Search results for "Endemics"
showing 10 items of 19 documents
At the intersection of cultural and natural heritage: Distribution and conservation of the type localities of Italian endemic vascular plants
2017
Abstract We conducted a GIS spatial analysis with the aim of providing the first quantitative large-scale overview of the distribution patterns of 1536 type localities ( loci classici ) of 1216 Italian endemic vascular plants and their relationship with a set of descriptive variables. Whereas some variables were used to model the presence-absence distribution patterns of the type localities for the whole set of endemics as well as for the subset of narrow endemics, others (e.g., presence inside or outside protected areas and Italian Important Plant Areas) were considered with the purpose of assessing potential assets or risks for conservation. The largest number of type localities was found…
THE MEANING OF ENDEMISM IN PHYTOGEOGRAPHY
2013
The definition of endemism is a relative concept, and is relative to the size of the territory and the hierarchical rank of the taxon one is referring to. The more the territory is small, less you would expect to find in it the whole areal of taxa which ranks are high as a family or an order. Here is the case to cite FAVARGER (1969): "It is the scale that creates the phenomenon." The criterion for the definition of endemism is therefore the exclusive membership to a certain geographical territory taken as a reference, not the size of the range of taxon.
A new species ofCentaurea(Asteraceae) from Sicily
2008
A new species of Centaurea, Centaurea sicana, endemic to Sicily, is described. This new taxon is close to Centaurea parlatoris and Centaurea giardinae (Sect. Dissectae), the former occurring at Palermo and in the Madonie Mountains, while the latter occurs on the Etna volcano. The new species has so far been found only on the Sicani Mountains, a limestone mountain range in western Sicily, while the related species occur in the surrounding mountains. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157, 785–788.
The genusThymus(Lamiaceae) in Sicily
2015
An update on the taxonomy and geographic distribution of the genus Thymus in Sicily is given. This study is based on literature, herbarium and field investigations. In total, five taxa belonging to Thymus sect. Serpyllum (Th. richardii subsp. nitidus, Th. longicaulis and Th. praecox subsp. parvulus) and Th. sect. Hyphodromi (Th. spinulosus and Th. paronychioides) occur in Sicily. For each one, information about taxonomy, habitat, phenology, chromosome number and distribution are provided. Furthermore, the name Thymus pedicillatus Lojac. is here typified. Finally, an analytical key for the identification of the studied taxa is proposed.
Conservation genetics of an endemic from the Mediterranean Basin: high genetic differentiation but no genetic diversity loss from the last population…
2013
The Mediterranean Basin is a biodiversity hotspot, housing > 11.000 narrowly endemic plant species, many of which are declining due to mass tourism and agricultural intensification. To investigate the genetic resource impacts of ongoing habitat loss and degradation, we characterized the genetic variation in the last known populations of Leopoldia gussonei, a self-compatible endangered Sicilian Grape Hyacinth numbering less than 3,000 remaining individuals, using AFLP. Results demonstrated significant genome-wide genetic differentiation among all extant populations (I broken vertical bar(ST) = 0.05-0.56), and genetic clustering according to geographic location. Gene diversity was fairly c…
Assessing the genetic diversity ofCentaurea parlatorisgroup (sect.Dissectae, Compositae) in Sicily using isozymes
2011
Abstract The Centaurea parlatoris group belongs to sect. Dissectae and is one of the most taxonomically critical groups in Sicily. The taxa included in it inhabit dry slopes, pastures and rocky places. Some of them are narrow endemics to Sicily, and others to Italy. The great morphological variability at the intrapopulation level has not permitted the creation of an adequate taxonomic scheme. The recent proposal of two new species from Sicily confirms the insufficient knowledge of the taxonomic diversity. This study involves eight Sicilian populations of the C. parlatoris group. Seven loci from nine enzyme systems [isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), 6-phosphoglucona…
Novedades en híbridos de Ophrys L. (Orchidaceae) para la flora de Alicante
2007
Se presentan datos sobre híbridos del género Ophrys L. observados en la provincia de Alicante. Se describe una nueva notospecie, O. × fraresiana (O. lupercalis × O. lutea), de la Sierra de Serrella. Además, se incluyen localidades inéditas de O. × heraultii (O. speculum × O. tenthredinifera), de O. × lucentina (O. dianica × O. lupercalis), cuya interpretación como híbrido se discute, y de O. × pseudospeculum (O. lutea × O. scolopax), un híbrido que no había sido citado en la Península Ibérica. Data on hybrids of genus Ophrys L. from Alicante province (E of Spain) are reported. A new nothospecies, O. × fraresiana (O. lupercalis × O. lutea), is described from Sierra de Serrella. In addition, …
Ancient or recent? Insights into the temporal evolution of the Bruniaceae
2008
AbstractThe Bruniaceae are a South African plant family endemic to the Cape Floristic Region with one geographic outlier (Raspalia trigyna) in the Natal Province. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have cast new light upon inter- and intra-generic relationships within the family. The present work uses those data to gain insights into the temporal evolution of Bruniaceae by inferring a molecular clock. For calibration, the inferred age of Berzelia cordifolia (3–5My) was used, based on its distribution restricted to the geologically young limestone area around Bredasdorp. The results are consistent with the purported Cretaceous age of the family (‘palaeoendemics’), but also suggest that m…
Opportunistic Germination Behaviour of Gypsophila (Caryophyllaceae) in Two Priority Habitats from Semi-arid Mediterranean Steppes
2011
Gypsophila tomentosa and G. struthium are closely related species, characteristic of two European priority habitats, salt and gypsum inland steppes, respectively. Germination strategies of the two taxa were investigated in plants from two nearby populations, growing under the same climatic conditions but on different types of soil, and belonging to different plant communities. Their germination patterns were studied at five constant temperatures in darkness: 5oC, 10oC, 15oC, 20oC and 25oC, and the base temperature and the thermal time requirement were calculated. As the distribution area of both species is subjected to a Mediterranean continental climate with significant differences between…
Floristic traits and biogeographic characterization of the Gennargentu massif (Sardinia)
2013
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), …