Search

In the Mediterranean basin, the activity of ski resorts below 2000 m of altitude strongly affects grassland ecosystems because of the increasing use of artificial snow (AS). In a representative ski resort of central Apennines (Italy), we studied soil, vegetation and topographic variables of three adjacent grasslands: undisturbed grassland (UG), ski-runs with natural snow and ski-runs with amassed and AS. The winter temperature at the soil surface was colder in the ski-runs (even more in AS) than in the UG with an increase in dissolved organic matter and a biomass decrease. We identified 21 diagnostic species and 14 functional bioindicators linked to soil indicators like surface temperature and moisture. Conversely to observations made in the Alps and in other sites of the Apennines, we did not record any significant decrease in the floristic diversity between ski-runs and UG. Ski-run management aimed to prolong the snowpack duration-induced higher soil humidity and a short vegetative growth that produced a significant shift of the natural structure and composition of the grassland. To preserve key habitats for biodiversity, the construction and extension of ski resorts below the altitude of 2000 m should be avoided in the climatic belt of the Apennines. [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 This study was carried out considering published and unpublished phytosociological data, with the organisation of a systematic classification (syntaxonomic scheme) of the orderPinetalia halepensisaccording to the principal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]

In the course of the project “Syntaxonomic checklist of the Italian classes, orders and alliances (Vegetation Prodrome of Italy)”, promoted in 2012 by the Italian “Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection” in collaboration with the “Italian Society of Botany”, it arises that some syntaxa are not validly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature rules. For this reason, these syntaxa names are validated in this paper. Furthermore, other new syntaxa of different hierarchical levels are here described for the first time. Therefore, one new order, two new suborders, six new alliances, two new suballiances and three new associations are here described. These new syntaxa belong to the following classes:Juncetea maritimi,Stellarietea mediae,Trifolio medii–Geranietea sanguinei,Alnetea glutinosaeandSalici purpureae–Populetea nigrae.Finally, the syntaxonomic arrangement ofAlnion incanaeis here discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phleum hirsutumHonck. subsp. ambiguum(Ten.) Tzvelev is an important component of the vegetation of some semi-natural grassland habitats of central and southern Italy and especially of those referring to the 6210*habitat (Directive 92/43/EEC). Seeds of this species are required for the execution of restoration works concerning this habitat. Therefore, the recovery and the study of autochthonous germplasm are needed. This study focused on the intra-specific variations in seed mass and size and in seed germination behavior in this species since the knowledge of these aspects can be very useful in the planning of restoration projects. The present research evidenced significant differences in mean seed mass and size in the populations studied that were correlated to the precipitation values of their collection sites. Studied seeds are able to germinate under a wide range of temperatures. They reached their maximum germination between 5 and 25°C and are capable of germination even at 30°C but with a remarkable reduction in germination percentage. Temperature was found to strongly influence germination, especially in terms of the speed. Light was found to enhance germination in almost all the populations studied while the removal of outer covering structures was found to be of no effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to provide new syntaxa for the Italian vegetation checklist. For the classRhamno–Pruneteawhich includes the classPaliureteathe new allianceRhamno saxatilis–Paliurion spinae-christiis described, that is included in the orderPaliuretalia spinae-christiwith a central-western Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean distribution. Otherwise, the more thermophilousPaliurus spina-christivegetation is included in the new suballiance named asOleo sylvestris–Paliurenion spinae-christiwithin the allianceOleo–Ceratonionof the classQuercetea ilicis. For the classTrifolio–Geranietea medii, a new alliance namedHyperico calabricae–Asphodelion macrocarpiis proposed here. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Vegetation Prodrome of Italy was promoted in 2012 by the Italian “Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection”, in collaboration with the “Italian Society of Botany”, to provide a comprehensive and systematic catalogue and description of Italian plant communities. The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level. It fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetation Prodrome. Syntaxonomy, as well as taxonomy, is sometimes based on considerations that may in part diverge: several authors tend to favour models that are divisive or aggregative to a greater or lesser extent in terms of flora, biogeography and ecology. These different points of view stimulate the scientific debate and allow the adoption of a framework that is more widely supported. The Prodrome includes 75 classes, 2 subclasses, 175 orders, 6 suborders and 393 alliances. The classes were grouped into nine broad categories according to structural, physiognomic and synecological elements rather than to syntaxonomic criteria. The rank, full valid name, any synonymies and incorrect names are provided for eachsyntaxon. The short declaration highlights the physiognomy, synecology, syndynamics and distribution of the plant communities that belong to thesyntaxon. The Prodrome of the Italian Vegetation is linked to the European Strategy for Biodiversity, the European Habitats Directive and the European Working Groups related to the ecosystems and their services. In addition to basic applications, the Prodrome can be used as a framework for scientific research related to the investigation of the relationships between plant communities and the environmental factors that influence their composition and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We drew up a checklist of the Italian vegetation (http://www.prodromo-vegetazione-italia.org/), up to the syntaxonomical rank of alliance. During the compilation of this checklist, we observed that some syntaxa were invalidly published. For this reason, in this article we validated some syntaxa names and, at the same time, described new syntaxa of different hierarchical levels. Therefore, 10 new orders, 1 new suborder, 18 new alliances, 3 new suballiances and 5 new associations are described here. These new syntaxa belong to the following classes:Adiantetea capilli-veneris,Parietarietea judaicae,Thlaspietea rotundifolii,Artemisietea vulgaris,Stellarietea mediae,Galio aparines–Urticetea dioicae,Mulgedio alpini–Aconitetea variegati,Trifolio medii–Geranietea sanguinei,Festuco-Seslerietea,Salicetea herbaceae,Festuco valesiacae–Brometea erecti,Molinio-Arrhenatheretea,Cisto cretici–Micromerietea julianae,Rhamno catharticae–Prunetea spinosae,Salici purpureae–Populetea nigrae,Salicetea purpureae,Quercetea ilicisandQuerco roboris–Fagetea sylvaticae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we validated some syntaxa, the published names of which were regarded as invalid on the basis of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validations concern syntaxa of different hierarchical levels, belonging to different phytosociological classes. Most validations regard syntaxa that are invalid with respect to art. 5 of the Code. Indeed, the nomenclatural types were not indicated in the correct form (typus, holotypus, lectotypus, and neotypus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two years after its official start, the national vegetation database VegItaly, a collaborative project supported by the Italian scientific community and developed by a large group of scientists, is presented. This article offers a concise overview of the content of the database, currently consisting of 31,100 vegetation plot, including published and unpublished data. Some basic statistics are analysed; for example, data distribution in space and time, represented vegetation types expressed as physiognomic categories. Although rather young and still in progress, VegItaly already contains data from all the Italian regions and stands as an optimal candidate for the development of an Italian national vegetation database. Its main goals,theoretical basis, technical features, functionalities and recent progresses are outlined, showing glimpses of future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the value of some nitrophilous plants as bioindicators related to global warming. As a case study, the space–time dynamics of the populations of some nitrophilous and ruderal species have been investigated along the southern-central Adriatic side of the Italian Peninsula. These have been examined according to the range of their distribution areas, to their ecological needs, and to the availability of past data, which have then been related to the data on global warming across the same territories. The choice for this investigation was for nitrophilous species with a Mediterranean distribution – of the Stenomediterranean type – and for some recent entries into the local flora as alien species. The spread of these species occurs in areas with intense human activity, where they have exploited the conditions of the warmer niche, such that their presence and their spatial spread observed over time are clearly linked to global warming. For all of the species in question, rapid increases in the population numbers have been observed, along with a northward shift of their distribution areas. These changes correspond to the increase in average annual temperature as revealed by the thermometric measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A mapping methodology is presented here that allows the practical implementation of synphytosociological and geosynphytosociological surveys. The proposed methodology consists in carrying out synreleves from vegetation maps produced through the use of geographic information system (GIS). Such mapping has the great advantage of allowing the overlaying of the study area map with many thematic maps that are particularly useful in the definition of the areas of potential vegetation. In the present case, the use of solar radiation maps is proposed, as these are more representative than aspect maps (exposure) of the actual conditions of the mapped areas. Indeed, the main ecological factors that delimit the ecological niche of plant communities, the vegetation series and the geosigmeta are defined qualitatively and quantitatively. The methodology is here applied to an area of the Italian Adriatic coast that has a great diversity of environmental conditions. The conclusions confirm that the proposed methodology allows predictive models of the plant landscape units (geosigmeta) to be obtained with great precision; they can be mapped and quantified in concrete terms insofar as they are defined through multidimensional correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]