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A phytosociological analysis of the Iberian Quercus faginea forests was carried out. For this purpose, 291 relevés were studied. A multivariate analysis consisting of a numerical classification based on the floristic composition of the relevés, was performed. The coherence and explanatory value of the current syntaxa are reviewed. As a result, the diversity of Iberian gall oak forests is resolved into 15 associations characterised according to their floristic, biogeographical, bioclimatic and synecological data supported by the statistical analyses. Thirteen have been described previously, and two new associations are proposed: Glandoro diffusae-Quercetum fagineae and Helianthemo mollis-Quercetum fagineae. A new combination, a lectotypification and a nomenclatural correction are also proposed. The Ios2 (ombrothermic index of the warmest bimonth of the summer quarter), Itc (compensated thermicity index) and Ic (continentality index) indexes proved to be fundamental to explain the syntaxonomic differentiation of the forests in the study. We consider that the differentiation and precision in the definition of clear syntaxonomic entities is vital to prioritize objectives in the conservation of these singular forests, and to ensure their adequate management in the context of the Habitats Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senecio sarracenicus is a rare river corridor plant, featured on Red Data Lists of threatened flora in several European countries. The habitat typical for this species is protected in the European Union. The species constitutes its own association Senecionetum fluviatilis, but syntaxonomic separateness of this community was rejected by some authors who assigned it to the Convolvulo sepium-Cuscutetum europaeae. Comprehensive analysis of phytosociological material from different European countries was conducted using classification and ordination methods, and both associations from Poland were compared. The study showed a clear separation between both associations in terms of species composition and community structure as well as microhabitats they occupy in river valleys. The species composition of the Senecionetum fluviatilis is similar within Europe regardless of sample location. In Poland, Solidago gigantea is the most frequent neophyte among alien species penetrating the association under study. Although S. gigantea does not affect the diversity and total species richness, it does reduce the native species cover; when its coverage is large (>25%), it may in addition reduce the number of native species. This means that S. gigantea has a substitutive relation to native components of the association Senecionetum fluviatilis, particularly with respect to Senecio sarracenicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of plant communities for conservation purposes is recognized in their inclusion in the “Habitat Directive” (92/43 EEC), that relates habitat types to plant community syntaxonomic units. However, habitat definitions in the Habitat Directive lead to several inaccuracies in local habitat characterization. Several wetland plant communities (and their corresponding habitats), rare in the Mediterranean basin, are not included in the Habitat Directive. This study proposes criteria for assessing the conservation importance of habitats. It deals with plant community types at the alliance level, as promising units for setting conservation priorities. The principle criteria considered as drivers for setting alliance conservation values are the distribution and abundance of plant species of conservation interest and their fidelity to a plant community. Multivariate methods were used, and a quantitative floristic index of alliance conservation priority was created. This procedure was applied to an important wetland in central Italy. Results emphasize: (i) high conservation values of some alliances not listed in the Habitat Directive, confirming various gaps in the current conservation law affecting Mediterranean wetlands; (ii) that habitats widely distributed in other biogeographical areas, may greatly underestimate their conservation importance in Mediterranean region; (iii) need to consider regional peculiarities when setting conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ThePinus halepensisMill. forest vegetation of the central-eastern European Mediterranean basin (France, Italy, Croatia, Albania, Greece) is described here. This study was carried out considering published and unpublished phytosociological data, with the organisation of a systematic classification (syntaxonomic scheme) of the orderPinetalia halepensisaccording to the principal floristic variations, at multiple spatial scales and according to the physiognomic–structural, floristic, ecological and biogeographical characteristics. Five alliances and 25 associations are recognised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cladinaspecies are likely to suffer the impact of human pressure, resulting in a potential, as well as currently unknown, extinction risk for some of them. In this study, we used herbarium specimen data and literature data combined with geographic information system (GIS)-based analyses to assess the threatened status of ItalianCladinaspecies according to IUCN criteria. A total of 485 records, reported during the period 1833–2013, were evaluated. Biological traits, habitat requirements and distribution patterns were used to infer species extinction risk. Extent of occurrence and area of occupancy have been calculated at the national scale, based on a 2 km × 2 km cell grid. The potential threats for the taxa were assessed using a decision-support protocol in order to set conservation targets for taxa lacking population viability analyses and habitat modelling data. The species were assigned to the IUCN categories mainly using the geographical criterion B, related to species with restricted and fragmented distribution and continuous declining trend, but the species have been tested against the maximum number of criteria for which data were available and/or appropriate. This has provided an opportunity to discuss some basic aspects of the process of lichen red-listing, suggesting some methodological improvements for the mat-forming ones. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral systems play a key role in view of the positive contribution that they could offer to a sustainable development of European agriculture. The knowledge of the vegetation dynamics and of the processes and land uses favoring different vegetation types related to the same actual potential natural vegetation (PNV) could represent a sound reference framework for monitoring and managing plant biodiversity in these systems. The aim of the research was to evaluate plant diversity along a gradient of use intensity comparing the actual vegetation versus the PNV. The results of our research showed that in the studied Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral system, included in the same environmental unit, human activities enhanced plant biodiversity. Moreover, the case study presented here confirmed the effectiveness of those landscape approaches comparing actual vegetation versus the PNV for plant biodiversity monitoring and reinforced previous studies showing the effect of human activities on plant community diversity at the environmental unit scale in different biogeographical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the spatio-temporal dynamics of land cover changes from 1954 to 2008 in a hilly mountainous area in the Italian northern Apennine, and ecological factors and processes associated with these dynamics. Land cover patches were mapped and analysed at three time periods (1954, 1980 and 2008). Changes over time were detected by analysing a combination of multitemporal source data from airborne images and from field surveys. Relationships between cover classes and environmental variables were analysed for the year 2008. Grasslands and scrublands (corresponding to the Natura 2000 Habitats 6210 and 5130, respectively) were found to be the most threatened communities; they occupy small portions of the studied area and are subject to a marked dynamic towards the higher stages of the vegetation successions including a mesophilous and a thermophilous succession. The ability to estimate persistence times and evolution trends of vegetation types following land abandonment is an important tool in land management. Our combined approach yielded a good picture of the vegetation involved in biodiversity loss consequent to land abandonment, as well as estimation of the expected time for this loss to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Thein situconservation activities carried out in the last 10 years on endemic and threatened Sardinian vascular flora were analysed. Monitored species were selected following the policy species (listed in the Habitat Directive) and following the regional responsibility criterion. A monitoring scheme, with three levels of intensity, was applied and economic costs of the monitoring activities were analysed. In the 10-year long field work, 49 taxa corresponding to 50% of policy species and to 22.5% of the Sardinian endemics were monitored. The Sulcitano-Iglesiente sector showed the highest number of monitored taxa (20), whereas the Gennargenteo sector showed the highest number of populations monitored (32). A variation of the relative importance of the three levels of monitoring has been detected and most of the protocols showed a high level of intensity and complexity (90%). Plant-monitoring programmes have been considerably intensified over time with an increase in the total costs; the most important cost was the staff. The economic resources increased significantly over time, both in personnel and travelling costs. Consequently, in order to ensure sufficient support toin situconservation activities in Sardinia, increased public funding will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When assessing the conservation status of narrow endemic plants, life history traits must be taken into account, since endemics combine small population ranges and sizes, and long persistence with limited reproductive and dispersal ability. In this paper, we present the global assessment of the conservation status of a narrow endemic plant from the Sardinian-Corsican biogeographic province, by applying IUCN criteria and categories, together with an evaluation of some reproductive traits. Centaurea horrida Badaro (Asteraceae) is an endemic species of northern Sardinia (Italy). It is protected by the Bern Convention (Appendix I) and listed as priority species by the “Habitat” Directive (92/43/EEC, Annex II). The species appears in the 1997 IUCN Red List as “Vulnerable” (VU). With the aim of evaluating the risk of extinction and of providing management tools for the network of protected areas in which this species is present, some reproductive traits have been evaluated, and the distribution, size and structure of its population have been measured according to IUCN 2006 Guidelines. Centaurea horrida is not able to self-pollinate and its effective seed dispersal ability is limited. Its extent of occurrence is 172.43 km2 and its area of occupancy is 108 km2. Population size has been estimated at 11,719 adult individuals. Significant differences in adult densities among sites have been highlighted. The structure of the population is dominated by adult individuals (on average 68%), while the proportion of seedlings is only 7% on average. Its habitat underwent an extinction rate of 18% in 50 years. On the basis of the data gathered, the status to be assigned to C. horrida is that of “Endangered” (EN). This first attempt to evaluate the conservation status of a narrow endemic plant from the Sardinian-Corsican biogeographic province allowed us to conclude that the management of rare species must be site-specific and that there is urgent need to acquire detailed data on endangered species, especially within biodiversity hotspots, and to continuously update Annex II of the EU Habitat Directive and the IUCN Red List. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listed and rare species are abundant in temporary freshwater habitats. Among them, the endemic contingent represents a crucial conservation target particularly in the areas characterized by abundant endemic flora for which the local administrations have a high level of responsibility. The aim of this research was to test how the endemic plants found in Mediterranean temporary ponds were represented in Natura 2000 network in a biodiversity hotspot of the Mediterranean region. The results of our research at regional scale pointed out that the existing Nature 2000 sites provide a limited degree of protection and that the gap analysis should be taken into account when conservation priorities are set. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]