1,721,070 research outputs found
Contribution to the knowledge of the coastal vegetation of the SIC IT9110005 “Zone Umide della Capitanata” (Apulia, Italy)
No full textAn overview of the coastal vegetation of Site of Community Importance “Zone Umide della Capitanata” (Puglia Region) is here presented. Original relevés were performed in different locations of the site. On the basis of the in-field observations (142 original relevés) and of literature data, 44 plant communities have been defined, belonging to the following classes: Lemnetea minoris, Ruppietea maritimae, Potametea pectinati, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea, Helichryso-Crucianelletea maritimae, Juncetea maritimi, Sarcocornietea fruticosae, Saginetea maritimae, Thero-Suaedetea, Tuberarietea guattatae, Nerio-Tamaricetea. For each vegetation unit, the distribution area at local and regional level and the relation to habitat types of the 92/43 EEC Directive are provided
Coastal salt-marshes plant communities of the Salicornietea fruticosae class in Apulia (Italy)
No full textAn overview of the salt-marsh herbland and scrub vegetation belonging to the class Salicornietea fruticosae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 in Apulia is presented. Data available from literature have been supplemented with original relevés performed in different locations of the Apulia region. On the basis of a total of 297 relevés, fifteen communities have been defined, according to the traditional phytosociological system based on dominant and/or diagnostic taxa. For comparison purposes, the salt-marsh vegetation has been classified using numerical methods. The results obtained show that most of the clusters correspond to specific associations, and confirm the division into vegetation alliances and orders. Numerical analysis also allowed us to assign the proper allocation of some associations and plant communities drawn from literature. Five alliances, with plant communities characterized by specific ecological features, have been discriminated: Sarcocornion alpini and Arthrocnemion glauci (lower marshes), Salicornion fruticosae (middle marshes), Inulion crithmoidis and Suaedion brevofoliae (upper marshes). In addition, during the field work, a population of Halocnemum strobilaceum (Arthrocnemo-Halocnemetum strobilacei), new record for the Apulia region, has been found. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien
Il S.I.C. “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa): analisi floristico-vegetazionali e obiettivi di conservazione Il S.I.C. “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa): analisi floristico-vegetazionali e obiettivi di conservazione
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La biodiversità vegetale e relativa cartografia del pS.I.C. “Torre Manfria” (Gela – CL)
No full textFirst record of Scorzoneroides muelleri (Asteraceae) in Apulia: Phytosociological analysis and conservation status in Italy
No full textScorzoneroides muelleri (Sch. Bip.) Greuter & Talavera (Asteraceae), a very rare species, is a hygrophyte occurring in the southern part of the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, the presence of this species is confirmed for Sicily, while in Sardinia and Liguria it has not been recorded any longer. Three new localities, recently found in Apulia (southern Italy), are here reported. The floristic composition of Scorzoneroides muelleri communities in Italy is here analyzed, in order to characterize the diversity of populations in relation to different ecological conditions and assess their conservation status at regional level. A total of 70 plots were surveyed. For each plot, the floristic composition and cover of the species were determined using standard method of relevés. Cluster analysis and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) allowed the identification of three vegetation types which correlated with ecological gradients ranging from the coast to inland areas. The first is characterized by the presence of Lythrum hyssopifolia (coastal zone, Sicily), the second by the presence of Trisetaria aurea (inland zone, Sicily) and the third by Sphenopus divaricatus (coastal zone, Apulia). The limited distribution of this taxon is a probably a consequence of the degradation, fragmentation and reduction of its natural habitat
Analisi geobotanica del SIC “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa, Sicilia)
No full textThe coastal vegetation of the SCI “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa) - The flora and vegetation of the site of community importance (SCI) “Capo Murro di Porco, Penisola della Maddalena e Grotta Pellegrino” (Siracusa - Southern Sicily) are examined. The area at issue is characterized by the occurrence of several plant communities, mainly represented by phanerophytic coenosis (Oleo-Ceratonion), chamaephytic thermo-xerophilous coenosis (Cisto-Micromerietea, Helichrysion litorei), hemicryptophytic coenosis (Lygeo-Stipetea), halophilous communities of the coast (Crithmo-Limonietea), communities of the cliffs (Dianthion rupicolae), coenosis of the temporary ponds (Isoeto-Nanojuncetea, Juncion maritimi and Scirpion compacti) and spring-flowering meadows (Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae and Saginetea maritimae). The occurrence of several xerophytes, endemic or quite rare for the Sicilian flora, testifies the importance of this site (Allium lehmannii Lojac., Tillaea vaillantii Willd., Helichrysum conglobatum Viv., Limonium syracusanum Brullo, Lythrum tribracteatum Sprengel, Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach, Damasonium alisma Mill. subsp. bourgaei (Cosson) Maire, Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. var. graeca (Sch.-Bip.) Fiori, Ophrys biancae (Tod.) Macch., Dianthus rupicola Biv. subsp. rupicola.
This site is a coastal biotope of particular botanical interest which still survive today interesting patches of vegetation, disappeared over most of the coast of Eastern Sicily, their protection is therefore a priority
The Natural Vegetation of Residual Wetlands in the Hinterland of Western Sicily (Italy)
Full text linkAn overview of the wetland vegetation of the hinterland of western Sicily, between the
hills located south of the Palermo Mts. and the Sicani Mts., is presented herein. This study was
conducted according to Braun-Blanquet’s phytosociological method, through a survey carried out
mainly within six important biotopes: (1) Gorgo Lungo (“Bosco Ficuzza”; municipality of Godrano);
(2) Gorgo Marosa (on the southern side of Rocca Busambra; municipality of Godrano); (3) Gorgo
di Piano Scala (on the northern side of Mt. Cardellia; municipality of Corleone); (4) and (5) Gorgo
Carcaci and Gorgo Carcaciotto (both on the south-eastern slope of Mt. Carcaci; municipality of
Castronovo di Sicilia); and (6) Gorgo S. Andrea (municipality of Castronovo di Sicilia). A vegetation
analysis was carried out on the basis of 107 field relevés, together with other data taken from scientific
literature. A total of 28 plant communities were identified, between hydrophytics of the classes
Lemnetea minoris (3 associations) and Potamogetonetea pectinati (6 associations), helophytics of the
Phragmito-Magnocaricetea class (14 associations and 1 community), ephemeral of the Isöeto-Nanojuncetea
class (2 communities) and perennial herbaceous vegetation of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class
(1 association and 1 community). Anew syntaxon is also described (Callitricho obtusangulae-Glycerietum
notatae ass. nova), as an endemic association of the hinterland of western Sicily, referred to as the
Alopecuro-Glycerion spicatae alliance. For all surveyed communities, new insights into syntaxonomy
and diagnostic taxa are provided, as well as for the floristic composition, synecology, syndynamism
and synchorology of the aquatic vegetation of western Sicily
Competition between alien and native species in xerothermic steno-Mediterranean grasslands: Cenchrus setaceus and Hyparrhenia hirta in Sicily and southern Italy
Full text linkPerennial dry grassland communities, vital for plant biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean, often harbor rare and endangered species. However, these habitats face threats, including the invasion of alien species. Cenchrus setaceus, a highly invasive grass, is spreading in the Mediterranean region. Historical records and observations document its establishment and invasiveness across various Italian regions. This study investigates the impact of C. setaceus on native grasslands dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta. We assessed the impact of C. setaceus invasion on plant biodiversity in Sicily and southern Italy, and we identified and characterized plant species’ composition using Ellenberg indicator values.
The intention to analyze species richness, diversity, and ecological indicators is also emphasized. Starting from the use of the phytosociological method, multivariate analysis and Ellenberg indicator values to assess the impact of C. setaceus on grasslands composition were considered. There are several similarities and differences in diversity, floristic composition, and ecological traits between the two grassland types. A deep comparison with central European studies and evaluation of the impact of C. setaceus on species richness and community dynamics in Mediterranean habitats were concluded.
Although C. setaceus is invading native grasslands, it does not drastically reduce species richness. The ecological implications of the invasion are explored, urging ongoing monitoring and collaborative efforts for effective conservation. The importance of interdisciplinary cooperation is highlighted to address the threat of invasive species and sustain the biodiversity of Mediterranean grasslands
The Role of Vegetation Monitoring in the Conservation of Coastal Habitats N2000: A Case Study of a Wetland Area in Southeast Sicily (Italy)
No full textThe coastal wetlands are among the most vulnerable and threatened environments of the Mediterranean area. Targeted actions for their conservation require in-depth knowledge of current and past natural vegetation. In this paper, we surveyed the vegetation composition and the spatio-temporal changes of a coastal wetland area in southeastern Sicily ("Saline di Priolo" SAC). Based on 128 phytosociological surveys and several plant collections, a total of 304 taxa, 28 plant communities, and 16 habitats have been identified. Furthermore, three new plant associations were described, including two in wetland and one in rocky coast environments. For the classification of plant communities and habitats, a hierarchical clustering was performed by using Euclidean coefficient and beta-flexible algorithm. The life form spectrum of the current flora highlights the dominance of therophytes and hemicryptophytes. The Mediterranean species are largely prevailing with 123 taxa. The cartographic analysis performed with ArcGis 10.3 shows a radical reduction in the wetland habitats in the last 70 years, and a strong alteration of the ecological succession of the psammophilous-hygrophilous vegetation. Moreover, landscape configuration of the coastal vegetation and habitat types was well highlighted by a set of specific landscape metrics. In particular, our outcomes identify three habitats (2110, 2210, and 5220* EU code) with bad conservation status, among which we identified one of priority conservation (Zyziphus arborescent matorral) that requires urgent restoration measures
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