Alessandra Vitanzi

Relationship Between Phenology and Above - Ground Phytomass in a Grassland Community in Central Italy

We analysed the relationship between phenology, phytomass temporal pattern and productivity dynamics in two grassland plots in the Marche Region (Central Italy). The plots were placed in grasslands belonging to the same syntaxon, previously defined as Brizo mediae-Brometum erecti using the phytosociological approach. The two sites were chosen at the lowest and the highest altitude within the distribution area of this syntaxon. The analysis showed a clear relationship between the observed variables and other ecological variables, such as climate. This information should be useful to plan future management strategy in the study area.

Map of changes in landscape naturalness in the Fiastra and Salino catchment basins (central Italy)

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.

Syntaxonomy and site ecology of a Central Italy forest landscape

Syntaxonomy and Site Ecology of a Central Italy Forest Landscape 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.

The Effects of Environmental Features and Overstory Composition on the Understory Species Assemblage in Sub-Mediterranean Coppiced Woods: Implications for a Sustainable Forest Management

ABSTRACT Understanding the relationship among environmental factors, overstory and understory is a key step for the improvement of sustainable forest management. Our aim was to understand how environmental features (topographic factors) and overstory (tree species) composition affect understory (shrub and herb species) assemblage in sub-Mediterranean coppiced woods. The study area lies in the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy). In 205 plots (20 × 20 m) we collected topographic features and species cover values; moreover, we defined the Social Behaviour Type (SBT — i.e. species ecological and dynamic features) of each understory species. Data were analysed using Redundancy Analysis and Generalized Linear Modeling. We found that topographic factors shaped percentage cover of different tree species and hence determined forest community type. Topography-related factors were further mediated by the tree layer composition, in filtering understory assemblage, on the basis of species SBT. We found no effect of overstory species diversity on understory species diversity. However, the presence of tree species different from the dominant ones increased understory species richness. This effect was particularly notable in evergreen woods, dominated by Quercus ilex. We conclude that, to improve the management sustainability, coppicing management should be focused on the achievement of the greater tree species diversity.