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Lablab purpureus (Fabaceae) is a species native to tropical Africa, but widely cultivated and naturalized in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. We report the occurrence of this species for the first time in Sicily, close to the town of Palermo. The population seems to be well established and takes part to a sub-nitrophilous vegetation dominated by Oloptum miliaceum, representing the first case of naturalization of this species in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitats are effective indicators of biodiversity. Remote sensing data and techniques are of great utility for their long-term monitoring. Habitat maps can be derived from land cover (LC) maps through rules obtained from expert knowledge and integrated within situdata. Spatial (vegetation pattern) and temporal (phenology and water seasonality) relationships were explored and documented to infer reliable rules for LC (according to the Food and Agricultural Organization Land Cover Classification System (FAO-LCCS) taxonomy) to habitat (Annex I to the 92/43 EEC Directive and EUNIS) class translation. A coastal site in southern Italy was considered as study site for the definition and validation of such rules. Phenological data of the plant communities were collected on the basis of vegetation plots randomly distributed within the study site. Water seasonality was extracted from periodical observation of the water surface. Vegetation pattern was analyzed by means of vegetation survey along transects. The potentiality of rules, based on this specific expert knowledge, was tested in an experimental setting for habitat mapping. The overall accuracy of the habitat map was 75.1%. Such a result supports the usefulness of prior expert knowledge for habitat mapping from LCCS classes and disambiguation on one-to-many relations between LC/LU and habitat types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An 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. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Because of their biological and ecological characteristics terrestrial isopods are considered as bioindicators of ecosystem health and several studies have shown that their distribution and abundance are influenced by environmental factors, such as weather, soil texture, composition and vegetation structure. However, few quantitative data are available on the relationship between single species of terrestrial isopods, meteorological variables and coastal zonation. This study aims to clarify relationships between terrestrial isopod populations, coastal zones and weather conditions of a protected area in Sicily. The terrestrial isopods were sampled using pitfall traps, and we verified the association between each species abundance and three different (lower, medium and upper) coastal zones. Furthermore, we analyzed correlations between isopod abundances and meteorological conditions (temperature and precipitation). The results showed a close relationship between some isopod species and coastal zone types, as well as a positive correlation of most of the species abundances with temperature and a negative one with precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ecological and biological investigation on the bryophyte communities of the Mediterranean temporary ponds was carried out in Italy. Here, the occurrence of a rich set of liverworts is very significant, as several species ofRicciacharacterize the communities from a physiognomical, ecological and syntaxonomical point of view. The moss component is represented only by acrocarpous mosses, e.g.Archidium alternifoliumandPleuridium acuminatumwhich play an important phytosociological role. In this study, the bryophyte communities are used to identify a pattern, corresponding to a “functional type” which reflects the correlated response of the bryophyte communities toward the prevalent ecological parameters of the habitat. The individuated functional type assembles life strategy, life form, lifespan, spore size, dispersal strategy, reproduction effort, independently from the taxonomical relationship of the species characterizing the communities. It represents an adaptative pattern of coevolved characters, adopted by the bryophyte communities for the habitat establishment and re-establishment following the seasonal water fluctuations typical of the investigated habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the present study was the biometrical comparison and ecological analysis of six populations ofJuniperus phoeniceacomplex from the western part of the species' geographic range, each represented by about 30 individuals. This is the first study to include the Sicilian population ofJ. turbinatasensu stricto. Seven features of the cones and seeds, two of the shoots and leaves and eight ratios were used to describe the individuals and populations which were then compared using statistical methods. Four of the analysed populations (representatives ofJ. turbinatas.s.) are closely related to each other. The two other populations representingJ. phoeniceas.s. appear to be much more variable but on the whole the two taxa treated at a species level seem to be quite distinct from each other. It was also noted that there are two quite different ecologies of these species: the first is typical of the thermomediterranean belt which is only found at high altitudes in the mountains of north Africa, and the second circumscribed to the meso- or supramediterranean belt of western Spain, France and northwestern Italy. In many parts of its coastal distribution,Juniperus turbinatais endangered due to the construction of summer resorts and therefore actions to protect this species are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the results of a study on the ecology, floristic composition and spatial assemblages of temporary limestone rock pool plant communities of a central Mediterranean area (S Sicily, the Maltese Islands and Lampedusa) are presented. A total of 76 temporary pools were studied, distributed between the infra-mediterranean and thermo-mediterranean bioclimatic belt. For each temporary rock pools, the floristic composition and cover of the species were determined using standard relevé methods. Moreover, for 50 of these pools, pH, conductivity, soil depth, water-level, altitude and floristic richness and diversity index were assessed. The plant communities were analysed using unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages and Euclidean distance classification and ordination methods such as canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). A total of four plant communities with specific floristic composition were established, each one with a different dominant species:Callitriche truncata;Elatine gussonei;Tillaea vaillantiiandLythrum hyssopifolia. According to the CCA, the spatial patterns of plant communities follow an ecological gradient related to water level and depth/size of the rock pools: these are the main ecological features affecting the distribution of the plant communities of rock pools. In addition, floristic richness and diversity index showed a slight increase in trend from temporary pools submerged for long periods towards pools submerged for short periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at (1) producing a complete and updated inventory of the endemic vascular flora of Peloritani Mountains, (2) defining the geographical limits of Peloritani, regarded here as a biogeographical district and (3) highlighting possible paleogeographic connections with other Mediterranean lands. The heterogeneity analysis of the endemic flora was performed by means of contingency tables, through the χ2test. The endemic flora of this area consists of 129 specific and infraspecifictaxa, of which 15 are restricted to the Peloritani Mountains. The analysis of habitats revealed that endemic taxa are most abundant on cliffs, rangelands, woods and garrigues. A large number of surveyedtaxaare endemic to central-southern Italy and Sicily, while the number of endemictaxain common with Calabria, Etna and Aeolian Islands turned out to be rather low, in spite of the geographical proximity. The endemic flora of Peloritani allows to emphasize palaeogeographical relationships not only with the neighbouring Mediterranean territories, but also with currently remote ones, such as southern Spain, Sardinia and Corsica. The phytogeographical framework substantiates the hypothesis that the Peloritani floristic district coincides with the limit given to Peloritani Mountains by structural geologists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Among the suffruticose cabbages ofBrassicasect.Brassica, a new species from Sicily, namedB. raimondoi, is described and illustrated. It is a chasmophyte restricted to some steep limestone cliffs near Taormina (NE Sicily) and is morphologically related toB. incana, with which it shares densely hairy, broad, amplexicaul leaves and winged petioles, but differs principally in its white corolla, larger floral pieces, more developed stigmatic papillae, shorter siliquae with keeled valves and a smaller, seedless beak, smaller seeds differing in testa microsculpture. A key for the identification of the currently known Sicilian taxa of the section is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a general outline on the syntaxonomical framework of the classPegano harmalae-Salsoletea vermiculataeBr.-Bl. & O. Bolos 1958, the occurrence of this vegetation in the Italian territory is examined. In Italy, this vegetation is mostly found on clayish or marly substrata, particularly if slightly enriched with nitrates and chlorides. With reference to the Rivas-Martínez bioclimatic classification, the Italian stands have an infra- to thermo-Mediterranean thermotype (marginally up to the meso-Mediterranean one) with dry or arid ombrotype. In particular, this vegetation is well represented in Sicily, while in Sardinia and along the Italian Peninsula, it progressively becomes more rare and localized. Altogether, 21 associations are recognized, 11 of which are described here for the first time. The surveyed associations are ascribed to the following alliances:Salsolo oppositifoliae-Suaedionmollis(linked to less disturbed and more thermo-xeric habitats) andArtemision arborescentis(more disturbed and less thermo-xeric habitats). Finally, some conservation issues are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juniperus turbinata Guss. (Cupressaceae) is a threatened tree species occurring in the Mediterranean area. It is listed as a vulnerable species in the Red Book of Italian plants and its various communities are included in Annex I of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC as a priority habitat for conservation. During field investigations carried out to analyse the plant biodiversity of coastal habitats in southern Sicily, a new interesting population was found. This study aims to characterize this relevant new finding with a marked focus on demography and synecology of the plant community in question in order to define its habitat, assess its conservation status and propose conservation measures. Our data highlight that the juniper is characterized by low turnover population dynamics. In order to understand the role of J. turbinata in sandy soil communities of south-eastern Sicily, comparisons of 21 plots (relevés) with 25 established plots in south-eastern Sicily were carried out using cluster analysis and canonical component analysis. This has allowed three different plant communities with different ecological features to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]