Plant SociologyPub Date : 2023-05-16DOI: 10.3897/pls2023601/03
L. Lastrucci, C. Angiolini, G. Bonari, A. Bottacci, V. Gonnelli, Antonio Zoccola, Michele Mugnai, D. Viciani
{"title":"Contribution to the knowledge of marsh vegetation of montane and submontane areas of Northern Apennines (Italy)","authors":"L. Lastrucci, C. Angiolini, G. Bonari, A. Bottacci, V. Gonnelli, Antonio Zoccola, Michele Mugnai, D. Viciani","doi":"10.3897/pls2023601/03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2023601/03","url":null,"abstract":"Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity conservation. They are among the most threatened habitats in the world. However, the wetlands of southern European mountains still lack fine-scale plant community studies. Here we studied submontane and montane palustrine communities of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines. Data from 123 vegetation plots dominated by palustrine species were analysed by means of cluster analysis. We identified 18 vegetation types that we attributed to five classes (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Montio-Cardaminetea, Isoëto-Nanojuncetea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, and Epilobietea angustifolii), and to two Natura 2000 habitats (3130 - Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea, and 6430 - Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels). According the 4th edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature we corrected the names Phragmition communis Koch 1926 nom. inept. in P. australis Koch 1926 nom. corr., Phragmitetum communisSavič 1926nom. inept. in P. australisSavič 1926nom. corr., Glycerietum plicataeKulczyński 1928nom. inept. in G. notataeKulczyński 1928nom. corr., Beruletum angustifoliaeRoll 1938nom. inept. in Beruletum erectaeRoll 1938nom. corr., and we mutated the name Scirpetum lacustrisChouard 1924nom. inept. in Schoenoplectetum lacustrisChouard 1924nom. mut. nov. Our study highlights the diversity of marsh vegetation of montane and submontane areas of Northern Apennines. Most of the palustrine communities, though important from the point of view of conservation, cannot be attributed at present to any habitat type legally protected at the European level.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43734940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2023-04-12DOI: 10.3897/pls2023601/02
A. Stinca
{"title":"Vegetation features of two vascular plant species presumed extinct and recently rediscovered in the natural habitat of community interest 8320 from Mt. Vesuvius, Italy","authors":"A. Stinca","doi":"10.3897/pls2023601/02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2023601/02","url":null,"abstract":"This paper illustrates the results of a survey aimed at deepening knowledge on vegetation in which Festuca lachenalii and Ophioglossum lusitanicum were recently discovery on Mt. Vesuvius (Italy) after about 200 and 150 years from the last observation, respectively. Both species were previously thought to be locally extinct. These noteworthy microphytes are rare and poorly documented species within their global distribution range. They were found within a habitat of community interest (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC), where they are subject to extensive anthropogenic impact and require urgent actions for their in situ conservation.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43469034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2023-03-02DOI: 10.3897/pls2023601/01
Harrie van der Hagen, Erik Lammers, F. van der Meulen, Ricarda Pätsch, Nils M. van Rooijen, K. Sykora, J. Schaminée
{"title":"The role of livestock grazing in long-term vegetation changes in coastal dunes: a case study from the Netherlands","authors":"Harrie van der Hagen, Erik Lammers, F. van der Meulen, Ricarda Pätsch, Nils M. van Rooijen, K. Sykora, J. Schaminée","doi":"10.3897/pls2023601/01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2023601/01","url":null,"abstract":"The vegetation of coastal sand dunes is characterized by high species diversity and comprises some of the rarest vegetation types in North-Western Europe. Among them are dune grassland communities whose species richness relies on grazing. Those communities are assessed as a priority habitat type under the Natura 2000 legislation. In autumn 1990, Galloway cows and Nordic Fjord horses were introduced in the coastal dunes of Meijendel near The Hague (52°7'N, 4°20'E), The Netherlands, to reduce encroachment of tall grasses and shrubs, to develop bare sand patches, and as such facilitating diverse vegetation structures in the dune grasslands. In the 1950s, decades before the introduction of livestock, 41 permanent plots were installed. On average, they were examined every four years. Our study hypothesised that the livestock grazing in the set densities would halt progressive succession and facilitate regressive succession. Up to 1990, we observed an equilibrium between progressive and regressive succession. After 1990, however, our data showed a pronounced progressive succession contradicting the hypothesized effect of the livestock grazing. We relate the main observed patterns with two factors linked to rabbit populations: (i) the myxomatosis outbreak in 1954 and (ii) the rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (rVHD-1) outbreak in 1989. In addition to livestock grazing, rabbits block progressive succession by feeding on seedlings of shrub and tree species and digging burrows, creating small-scale mosaics of bare sand and initiate blowout development when collapsing. We state that the substantial decrease in rabbit numbers due to the viral diseases likely caused the observed increase of shrubs and trees in the study area's permanent plots. Climate change might have contributed to the observed increase in autonomous blowout development since 2001, as well as a decrease in atmospheric nitrogen deposition since 1990, after a strong increase the decades before.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47760077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-12-31DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/06
G. Rivieccio, C. Angiolini, M. Azzella, S. Bagella, G. Bonari, F. Bonini, Silvia Cannucci, M. Caria, A. Crisafulli, R. Di Pietro, A. Esposito, E. Fanfarillo, E. Farris, V. Ferri, T. Fiaschi, L. Forte, P. Fortini, L. Gianguzzi, D. Gigante, V. Laface, G. Maiorca, Francesca Mantino, Giacomo Mei, F. Minutillo, Antonio Morabito, C. Musarella, Glauco Patera, E. V. Perrino, Giovanni Spampinato, A. Stinca, G. Tavilla, V. Tomaselli, G. Tondi, R. Wagensommer, G. Bazan
{"title":"New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #45 to #59","authors":"G. Rivieccio, C. Angiolini, M. Azzella, S. Bagella, G. Bonari, F. Bonini, Silvia Cannucci, M. Caria, A. Crisafulli, R. Di Pietro, A. Esposito, E. Fanfarillo, E. Farris, V. Ferri, T. Fiaschi, L. Forte, P. Fortini, L. Gianguzzi, D. Gigante, V. Laface, G. Maiorca, Francesca Mantino, Giacomo Mei, F. Minutillo, Antonio Morabito, C. Musarella, Glauco Patera, E. V. Perrino, Giovanni Spampinato, A. Stinca, G. Tavilla, V. Tomaselli, G. Tondi, R. Wagensommer, G. Bazan","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/06","url":null,"abstract":"New Italian data on the distribution of Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 8 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 27 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Apulia, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Tuscany, Umbria, Sardinia, and Sicily.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48327814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-12-31DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/07
A. Santangelo, G. de Filippo, Valeria Rossetti, S. Strumia
{"title":"Relational databases for plants and habitat types monitoring under Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitat Directive): an example from Campania (Italy).","authors":"A. Santangelo, G. de Filippo, Valeria Rossetti, S. Strumia","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/07","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/07","url":null,"abstract":"The implementation of the Habitat Directive (Dir. 92/43/EEC) entails gathering a large amount of field data. As for monitoring activities, along with spatial data (GIS data), tabular data regarding habitat, plant and animal species population size, and pressures and threats acting on them are collected. In this paper we describe two relational databases designed to ensure a correct and efficient data storage for the habitats listed in Annex I and the Plant species listed in the Annexes II, IV and V. The two relational Databases were designed in Microsoft Access format. In both databases, “Lookup Tables” related to the taxon were used to avoid replication and to centralize the data. Data Tables were used to store the raw data deriving from monitoring activities. The adopted databases allow the storage of collected data in a standard and homogeneous format and make data entry easier to users, reducing input errors. The databases comply with the mandatory actions of art. 11 and 17 of the Habitat Directive and give a prompt reply to the basic requests of users. Finally, the databases aim to provide citizens and/or other end users with all the data gathered in a single regional repository, with zoological data in addition.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41743175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-12-30DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/05
R. Di Pietro, M. Giardini, D. Iamonico, G. Tondi, D. Angeloni, E. Carli, M. Aleffi, M. Azzella, Francesco Di Pietro, E. Proietti, S. Ravera, P. Fortini
{"title":"Floristic and coenological data from the travertine substrates of the SAC “Travertini Acque Albule (Bagni di Tivoli)” (Lazio Region – Central Italy)","authors":"R. Di Pietro, M. Giardini, D. Iamonico, G. Tondi, D. Angeloni, E. Carli, M. Aleffi, M. Azzella, Francesco Di Pietro, E. Proietti, S. Ravera, P. Fortini","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/05","url":null,"abstract":"During a phytosociological field-work campaign on the vegetation of the travertine outcrops, included in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) “Travertini Acque Albule (Bagni di Tivoli)” (Central Italy), several taxa of particular interest were identified. Carex vulpina, Lolium apenninum, Onosma echioides subsp. angustifolia, Typha domingensis, T. laxmannii and Vicia pannonica subsp. pannonica are new for the Lazio administrative Region, while Ophrys illyrica and Zannichellia peltata are confirmed for the flora of this Region. For each of these taxa phytosociological samples describing the plant communities in which they were found are provided. New records for rare species were also reported for cryptogams such as Algae, Lichens and Mosses.\u0000","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44969551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/03
M. Puglisi, M. Privitera, Giovanni Spampinato
{"title":"The bryophyte vegetation of the gypsum outcrops of Sicily","authors":"M. Puglisi, M. Privitera, Giovanni Spampinato","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/03","url":null,"abstract":"A phytosociological study on the gypsicolous bryophyte communities of Sicily was carried out. The surveyed communities are: Tortuletum revolventis, Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis, Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis of the order Barbuletalia unguiculatae, and Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae of the order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis. The associations were examined from a synecological, synhierarchical and chorological point of view. A life form and life strategy analysis of all communities reflect the response of plant functional types towards the environmental demands. Only one life strategy dominates the communities; acrocarpous, turf-forming colonists clearly prevail on gypsum outcrops, subject to drought stress. They provide the main functional type within pioneering communities and communities of first successional stages. The keystone characters outlined ensure a successful dispersal, establishment and habitat maintenance of the species and associations.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45535824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-11-30DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/04
Michele Mugnai, E. Corti, A. Coppi, D. Viciani, L. Lazzaro
{"title":"Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of communities hosting Ionopsidium savianum (Brassicaceae) growing on serpentine and limestone substrates","authors":"Michele Mugnai, E. Corti, A. Coppi, D. Viciani, L. Lazzaro","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/04","url":null,"abstract":"We analysed two different plant communities hosting Ionopsidium savianum (Brassicaceae), a species of EU interest included in the Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE annexes, for which specific studies on the ecology of communities where the species grows are lacking and more in-depth knowledge is needed. We examined two important sites of occurrence of this species in Tuscany with different soil types, namely limestone (Mt. Calvi) and serpentine (Mt. Pelato), to determine the structural and functional profile of the communities hosting this species in such different contexts. At each site, we surveyed the plant communities with I. savianum in ten 1 m2 quadrats to determine information on communities' species composition and total plant cover, as well as taxonomic (species richness, and Shannon H’ index), phylogenetic (phylogenetic diversity, mean nearest taxon distance and mean pairwise distance) and functional diversity (focusing on Rao’s Q, leaf functional traits and adaptive strategies community weighted mean). We took into account site location, soil type, slope aspect and microrelief as plot-level environmental factors. The two communities were highly diverging from multiple points of view. Differences were in species composition, richness and diversity, with Mt. Calvi hosting higher diversity. The indices of phylogenetic diversity were influenced significantly by site and microrelief, allowing the presence of peculiar niches occupied by the fern Asplenium ceterach. From the functional point of view, communities at Mt. Calvi showed a higher functional diversity and a higher specific leaf area. Plant height was influenced by the slope aspect and was higher on north-facing slopes. In terms of Grime’s adaptive strategies, the Mt. Pelato communities resulted to be more stress tolerant than those surveyed at Mt. Calvi. Here, a decrease in stress-tolerant strategy associated with an increase in ruderal strategy was detected in communities on north-facing slopes.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46358823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-11-22DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/02
F. Colozza, Elisabetta Fenoglio, D. Barberis, M. Lonati
{"title":"A new association with Patzkea paniculata on serpentine substrates at low elevations in the western Alps (Italy)","authors":"F. Colozza, Elisabetta Fenoglio, D. Barberis, M. Lonati","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/02","url":null,"abstract":"Patzkea paniculata usually dominates grassland communities in the subalpine and alpine belts. The analysis of a unique vegetation community found at low altitudes growing on serpentinitic substrates in the North-Western Alps (Italy) dominated by P. paniculata, is hereby presented. These communities are substantially different from already described alpine communities, framed in the alliance Festucion variae (class Caricetea curvulae, order Festucetalia spadiceae) and typical of higher elevations. Syntaxonomic and ecological investigations were performed to provide a correct phytosociological framework for these grasslands. The new association Potentillo albae-Patzkeetum paniculatae ass. nova is here described, with two different variants, one co-dominated by Bromopsis erecta and the second with co-dominance of Molinia arundinacea. It is a secondary grassland of arid environments attributable to the alliance Bromion erecti (class Festuco valesiacae-Brometea erecti), and characterized by the presence of numerous species, both rare and typical of serpentinitic substrates.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43776123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant SociologyPub Date : 2022-10-27DOI: 10.3897/pls2022592/01
F. Xystrakis, Minas Chasapis, E. Eleftheriadou, D. Samaras, K. Theodoropoulos
{"title":"The optimization of typical species inventory of habitat types of a NATURA 2000 site using a phytosociological approach","authors":"F. Xystrakis, Minas Chasapis, E. Eleftheriadou, D. Samaras, K. Theodoropoulos","doi":"10.3897/pls2022592/01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2022592/01","url":null,"abstract":"The definition of typical species inventories of the 92/43/EEC Directive habitat types is a valuable information for the optimization of the conservation status assessment. Habitat-specific assessment protocols and predefined local inventories of typical species provide a method for a relatively fast and accurate assessment of the criterion “structures and functions”. Habitat types are often defined and described on the basis of a phytosociological description of vegetation units, mainly at the syntaxonomical level of alliance. Therefore, the definition of typical species inventories can be based on phytosociological approaches. Within this concept we surveyed the vegetation of a NATURA 2000 Special Area of Conservation in northern Greece in order to optimize and downscale the existing region-wide inventories of typical species. In total, we sampled 164 relevés in beech and in thermophilous deciduous broadleaved forests. The relevés were assigned to vegetation units and habitat types using numerical approaches and their differential and constant taxa were defined. We used these taxa to draw up the optimized, site-specific inventories of typical species for seven habitat types of community interest and one habitat type of national interest.","PeriodicalId":38539,"journal":{"name":"Plant Sociology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42333811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}