Investigations into the distribution of floristic emergencies of Pantelleria Island (Channel of Sicily, Italy)

Flora, fitocenosi e serie di vegetazione nel paesaggio vegetale dei Monti di Palermo (Sicilia nord-occidentale)

Vegetation and habitats of Community interest of an isolated biotope of the “Gessoso-Solfifera” Formation (inland of Sicily): the Site of Community Importance “Monte Conca” (ITA050006)

Phytosociological characterization of the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis microwoods in Sicily

A work on the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis vegetation, endemic species located in disjointed sites in the Sicilian inland, is here presented. It forms microwoods with a relict character established on screes and detrital coverages, on a variety of lithological substrates (volcanics, limestones, quartzarenites). Based on the phytosociological analysis carried out in the territory, these vegetation aspects are framed in the alliance Oleo-Ceratonion, within which a new association (Pistacio terebinthi-Celtidetum aetnensis) is described, in turn diversified in the following subassociations: a) typicum subass. nova, on detrital calcareous cones of the north-western part of Sicily, in the…

The ongoing naturalisation of Eucalyptus spp. in the Mediterranean Basin: new threats to native species and habitats

The genus Eucalyptus has been widely introduced into many regions of the world outside its native range and has become invasive in some Mediterranean biomes (e.g. in southern Africa and California). In the Mediterranean Basin and Europe, eucalypts were introduced at the end of the 18th century. However, natural regeneration events in these regions are recent in time and limited in terms of affected areas, except for the Iberian Peninsula. An updated overview about the natural spread of Eucalyptus species in Italy is still lacking. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap, using both published data and unpublished field data regarding naturalisation events, with a specific focus on Sicily.…

Phytosociology applied to conservation of protected areas of Palermo Mts. (North-Western Sicily): the Site of Community Importance “Capo Gallo” (ITA020006)

BIOMONITORING HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN PALERMO

The relictual woodlands with Laurus nobilis L. of Sicily (Italy): phytosociological, phytogeographical, ecological and distributional considerations

The recent spread of the invasive woody alien plant Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) in Sicily

This paper aims at reporting the ongoing process of naturalization of Melia azedarach L. in Sicily. In fact, over half a century after the first detection of spontaneous self-sown seedlings, an abrupt increase of naturalization cases has been recorded by the authors during the last twenty years. More in detail, M. azedarach successfully colonized many suburban lowland areas along the coasts of the island which are characterised by thermo-Mediterranean bioclimate. According to both field and literature data, a gradual spread of M. azedarach in the island can be expected, although it is not possible to predict the speed with which this will occur. Historical information on its introduction at…

Vegetazione dei corsi d’acqua della Sicilia in sistemi paesaggistici con problematiche d’impatto ambientale: il bacino del Fiume Oreto (Palermo)

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.

Phytosociological and phytogeographical considerations on the orophilous alliance Berberido aetnensis-Crataegion laciniatae (Rhamno-Prunetea)

Distribution, ecology and conservation survey on theCeltis tournefortiisubsp.aetnensis(Celtidaceae: Cannabaceae) populations in Sicily

Results of research on the Celtis tournefortii subsp. aetnensis (Celtidaceae-Cannabaceae) populations in Sicily, based on the monitoring of the various nuclei distributed in the territory, are presented. In particular, two new important unpublished stations located in the southern part of the Sicani Mountains, widespread over an area of approximately 75 hectares, are reported. It is highlighted that the species, besides the lava flows of the western slope of Mount Etna (Catania province), is tied to conoids present in five other disjointed sub-ranges, often with fragmentary and relictual stations: (1) Nebrodi Mountains inland (Cesarò territory, Messina province); (2) Madonie Mountains inlan…

Bupleurum dianthifolium Guss. In: Rossi G., Foggi B., Gennai M., Gargano D., Montagnani C., Orsenigo S., Pedrini S. Schede per una Lista Rossa della Flora vascolare e crittogamica Italiana

The plant landscape of an interesting stretch of coastline in southern Sicily: the area between Punta Grande and Capo Rossello (Realmonte, Agrigento), biotope worthy of preservation

Phytosociological analysis of the Genista sp. pl. garrigues of the Cisto-Lavanduletea and Rosmarinetea officinalis classes in the South-Tyrrhenian area (Mediterranean Region).

The study reviews the Genista sp. pl. garrigues ascribable to the classes Cisto-Lavanduletea (acidophilous communities on volcanics and quartzarenites) and Rosmarinetea officinalis (basiphilous communities on calcareous and calcareous-dolomite substrates), in the southern territories of the Italo-Tyrrhenian Province. The floristic-synecological characterization of the identified coenoses led to the description and/or redefinition of various new syntaxa. They are distributed in the two new suballiances Calicotomo villosae–Genistenion tyrrhenae and Genisto aristatae–Calicotomenion infestae of the class Cisto- Lavanduletea (Lavanduletalia stoechadis and Calicotomo villosae–Genistion tyrrhenae)…

Distribution, ecology, vegetation and conservation survey on the relictual population ofCarex panormitanaGuss. (Cyperaceae) in Sicily (Italy)

We report the results of research on the Carex panormitana Guss. (Cyperaceae) population in Sicily, carried out within its locus classicus at the Oreto River (Palermo). The survey led to a morphological, biological and autoecological characterization, to the definition of the current distribution in the site, to an estimate of the number of individuals and to an analysis of its conservation status. The risk status was also assessed and the species was ascribed to the category Critically Endangered (CR), in accordance with the CR B1ab (ii, iii, v) and EN C1 IUCN criteria. Moreover, the phytosociological survey carried out on the meso-hygrophilous vegetation in which the species is dominant a…

Bio-ecological, phytosociological and conservation aspects of relictual and disjointed populations ofSimethis mattiazzi(Vandelli) Sacc. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) in the Channel of Sicily

Abstract Two populations of Simethis mattiazzi (Xanthorrhoeaceae) were recently discovered in the Channel of Sicily – (1) Punta Bassana (Marettimo Island) and (2) Mount S. Giuliano (western Sicily) – at a considerable distance from the nearest stations hitherto known, located in southern Sardinia, the Pontine Islands Archipelago and Tunisia. The taxonomical and distributive aspects of this species are analysed to highlight the relictual and biogeographical significance of the disjointed and fragmentary nuclei distributed in several small islands of the Channel of Sicily, the Italian Peninsula and North Africa. Some morphological, biological, ecological and phytosociological aspects of the t…

Limonium poimenum (Plumbaginaceae), a new chasmophyte species from Sicily

Limonium poimenum is here proposed as a new species for Science. It is a very peculiar and extremely localized species, growing on a calcareous mountain of NW Sicily (southern Italy), where it grows on rupestrian places together with many other rare chasmophytic endemics. Iconography, morphological features, ecology and conservation status are provided, as well as a morphological comparison with L. todaroanum.

Endangered plant species of Marettimo Island (Sicily, Italy)

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.

Contribution to the phytosociological characterization of the forest vegetation of the Sicani Mountains (inland of north-western Sicily).

The results of a phytosociological survey on the main forest vegetation aspects of the Sicani Mountains (inland of north-western Sicily), in turn included in the homonymous Regional Park recently established, are presented. This expansive territory (43,687 hectares), located between the Agrigento and Palermo provinces, is mainly composed by carbonate and silico-carbonate formations of the Sicani Units, whose highest peaks are represented by Mount Cammarata (1578 m a.s.l.), Mount delle Rose (1436 m), Pizzo Cangialoso (1420 m) and Mount Pernice (1393 m). Under the bioclimatic aspect, the area falls within the thermo- and supramediterranean belts, with ombrotype ranging from upper dry (annual …

The naturalization of the almond Prunus dulcis in different ecological contexts in the Mediterranean: An underestimated process?

Although Prunus dulcis has been frequently listed in non-native floras all around the world, its naturalization has been rarely studied in the field. Probably, because this species has generally invaded synanthropic habitats. We assessed the density of natural regeneration of almond, biometric parameters (height and basal stem diameter), and the distribution in life stage classes in three different ecological contexts in Sicily (Mediterranean Italy): one natural habitat (maquis), one pine afforestation and two prickly pear orchards. We recorded 236 naturally regenerating almond individuals, with density ranging from 140 individuals per hectare (prickly pear orchard 1) up to 2,400 individual…

Il paesaggio vegetale del tratto meandriforme del Fiume Jato (Sicilia nord-occidentale), interessante biotopo meritevole di tutela

Phytosociological characterization of the Juniperus phoenicea L. subsp. turbinata (Guss.) Nyman formations in the Italo-Tyrrhenian Province (Mediterranean Region)

The Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata formations of the Italo-Tyrrhenian biogeographical province (Mediterranean Region), are analyzed on the basis of literature data and unpublished relevés. The floristic-synecological characterization of the identified phytocoenoses, confirmed by multivariate analysis on a synoptic basis, has allowed their breakdown in four different alliances of the order Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni: 1) Periplocion angustifoliae, with the association Periploco angustifoliae-Juniperetum turbinatae; 2) Juniperion turbinatae, with the associations Junipero turbinatae-Quercetum calliprini, Rusco aculeati-Quercetum calliprini, Phillyreo angustifoliae-Juniperetum…

Distribution, ecology and conservation survey on Trifolium michelianum Savi (Fabaceae) in Sicily (Italy)

We report the identification of four residual stations for Trifolium michelianum Savi (Fabaceae) in Sicily, whereas the species was documented to be extinct at the Gorgo Cerro station (western Sicily), the only locality previously reported in the literature. In addition to an update on the distribution of the species, a survey on the new Sicilian populations led to their biological, ecological and phytosociological characterization, as well as to an assessment of the risk factors. The species, here relegated to the limit of its distribution area, occurs in particularly sensitive and vulnerable environments, such as the “Mediterranean temporary ponds”, considered “priority” by the Council Di…

Berberido aetnensis-Crataegion laciniatae, new orophilous pre-forestal alliance of the class Rhamno-Prunetea

In this paper the results of a phytosociological study carried out on some aspects of shrub vegetation of forest margins are presented, investigated in the higher belt of the Madonie Mts. (Northern-Central Sicily), referred to the order Prunetalia spinosae (Rhamno-Prunetea). Through comparison with other known coenoses in the central- southern part of the Italian Peninsula and in Sicily – especially, the associations of Berberidion vulgaris and those of Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii – a coenological and phytogeographical autonomy has been made evident and has resulted in the recognition of a new alliance, described under the name Berberido aetnensis-Crataegion laciniatae Gianguzzi et al., all. nov…

Bio-ecological, phytosociological and conservation aspects of relictual and disjointed populations of Simethis mattiazzi (Vandelli) Sacc. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) in the Channel of Sicily

Two populations of Simethis mattiazzi (Xanthorrhoeaceae) were recently discovered in the Channel of Sicily – (1) Punta Bassana (Marettimo Island) and (2) Mount S. Giuliano (western Sicily) – at a considerable distance from the nearest stations hitherto known, located in southern Sardinia, the Pontine Islands Archipelago and Tunisia. The taxonomical and distributive aspects of this species are analysed to highlight the relictual and biogeographical significance of the disjointed and fragmentary nuclei distributed in several small islands of the Channel of Sicily, the Italian Peninsula and North Africa. Some morphological, biological, ecological and phytosociological aspects of the two new po…

In situ conservation strategies of a threatened species: the case of Carex panormitana Guss. in Sicily

Phytosociological survey vegetation map of Sicily (Mediterranean region)

ABSTRACTWe present the results of a study aimed at developing a vegetation map of Sicily (Italy) including the smaller circum-Sicilian islands, for an area of approximately 25,703 km2. The work is a synthesis of studies carried out in accordance with the survey methodology of phytosociology in the last 40 years over the whole study area. The vegetation map of Sicily was compiled in a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment, in order to produce a cartographic representation at a scale of 1:10,000 (reduced to a scale of 1:250,000). The physiognomic-structural characteristics of the plant landscape of Sicily are analyzed, providing a general and, at the same time, detailed overview …

Phytosociological survey vegetation map of Sicily (Mediterranean region)

We present the results of a study aimed at developing a vegetation map of Sicily (Italy) including the smaller circum-Sicilian islands, for an area of approximately 25,703 km2. The work is a synthesis of studies carried out in accordance with the survey methodology of phytosociology in the last 40 years over the whole study area. The vegetation map of Sicily was compiled in a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment, in order to produce a cartographic representation at a scale of 1:10,000 (reduced to a scale of 1:250,000). The physiognomic-structural characteristics of the plant landscape of Sicily are analyzed, providing a general and, at the same time, detailed overview of the p…