Search results for " biodiversity."
showing 10 items of 313 documents
Macromycetes' diversity in Tunisia
2017
In Tunisia, about 12% of the country area is covered by forests which have favorable climatic factors likely to harbor a high macrofungal biodiversity. However, this valuable bioresource remains understudied especially regarding their distribution, ecology, abundance and diversity. The initiation of the first national inventory of macrofungi in NorthWestern Tunisian forests was published by our group in 2016. The study covered six governorates, sixty seven sites and enabled the identification of one hundred and twenty-three specimens. Abiotic environmental factors such (as bioclimatic stage, rainfall and edaphic conditions) and biotic factors (plant association and nature and density of the…
Citizen science: a successful tool for monitoring biodiversity in Marine Protected Areas
2018
In the last few decades, anthopogenic activities, introduction of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS, i.e. organisms introduced outside of their natural range), and climate changes, have significantly affected Mediterranean marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (Coll et al., 2010). All that is also true for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), whose major aim is biodiversity conservation. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance plans are strongly needed, and the creation of public awareness campaigns might be effective tool to plan effective management and conservation strategies in MPAs. Since intensive monitoring programs could be very expensive, citizen science, the involvement of citizens in …
Ethnobotanical knowledge in some rural communities of northern Sicily (Palermo, Italy)
2018
An ethnobotanical study was carried out to document the uses of wild plants among some local communities of Sicily (southern Italy). We recorded 48 taxa belonging to 45 genera included in 32 families. 30 taxa are used as medicinal plants, 22 taxa as food and 9 for handicraft use. In comparison with other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Sicily and other Italian territories, some uses of the plants reported by the local population in the study area are peculiarities. The analysis of data shows that the level of traditional knowledge on use of plants in province of Palermo is poor, highlighting a considerably advanced state of cultural erosion. The results of our investigation confirm th…
Fungal biodiversity in old-growth forests of Sicily: preliminary results
2014
According to several authors an old-growth forest in Italy is a natural forest in which human disturbance is absent or negligible, and in which natural dynamics create a mosaic of all the forest regeneration phases, including the senescing one. Such phase is characterized by large old trees, deadwood (snags logs and coarse woody debris) and a vascular plant species composition that is consistent with the bio-geographical context and it includes highly specialized taxa related to the small-scale disturbance and the microhabitats resulting from structural heterogeneity. Unmanaged forests are the main refugee for rare and endangered species, including fungi. In Sicily, 472 hectares were recogn…
INVESTIGATION ON OLD-GROWTH FORESTS OF SICILY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
2014
Old-growth forests are natural forests that have developed over a long period of time, without experiencing severe, stand-replacing disturbance a fire, windstorm, or logging. According to UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA definition, an old-growth forest is a primary or a secondary forest which has achieved an age at which structure and species normally associated with old primary forests of that type have sufficiently accumulated to act as a forest ecosystem distinct from any younger age class. In a thematic contribution to the National Biodiversity Strategy, the authors report the following definition of Italian old-growth forests: Forest in which human disturbance is absent or negligible, and in which nat…
Plant landscape and phytodiversity in the ancient town of Erice (NW Sicily)
2018
The The town of Erice, in the province of Trapani, is an environmental unicum in the context of the ancient settlements of western Sicily. Its history, substrates, and particular climate, generated by its geo-orographic position, make it a particular hotspot of natural and cultural biodiversity. Located on the top of Mount San Giuliano, in addition to natural habitats with their specific florulas, the town shows small gardens and among the few inhabitants there is a widespread green culture. A tourist des- tination by its various architectural and landscape historical peculiarities, Erice presents a residential center made up by small stone buildings, with small courtyards or “bagli” often …
Species and habitat biodiversity measure and conservation at different scale in small Mediterranean islands
2017
Small islands are geographically and ecologically well-defined areas in which biological processes are easier to schematize than in the mainland. There is a vast range of biodiversity measures, due to the large concept of biodiversity and the range of spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales used. Many existing measures are well designed and informative. But, very often they are inadequate for purposes beyond those for which they were specifically designed. Knowledge on trends in biodiversity loss is hindered by the absence of reliable basic data for most groups of organisms as well as habitats. Plants are primary producers and key structural elements for most ecosystems and islands are among…
PLANT LANDSCAPE OF RAS DIMAS PENINSULA (GOVERNATORATE OF MONASTIR, CENTRAL COASTAL TUNISIA)
2014
The Ras Dimas lagoon lies along the coast of Central Tunisia (35°37'45.84"N, 11° 2'44.61"E), in the region of Sahel, about 20 km linear distance to the south from Monastir and about 160 km from Tunisi. The lagoon is made up by a sandy peninsula with white sands rich in limestone with fine granulometry, about 3 km long, up to 200 m wide and up to 2 m high, that contains about 120 hectares of sea. Previously this peninsula was regularly isolated from the continent forming the island of Edzira, in the last years, sea storms and the different streams course, likely caused by the restructuring of the Port of Bekalta, has given the actual configuration of a peninsula. In April 2013, as part of th…