This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the arenaceous sector of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy). We conducted 55 relevés ...using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method and analysed the ecology of plant communities by Redundancy analysis using topographic variables and Ellenberg Indicator Values as predictors. We identified nine plant communities, belonging to four classes. Communities of
and
were found on acidic soils at higher elevations, those of
were mainly associated with steeper south-facing slopes, while
communities were associated with low altitudes and gentle slopes, semi-flat lands, and high soil nutrient and moisture values. We recorded a total of 410 taxa at the species and subspecies level, representing about 20% of the flora of the Monti Sibillini National Park. Some of these are of high conservation interest, e.g.
,
,
, and
. Eight species are new to the flora of Sibillini National Park.
In submediterranean ecosystems macro-environmental stress gradients (winter cold stress and summer drought stress linked to elevation, slope aspect, and angle) affect forest distribution and ...composition. We hypothesized that in the herb layer of submediterranean deciduous woods (central Apennines), environmental stress gradients, jointly with overstory type, determine patterns of reproductive strategies, which are supported by different acquisitive/retentive traits. We used indicator species analysis, canonical redundancy analysis, and variance partitioning to identify the main gradients of trait variation, detect trait patterns, and assess the contribution of each environmental variable to the explanation of trait variability. Our results indicated that reproductive traits, related to resource acquisition and conservation strategies, showed a pattern mainly linked to the joint effect of altitude and overstory type and, second, to slope aspect. Species with both sexual and vegetative propagation, more abundant than those reproducing only sexually, did not show any trend. Below 1,000 m a.s.l. the long-lasting growing season favored traits aimed at efficient light and soil resource acquisition and space exploitation (e.g., persistent green leaves, runners, tap roots, medium sized seeds) that support a long reproductive cycle. Over 1,000 m a.s.l. the intense and long-lasting winter cold stress and the shorter growing period fostered traits aimed at fast growth and reproduction (e.g., self-pollination, low seed weight, spring and overwintering green leaves), and at stress tolerance (rhizomes, bulbils).
Background and aims - Species grouping in plant functional types (PFTs) according to Grime's CSR theory has been found useful in understanding ecosystem functioning and processes and in quantifying ...variation along environmental gradients. However, little is known about
the relationship between herbaceous plant strategies and stress gradients in submediterranean forest ecosystems. Our aim was to assess variations in CSR strategies along three stress gradients (related to the amount of photosynthetically active radiation, soil water deficit, and soil total
nitrogen content) in the herb layer of submediterranean forests. Material and methods - We collected floristic (species cover in the herb layer) and environmental data about topography, soil and light conditions in 48 sampling plots in a forest landscape of central Italy.
We performed canonical redundancy analyses (RDAs) of species and PFT data sets, constrained by photosynthetically active radiation, soil water deficit and soil total nitrogen content. Cover trends of PFTs along the environmental gradients were graphically represented. Key results
- All the environmental factors considered did affect ecological strategies in the herb layer, but the variation of both species and PFT data sets were best explained by photosynthetically active radiation. Competitors were favoured by low/intermediate stress levels, with regard to soil
water and light intensity. Competitive stress-tolerant ruderals peaked in moderate light stress intensity and in well-watered soils. Stress-tolerant competitors peaked in conditions of strong light and moderate dryness. Conclusions - Spatial variations in environmental conditions
and in the related stress gradients determine predictable variations in the functional composition of the herb layer. Therefore, it may be possible to use Grimes's PFTs for assessing environmental constraints and predicting whether a species with a specific strategy is likely to be positively
or negatively affected by changes in environmental stress due, for instance, to climate change.
The results of a phytosociological survey of the woods mainly growing on limestones in the Southern part of the Marches Region (Central Italy), that is part of the Monti Sibillini National Park, are ...here presented. This area is characterized by a temperate climate (upper mesotemperate and lower/upper supratemperate bioclimatic belts). In order to study the vegetation, 173 phytosociological relevés were carried out through the Braun-Blanquet methodology. All the data obtained were submitted to multivariate analysis. The phytosociological analysis is characterized in nine associations, whereof three are of new description (Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae hieracietosum murorum, Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae corallorhizetosum trifidae and Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae anemonetosum nemorosae).
Prikazani so rezultati fitocenološke raziskave gozdov, ki uspevajo predvsem na apnencu v južnem delu pokrajine Marche (srednja Italija), to je v delu Nacionalnega parka Monti Sibillini. To območje označuje zmerna klima (zgornji mezotemperatni in spodnji/zgornji supratemperatni bioklimatki pas). Vegetacijo smo proučili s 173 fitocenološkimi popisi po Braun-Blanquetovi metodi. Vse popisno gradivosmo analizirali z multivariatno statistiko. S fitocenološko analizo smo dobili devet asociacij, od tega so tri novoopisane (Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae hieracietosum murorum, Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae corallorhizetosum trifidae and Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae anemonetosum nemorosae).
A phytosociological survey of a woodland located in the central part of Umbria (Central Italy) was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet method: 80 relevés were classified through cluster analysis. ...Nine forest syntaxa were reported and three subassociations (Erico arboreae-Quercetum cerridis lathyretosum veneti, Aceri obtusati-Quercetum cerridis arbutetosum unedonis and Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum ilicis quercetosum cerridis) were typified. Topographic data (altitude, aspect, slope, morphology) and pedological data (soil pH, texture and depth) were collected and a synecological analysis of syntaxa was performed. In order to understand the relation between environmental factors and plant communities, a Canonical Correspondence Analysis was run. The results showed soil parameters (pH, texture and depth) and altitude as the main ecological factors explaining the distribution of plant communities in the study area. The combination of topographic factors (aspect, morphology and slope angle) influences, by contrast revealed the distribution of forest syntaxa within homogeneous geo-pedological and bioclimatic conditions.
Izvedli smo fitosociološko raziskavo gozdov v srednjem delu Umbrije (srednja Italija) z Braun-Blanquetovo metodo: 80 popisov smo uvrstili s klastrsko analizo. Obravnavamo devet gozdnih sintaksonov in opisali smo tri subasociacije (Erico arboreae-Quercetum cerridis lathyretosum veneti, Aceri obtusati-Quercetum cerridis arbutetosum unedonis in Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum ilicis quercetosum cerridis). Zbrali smo topografske (nadmosrska višina, ekspozicija, naklon, morfologija terena) in pedološke podatke (pH, tekstura in globina tal) in naredili sinekološko analizo sintaksonov. Za pojasnitev povezave med rastiščnimi dejavniki in rastlinskimi združbami smo naredili Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Rezultati kažejo, da so dejavniki tal (pH, tekstura in globina) in nadmorska višina glavni rastiščni dejavniki, ki pojasnjejo razširjenost rastlinskih združb v obravnavanem območju. Kombinacija topografskih dejavnikov (ekspozicija, morfologija reliefa in naklon) je odločilna za pojavljanje gozdnih sintaksonov v homogenih geopedoloških in bioklimatskih razmerah.
This work assessed the spatio-temporal variation of land use in the catchment basins of Fiastra and Salino (central Italy) and its effect on landscape naturalness over a 30-year period (1978-2008). ...The study area (centroid coordinates 43°7′29.44′′ N; 13°20′34.56′′E) was divided into ecologically homogeneous units (land units) in terms of substrate, bioclimatic belt, and aspect using a GIS-based hierarchical approach for landscape classification and mapping. Land units were characterized from a phytosociological viewpoint, and their naturalness evaluated using the Index of Landscape Conservation status. Comparison of current and past vegetation naturalness of land units was used to prepare the map of changes in landscape naturalness in the Fiastra and Salino catchment basins (central Italy) at a scale of 1:50,000. It was found that, while the change of naturalness in the whole study area was around zero, the pattern of distribution of this change was heterogeneous: naturalness increased in land units of high hilly and mountain belts, mostly because of the spread of woods, to the detriment of shrublands, pre-wooded communities, and grasslands, while the opposite trend was recorded in the alluvial plain and low hills, because of increasing urbanization and landscape homogenization caused by the transformation of grasslands, shrublands, pre-wooded communities, and tree-planted arable lands into arable lands. The hierarchical approach to landscape classification and mapping provided information that could have not been detected by mere calculation of indices. This kind of analysis offers a method for improved interpretation of landscape evolution, affording valuable input for predicting transformation of land use, and thus for formulating sound environmental policies and planning optimum ecosystem management strategies.
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