Search results for "FOREST"

La biodiversità fungina in ecosistemi forestali in presenza e assenza di attività selvicolturali

Nell’ambito dell’attività formativa di dottorato, mi sono occupato della relazione esistente tra la presenza e il ruolo dei funghi, della flora vascolare, dei licheni e dei muschi, con la forma di governo del bosco, in ecosistemi complessi, quali le foreste urbane. Analizzando, in dettaglio, come la gestione del bosco tende ad influire direttamente sulle dinamiche delle cenosi fungine e sulla presenza/assenza delle singole entità. Lo studio, svolto all’interno di un popolamento forestale artificiale ad Eucalyptus camaldulensis, in un popolamento forestale artificiale a Pinus sp. pl. e all’interno di un popolamento forestale artificiale con elementi di naturalità, scelta derivante dalla loro…

The role of phanerogams and cryptogams in the recolonization of cork oak forests crossed by wildfire in Sicily

2017

The actual distribution and structure of cork oak woods is the result of a process of anthropogenic alteration (utilization of cork, deforestation, coppicing, overgrazing, changes in land use, fire). Additional causes of threats in Q suber woods are pests and fungal disease. Although cork oak is an active pyrophyte the decortication of trunks makes trees more vulnerable to external agents and to fire in particular. Post-fire species are mainly carbonicolous fungi, some Ascomycetes make their appearance after around six weeks while other fungi begin to appear from the second year. The proliferation of fungal hyphae in the ash, as well as of some pioneer mosse protonemata, promotes soil aggre…

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…

FUNGAL DIVERSITY IN URBAN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS

2014

In past and recent times the anthropic pressure strongly influenced the dynamic of forest ecosystems in Europe and led to a drastic decrease of forest cover and distribution mainly in unmanaged areas. The term “urban and community forests” refers to the trees and forests found in urbanized settings, in the center of cities and towns, in suburbs and rural ommunities, and at the edge of wild lands. Trees in the urban environment are subjected to a number of stresses which are very different from those suffered by trees in typical rural conditions. Biodiversity has been reduced in urban areas through ecosystem destruction, degradation, and fragmentation of remaining ecosystems. Recent investig…

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…

Forest ecosystems in the Monti Sicani Park (Sicily)

2022

The authors analysed the forest ecosystems in the Monti Sicani Park (Sicily). In particular, the state of the natural and non-native forests in the Site of Community Interest (SCI ITA040005) - Monte Cammarata, Contrada Salaci, was evaluated in terms of distribution, evolution of forest dynamics and, silvicultural activities. The evolution of vegetation within two different forest plots are analysed and management strategies are proposed. The finding on Mount Cammarata of seedlings of Fagus sylvatica in the undergrowth of a conifer afforestation is noteworthy.

Elementi di Botanica forestale

2012

Evolution of the forest landscape in the Punic Eparchy area (West Sicily): the importance of cork oak in natural residual vegetation for the purposes…

2018

The natural forest vegetation in the territory of the western provinces of Sicily (Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento) has almost completely disappeared. This area coincides with the ancient administrative ter- ritorial unit that precedes the division into three "valleys" of the most inhabited island of the Mediterranean: it is the Val di Mazara, remembered by archaeologists as "Punic Eparchy". As a seat of important Greek cities (Himera, Solunto, Entella, Agrigento, Gela, Eraclea Minoa, Segesta, Selinunte, Erice, Lilibeo, Mozia, etc.), it was a Punic domain before being abandoned. Due to the lack of a marked relief and the benefit of climate, agriculture was practiced for three millennia. In t…

An insight into the presence of lignicolous fungi in Sicily (southern Italy)

2017

Thirty-six lignicolous fungal species (4 Ascomycota and 32 Basidiomycota), included in 16 families and 28 genera have been recorded in different natural and reforested areas of Sicily. Amylostereum laevigatum, Ceriporia excelsa, Phlebia lilascens, and Stereum insignitum represent new records for Sicily. Notes on some rare species are also here reported.

Phytosociological study of the acidophilous deciduous oak woods with Ilex aquifolium of Sicily

2009

We present here a phytosociological study with ecological considerations of some formations with a prevalence of Quercus pubescens s.l. and Ilex aquifolium that occur on siliceous ground in the Madonie and Peloritani Mountains of Sicily. On the basis of this study, these formations have been attributed to two new associations: Ilici aquifolii-Quercetum leptobalani and Conopodio capillifolii-Quercetum congestae, within the order Quercetalia pubescenti- petraeae, which is already represented by other associations in Sicily.