryophyte and lichen species, as well as environmental data. Additionally, we tested the scale-dependence of environmental drivers using 34 nested-plot series with seven grain sizes (0.0001–100 m2). We analysed the effects of environmental drivers related…

Syntaxonomical survey of Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae: Semi-natural therophytic vegetation of the Mediterranean region

A syntaxonomical scheme, including geographical range and synonymies of all the associations ascribed to Geranio-Cardaminetalia hirsutae, is presented. This order, framed into the class Stellarietea mediae, groups sciaphilo-subnitrophilous annual vegetation of natural and semi-natural habitats, commonly occurring on substrata rich in organic matter, accumulating on stone-walls, shaded rocks and initial soils, often under the canopy of shrubs and trees. Twelve new associations from Sardinia, Sicily, Egean islands and Israel are here described for the first time.

Green landscapes of Sicily

Achievements, flaws, and future goals of scientific research on green roofs in mediterranean cities: first feedback from ongoing meta-analysis

Current scientific research points out the low number of papers focused on the environmental patterns in Mediterranean urban areas, where green infrastructure is still strongly underrated by scientists as well as by politicians, planners and decision-makers. In this paper, the results of a simple meta-analysis on the topics treated in scientific literature about the Mediterranean green roofs (MGRs) are presented. Our review pointed out the strikingly higher attention paid to building materials, energy efficiency and hydraulics with respect to life sciences (including basic ecology, horticulture, soil, plant and animal sciences) in the target paper selection. In fact, despite the availabilit…

Gli OGM nell’ecosistema

The forest vegetation from the Garda lake

A study about the forest vegetation occurring along the shores of the Garda lake is presented. The investigation emphasized a noteworthy vegetation diversity, related both to the habitat heterogenity and to the still present traces of several climatic changes that affected the area beginning from the Quaternary period. The examinated woodlands are the result of a compenetration between evergreen characteristic species of the Quercetea ilicis class, representing relicts of the climacic vegetation during the peak of the post-glacial anathermic phase, and deciduous mesothermophilous elements belonging to the Querco-Fagetea class order, which better reflect the present macroclimate. On the basi…

A systematic review on omics data (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics) in the role of microbiome in gallbladder disease

Microbiotas are the range of microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) colonizing multicellular, macroscopic organisms. They are crucial for several metabolic functions affecting the health of the host. However, difficulties hamper the investigation of microbiota composition in cultivating microorganisms in standard growth media. For this reason, our knowledge of microbiota can benefit from the analysis of microbial macromolecules (DNA, transcripts, proteins, or by-products) present in various samples collected from the host. Various omics technologies are used to obtain different data. Metagenomics provides a taxonomical profile of the sample. It can also be used to obtain potential funct…

The endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains (NE Sicily): Plant functional traits and phytogeographical relationships in the most isolated and fragmentary micro-plate of the Alpine orogeny

This study is aimed at (1) producing a complete and updated inventory of the endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains, (2) defining the geographical limits of Peloritani, regarded here as a biogeographical district and (3) highlighting possible paleogeographic connections with other Mediterranean lands. The heterogeneity analysis of the endemic flora was performed by means of contingency tables, through the x 2 test. The endemic flora of this area consists of 129 specific and infraspecific taxa, of which 15 are restricted to the Peloritani Mountains. The analysis of habitats revealed that endemic taxa are most abundant on cliffs, rangelands, woods and garrigues. A large number of surv…

Discovery of a second locality for the narrow endemic Anthemis ismelia (Asteraceae) in NW Sicily

A new population of Anthemis ismelia (Asteraceae) has been discovered on Mt Pecoraro (Cinisi, NW Sicily), a limestone headland at about 14 km from Mt Gallo (Palermo), the locus classicus et unicus of this species described in 1884. Taxonomic framework, distribution update, habitat characterisation, ecology and phytosociological framework are provided, as well as meta-population numerical estimates and risk status assessment.

Biodiversity of the orophilous communities of Pino-Juniperetea class in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean area.

The authors examine the orophilous communities, occuring in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean area, characterized by the dominance of trees and shrubs belonging to the genera Juniperus, Abies and Pinus. These communities are localized in the supra- and oromediterranean belt and show a relict role. From the structural point of view, this kind of vegetation is usually bistratified, with a low dense shrubby layer and spaced tree layer; sometime the latter one is absent. This vegetation is floristically poor and characterized by prevalence of Coniferous, such as Juniperus sabina, J. foetidissima, J. excelsa, J. oxycedrus. J. hemisphaerica, J. communis, J. nana, Abies nebrodensis, A. alba, A…

Contribution to the knowledge of flora and vegetation of Krissi islet (Crete,SE Mediterranean sea)

The results of a floristic and vegetational investigation on the Aegean islet of Krissi are presented. Its vascular flora numbers 172 taxa (species, subspecies and hybrids), 92 of which are new records. A species new to science, Limonium chrissianum, is described and illustrated and two new combinations, Limonium roridum and Teucrium dumulosum, are proposed. Furthermore, an iconography of the fruited Bupleurum gaudianum, a rare endemic known up to now only from the islet of Gaudos is provided. The phytosociological analysis identifies 8 associations, including relevés of maquis, phrygana, salt marshes, psammophilous and rupicolous vegetation. The observed association, six of which are here …

Can Predictive Vegetation Modeling be a useful tool to support Vegetation Classification?

Italian case study II: the NATURA 2000 site “Torre Manfria ITA 050011”

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 5

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, and confirmations for Italy or for Italian administrative regions of taxa in the genera Albizia, Anredera, Bougainvillea, Cardamine, Cenchrus, Cephalaria, Ceratochloa, Cytisus, Datura, Delosperma, Euonymus, Freesia, Hylotelephium, Lantana, Musa, Physalis, Rotala, Styphnolobium, Trachycarpus, and Tradescantia. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as supplementary material.

The Mediterranean weedy vegetation and its origin

An overview on the origin and evolutionary trends in the Mediterranean weedy vegetation is presented, with reference to the phytosociological units to which they are ascribed: Stellarietea mediae, Papaveretea rhoeadis, Oryzetea sativae. It is postulated that the “Neolithic revolution” was more likely a “Neolithic evolution”, i.e. the result of a process of selection and demographic growth that lasted for at least 10000 yrs, before leading to the domestication of plants and animals. During this very long time, wild crop relatives were simply growing together with the wild weed relatives, in their original milieu. At the beginning of agriculture, fields…

Laudatio zu Ehren von Herrn Professor Dr. Dres. h. c. mult. Sandro Pignatti, Rom, anlässlich der Verleihung des Reinhold-Tüxen-Preises 2012 der Stadt Rinteln am 11. Mai 2012

Intervento di ripristino della copertura arborea su un'area del parco dell'Etna interessata da colata lavica recente.

The planning and results of a reafforestation carried out on a private area occurring in the Etna Wildlife Reserve C zone are presented. The area consists of a terraced slope 70.000 square meters wide, made out of a lava flow part which dates back to 1983. At first were planted and seeded Astragalus siculus Biv. and Festuca circummediterranea Patzke, in order to set a pioneer vegetation cover; then were planted some aboreal species having a leading role in the physiognomical characterisation of the Etna landscape, like Betula aetnenis Raf., Pinus laricio Poiret, Populus tremula L. The success of the intervention is shown by the fairly quick penetration of 26 species coming from the neighbou…

European Vegetation Archive: now EVA really starts!

European Vegetation Archive (EVA) was announced as a new initiative of the European Vegetation Survey at the EVS Meeting in Vienna in 2012. The aim of EVA is to create a centralized database of European vegetation plots by storing copies of national and regional databases on a single software platform using a unified taxonomic reference database. EVA does not affect the ongoing independent developments of source data­ bases and it guarantees that data property rights of the original contributors are re­ spected. EVA Data Property and Governance Rules were approved and the EVA website (www.euroveg.org/eva­database) was established in 2012. Since then several European vegetation­plot database…

Due itinerari nell’Alto Garda Bresciano.

A Plant Sociological Procedure for the Ecological Design and Enhancement of Urban Green Infrastructure

AbstractUrban green infrastructure could represent an important mean for environmental mitigation, if designed according to the principles of restoration ecology. Moreover, if suitably executed, managed and sized, they may be assimilated to meta-populations of natural habitats, deserving to be included in the biodiversity monitoring networks. In this chapter, we combined automatised and expert opinion-based procedures in order to select the vascular plant assemblages to populate different microhabitats (differing in terms of light and moisture) co-occurring on an existing green roof in Zurich (Switzerland). Our results lead to identify three main plant species groups, which prove to be the …

Anthosart Green Tool: Selecting Species for Green Infrastructure Design

The environmental and economic costs of greenery depend on the planning criteria adopted and on the plants used. These costs can become more sustainable and can also be significantly lowered by using native flora and getting inspired by local plant communities. Nature-based solutions entail the use of species that co-occur naturally, thus replicating a model of coexistence consolidated by the evolutionary coherence of the biosphere. Planning, using and (re-)producing – getting inspired by natural ecosystems – may foster the dissemination of ecological awareness, with gardens, avenues, rooftops, walls and balconies seen as spaces available for the urban reconciliation with nature. The Anthos…

Festuca humifusa (Gramineae), a new species from Sicily.

Festuca humifusa, a new species from Cape Tyndaris (NE-Sicily) is described and illustrated. Its ecology, distribution and relationships with the allied species are discussed.

EuroSL – a European taxonomic backbone for vegetation databases and other taxon- related databases: version 1.0

Background: A taxonomic reference list is an indispensable tool to sample, manage and match biodiversity data from different sources. Merging vegetation databases or combining them with taxon-related attributes needs reliable and consistent information about the taxon concepts used and an appropriate naming. Aim: Creating a “taxonomic backbone” of European vascular plants and bryophytes with links to widespread taxonomic references. Methods: We used the Euro+Med plant list (Euro+Med 2006ff), version 2015/04. For all families not yet covered there we used taxa from Flora Europaea (Tutin et al. 1980ff). Additionally we included the aggregates from the Ehrendorfer (1973) list. For bryophytes w…

Guida Botanica al Parco Alto Garda Bresciano

Un invito a scoprire le splendide attrattive botaniche del Parco Alto Garda Bresciano, dal lago alle cime più alte. Dopo una colloquiale introduzione sulle peculiarità della vita vegetale, si prosegue osservando l’affascinante interazione tra le piante, l’uomo e le caratteristiche fisiche e climatiche del territorio, fino a delineare una sintesi paesaggistica che pone in relazione la varietà di habitat con l’eccezionale ricchezza floro-vegetazionale del Parco Alto Garda Bresciano. Più di 900 illustrazioni aiuteranno a riconoscere le piante e le comunità vegetali delle diverse unità di paesaggio. Le note escursionistiche consentiranno, inoltre, di osservare direttamente tutte le tipologie ve…

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 13

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Two new combinations are proposed. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1. In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and exclusions to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Contraddizione territoriale

Tertiary relict laurophyll vegetation in the Madonie mountains (Sicily)

Laurel woodlands in the Madonie mountains (Sicily) are characterized by the presence of Laurus nobilis, Rhamnus lojaconoi and Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris. The results of a phytosociological study are presented, and a new endemic association, Rhamno lojaconoi–Lauretum nobilis, is described. Present Mediterranean laurel communities are the result of an adaptive response by Tertiary laurel forest to the peculiar microclimatic conditions that characterize the refugia where they persist. These refugia have been recently considered as a priority habitat under the Directive 92/43/EEC, and their plant communities are very vulnerable. Protection measures of the studied laurel populations are ne…

La componente terofitica della flora della Sardegna. Forme di crescita, ecologia, corologia e sinsistematica

Nel quadro di una ricerca finalizzata all’incremento delle conoscenze sulla flora e vegetazione terofitica della Sardegna, viene presentata una check-list aggiornata delle specie annuali presenti sull’isola, frutto dell’integrazione di dati bibliografici con indagini condotte sul campo. Il presente lavoro è stato realizzato con l’intento di aggiornare le informazioni relative a corologia, forme di crescita, strategie di disseminazione, periodo di fioritura, colorazioni antesiche, habitat preferenziali e rarità delle specie terofitiche finora segnalate per la Sardegna.

Relevant habitats neglected by the Directive 92/43 EEC: the contribution of Vegetation Science for their reappraisal in Sicily

Field investigation carried out by the Sicilian botanists in the last 20 years enabled them to identify eight habitat types of high biogeographic and conservation interest, neglected by the Directive 92/43, which deservead hocconservation measures. For each of these habitats, a syntaxonomic interpretation of the corresponding plant communities, their main ecological, physiognomic and syndynamic traits and a list of diagnostic species are provided. Their classification into the macrotypes listed in the Annex I of the Directive 92/43 and the respective correspondence in EUNIS habitat classification are proposed. The habitats here described integrate those already proposed by the Italian Botan…

Indagine sulla diversità floro-vegetazionale del comprensorio del cuoio (Toscana centro-settentrionale).

Vengono descritte secondo un paradigma sistemico le alterazioni prodotte dalle molteplici attività umane sulla vegetazione naturale del comprensorio del cuoio, una delle aree a maggior determinismo antropico della Toscana. Il lavoro si articola in due parti: la prima del lavoro, eminentemente compilativa, volta ad individuare e schematizzare i principali fattori ambientali, ivi compresi quelli derivati dall’attività umana, insistenti nel comprensorio del cuoio; la seconda, originale, finalizzata a porre in relazione tali fattori con la flora e vegetazione attualmente esistenti nel territorio in oggetto ed a proporre possibili interventi di miglioramento ambientale. Gli aspetti presi in cons…

6510 Praterie magre da fieno a bassa altitudine (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis)

Bioclimatology and Vegetation Series in Sicily: A Geostatistical Approach

Tackling the Sicilian woody vegetation as a case-study, this work aims to verify the correspondence between Rivas-Martínez's bioclimatic units and the main vegetation series in the Mediterranean region. Following this approach, one macrobioclimate and 25 bioclimatic type belts can be recognized in Sicily. By means of a geostatistical analysis based on WorldClim data sets, cartographic models of the distribution range of each single bioclimatic unit were obtained and combined with vegetation data, in order to develop a new regional spatial framework, integrating climatic and vegetation data. Fidelity of each vegetation unit to a given climatic range was then evaluated as percent distribution…

Considerazioni citotassonomiche e corologiche su Allium chamaespathum Boiss. (Alliaceae) geofita nuova per la flora italiana.

Oggetto di questo studio è una singolare popolazione di Allium a fioritura autunnale, rinvenuta presso Reggio Calabria (Italia meridionale), la quale, per alcune caratteristiche vegetative e fiorali, rientra chiaramente nella sezione Allium. Le piante sono caratterizzate da un habitus robusto, foglie subcilindriche ampiamente fistolose, spata unica, caduca, slargata, con appendice fistolosa, lacerantesi lateralmente, infiorescenza globosa, densa, perianzio cilindrico con tepali conniventi, stami con filamenti laminari, dimorfi, gli esterni semplici e gli interni tricuspidati, e ovario con nettari ben sviluppati. Oltre alla fioritura tardiva (IX-X), gli individui di questa popolazione, prese…

Classifying plant communities and mapping their potential distribution using very large, heterogeneous, georeferenced datasets: the case study of the forest vegetation in the Italian peninsula.

In recent years, the scientific community has made significant efforts in order to create geo­referenced vegetation databases (Global Index of Vegetation Plot Databases). These databases are useful to carry out assessments of the state of bio­ diversity, conservation of species and habitats, dispersion of alien species and as a support for the planning of land and protected areas. In this context, Italy has given birth to its own project called VegItaly, coordinated by the Italian Society of Vegetation Science and conducted by several research groups, in order to develop a uniform database for the entire country. Within this framework we have created a georeferenced database of phytosociolo…

One Chara does not make Charetea in the Mediterranean aquatic vegetation

The results of preliminary phytosociological investigations on freshwater communities of Sicily biotopes with a significant presence of Characeae are presented. In spite of the relatively frequent occurrence of Characeae, a typical Charetea intermediae vegetation is rather rare in the investigated biotopes. Indeed, the Characeae are mainly part of communities attributable to the classes Potamogetonetea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Juncetea maritimi and Isoeto-Nanojuncetea. Some ecological and functional implications are discussed, along with some consequences on conservation measures and policies, caused by the lack of knowledge on the Characeae of Sicily.

Downy oak woods of Italy: phytogeographical remarks on a controversial taxonomic and ecological issue

The importance of downy oak as an integral component of the "submediterranean" woods has been underscored in many studies. Nevertheless, terms like "submediterranean" and "downy oak" are some of the most faintly understood concepts in the European phytogeographical and taxonomical research. Downy oak is well known to be a problematic taxon: the name "Quercus pubescens" (= Q. humilis) piles together populations characterized by an increasing phenotypic and genomic polymorphism along north-south gradients, which is commonly explained as the result of a "founder effect" given by a relatively fast post-glacial re-colonization of the northern stands through rare long-distance dispersal events. O…

Diversitas and Biodiversity: the roots of a 21st century myth

The first on conceptualization of what we now term “biodiversity” was given by Federico Cesi about 400 yrs ago. By the light of the first formulation of this concept, the historical changes in the human approach to “biodiversity” are discussed. The popularity of this term shifted from scientific to socio-political contexts and its significance became progressively blurred by eco-social implications. Biodiversity, today, is perceived by most as an ideal container of the remains of a vanishing traditional landscape, where man and nature lived together harmoniously. This is in contrast with the man’s desire for self-assertion, which has accompanied the civilisation process from its origins up …

Urban Services to Ecosystems: An Introduction

Green infrastructure is a structural system of naturally developed human societies, capable of preserving and ensuring as much space as possible to the local biodiversity. For this reason, green infrastructure shall be planned and designed so that the urban built environment is in harmony with the surrounding biotic communities. The challenge is to sustain nature-based solutions in order to improve citizens’ awareness towards natural and semi-natural ecosystems while providing our society with a more liveable, healthier, safer and fairer environment. This book puts an emphasis on the services the city can offer to nature, thanks to a multidisciplinary approach involving scientists and pract…

Caratteristiche ecologiche e biogeografiche della flora alto-montana delle isole mediterranee.

In epoca attuale, le culminazioni dei gruppi montuosi presenti sulle maggiori isole mediterranee risultano doppiamente isolate nei confronti di possibili migrazioni floristiche. Una prima barriera è rappresentata dal mare che circonda le isole, la seconda dalle peculiarità climatiche proprie dell’ambiente alto-montano, che impongono alle specie colonizzatrici adattamenti ecomorfologici ed ecofisiologici specifici. Negli ambienti montani insulari, le risorse particolarmente scarse, l’intensa radiazione solare, la forte ventosità e la marcata siccità estiva, solo in parte compensata dalle precipitazioni occulte, hanno condotto a straordinari fenomeni di convergenza evolutiva tra specie appart…

Impressions from the 4th EDGG Research Expedition to Sicily: community composition and diversity of Mediterranean grasslands.

Spatio-temporal variations in the application of the Braun-Blanquet approach in Europe

An historical overview on the affirmation of the phytosociological method in Europe is presented. Some methodological and procedural differences in the application of the Braun-Blanquet approach, from the selection of the sampling plots to the assignment of relevés to existing or newly described units, are briefly commented. The main advantages and limitations of the phytosociological vegetation classification are reviewed and discussed, also in the light of their applications for vegetation mapping and monitoring.

Indagine fitosociologica sulle praterie a Brachypodium retusum (Pers.) Beauv. della Sardegna.

The grasslands characterized by the dominance of Brachypodium retusum occurring in Sardinia are examined. These communities, belonging to the Thero-Brachypodion ramosi alliance (Lygeo-Stipetea class), are quite widespread in the Island, where they usually grow on carbonate substrata from the sea level up to 1300 m of altitude. On the basis of several phytosociological relevés, it has been possible to recognize six associations well-differentiated from the floristic, ecological and syndynamic point of view. The autonomy of these associations is also supported by a numerical multivariate analysis based on quantitative data (dendrogram and P.C.A.). The associations surveyed are the following: …

A multifaceted field sampling approach for the management of extremely narrow endemic vascular plant species

Extremely narrow endemic plant species (ENEs) are generally connected with micro- refugia characterized by particular environmental conditions. In-depth knowledge of the ecological requirements of ENEs is fundamental to plan appropriate conservation measures. Using cross-cutting technology, this paper gives a multifaceted approach to collect on-site data on the ecology of ENEs, defines the protocols for a correct sampling design and describes the type of equipment, the time and expenditure needed. Our sampling approach is based on two orthogonal transects, long enough to extrapolate the whole ecological gradient across the area of occupancy of the target species. Microclimatic data are reco…

An overview of the Italian forest biodiversity and its conservation level, based on the first outcomes of the 4th Habitat Report ex-Art. 17

In 2019 the 4th Report ex-Art. 17 on the conservation status (CS) of Annex I Habitats of the 92/43/EEC Directive was expected by every EU/28 country, with reference to the period 2013-18. In Italy, the process was in charge to the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), on behalf of the Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection (MATTM), with the scientific support of the Italian Botanical Society (SBI). A large group of thematic and territorial experts elaborated the available data concerning the 124 types of terrestrial and inland water Habitats present in Italy, 39 of which are represented by Forest Habitats (Group 9),. The main aim of the work was the…

Una visita botanica alla Villa di Tigellio

Paesaggi marginali e paesaggi mediati

L’evoluzione socio-economica ha radicalmente cambiato i paesaggi dell’europa, che erano stati plasmati dalle comunità rurali. Il recupero, con una valorizzazione economica e simbolica, è possibile solo con una nuova consapevolezza e responsabilità dell’intera società.

Considerazioni floristiche per un nuovo manifesto del terzo paesaggio

Disintegration of Italian rural landscapes to international environmental agreements

In Italy, the first law that puts landscape and historical buildings under public control was implemented in 1922. While this represents a significant achievement for those times, for that law landscape essentially has an historical and aesthetic connotation, without any explicit reference to the components of flora, fauna and geology. Today, many protection policies and initiatives are still biased by the lack of reference to the intrinsic value that biodiversity and ecosystem services have for the maintenance of traditional landscapes, as well as for the survival of the human species. The priority accorded to historical and aesthetic values can lead to a lack of attention to the complex r…

<strong>Nomenclatural notes on Fabaceae described from Sicily</strong>

A note about some taxa in Anthyllis and Trifolium (Fabaceae) described from Sicily is presented. Concerning Trifolium, we provide the lectotypification of the name T. pratense var. semipurpureum (≡ T. pratense subsp. semipurpureum), using a specimen preserved at PAL (Todaro’s collection). Concerning the Lojacono-Pojero’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. parvula, it is lectotypified by a specimen at G. A neotype at NAP is proposed for the Gussone’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. albiflora. As this latter name is applied to a taxon accepted here at specific rank, a new combination is validated. On the contrary, A. heterophylla var. parvula is considered as a new heterotypic synonym of Ant…

Assessing escapes from short rotation plantations of the invasive tree species Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Mediterranean ecosystems: a study in central Italy

Abstract: Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a fast growing tree species native to temperate North America, and widely diffused and naturalized in Europe. It is one of the candidate species for establishing bioenergy plantations on marginal lands in temperate and sub-Mediterranean regions. This potential is in contrast to its well-known invasive habit, leading to a potential damage to plant biodiversity in many European countries. Advise against black locust plantation in regions where it is already invasive has been issued by several international reports, as well as the adoption of mitigation measures (e.g., “containment” buffer zones) to prevent the spread of the species into natu…

La sindrome delle aree protette

Al di là di inevitabili specificità legate a singoli contesti, i parchi naturali europei presentano un quadro sintomatico comune, riconducibile all'interazione di tre principali eziologie. Un primo problema è quello della notevole "parcellizzazione", amministrativa e gestionale, di aree sottoposte a vincoli di tutela non sempre omogenei e spesso affidate ad istituti diversi. Un secondo agente eziologico è quello dei "processi in atto", quale conseguenza dei rapidi cambiamenti socio-economici della nostra società. Come spesso accade, quando si devono compiere scelte gestionali, occorre stabilire delle priorità. Il terzo agente eziologico è legato proprio alla disparità di vedute tra chi prop…

Smart Sustainable Cities of the New Millennium: Towards Design for Nature

AbstractUrban environments consist of a mosaic of natural fragments, planned and unintentional habitats hosting both introduced and spontaneous species. The latter group exploits abandoned and degraded urban niches which, in the case of plants, form what is called thethird landscape. In the Anthropocene, cities, open spaces and buildings must be planned and designed considering not only human needs but also those of other living organisms. The scientific approach of habitat sharing is defined asreconciliation ecology, whilst the action of implementing the ecosystem services and functioning of such anthropogenic habitats is calledUrban Rehabilitation. However, urban development still represe…

Verde pensile estensivo ad alto valore ecologico in ambiente mediterraneo. Aspetti progettuali e funzionali

Green areas are open spaces holding an unexpected kind of local biodiversity within the city, linked to species and habitats frequently found in human settlements. Green roofs can be an important means for environmental mitigation and, if designed according to the principles of restoration ecology, can improve the thermodynamic performance / hydraulic system and at the same time encouraging the development of urban biodiversity. With this work, we propose a methodology approach for green roofs in Mediterranean areas, that integrate aesthetic values with the functional traits of native species, in order to make green roofs “local tanks of biodiversity”.

Il Parco Fluviale dell'Alcantara

Note illustrative alla carta geomorfologica e della vegetazione dell’area della Rocchetta.

Gli OGM e la flora italiana

Xeric grasslands of the inner-alpine dry valleys of Austria - new insights into syntaxonomy, diversity and ecology

We are grateful to the IAVS for financial support for some of the participants. We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Ernst Partl, director of the Naturpark Kaunergrat for authorizing sampling in the protected areas and for helping with the organization of the field workshop.

The Sicilian taxa of Genista sect. Voglera and their phytosociological framework

The phytosociological role of taxa of Genista sect. Voglera in the vegetation context of Sicily is here examined. It was carried out on plant communities characterised by the Sicilian endemics G. aristata, G. madoniensis and G. cupanii. These taxa and their floristic settlement have been examined from the biogeographical point of view. Basing on our results, the popu- lations of G. madoniensis are to be referred to a new association named Cisto salvifolii- Genistetum madoniensis, ascribed to the class Cisto-Lavanduletea. Multivariate analysis shows a clear ecological differentiation of G. madoniensis with respect to the other Sicilian species. Instead, its habitus and ecology are closer to …

Conservazione del suolo e politiche di sviluppo nella programmazione comunitaria 2014-2020: Le aree interne.

During the next EU programming, Italy will suggest to commit a substantial portion of the funds to the development of the inland areas. This will happen through a structured program that will interact, since its start-up, with the local subjects in order to combine and to bind the development with the territory. The maintenance of the territory together with the involvement of the local communities focus the attention on the management of the common goods. The debate is still open and the inland areas policy which is built up by the Department for Development and Economic Cohesion (formerly the Department for Development Policy and Cohesion) of the Ministry of Economic Development, does not…

Assessing plant diversity and composition in grasslands across spatial scales: the standardised EDGG sampling methodology

This paper presents the details of the EDGG sampling methodology and its underlying rationales. The methodology has been applied during EDGG Research Expeditions and EDGG Field Workshops since 2009, and has been subsequently adopted by various other researchers. The core of the sampling are the EDGG Biodiversity Plots, which are 100‐m2 squares comprising, in two opposite corners, nested‐plot series of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 m2 square plots, in which all terricolous vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens are recorded using the shoot presence method. In the 10‐m2 plots, species cover is also estimated as a percentage and various environmental and structural parameters are recorde…

"One original thought is worth a thousand quotings" - some reflections on the age of metadata analysis

Floristic and Vegetation Changes on a Small Mediterranean Island over the Last Century

A synthetic and updated overview about the vascular flora and vegetation of the Island of Capo Passero (SE-Sicily) is provided. These data issue from two series of field surveys—the first carried out between 1997 and 2000, and the second between 2005 and 2019 and mostly focused on refining and implementing vegetation data. The current islet’s flora consists of 269 taxa, of which 149 (58%) are annual plants. The Mediterranean species are largely prevailing, 108 (40%) of which have a strictly Mediterranean biogeographical status. The comparison with a species list published in 1919 and updated in 1957 suggest that, despite the overall prevalence of anemochorous taxa, the vertebrate fauna repr…

A survey of the orophilous shrubby vegetation of the Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

A survey about the orophilous shrubby vegetation of the Teide volcano (Tenerife) is provided, based on literature and unpublished data. The investigated communities are dominated by broom-shaped nanophanerophytes, chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes, well adapted to the climatic continentality characterizing their growing-sites, due to the localization above the cloud layer. From the syntaxonomical point of view, in this paper is proposed to refer this vegetation to the class Cytiso-Pinetea canariensis Rivas Goday & Esteve ex Sunding 1972, to the order Spartocytisetalia supranubii Schonfelder & Voggenreiter 1994 and to three alliances: Spartocytision supranubii Oberd. ex Esteve 1973, grouping…

Spatial representation of vegetation and floristic diversity at landscape scale: the Italian experience

The application of phytosociology to the analysis of vegetation and landscape diversity has greatly developed in Italy during the past 60 years. The analysis of the scientific production of this period is therefore fundamental for a reflection on vegetation mapping and may be useful to forecast future scenarios of this discipline (Bruno et al., 2003). Many different documents related to the plant species distribution and diversity became available over time from different land units of Italy. In particular, interesting examples of mixed floristic and vegetation maps have been produced in a pilot project for the province of Palermo (Sicily) and used in the diagnosis of environmental heteroge…

Nomenclatural notes on Fabaceae described from Sicily

A note about some taxa in Anthyllis and Trifolium (Fabaceae) described from Sicily is presented. Concerning Trifolium, we provide the lectotypification of the name T. pratense var. semipurpureum (≡ T. pratense subsp. semipurpureum), using a specimen preserved at PAL (Todaro’s collection). Concerning the Lojacono-Pojero’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. parvula, it is lectotypified by a specimen at G. A neotype at NAP is proposed for the Gussone’s name Vulneraria heterophylla var. albiflora. As this latter name is applied to a taxon accepted here at specific rank, a new combination is validated. On the contrary, A. heterophylla var. parvula is considered as a new heterotypic synonym of Ant…

Downy-oak woods of Italy: phytogeographical remarks on a controversial taxonomic and ecologic issue

The importance of downy oak as an integral component of the "submediterranean" woods has been underscored by many studies. Nevertheless, terms like "submediterranean" and "downy oak" are some of the most poorly understood concepts in European phytogeographic and taxonomic research. Downy oak is well known to be a problematic taxon. The name "Quercus pubescens" (= Q. humilis) combines populations characterized by increasing phenotypic and genomic polymorphisms along north-south gradients, which is explained as the result of a "founder effect" produced by a relatively fast post-glacial re-colonization of the northern areas through rare long-distance dispersal events. On the other hand, polymo…

Metabolomic Study of Dactylis glomerata Growing on Aeolian Archipelago (Italy)

The Aeolian Islands (Italy) are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea comprising seven main islands, among which are two active volcanoes. The peculiar geological features and the wide variety of environments and soils have an important impact on native plants, and in particular, the Aeolian populations of Dactylis glomerata (a perennial cool-season bunchgrass) exhibit remarkable phenotypic variability. Considering that environmental drivers also strongly affect the production of plant metabolites, this work aimed at comparing the metabolomic profiles of D. glomerata (leaves) harvested at different altitudes on four islands of the Aeolian archipelago, namely: Lipari, Vulcano, Strombo…

Potentiality of extensive green roofs soils in sustaining Mediterranean annual dry grassland of the EU-Habitat 6220*

Nature-based solutions are defined as living solutions inspired by, continuously supported by and using nature (Final Report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on 'Nature-Based Solutions and Re-Naturing Cities'). In line with this statement and according to the European research and innovation policy agenda, green roofs (GRs) represent a fundamental requisite for urban sustainable development, being potential stepping stones for plants and animals, including those characterizing habitats of Community interest. In our work, we tested the suitability of green roofs in hosting Mediterranean annual dry grassland of the 92/43 ECC Habitat 6220* (pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-B…

Network analysis by simulated annealing of taxa and islands of Macaronesia (North Atlantic Ocean)

With the aim of explaining the role that taxa and island features have in biogeographical patterns, we processed presence–absence matrices of all the Macaronesian native species of ten different taxa (arthropods, birds, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, mammals, mollusks, pteridophytes, reptiles and spermatophytes) through simulated annealing analysis. Distribution patterns among the archipelagos were pinpointed, along with the different biogeographic roles played by islands and species groups. All the networks analysed resulted to be significantly modular and the structure of biogeographic modules reflects known past connections among the archipelagos and the current drivers of species distribut…

A methodological protocol for Annex I Habitats monitoring: the contribution of Vegetation science.

The methodological foundations of the recently published Manual for Annex I Habitats monitoring in Italy, edited by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) with the scientific support of the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV), are here presented, discussed and related to the most consolidated and acknowledged scientific advances in the field of Vegetation science. The proposed methodologies aim at offering simple, yet effective, protocols and procedures towards a harmonized data collection, by way of standardized and shared technical tools, resulting in comparable evaluations of the conservation status of Annex I Habitats. The methodological framew…

The Braun-Blanquet project: evaluating and characterizing European vegetation alliances

European tradition on vegetation classification provides an extraordinary legacy for understanding biodiversity. However, this classification lacks explicit data on vegetation attributes, especially if we extend national or regional concepts to a continental perspective. An additional effort for evaluating and characterizing European vegetation types is therefore needed, and the data contained in vegeta­ tion databases are probably the main tool for these purposes. The Braun­Blanquet project is an initiative of the European Vegetation Survey for characterizing veg­ etation alliances across Europe. By analyzing more than 500,000 vegetation plots from 22 European countries, we developed a fra…

Contributo alla caratterizzazione ecologica di Quercus petraea subsp. austrotyrrhenica (Fagaceae)

The Mediterranean dwarf shubs: origin and adaptive radiation

Basing on literature data, a synthesis on the morphologic, anatomic and physiologic adaptations of the Mediterranean dwarf shrubs is outlined. Three different functional types can be recognized: saltbushes, thermo-xerophilous fire-resistant dwarf shrubs and orophilous cushion-shrubs. The thermo-xerophilous fire-resistant dwarf shrubs mainly derive from the Mesogean flora and differentiated after the beginning of the Oligocene, and especially from the Pliocene, in the coastal regions around the Tethys Sea, as the result of a local adaptive radiation triggered by the shifting from subhumid to semiarid climatic conditions at the boundary between the tropical and the temperate zone. For the oth…

Tertiary relict laurophyll vegetation in the Madonie mountains (Sicily)

:Laurel woodlands in the Madonie mountains (Sicily) are characterized by the presence of Laurus nobilis, Rhamnus lojaconoi and Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris. The results of a phytosociological study are presented, and a new endemic association, Rhamno lojaconoi–Lauretum nobilis, is described. Present Mediterranean laurel communities are the result of an adaptive response by Tertiary laurel forest to the peculiar microclimatic conditions that characterize the refugia where they persist. These refugia have been recently considered as a priority habitat under the Directive 92/43/EEC, and their plant communities are very vulnerable. Protection measures of the studied laurel populations are n…

Supplementary material 1 from: Musarella CM, Mendoza-Fernández AJ, Mota JF, Alessandrini A, Bacchetta G, Brullo S, Caldarella O, Ciaschetti G, Conti F, Martino L, Falci A, Gianguzzi L, Guarino R, Manzi A, Minissale P, Montanari S, Pasta S, Peruzzi L, Podda l, Sciandrello S, Scuderi L, Troia A, Spampinato G (2018) Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy. PhytoKeys 103: 61-82. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.103.25690

Plant species data :

Data from: Network analysis by simulated annealing of taxa and islands of Macaronesia (North Atlantic Ocean)

With the aim of explaining the role that taxa and island features have in biogeographical patterns, we processed presence-absence matrices of all the Macaronesian native species of ten different taxa (arthropods, birds, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, mammals, mollusks, pteridophytes, reptiles and spermatophytes) through simulated annealing analysis. Distribution patterns among the archipelagos were pinpointed, along with the different biogeographic roles played by islands and species groups. All the networks analysed resulted to be significantly modular and the structure of biogeographic modules reflects known past connections among the archipelagos and the current drivers of species distribut…

Supplementary material 1 from: Bartolucci F, Domina G, Andreatta S, Argenti C, Astuti G, Ballelli S, Ballestrin S, Banfi E, Barberis D, Bernardo L, Bertolli A, Bonali F, Bonini F, Bruschi T, Buccomino G, Caldarella O, Cancellieri L, Caputo P, Conti F, Crisanti A, Del Guacchio E, Falcinelli F, Festi F, Ferri V, Filibeck G, Galasso G, Gestri G, Gigante D, Gubellini L, Gottschlich G, Guarino R, Hofmann N, Király G, Laghi P, Lazzeri V, Lonati M, Luchino F, Lupoletti J, Mei G, Merli M, Pagitz K, Paura B, Pennesi R, Perrino EV, Pica A, Pierini B, Pinzani L, Pittarello M, Praleskouskaya S, Prosser F, Roma-Marzio F, Santi F, Saiani D, Sebellin A, Soldano A, Spilli T, Stinca A, Terzi M, Tiburtini M, Tomasi G, Venanzoni R, Lastrucci L (2022) Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 13. Italian Botanist 13: 67-84. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.13.86403

Supplementary data

Supplementary material 1 from: Galasso G, Domina G, Alessandrini A, Ardenghi NMG, Bacchetta G, Ballelli S, Bartolucci F, Brundu G, Buono S, Busnardo G, Calvia G, Capece P, D'Antraccoli M, Di Nuzzo L, Fanfarillo E, Ferretti G, Guarino R, Iamonico D, Iberite M, Latini M, Lazzaro L, Lonati M, Lozano V, Magrini S, Mei G, Mereu G, Moro A, Mugnai M, Nicolella G, Nimis PL, Olivieri Н, Pennesi R, Peruzzi L, Podda L, Probo M, Prosser F, Ravetto Enri S, Roma-Marzio F, Ruggero A, Scafidi F, Stinca A, Nepi C (2018) Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 6. Italian Botanist 6: 65-90. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.6.30560

Supplementary data : Explanation note: 1. Nomenclature updates; 2. Note updates; 3. Distribution updates; 4. Synonyms, misapplied or included names.

Supplementary material 1 from: Galasso G, Domina G, Adorni M, Ardenghi NMG, Bonari G, Buono S, Cancellieri L, Chianese G, Ferretti G, Fiaschi T, Forte L, Guarino R, Labadessa R, Lastrucci L, Lazzaro L, Magrini S, Minuto L, Mossini S, Olivieri N, Scoppola A, Stinca A, Turcato C, Nepi C (2018) Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 5. Italian Botanist 5: 45-56. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.5.25910

Supplementary data : Explanation note: 1. Nomenclature updates; 2. Status/Note updates; 3 Distribution updates; 4. Synonyms, misapplied or included names.

Supplementary material 1 from: Galasso G, Domina G, Ardenghi NMG, Aristarchi C, Bacchetta G, Bartolucci F, Bonari G, Bouvet D, Brundu G, Buono S, Caldarella O, Calvia G, Cano-Ortiz A, Corti E, D'Amico FS, D'Antraccoli M, Di Turi A, Dutto M, Fanfarillo E, Ferretti G, Fiaschi T, Ganz C, Guarino R, Iberite M, Laface VLA, La Rosa A, Lastrucci L, Latini M, Lazzaro L, Lonati M, Lozano V, Luchino F, Magrini S, Mainetti A, Manca M, Mugnai M, Musarella CM, Nicolella G, Olivieri N, Orrù I, Pazienza G, Peruzzi L, Podda L, Prosser F, Ravetto Enri S, Restivo S, Roma-Marzio F, Ruggero A, Scoppola A, Selvi F, Spampinato G, Stinca A, Terzi M, Tiburtini M, Tornatore E, Vetromile R, Nepi C (2019) Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 7. Italian Botanist 7: 157-182. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.7.36386

: Data type: species data

Supplementary material 2 from: Musarella CM, Mendoza-Fernández AJ, Mota JF, Alessandrini A, Bacchetta G, Brullo S, Caldarella O, Ciaschetti G, Conti F, Martino L, Falci A, Gianguzzi L, Guarino R, Manzi A, Minissale P, Montanari S, Pasta S, Peruzzi L, Podda l, Sciandrello S, Scuderi L, Troia A, Spampinato G (2018) Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy. PhytoKeys 103: 61-82. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.103.25690

ANOVA analysis by gypsophily level :

Supplementary material 1 from: Galasso G, Domina G, Andreatta S, Argenti E, Bacchetta G, Bagella S, Banfi E, Barberis D, Bardi S, Barone G, Bartolucci F, Bertolli A, Biscotti N, Bonali F, Bonini F, Bonsanto D, Brundu G, Buono S, Caldarella O, Calvia G, Cambria S, Campus G, Caria MC, Conti F, Coppi A, Dagnino D, Del Guacchio E, Di Gristina E, Farris E, Ferretti G, Festi F, Fois M, Furlani F, Gigante D, Guarino R, Gubellini L, Hofmann N, Iamonico D, Jiménez-Mejias P, La Rosa A, Laface VLA, Lallai A, Lazzaro L, Lonati M, Lozano V, Luchino F, Lupoletti J, Magrini S, Mainetti A, Marchetti D, Marenzi P, Marignani M, Martignoni M, Mei G, Menini F, Merli M, Mugnai M, Musarella CM, Nicolella G, Noor Hussain A, Olivieri N, Orlandini S, Peccenini S, Peruzzi L, Pica A, Pilon N, Pinzani L, Pittarello M, Podda L, Probo M, Prosser F, Raffaelli C, Ravetto Enri S, Rivieccio G, Rosati L, Sarmati S, Scafidi F, Selvi F, Sennikov AN, Sotgiu Cocco G, Spampinato G, Stinca A, Tavilla G, Tomaselli V, Tomasi D, Tomasi G, Trenchi M, Turcato C, Verloove F, Viciani D, Villa M, Wagensommer RP, Lastrucci L (2021) Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 11. Italian Botanist 11: 93-119. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.11.68063

Supplementary data

Urban Services to Ecosystems - Green Infrastructure Benefits from the Landscape to the Urban Scale

The aim of this book is to bring together multidisciplinary research in the field of green infrastructure design, construction and ecology. The main core of the volume is constituted by contributions dealing with green infrastructure, vegetation science, nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development. The green infrastructure and its ecosystem services, indeed, are gaining space in both political agendas and academic research. However, the attention is focused on the services that nature is giving for free to and for human health and survival. What if we start to see things from another perspective? Our actions shall converge for instance to turn man-made environment like cities f…