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This paper provides an up-to-date overview of the naturalized alien plants of Linosa (Pelagie Archipelago, Sicily), which includes 83 taxa and accounts for 29 % of the total island's flora. Among these plants, 6 are invasive, 49 are naturalized and 28 are casual. With respect to previous available data, our field investigations resulted in the addition of 31 new xenophytes (21 casual and 10 fully naturalized). One of these species is new to the whole European territory (Kleinia anteuphorbia), 6 of them are new to Sicily and 11 are recorded for the first time on circum-Sicilian islets. For each alien plant, we indicate the habitat where the naturalization has been observed by using the codes proposed by Natura 2000 and Corine Biotopes habitat classification. We also provide a list of 159 alien plants that are cultivated in Linosa, but currently not naturalized, in order to underline the key role played by horticulture and gardening in the introduction of exotic species. In order to address this phenomenon and its huge impact on the integrity of both the natural and the traditional rural landscape, several actions are proposed that aim at preventing, controlling and monitoring both the ongoing and the potential invasion processes.Citation: Pasta S., Ardenghi N. M. G., Badalamenti E., La Mantia T., Livreri Console S. & Parolo G. 2017: The alien vascular flora of Linosa (Pelagie Islands, Strait of Sicily): update and management proposals. — Willdenowia 47: 135–144. doi: https//doi.org/10.3372/wi.47.47205Version of record first published online on 13 July 2017 ahead of inclusion in August 2017 issue.

The surroundings of Palermo were characterized, over the centuries, by the presence of many natural environments of great ecological and faunal importance. These environments were placed in a context characterized by minimal and sustainable urban development and large agriculture areas, dedicated to the development of tree crops such as citrus and orchards. These crops were supported by an imposing irrigation system that, using natural resources such as watercourses, wells and springs, collected and distributed water in soils through tanks, gebbie, qanat, irrigation channels (saje), etc. Fresh water mollusks, like many other animal and vegetable organisms, spread from the natural freshwater environments in this artificial water system, thus creating a unique and varied ecosystem. The subsequent urban development of the city of Palermo and the destruction of many of those natural environments has further enhanced the ecological role of the artificial freshwater systems as an important refuge for the native fauna and flora. In the present study, we report on freshwater molluscs observed in the territory of Micciulla, a large relict area occupied almost entirely by an old citrus, now located inside the city of Palermo. In this area there are some springs, an extensive array of artificial freshwater to irrigate the crops, and the qanat Savagnone located in the “Camera dello Scirocco”. The results obtained by census of different populations of freshwater mollusks confirm the importance of these environments and the growing role they play as the last refuges for fauna and flora originally linked to natural humid environments.

Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by nearly complete replacement of natural vegetation by intensive croplands and orchards leading to strong soil degradation. Organic carbon is usually accumulated in soils under maquis leading to partial regeneration of fertility for future agricultural use. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of land use change from maquis to agriculture on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and its spatial distribution in a Mediterranean system. Three Mediterranean land use systems (seminatural vegetation, cactus pear crop and olive grove) were selected in Sicily and analysed for soil C stocks and their δ13C. Total SOC and δ13C were measured up to 75 cm soil depth within and between the rows of cactus pear and olive grove and along a similar transect in maquis, in order to evaluate the distribution of new and old C derived from roots. The land use change from Mediterranean maquis (C3 plant) to cactus pear (CAM plant) lead to a SOC decrease of 65% after 28 years of cultivation, and a further decrease for 14% after 7 years after the change from cactus pear to olive grove (C3 plant). Considering these SOC losses as well as the periods after the land use changes we calculated the mean residence time (MRT) of soil organic matter. The MRT of C under Mediterranean maquis was about 142 years, but was just 10 years under cactus pear. Root biomass of cactus pear was used for a new approach to estimate root turnover. The root turnover rate of cactus decreased along the soil profile from 7.1% per year in 0–15 cm to 3.7% in 60–75 cm soil depth. Along the transect, the average of root turnover values was highest in the middle of the intra-row. Root turnover and C input were correlated with SOC stocks to evaluate C sequestration potential of soils depending on land use and managements. We conclude that the SOC under maquis is higher and has longer residence time compared to permanent agricultural crops like cactus pear and olives.

Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae) is wide spread in temperate and sub-tropical zones. The consumption of its berries has been associated with health benefits especially for its high content of natural antioxidants such as polyphenols, in particular anthocyanins. In this work we investigated the polyphenolic composition and the in vitro antioxidant activities (ABTS, DPPH, BCB and FRAP-ferrozine (FRAP-FZ) assays) of S. nigra berries, collected in four different Sicilian areas (Italy). Elderberries are considered one of the fruits with highest anthocyanins content, the amount of phenolic compounds, other than anthocyanins, is approximately 1.5 times greater than the latter. The LC–MS analyses have revealed an opposite trend in the polyphenols pattern in Sicilian populations. Moreover, a statistical correlation was found between cyanidin-3- sambubioside-5-glucoside and antioxidant activity evaluated by FRAP-FZ and ABTS assays. In conclusion, Sicilian S. nigra berries are appealing for its antioxidant potential and for its particularly high content of anthocyanins.

Vengono presentati i risultati preliminari di una indagine multidisciplinare condotta in una zona umida nel territorio di Calatafimi Segesta in provincia di Trapani. L'area è di grande interesse per la presenza di rare specie animali e vegetali, di habitat minacciati tutelati da normative nazionali ed internazionali, ma anche perché è una delle ultime zone umide superstiti dell'entroterra trapanese. L'area ha subito in tempi recenti un pesante disturbo antropico che rischia di portare alla distruzione questo ambiente e il suo biota di pregio. Con questo contributo gli autori intendono supportare la richiesta di adeguata e urgente tutela del sito. Anguillara Ponds (Calatafimi Segesta, Trapani): preliminary data on the biodiversity in support of the protection of the biotope. The preliminary results of a multidisciplinary survey concerning a wetland complex in the territory of Calatafimi Segesta (Trapani) are presented here. The area is of great interest not only because of the presence of several rare animal and plant taxa and of threatened habitats protected by national and international laws, but also because it hosts one of the last surviving inland wetlands in the whole province. In the last years, the area was subjected to serious anthropogenic disturbance, so that this ecosystem and its valuable biota risk to be definitely destroyed. With this contribution, the authors wish support the request to appropriately and urgently protect the site.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of an experimental fire used for grassland management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. The study was carried out on Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (Hh) grassland and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Desf.) T. Durand & Schinz (Am) grasslands located in the north of Sicily. Soil samples were collected at 0–5 cm before and after the experimental fire, and SOC was measured. During the grassland fire, soil surface temperature was monitored. Biomass of both grasses was analysed in order to determine dry weight and its chemical composition. The results showed that SOC varied significantly with vegetation type, while it is not affected in the short term by grassland fire. Am grassland stored more SOC compared with Hh grassland thanks to lower content in the biomass of the labile carbon pool. No significant difference was observed in SOC before and after fire, which could be caused by several factors: first, in both grassland types the measured soil temperature during fire was low due to thin litter layers; second, in a semiarid environment, a higher mineralization rate results in a lower soil carbon labile pool; and third, the SOC stored in the finest soil fractions, physically protected, is not affected by fire.

A fast and accurate measurement of soil carbon is needed in current scientific issues. Today there are many sensors suitable for these purposes, but choosing the appropriate sensor depends on the spatial scale at which the studies are conducted. There are few detailed studies that validate these types of measures allowing their immediate use. Here it is validated the quick use of a sensor in execution at Pantelleria, chosen for size, use and variability of the parameter measured, to give an operational tool for carbon stocks studies. The DRIFT sensor used here has been validated in the first 60 cm of the soil of the whole island, and it has shown predictivity higher than 90%.

Knowledge about vegetation and fire history of the mountains of Northern Sicily is scanty. We analysed five sites to fill this gap and used terrestrial plant macrofossils to establish robust radiocarbon chronologies. Palynological records from Gorgo Tondo, Gorgo Lungo, Marcato Cixé, Urgo Pietra Giordano and Gorgo Pollicino show that under natural or near natural conditions, deciduous forests (Quercus pubescens, Q. cerris, Fraxinus ornus, Ulmus), that included a substantial portion of evergreen broadleaved species (Q. suber, Q. ilex, Hedera helix), prevailed in the upper meso- mediterranean belt. Mesophilous deciduous and evergreen broadleaved trees (Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium) dominated in the natural or quasi-natural forests of the oro- mediterranean belt. Forests were repeatedly opened for agricultural purposes. Fire activity was closely associated with farming, providing evidence that burning was a primary land use tool since Neolithic times. Land use and fire activity intensified during the Early Neolithic at 5000 bc, at the onset of the Bronze Age at 2500 bc and at the onset of the Iron Age at 800 bc. Our data and previous studies suggest that the large majority of open land communities in Sicily, from the coastal lowlands to the mountain areas below the thorny-cushion Astragalus belt (ca. 1,800 m a.s.l.), would rapidly develop into forests if land use ceased. Mesophilous Fagus-Ilex forests developed under warm mid Holocene conditions and were resilient to the combined impacts of humans and climate. The past ecology suggests a resilience of these summer-drought adapted communities to climate warming of about 2 °C. Hence, they may be particularly suited to provide heat and drought-adapted Fagus sylvatica ecotypes for maintaining drought-sensitive Central European beech forests under global warming conditions.

In città è difficile rinvenire alberi monumentali a causa delle negative interazioni tra le attività antropiche e la vegetazione. Lo sviluppo delle piante arboree assume un aspetto notevolmente differente rispetto a quello che si potrebbe avere in un ecosistema naturale. In una città come Palermo in cui la forte espansione urbanistica ha sottratto aree verdi rimangono solo alcuni lembi sopravvissuti alla cementificazione. Un caso particolare è rappresentato dalla Fossa della Garofala che, pur essendo inclusa all’interno del tessuto urbano, ha elevati caratteri di naturalità. Ciò è dovuto alla storia passata e recente, l’area acquisita dall’Università di Palermo nel 1950, grazie all’apposizione dei vincoli idrogeologico e paesaggistico è sfuggita alla speculazione edilizia che ha interessato il resto della città. La Fossa della Garofala, che fu parte del parco di Luigi Filippo d’Orléans, considerato uno dei giardini più belli d’Europa nella seconda metà dell’ottocento, costituisce un lembo residuo della Conca d’Oro, tra Corso Pisani e la città universitaria, che si sviluppa lungo l’originario tracciato del fiume Kemonia. Oggi, conserva la sua vocazione agricola grazie alla presenza dei campi sperimentali del Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF). La Fossa accoglie un importante patrimonio culturale e scientifico, ed ospita numerose piante che hanno un carattere monumentale. Secondo il quadro normativo relativo alla tutela degli alberi monumentali (Legge n. 10 del 14 gennaio 2013) un albero viene definito monumentale per diversi motivi, non solo per le dimensioni ma anche per la rarità botanica, per il portamento, per il valore architettonico, storico, culturale e paesaggistico. Per tale motivo sono stati censiti 10 esemplari (6 alberi di Pinus halepensis Mill. e 4 alberi di Pinus pinea L.), all’interno dell’area che presentano una o più dei caratteri sopra elencati. Per alcuni di essi sono stati rilevati l’altezza e il diametro, mentre e alcuni esemplari sono stati carotati tramite succhiello di Pressler per determinarne l’età. Uno dei pini d’Aleppo situato al margine del belvedere che si affaccia dal Piano della Garofala sulla Fossa, che per le sue straordinarie dimensioni si ipotizzava risalente all’impianto del parco di Luigi Filippo d’Orléans, è schiantato nel dicembre del 2011 a seguiti di un evento climatico eccezionale, che ha creato ingenti danni al patrimonio arboreo della città di Palermo. Attraverso la lettura degli anelli legnosi della sezione la pianta è risultata di 110 anni. La rotella su cui è stata fatta la misurazione, oggi si trova esposta presso il Museo Entomologico annesso al Dipartimento SAF. Gli altri pini carotati hanno un’età di 95 anni (Pinus pinea L.) e 81 e 150 (Pinus halepensis Mill.). Considerato che gli alberi sono stati carotati a un metro d’altezza e non alla base certamente possono essere considerati più vecchi dell’età conteggiata. Purtroppo in bibliografia esistono scarsi riferimenti a questi alberi e alla loro storia, l’iconografia che solamente in qualche caso li ritrae è risalente alla prima parte del secolo scorso, la dendrocronologia appare quindi l’unico strumento in grado di dare certezze sulla loro età. Si trova un riferimento generico all’impianto di 649 piante ornamentali fatto nel 1855 alle quali probabilmente appartengono le piante suddette (Di Matteo, 1983; Longo, 2003). I pini della fossa della Garofala, sia per le loro dimensioni che per la valenza storica e paesaggistica possono a pieno titolo essere considerati alberi monumentali.

Poche o nulla sono le informazioni sugli alberi monumentali delle piccole isole che circondano la Sicilia. Ciò è dovuto innanzitutto alla rarità di alberi definibili monumentali, le piccole isole hanno subito infatti una trasformazione ancora più profonda della Sicilia, ma anche ad un difetto di conoscenza. Il nostro vuole essere un primo contributo alla conoscenza degli alberi monumentali nell’isola di Pantelleria. Gli alberi censiti appartengono a due specie, il pino marittimo (Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii) e il leccio (Quercus ilex). In realtà nel caso del pino marittimo possiamo parlare di un “popolamento monumentale” corrispondente alla pineta a pino marittimo presso la località Montagna Grande - sopra Passo del Kherch -costituito da diversi esemplari di cui 5 con diametro superiore a 1,50 m, il più grande dei quali possiede una circonferenza a petto d’uomo di 1,95 m. Gli esemplari di ambedue le specie sono stati datati attraverso la dendrocronologia prelevando delle carote tramite il succhiello di Pressler. Sono state campionate per ciascuna pianta due carote su due raggi distinti per determinare l’età sulla base dell’analisi degli anelli annuali nel legno. Nel caso di pini, la pianta che presenta la maggiore età ha 101 anni, questo dato sottostima l’età poiché il prelievo è stato eseguito a 1,30 m di altezza dal suolo procedura che comporta una sottostima degli anelli legnosi. Sono stati censiti anche alcuni lecci in località Benimingalo, si tratta di 6 piante con un numero variabile di polloni da 1 a 3, che presentano una circonferenza massima di 1,96 m. Il carotaggio ha permesso la determinazione dell’età, e l’esemplare più vecchio è risultato di 88 anni, anche in questo caso il campionamento è stato eseguito a 1,30 m dal suolo, determinando una sottostima dell’età. Altri esemplari significativi si trovano in località Gibbiuna dove gli esemplari raggiungono dimensioni superiori (mediamente presentano una circonferenza di 1,6 m) ma hanno una età di poco superiore a 50 anni. Rispetto a molti altri esemplari monumentali che possiamo trovare in Italia queste piante pur avendo dimensioni non straordinarie presentano delle caratteristiche di unicità. I boschi dell’isola, infatti, sono prevalentemente formazioni giovani risultato della forte pressione antropica che ha modificato notevolmente l’ambiente. In questo caso il carattere di monumentalità viene dato dall’importanza ecologica e rifacendoci alla definizione univoca che viene data dall’articolo n. 7 della Legge n. 10/2013 di albero monumentale ovvero “l'albero ad alto fusto isolato o facente parte di formazioni boschive naturali o artificiali ovunque ubicate ovvero l'albero secolare tipico, che possono essere considerati come rari esempi di maestosità e longevità, per età o dimensioni, o di particolare pregio naturalistico …”. Inoltre il successivo decreto, del 23.10.2014 (G.U. n. 268 del 18.11.2014) chiarisce che “il criterio dimensionale, … costruisce un elemento di filtro nella selezione iniziale ma non è imprescindibile qualora gli altri criteri siano di maggiore significatività”. Con questa accezione, in caso di mancanza di individui con dimensioni o età eccezionali, possono definirsi monumentali la popolazione a pino marittimo in quanto nell’isola di Pantelleria raggiunge l’estremo limite sud-orientale del suo areale di distribuzione (Agostini, 1972) e la lecceta poiché la pesante opera di taglio per la carbonificazione ma anche per l’uso del legname rende fortuito il ritrovamento di alberi di questa età. La ricerca non è esaustiva sia perché si rinvengono altre piante di notevoli dimensioni appartenenti a queste specie ma anche perché sono considerabili monumentali altre piante appartenenti ad altre specie anche coltivate come l’olivo o il castagno.

Per la peculiarità storica, geografica ed ambientale l’Isola di Lampedusa, e vista l’estrema frammentarietà delle formazioni preforestali, l’esiguità dei popolamenti (e degli individui) delle specie legnose assumono un valore scientifico e conservazionistico particolarmente elevato. Per queste ragioni è stato fatto un censimento eseguito con strumentazione GPS. Sull’isola crescono diverse specie di rilevante interesse conservazionistico, numerose sono infatti le specie endemiche, esclusive, rare e/o a rischio di estinzione perché legate a habitat molto vulnerabili e localizzati. A questa ragione d’interesse generale per questi taxa si somma il fatto che buona parte delle specie arboree tipiche della vegetazione primaria dell’isola, il più delle volte sopravvivono localmente con popolamenti costituiti da pochissimi (e talora singoli!) individui. Juniperus turbinata e Olea europaea var. sylvestris sono le due specie forestali di gran lunga più comuni tra quelle indagate . Meno positivo è il risultato dell’analisi della rinnovazione, che ha permesso di individuare appena una trentina di giovani individui di ginepro e nessuno di olivastro. La presenza delle due specie sull’isola risulta circoscritta esclusivamente ai valloni stretti ed incisi che sboccano sulla costa meridionale dell’isola, disegnando un complesso sistema in cui si alternano profonde insenature e pendii rocciosi subpianeggianti. Per ambedue le specie si è registrata una netta prevalenza (ca. 80% dei ginepri e ca. 95% degli olivastri!) in corrispondenza delle esposizioni meridionali dell’isola che, sebbene più soleggiate godono dell’effetto benefico dei venti umidi provenienti da meridione.

Die Paläoökologie liefert wertvolle Erkenntnisse zur Langzeitöko-logie von Arten. Die Datenreihen (z. B. Pollen aus Seeablagerungen) umfassen Jahrhunderte bis Jahrtausende und er-gänzen somit kürzere Zeitreihen aus Experimenten und Beobachtungen zur Untersuchung von Klimareaktionen. Sie können zudem dazu gebraucht wer-den, dynamische Vegetationsmodelle in vergangenen Zeitabschnitten mit hoher Varia bilität von Klima und Landnutzung zu überprüfen. Solche Modelle liefern überraschende und verlässliche Voraus-sagen künftiger Waldveränderungen, die allein aus der heutigen Verbreitung der Arten nicht ableitbar sind.

Il nespolo del Giappone (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl) si è diffuso in Sicilia nella metà del XIX secolo a partire dalla conca d’Oro, la piana che circonda la città di Palermo, oggi in buona parte urbanizzata. I frutteti tradizionali della conca d’Oro sono caratterizzati da una forte promiscuità e da una stratificazione in più strati delle chiome delle diverse specie di alberi. Questa stratificazione è il risultato della sovrapposizione di più colture e in particolare è dipesa dalla diffusione dei nespoli del Giappone tra gli agrumi, spesso decimati dalle fitopatie. Inoltre, il nespolo si diffonde da seme e in genere le piante cresciute vengono lasciate crescere liberamente. Il risultato finale è la creazione di un frutteto con le caratteristiche di una foresta. Durante gli ultimi decenni, tuttavia, il processo di semplificazione di questi ultimi frutteti ha portato alla eliminazione di molte piante di nespolo ma anche di molte altre specie. Inoltre, il nespolo è diminuito a causa degli attacchi parassitari. Alla scomparsa del nespolo del Giappone è associata la sparizione delle peculiari tecniche di coltivazione, di lavorazione e commercializzazione dei frutti, ma anche dei benefici ambientali legati alla presenza del nespolo. The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl) was introduced in Sicily in the mid-nineteenth century and in particularly in the Conca d’oro valley, the plane surrounding Palermo’s city. The traditional orchards of the Conca d’Oro are characterized by a layering of different tree species. This stratification is the result of the co-occurrence of several crops. After the spread of oranges and lemons, loquat trees have become popular and were planted among citrus trees. In addition, the loquat trees that spread by seeds were not eradicated but left to grow freely. The result of this process was the creation of an orchard with the features of a forest. During the last decades, however, the process of farming reorganization in urban surroundings has led to the elimination of loquat and many other species. In addition, the presence of loquat decreased because of the attacks of parasitic Armillaria mellea. The loquat cultivation is associated to a long and deeply rooted orchard management tradition, including harvest, processing and fruit commercialization. Due to the disappearance of plants, there is also a loss in other environmental benefits linked to the presence of the loquat, which is a powerful tool for the divulgation of traditional agriculture values.

Background and aims: Carpobrotus spp. are amongst the most impactful and widespread plant invaders of Mediterranean habitats. Despite the negative ecological impacts on soil and vegetation that have been documented, information is still limited about the effect by Carpobrotus on soil microbial communities. We aimed to assess the changes in the floristic, soil and microbial parameters following the invasion by Carpobrotus cfr. acinaciformis within an insular Mediterranean ecosystem. Methods: Within three study areas a paired-site approach, comparing an invaded vs. a non-invaded plot, was established. Within each plot biodiversity indexes, C and N soil content, pH and microbial biomass and structure (bacterial and fungal) were assessed. Results: Invaded plots showed a decrease of ?-species richness and diversity. The least represented plant species in invaded plots were those related to grassland habitats. In all invaded soils, a significant increase of carbon and nitrogen content and a significant decrease of pH were registered. Carpobrotus significantly increased bacterial and fungal biomass and altered soil microbial structure, particularly favoring fungal growth. Conclusions: Carpobrotus may deeply impact edaphic properties and microbial communities and, in turn, these strong modifications probably increase its invasive potential and its ability to overcome native species, by preventing their natural regeneration.

One of the most outstanding issues of current environmental research is the need of reliable assessments of carbon stock (i.e. above-ground (a.g.) and below-ground biomass, deadwood, litter, and organic soil matter) within forest ecosystems. Although shrub vegetation plays an important role in accumulating carbon in many Mediterranean environments, there is still very little knowledge on the carbon they store. In this article, we analyze the a.g. carbon stock of several Mediterranean shrubby communities in Sicily (Italy), dominated by Pistacia lentiscus, Chamaerops humilis, Euphorbia dendroides and Spartium junceum. Plant samples for each species were selected, and morphometric attributes (height, crown diameter, diameter at breast height, etc.) were measured to establish models for estimating a.g. biomass. Dendrometric data were also used to support the assessment of shrub biomass at community level by coupling them with the coverage of the considered woody species estimated from several hundreds of phytosociological releve´s carried out on pre-forest Sicilian communities. Although the results of such an approach have to be considered as rough assessments, the trial proves interesting, given the lack of information on stand biomass of pre-forest vegetation within the Mediterraean region. L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.tandfonline.com

The role of insects in pollination and consequently in fruit set and quality was assessed in two commercial orchards of the cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., in Agrigento Province, Sicily. In 1997, insects visiting flowers were sampled during May–June (the first bloom) and July (the second bloom, induced by the “scozzolatura” practise). More than 50 insect species belonging to 10 orders were collected in May–June, while only five species of Hymenoptera Apoidea were collected in July. The quality of fruits arising from the second bloom showed that Hymenoptera alone were able to guarantee effective pollination. To verify the role of insects in pollination in 1996 (during only the second bloom), and in 1997 and 2009 (during both blooms), 60 single flowers were marked during each bloom; 30 of them covered with paper sleeves (which prevented natural pollination), while the others were not covered. After withering, fruits produced by marked flowers were analyzed in laboratory: in all years and blooms, the total number of seeds, the number of developed seeds, and the weight and the percentage of pulp were significantly lower for covered flowers than for non-covered flowers. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that native insects effectively carry out the pollination of cactus pear flowers.

The first part of this study provides an overview on Sicilian olive systems. Subsequently, the study describes the different typologies of cultivated agroforestry systems present in South-Eastern Sicily employing olive trees in association with other Mediterranean tree species, in particular for the production of firewood, coal and animal food (downy or pubescent oak, holm oak, cork oak), but also in association with forage or grazing species (oat, barley, vetch, etc.) or cereals. The study shows that Sicilian agroforestry systems are much more diversified than it was known so far. In the second part, the study describes the spontaneous colonization processes by plants, observed in abandoned olive agroforestry systems and leading to the formation of more complex ecosystems (renaturation). Most of the previously described agroforestry systems are at present subject to abandonment. Our analysis of secondary succession dynamics shows how woody species, and above all those species which are part of the cultivated system, rapidly colonize abandoned areas, so that a maquis-wood is formed within few decades.

Il cerro di Gussone (Quercus Gussonei (Borzì) Brullo) è una specie endemica della Sicilia esclusiva della catena dei Nebrodi e del bosco della Ficuzza. Il presente studio ha esaminato la rinnovazione di questa pianta, nella Riserva Naturale Orientata “Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco del Cappelliere, Gorgo del Drago”. Si tratta di una formazione boschiva monoplana che mostra chiari segni di deperimento. Per isolare i fattori che influenzano la rinnovazione e la crescita delle giovani piantine è stato eseguito un piano di trattamenti. Il risultato dello studio ha confermato che la rinnovazione si afferma in parte e, soprattutto, le giovani piantine non si accrescono a causa della presenza del pascolo bovino esercitato senza controllo e la persistenza degli arbusti. Infatti, tale presenza risulta favorevole solo nella fase germinativa ma alla lunga determina un aduggiamento della rinnovazione che porta alla crescita di piante di cerro filate e contorte. I dati così ottenuti hanno permesso di ipotizzare delle proposte d’intervento per il futuro. Quercus gussonei (Borzì, Brullo) is an endemic species that is found in Sicily and it is exclusive to the Nebrodi chain and Ficuzza Reserve. The present study examined the natural regeneration of this plant, in the Nature Reserve of "Bosco della Ficuzza, Rocca Busambra, Bosco Del Cappelliere, Gorgo Del Drago". This is a one layer forest stand showing clear signs of decay. To isolate the factors that influence the growth of the seedlings, a treatment plan was carried out in certain areas of the forest. The results of the study confirmed that the oak does not regenerate itself and, according to our data, this is due to two factors: the presence of uncontrolled grazing cattle and the competition with shrubs. In fact, this presence is only favourable during germination, but in the long run leads to overshadowing of the seedlings, their accelerated growth, and eventually gnarled and twisted saplings. Thus, the data obtained has allowed us to define possible conservation measures.

The vegetation and fire history of few coastal sites has been investigated in the Mediterranean region so far. We present the first paleoecological reconstruction from coastal Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. We analysed pollen and charcoal in the sediments of Biviere di Gela, a lake (lagoon) on the south coast of Sicily. Our data suggest that the area became afforested after a marine transgression at ca. 7200 cal b.p. (5250 b.c.). Build-up of forest and shrublands took ca. 200–300 years, mainly with the deciduous trees Quercus, Ostrya and Fraxinus. Juniperus expanded ca. 6900 cal b.p. (4950 b.c.), but declined again 6600 cal b.p. (4650 b.c.). Afterwards, evergreen trees (Q. ilex-type and Olea) became dominant in the forest and Pistacia shrublands were established. Forest and shrubland reached a maximum ca. 7000–5000 cal b.p. (5050–3050 b.c.); subsequently forest declined in response to human impact, which was probably exacerbated by a general trend towards a more arid climate. During the Neolithic, fire was used to open the landscape, significantly reducing several arboreal taxa (Q. ilex, Fraxinus, Juniperus) and promoting herbs and shrubs (Achillea, Cichorioideae, Brassicaceae, Ephedra). Final forest disruption occurred around 2600 cal b.p. (650 b.c.) with the onset of the historically documented Greek colonization. We conclude that the open maquis and garrigue vegetation of today is primarily the consequence of intensive land-use over millennia. Under natural or near-natural conditions arboreal taxa such as Q. ilex, Olea and Pistacia would be far more important than they are today, even under the hot and rather dry coastal conditions of southern Sicily.

Per recepire l’orientamento di fondo dei principi di Kyoto e le seguenti azioni, e necessario verificare le fonti energetiche alternative, e tra queste ha rilevanza la biomassa forestale. L’utilizzo di questa e legato tuttavia alla disponibilita sul territorio e alla sua dispersione. Il lavoro presentato analizza le principali fonti di biomasse presenti sull’isola, la loro dispersione e entita di prelievo sostenibile, ipotizza la possibilita di recupero a fini energetici del materiale di scarsa qualita prodotto in impianti di arboricoltura da legno. Infine viene analizzato il contributo possibile degli impianti di eucalitto diffusamente presenti su parte del territorio siciliano, anche nell’ambito delle produzioni a ciclo breve.

In some regions of the world such as the Northern Hemisphere, the abandonment of agricultural land is one of the most widespread forms of land use change. In general, abandonment is followed by colonization by herbaceous and woody plants. Since the 1950s, wide areas of Southern Italy have been afforested for soil conservation improvement. In order to quantify the effects of agricultural abandonment and artificial afforestation on soil organic carbon (SOC), a dataset of 48 Sicilian sites has been analyzed. Because of their high environmental variability, these sites can be considered as representative of Southern Italy and in general of the Mediterranean basin. Soil samples were taken throughout all bioclimates in different successional stages (cultivated areas: orchards, cereal crops, herb-dominated plant communities, grasslands dominated by perennial grasses, garrigues and low shrublands, maquis, natural forests and in nearby artificially afforested sites (Pine plantations)). The study confirmed that SOC accumulation after agricultural abandonment depends on bioclimate: the highest SOC accumulation was recorded in the meso-mediterranean bioclimate, intermediate in the thermo-mediterranean, and the lowest in the supra-mediterranean bioclimate. Data showed that for C sequestration in the soil, artificial afforestation is not convenient in comparison to natural afforestation by spontaneous secondary succession processes.

Una sintesi della storia agronomica della Conca d'Oro e in particolare della zona della Favara.

During the 20th century, large surfaces in the Mediterranean countries were subject to afforestation activities, mostly affecting abandoned agricultural lands. Under semi-arid climate conditions, Pinus spp. were the most frequently used species for these activities. The effect of pine plantations on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) content in Lampedusa Island (South Italy) was investigated. SOC and soil N content under pine plantations of different ages (14, 24 and 43 years since plantation) were compared with SOC and soil N content in garrigue communities, which were dominated by shrubs, subshrubs and perennial herbs. The results showed that SOC content is affected by plantation age, with values of 26.5, 41.3 and 44.4 Mg ha-1 in soils under pines planted 14, 24 and 43 years ago, respectively. There were no significant differences in SOC and N between pine afforestations and garrigues. Our results contribute to improve knowledge on the effect of pine afforestations on soil carbon (C) stocks, aimed to evaluate the optimum management strategies of abandoned agricultural land (spontaneous secondary succession versus plantation) in semi-arid environments.

Lampedusa e Linosa sono isole molto diverse fra loro, una calcarea, l’altra vulcanica; quindi è comprensibile che la fauna sia in buona parte differente. Tuttavia la maggioranza delle specie vi sono migrate attivamente o, nel caso di Lampedusa, rappresentano la testimonianza di un antico collegamento con la Tunisia. L’importanza faunistica delle Pelagie è dovuta ai taxa endemici ma anche alla presenza di specie africane al limite geografico della loro distribuzione (Lampedusa, di natura calcarea, si trova infatti sulla piattaforma continentale africana).

The mechanisms of litter decomposition, translocation and stabilization into soil layers are fundamental processes in the functioning of the ecosystem, as they regulate the cycle of soil organic matter (SOM) and CO2 emission into the atmosphere. In this study the contribution of litters of different stages of Mediterranean secondary succession on carbon sequestration was investigated, analyzing the role of earthworms in the translocation of SOM into the soil profile. For this purpose the δ13C difference between meadow C4-C soil and C3-C litter was used in a field experiment. Four undisturbed litters of different stages of succession (45, 70, 100 and 120 since agriculture abandon) were collected and placed on the top of isolated C4 soil cores. The litter contribution to C stock was affected by plant species and it increased with the age of the stage of secondary succession. One year after the litter position, the soil organic carbon increased up to 40% in comparison to soils not treated with litter after 120 years of abandon. The new carbon derived from C3 litter was decomposed and transferred into soil profile thanks to earthworms and the leaching of dissolved organic carbon. After 1 year the carbon increase attributed to earthworm activity was 6 and 13% in the soils under litter of fields abandoned for 120 and 45 years, respectively.

Anche se le trasformazioni che hanno interessato il paesaggio di Lampedusa sono il più delle volte considerate come un fatto recente, l’isola era abitata già nel Neolitico Medio, cioè oltre 6.500 anni fa. L'articolo individua l'evoluzione del paesaggio attraverso i dati storici.

Il ruolo che riveste, o che potrebbe rivestire, l’agricoltura nelle piccole isole è un tema di notevole importanza se pensiamo alla fragilità di questi agroecosistemi e ai tanti valori ad essi connessi: la conservazione di specie e varietà selezionate nei secoli in contesti ambientali estremi, la conservazione della cultura materiale, l’effetto positivo sulla biodiversità ”selvatica” cioè delle piante e animali ad essa legati, i valori paesaggistici. In un contesto come Lampedusa in cui l’agricoltura sembra destinata a scomparire, un progetto di orti comunitari può avere un ruolo centrale, funzionare cioè da innesco per rilanciare l’agricoltura locale, per ripensarla coniugando tradizione con tecniche innovative

The Mediterranean Basin is the region of Europe most vulnerable to negative climate-change impacts, including forest decline, increased wildfire, and biodiversity loss. Because humans have affected Mediterranean ecosystems for millennia, it is unclear whether the region's native ecosystems were more resilient to climate change than current ecosystems, and whether they would provide sustainable management options if restored. We simulated vegetation with the LandClim model, using present-day climate as well as future climate-change scenarios, in three representative areas that encompass a broad range of Mediterranean conditions and vegetation types. Sedimentary pollen records that document now-extinct forests help to validate the simulations. Forests modeled under present climate closely resemble the extinct forests when human disturbance is limited; under future scenarios, characterized by increased temperatures and decreased precipitation, extinct forests are projected to re-emerge. When combined with modeling, paleoecological evidence reveals the potential of native vegetation to re-establish under current and future climate conditions, and provides a template for novel management strategies to maintain forest productivity and biodiversity in a warmer and drier future.

La gran parte degli ecosistemi forestali del Mediterraneo è stata modificata ed utilizzata dall’uomo da millenni. I sistemi forestali più vicini alle condizioni di naturalità sono quelli non più gestiti e/o sottoposti ad un efficace regime di protezione e che tendono a recuperare caratteri strutturali e di funzionamento ecosistemico simili a quelli delle formazioni primarie originali. In Sicilia le conoscenze sulla presenza e diffusione dei boschi vetusti sono ad uno stadio preliminare. Nel più recente inventario forestale regionale è stata effettuata una prima selezione di 18 soprassuoli forestali considerati potenzialmente vetusti, che ricoprono 472 ettari di superficie. Sulla base dell’ampia ricerca bibliografica condotta per identificare i migliori parametri correlati con il grado di vetustà delle formazioni forestali, soprattutto nell’ambito del bioclima mediterraneo, sono stati presi in considerazione quattro indica tori principali: presenza e abbondanza di individui arborei senescenti e/o di grossa dimensione; complessità strutturale e diversità specifica delle specie legnose; presenza e abbondanza di necromassa legnosa sia a terra sia in piedi; tipologia, grado ed intensità del disturbo antropico. Il lavoro, oltre ad una revisione critica dei 18 soprassuoli forestali considerati nell’Inventario regionale, vengono proposti altri popolamenti forestali che presentano caratteri di vetustà o di prossimità a condizioni vetuste. Sulla base della rispondenza a tutti o una parte dei quattro parametri di riferimento, è stata proposta una classificazione del grado di vetustà di tutti i soprassuoli considerati in tre livelli: alto (boschi prossimi alla vetustà), medio (boschi potenzialmente vetusti) e basso (boschi attualmente lontani dalla vetustà ma che potranno evolvere caratteri di vetusta nel medio-lungo termine). Alcuni soprassuoli sono stati invece scartati perché non rispondono a nessuno dei quattro requisiti fondamentali. Per ogni soprassuolo, ed in funzione del grado di vetustà, sono state fornite precise indicazioni gestionali con lo scopo di favorire l’evoluzione dei soprassuoli forestali siciliani verso ecosistemi più complessi, biologicamente ricchi e resilienti.

Nell’area urbana dove è situato a Palermo il quartiere Brancaccio, noto ai più per la presenza di famose famiglie mafiose e per l’uccisione di Padre Puglisi, in passato il palazzo di Maredolce ed il suo sistema di parco lacustre era stato presidio dei reggenti durante la dominazione araba, poi dei Cavalieri Teutonici, passato di mano in mano a famiglie nobili che usarono il sito a scopo produttivo, sino al completo oblio culturale e all’abbandono con l’usucapione da parte di povere famiglie del luogo che lo usarono come alveare per una residenza di fortuna. Finora le azioni della Soprintendenza della Regione Siciliana, delle Associazioni di quartiere, delle Forze dell'Ordine e delle Scuole e delle Parrocchie hanno avuto benefici effetti lavorando per piccoli passi e talvolta 'sottotraccia'. Data la ricchezza e complessità dei diversi tagli operativi e tematici che il contesto ancora oggi offre, è stato possibile avviare in vari modi e durante un lungo arco di tempo, un processo di rigenerazione urbana che dal palazzo si è esteso progressivamente in tutto il quartiere sino a coinvolgere indirettamente tutta la seconda circoscrizione comunale che è la parte a sud di Palermo. Quello che ha già prodotto il quartiere Brancaccio grazie alla graduale mobilitazione del capitale sociale avviata da Silvana Braida per la realizzazione di un parco urbano a Maredolce e per il movimento civico animato dalla figura di Padre Puglisi per l’importanza della sua testimonianza civile, è possibile interpretare questo processo come un percorso di resilienza sociale urbana ancora all’avvio ed è anche una prova di resistenza della cittadinanza attiva di Brancaccio nei confronti del declino culturale che, nonostante alcune eccezioni notevoli, affligge la città dal secondo dopoguerra.

Si compie una valutazione dei danni arrecati dalla reintroduzione degli ungulati in Sicilia.

Ecological and evolutionary studies largely assume that island populations display low levels of neutral genetic variation. However, this notion has only been formally tested in a few cases involving plant taxa, and the confounding effect of selection on genetic diversity (GD) estimates based on putatively neutral markers has typically been overlooked. Here, we generated nuclear microsatellite and plastid DNA sequence data in Periploca laevigata, a plant taxon with an island–mainland distribution area, to (i) investigate whether selection affects GD estimates of populations across contrasting habitats; and (ii) test the long-standing idea that island populations have lower GD than their mainland counterparts. Plastid data showed that colonization of the Canary Islands promoted strong lineage divergence within P. laevigata, which was accompanied by selective sweeps at several nuclear microsatellite loci. Inclusion of loci affected by strong divergent selection produced a significant downward bias in the GD estimates of the mainland lineage, but such underestimates were substantial (>14%) only when more than one loci under selection were included in the computations. When loci affected by selection were removed, we did not find evidence that insular Periploca populations have less GD than their mainland counterparts. The analysis of data obtained from a comprehensive literature survey reinforced this result, as overall comparisons of GD estimates between island and mainland populations were not significant across plant taxa (N = 66), with the only exception of island endemics with narrow distributions. This study suggests that identification and removal of markers potentially affected by selection should be routinely implemented in estimates of GD, particularly if different lineages are compared. Furthermore, it provides compelling evidence that the expectation of low GD cannot be generalized to island plant popula- tions.

Diversity of microbial plant symbionts has an impact on plant diversity. Examples are given for Mediterranean species.

In observance of the criteria stated in the previous section <> and the studies carried out on the natural and agriculture heritage the intervention consistend on the plaintinf of some Lampedusa's spontaneous shrubs propagated by Lagambiente or by the nursery of the Regional Rural and Territorial Department of the Sicilian Region (formerly Regional Forestry Office Department). The plants that were planted were: Mastic (60), Periploca (36), Juniper (20), Myrtle (24), Olivastro (5), Carob (10), Caper (10). More complex is what has been done for the realization of the orchard. On the basis of investigations carried out as part of a research project of the RDP 2007/2013, Measure 214/2 Action A <> and in the field of the project <> on the Pelagie's fruit's history and diversity, a hundred trees were planted. Some of these have been grafted with old varieties already in the nursery, others will be grafted later. It was decided to plant three rootstock trees for each variety identified according to the diagram shown in the table below.

Some species of animals related to forest habitats have disappeared or greatly decreased in the first half of the last century. However, during the second half of the last century the forest areas have increased and many forests have been protected. This produced conditions for a re-colonization or reintroduction of extinct forest animal species. The present study is a complete overview of records of extinct and still living Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, European green Woodpecker Picus viridis, Middle spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius and Lesser spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor in Sicily and Calabria (Southern Italy). This study was carried out to show that these woodpeckers, or at least some of them, may have existed in Sicily and are possible candidate for reintroduction projects in the island. This explains the reasons of a historical and contemporary survey on the presence of the above mentioned species in Calabria, that could be the place where these birds could be recovered for possible reintroduction projects in Sicily.

Although their carbon stock is relevant in assessing the baseline for the negotiation of future agreements with respect to carbon balance, there still are few available studies concerning the biomass and the net ecosystem exchange capacity of Mediterranean shrublands. In this chapter a preliminary overview on the biomass values concerning Italian shrubland communities and/or their dominant/ characteristic woody species is provided. Many useful data on above- and belowground biomass issued from investigations carried out in other Mediterranean countries and concerning plant communities, which share the same ecological, floristic and structural traits of Italian shrublands. A preliminary finding of this research is the uneven degree of knowledge concerning the different non-forest woody communities. For example, there is still no literature on the biomass of some 2/3 of all the considered phytosociological units. Besides, both the above and the below-ground biomass of many Mediterranean shrubs show a very wide range of variation as they are strongly influenced by progressive succession processes and by the nature, the intensity and the frequency of disturbance factors. Thus, direct measuring of these values for each vegetation unit and dominant woody species should be encouraged and intensified. Monitoring activities concerning biomass increase are recommended as well: as a matter of fact, at present reference data on this topic are so limited and variable that it is not possible to confidently estimate the annual growth of shrubland communities.

In the Mediterranean area, one the most threat tree to various ecosystems is Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. This is an aggressive invasive species common in natural and semi-natural habitat. Monitoring and mapping of invasive species is an important information for the conservation and management of ecosystems. The study of distribution and diffusion of invasive species are useful to assess their environmental impacts, formulate effective control strategies, and forecast potential spread. The main target of this work is to examine the feasibility of mapping the expansion of A. altissima using remote sensing techniques in a highly complex urban forest setting. Remote sensing has been a useful tool to map the invasive plant. We mapped the pattern of ailanthus expansion from 1990 to 2015 in a suburban area of Palermo, the Favorita park, using time series of Landsat image. This images are nowadays available at no cost. We used that images to analyze larger areas but the 30 m resolution does not permit mapping of individual trees; the combinations of dates and medium spatial resolution with the phenology information allowed the detection of the species. Indeed, the ailanthus is a deciduous tree that we compared with the other evergreen vegetation. Time series of Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and supervised classification were used as a dataset in the classification process. These results provide a basis for more detailed investigations on invasive species and the possibility to increase the spatial resolution with the new platforms might lead to further improvements plant species identification and their distribution patterns recognition.

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is regarded as invasive within urban and natural areas worldwide. Efficient methods to control it are significantly needed if we are to limit its well-known environmental and economic impacts. Up to now the use of herbicides has proven necessary since following mechanical damage, Ailanthus vigorously resprouts. However, the seasonal response of Ailanthus stems, treated with herbicides, has never been assessed. We compared the control efficacy recorded in autumn, winter and summer in an abandoned suburban citrus grove in Sicily, under Mediterranean-climate conditions. Glyphosate was injected within drill holes made in knee-high cut trees. Tree mortality and the resprouting ability of treated stems were significantly affected by the application timing and by diameter class of stems. Mortality was significantly lower in winter treatments within the smaller diameter class. Within the larger diameter class, only autumn treatments showed a notably higher mortality rate and a significantly lower growth of sprouts. Hence, autumn interventions are strongly recommended to effectively treat Ailanthus. Mortality was notably higher in the smaller diameter class. Our results confirm the importance of early intervention to control Ailanthus, also showing that the choice of the season is crucial to obtaining satisfactory control of its resprouting ability.

The essential oils (EOs) of green seeds from Daucus carota subsp. maximus growing wild in Pantelleria Island (Sicily, Italy) were characterized. EOs were extracted by steam distillation, examined for their inhibitory properties against food-borne Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and analyzed for the chemical composition by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Undiluted EOs showed a large inhibition spectrum against Gram-positive strains and also vs. Acinetobacter spp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was in the range 1.25 – 2.50 μl/ml for the most sensitive strains. The chemical analysis indicated that D. carota subsp. maximus EOs included 34 compounds (five monoterpene hydrocarbons, six oxygenated monoterpenes, 14 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, four oxygenated sesquiterpenes, camphorene and four other compounds), accounting for 95.48% of the total oil, and that the major chemicals were carotol, β-bisabolene, and isoelemicin.

Possible origin and demographic asset of a population of Quercus trojana Webb subsp. trojana (Fagaceae) in the wood of Ficuzza (Palermo, Sicily). The first record of Macedonian oak in Sicily is reported. The finding consists of 73 adult and 4 young individuals. A morphometric analysis of all of them, along with an assessment of their phytosanitary status was carried out. They all grow between 700 and 850 m a.s.l. on a 2,30 ha area, characterized by a land mosaic of shrubland and forest patches. Notwithstanding two years of researches, no ultimate proof has been found on their alien status. On this purpose, several alternative hypothesis are formulated and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Considering that the environmental conditions of Ficuzza fit very well the ecological requirements of Quercus trojana, even the native status of local population cannot be totally rejected. On the other hand, many data support its recent introduction. In fact, according to interviews to old forest workers, archive documents and aerial photos, most part of the trees of this area have been planted just few years after the end of the Second World War, and dendrochronological analyses have pointed out that the biggest Macedonian oaks of Sicily are no more than 50-60 years old. Whatever the origin of local Macedonian oak population is, the presence of natural renovation testifies, at least, its full naturalisation within the Sicilian territory.

Abandonment of agricultural land and the subsequent recolonization by natural vegetation is known to cause increases in C contents, contributing to reduction in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Assessment of the possible mitigation of CO2 excess requires understanding the SOC dynamics, the origin of C pools and the pathways of their transformation. The aims of this work were to assess, by using the δ13C signature, the changes of old and new organic C in total (soil organic carbon, SOC) and labile (microbial biomass C, MBC, dissolved organic C, DOC, CO2 efflux from soil) pools after vegetation change from vineyard (C3) to grassland (C4) under semiarid Mediterranean climate. Colonization of abandoned vineyard by the perennial C4-grass Hyparrhenia hirta after 15 or 35 years increased topsoil C stocks by 13% and 16%, respectively. Such an increase was attributed to new above- and below-ground biomass C input from H. hirta. The maximal incorporation of new C was observed in MBC, whereas the DOC derived mainly from old SOC. Based on d13C values of SOC, MBC, DOC and CO2 in C3 soil and in soils after 15 and 35 years of C4 grass colonization, 13C fractionation per se from changes in isotopic composition by preferential utilization of substrateswith different availability was separated. MBC in C3-C4 soil used more recent (13C-enriched) versus old C (relatively 13C-depleted) sources. The δ13C by decomposition of SOC to CO2 (δ13C of CO2 minus d13C of SOC) was higher than δ13C by microbial respiration (CO2 minus MBC), demonstrating that under semiarid climate, soil microorganisms do not always preferentially decompose themost available SOC pools. The use of δ13C signature of SOC after C3-C4 vegetation change combinedwith soil incubation is a powerful tool to assess the exchange between old and new C in pools of various availability. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Changes of land use from croplands to natural vegetation usually increase Carbon (C) stocks in soil. However, the contribution of old and new C to various pools still is not clearly analyzed.We measured the 13C signature of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools after vegetation change from vineyard (C3) to grassland (C4) under Mediterranean climate to assess the changes of old and new C in total SOC, microbial biomass (MB), dissolved organic C (DOC), and CO2 efflux from soil. Development of the perennial grass Hyparrhenia hirta (C4) on vineyard abandoned for 15 or 35 years ago increased C stocks for 13% and 16%, respectively (in the upper 15 cm). This increase was linked to the incorporation of new C in SOC and with exchange of 25% of old C by new C after 35 years. The maximal incorporation of new C was observed in MB, thus reflecting the maximal turnover and availability of this pool. The DOC was produced mainly from old C of soil organic matter (SOM), showing that under Mediterranean climate DOC will be mainly produced not from fresh litter but from old SOM sources. Decomposition of SOM during a 51 days laboratory incubation was higher in cultivated vineyard than H: hirta soils. Based on changes in 13C values of SOM, MB, DOC and CO2 in C3 soil and in soils after 15 and 35 years of C4 plant colonization, we separated 13C fractionation in soil from changes of isotopic composition by preferential utilization of substrates with different availability. The utilization pattern in this soil under Mediterranean climate was different from that in temperate ecosystems.

A study on the Sicilian avifauna changes and its existing connections with the land use variations has been carried out from the 80s till today. We compared the Sicilian ornithological data acquired from the atlas maps with the regional land use maps data. We examined the land use variations and the distribution changes of some bird species on a regional level. To this aim, we analyzed the spatial distribution data of the birds in the period from 1984-1992 and 1993-2006. Moreover we examined the land use data of the period going from 1987-1988 and 1993-2000. After a preliminary analysis, we selected target species linked to different environments. Forest: Great spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major, Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus, Long-eared Owl Asio otus, Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea, Marsh Tit Poecile palustris siculus ; scrub and bush: Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, arable and grazing land: Greater short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla, Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra; complex systems, olive grove and almond trees: European Roller Coracias garrulus, Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. The distribution changes of these species in the examined periods were significant and they were not linked to the demography of the species nor to the major or minor level of exploration of the island. According to the results, it is obvious that, for these species, there is a clear connection between the land use changes and the distribution variations. Other species manifested changes that seemed to be linked to demographic trends, which involved the distribution of these species (for example the diffusion of the Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus). None of the existing changes could be unequivocally related to climate change.

In Sicilia, come del resto in gran parte del Mediterraneo, l’impatto millenario delle attività antropiche ha profondamente modificato la struttura e la funzione degli ecosistemi naturali, con evidenti ripercussioni sulla stabilità dei suoli e sull’andamento diffuso dei processi erosivi. L’accresciuta consapevolezza di que-sto rapporto causa-effetto ha posto sempre più in risalto la necessità di mettere in atto adeguati interventi di recupero e di ripristino ambientale, in particolare a favo-re di ecosistemi più esposti e vulnerabili, perlopiù concentrati in corrispondenza delle aree costiere e umide, spesso profondamente trasformati a seguito dell'azione combinata di diversi tipi di disturbo antropico. Gli interventi di ricostituzione degli habitat e di rinaturalizzazione sono complessi dal punto di vista tecnico, in quanto non possono prescindere da un’analisi dettagliata di tutti gli aspetti biotici, abiotici ed antropici che caratterizzano il territorio coinvolto. In funzione dei caratteri eda-fo-climatici stazionali è di fondamentale importanza individuare le specie idonee per il ripristino della struttura e della funzione delle comunità locali. Tale scelta condiziona tutte le operazioni successive, in quanto deve favorire meccanismi in grado di costituire sistemi naturali complessi e stabili nel tempo. Non è sufficiente individuare le specie chiave, che caratterizzano strutturalmente e fisio-nomicamente le comunità vegetali, ma occorre prestare particolare attenzione all’origine del materiale vegetale di propagazione da utilizzare negli interventi. Utilizzando specie autoctone, soprattutto ecotipi autoctoni e pertanto meglio adat-tati alle condizioni pedo-climatiche locali, è possibile contribuire alla conservazione delle risorse genetiche del territorio, aspetto spesso trascurato o comunque sottovalutato nelle attività di ripristino ambientale. Le modalità, le tecniche ed anche la durata degli interventi previsti devono essere opportunamente modulati in funzione del grado di alterazione del sistema e quindi degli input necessari. Lo scopo principale dell’intervento non è quello di riportare un ecosistema allo stato originale, quanto piuttosto di ripristinare le dinamiche evolutive naturali, eliminando le cause che hanno determinato la situazione attuale, e cercando di ristabilire le relazioni funzionali tra le componenti biotiche ed abiotiche del sistema, fino al raggiungimento di una nuova condizione di equilibrio dinamico. Su questi principi si basa la restoration ecology, una branca ormai autonoma dell’ecologia che si occupa del recupero e del ripristino degli ecosistemi danneggiati, semplificati o distrutti dall’azione antropica (Young, 2000). Questa filosofia di intervento ha guidato le azioni compiute nell’ambito del progetto LIFE04 NAT/IT/000182 “MacaLife, Conservazione degli habitat delle Macalube di Aragona”.