In this study, we compared current data and data of the census made in the 1990s related to the vascular flora of Capo Mortola (Ventimiglia, Italy), considering 270 taxa not dependent on crop ...management. The current status reported 198 alien species: 5 invasive, 65 naturalized 75 casual, 38 occurring as casual in human-dominated systems, but without direct intervention by humans and not close to parent plant, 15 occurring as casual alien, but still with some uncertainties for a definitive classification, and plus 3 cryptogenic and 1 eradicated (extinct) taxa, while in 1996 were 229 species: 87 naturalized and 142 adventitious (casual). Of these, 40 taxa show an increasing trend and 41 a decreasing or disappearing trend. If we consider the wild areas of Capo Mortola, 10 taxa are new to the Italian flora (7 casual and 3 naturalized) while 13 are new to the Ligurian flora only (all casual). If we also consider the neglected areas of the Botanical Gardens, 18 new casual species for the Italian flora and 10 for the Ligurian one would be added. In addition, 9 status changes are proposed on a national scale and 17 on a regional scale. An in-depth analysis was conducted on the presence and the local history of a subset of 34 exotic plants, 11 of which are new or have a new status for the Italian flora.
The Maritime and Ligurian Alps have a flora characterised by a very high number of endemic species in relation to their small geographical extension. This area is considered one of the most important ...centres of diversification of the Alps and a Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity. In the last years many studies were performed in order to describe the distribution and phylogeographical patterns of endemism. Despite these studies, Maritime and Ligurian Alps still lack in a broad view about the evolution of endemisms in this area. In this review, we examine the knowledge about the distribution patterns of endemic plant species living in the Maritime and Ligurian Alps in order to identify the evolutionary and biogeographical mechanisms operating on them.
In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii ...Lona, Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and the assessment at regional level (Italy) of Viola jordanii Hanry.
The agave weevil Scyphophorus acupunctatus is a polyphagous pest of agave, yucca and related taxa. Although its many host species differ in their mortality rates, little is known about the factors ...involved in host selection by the weevil and the defensive response of the infested plants. We compared the suitability of Agave americana subsp. americana, A. americana var. franzosini and A. oteroi as a food source for adult individuals of S. acupunctatus. Feeding rates on leaf samples of the selected taxa were measured under laboratory conditions. The amount of the flavonoids flavone and kaempferol in the leaves was also quantified. The observed consumption rates were significantly lower for A. americana var. franzosini, but only for measurements made on a fresh weight basis and not when consumption was adjusted to leaf dry weight. The leaves of the three agave taxa did not differ in the contents of the two selected flavonoids. We conclude that the three agave taxa are equally suitable as a food source for the weevil, but the observed differences in the consumption of fresh material provides evidence that agaves can differ in the amount of damage caused by the feeding activities of S. acupunctatus.
Abstract Santolina ligustica is a rare narrow-ranged species endemic to Liguria (Italy) for which a likely trend of decline has been recorded. For this reason, it would be important to assess the ...reproductive biology of this endemic species. In this study, we investigated the plant–pollinator interactions, the reproductive mode of the plant, and we evaluated both reproductive efficiency and seeds’ germination performances. Santolina ligustica is an obligate cross-pollinating species with a generalist pollination system. The most frequent insects are Coleoptera belonging to the genus Oedemera. Seed set is low, but the seeds germinate under a wide range of temperatures. Taken together, our results indicate that S. ligustica is an insect pollinated and self-incompatible plant, in which low visitation rate, secondary pollen presentation and/or lack of compatible mate may cause a low seed set per capitulum. Nevertheless, the high number of capitula per plant and the high percentage of germination may assure high number of seedlings. Thus, the survival of S. ligustica is probably threatened by other factors such as fragmented distribution and habitat reduction because of land-use change. Under this scenario, we proved that species’ decline is not directly related to reproductive failure and different studies are desirable to provide suggestions for the species conservation.
Conservation translocations are becoming common conservation practice, so there is an increasing need to understand the drivers of plant translocation performance through reviews of cases at global ...and regional levels. The establishment of the Italian Database of Plant Translocation (IDPlanT) provides the opportunity to review the techniques used in 186 plant translocation cases performed in the last 50 years in the heart of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. We described techniques and information available in IDPlanT and used these data to identify drivers of translocation outcomes. We tested the effect of 15 variables on survival of translocated propagules as of the last monitoring date with binomial logistic mixed‐effect models. Eleven variables significantly affected survival of transplants: life form, site protection, material source, number of source populations, propagation methods, propagule life stage, planting methods, habitat suitability assessment, site preparation, aftercare, and costs. The integration of vegetation studies in the selection of suitable planting sites significantly increased the success of translocation efforts. Although posttranslocation watering had a generally positive effect on translocation outcome, other aftercare techniques did not always increase transplant survival. Finally, we found that how funds were spent appeared to be more important than the actual amount spent. Plant translocations in Italy and in the Mediterranean area should account for the complexity of speciation, gene flow, and plant migrations that has led to local adaptations and has important implications for the choice and constitution of source material.
Mejores prácticas, errores y perspectivas tras medio siglo de reubicaciones botánicas en Italia
Resumen
Las reubicaciones son una práctica cada vez más común en la conservación, por lo que hay una necesidad creciente por entender los factores del desempeño de las reubicaciones botánicas por medio de la revisión de casos regionales y globales. La creación de la Italian Database of Plant Translocation (IDPlanT) proporciona una oportunidad para revisar las técnicas usadas para los casos de reubicación de 186 plantas realizados durante los últimos cincuenta años en el centro del punto caliente de biodiversidad mediterránea. Describimos las técnicas y la información disponible en IDPlanT y usamos estos datos para identificar los factores involucrados en los resultados de las reubicaciones. Usamos modelos logísticos binomiales de efectos mixtos para analizar el efecto de 15 variables sobre la supervivencia de los propágulos reubicados a partir de la última fecha de monitoreo. Once de las variables afectaron de manera significativa la supervivencia de las plantas: forma de vida, protección del sitio, fuente de materiales, cantidad de poblaciones originarias, método de propagación, etapa de vida del propágulo, método de siembra, evaluación de idoneidad del hábitat, preparación del sitio, cuidados posteriores y costos. La integración de los estudios botánicos a la selección de los sitios idóneos para plantar aumentó el éxito de los esfuerzos de reubicación. Aunque el riego posterior a la reubicación tuvo un efecto positivo general sobre el resultado, las otras técnicas de cuidado posterior no siempre incrementaron la supervivencia de la planta reubicada. Por último, descubrimos que parece ser más importante cómo se utilizan los fondos que la cantidad actual empleada. Las reubicaciones botánicas en Italia y en el área del Mediterráneo deben considerar lo complejo de la especiación, el flujo génico y la migración botánica que han derivado en adaptaciones locales y que han tenido implicaciones importantes para la elección y constitución del material de origen.
The aim of this study was to test a method to locate all the foci, centres, and areas of endemism in a biodiversity hotspot in order to understand the influence of ecological and historical factors ...on the distribution pattern and to identify priority areas for future conservation projects. The study area was the Maritime and Ligurian Alps hotspot. Analyses were performed on the presence/absence matrix of 36 vascular plant taxa endemic to the study area. For each operational geographical unit, the number of endemic taxa present was counted. Additionally, the weighted endemism value was calculated. Areas of endemism were distinguished using cluster analysis and parsimony analysis of endemicity. The influence of ecological characteristics and historical factors was evaluated using Multi-Response Permutation Procedure and the Nonparametric Multiplicative Regression. The Indicator Species Analysis (INDVAL) method was used to identify the species characterizing the areas of endemism. Our results show the importance and location of four main areas of endemism within the Maritime and Ligurian Alps and explain the distribution pattern of endemic plants. These areas are easily interpreted by historical and ecological factors, and INDVAL indicates which taxa took part in the history of each endemism area.
The results of the 4th National Report for the Italian flora under the 92/43/EEC 'Habitats' Directive are presented. The outcomes showed a general negative conservation status for plant species, with ...the worst situation being in the Mediterranean bioregion. At the National level, significant monitoring and conservation activities are required.
Among the many exotic plants introduced in the last two centuries in Northern Mediterranean Basin Acacia dealbata Link. is one of the most invasive. Despite its presence in the region since many ...years, it has not yet been investigated how the species has established itself and has formed small forests. In this study, we aimed to gather data on reproductive trait of the invasive species A. dealbata at the northern limit of the Mediterranean bioclimatic region. In six naturalized populations, fruit and seed set were estimated and seed germination was tested in laboratory. Two out of the six populations failed to set fruits, and the fruit set was always low as observed in other invaded areas of the world. Only three populations produced germinating seeds whose rates were comparable to other invasive areas. The seeds may constitute a long-lasting seed bank that may favour the colonization of the species in areas disturbed by external factors. In conclusion, the reproductive system may contributes only partially to the spread and invasiveness of the species in the Northern Mediterranean basin, while the plant to spread itself adopts also other vegetative strategies.
IDPlanT is the Italian Database of Plant Translocation, an initiative of the Nature Conservation Working Group of the Italian Botanical Society. IDPlanT currently includes 185 plant translocations. ...The establishment of a national database on plant translocation is a key step forward in data sharing and techniques improvement in this field of plant conservation.
Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2021.1985004 .
PDF
