Erika Pignatti

Comparison of ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin and Western Australia

A comparison between fire-prone ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin and Western Australia shows convergent adaptations in structure, life forms and flora evolution. Both areas have in common summer drought and winter rainfall. Reproductive biology is mainly correlated with fire ecology; the different length of human impact and history seem to be responsible for floristic divergency in both areas. The ecological significance of pollination by insects, birds and mammals and problems of the seed banks are discussed.

Plant communities of the Stirling Range, Western Australia

The Stirling Range is a mountain system of Proterozoic origin in the southern part of Western Australia, reaching an altitude of 1000 m; it consists of acid rocks and has a mediterranean climate with a rainfall of 500 - 550 mm/yr. It is the only extensive mountain system of this portion of the continent and presents a rich endemic flora. The vegetation of the area was investigated from 1984 to 1992; 68 phytosoci-ological releves, ecological observations and extensive floris-tic collections were made. On the basis of multivariate analysis eight communities have been distinguished: Eucalyptus woodland, mallee, evergreen shrubland (plain, mountain and slope), and herbaceous communities of wet sands, springs and rocks. The Stirling Range is the only area in the south of Western Australia where vegetation belts can be recognised.

Rastlinski svet Dolomitov

Abstract In Europe, the management of semi-natural grasslands is changing steadily in extent and intensity. These changes represent a serious threat to one of the most species-rich habitats in Europe; therefore, the related shifts in species composition should be assessed by means of sound scientific. We describe a new methodology aimed at: (i) quantifying the temporal changes in vascular plant species composition of semi-natural grasslands; (ii) identifying the environmental and management variables that drive patterns of change. Our approach consists of a diachronic analysis based on historical phytosociological data associated with detailed vegetation maps. To describe and test our methodology, in 2013 we re-visited 24 historical plots of Bromus erectus grasslands that were first sampled in 1982. To designate the new sampling sites, we combined the topographic and typological information available for the historical plots with the spatial information of the associated map. The degree of change in species composition was calculated through ordination techniques; multivariate distances were used in a regression analysis to identify the environmental variables responsible for patterns of compositional change. Our worked example demonstrated that species composition has changed significantly in the last 30 years, with patterns that have been substantially influenced by topography and landscape structure. Izvleček Gospodarjenje s pol naravnimi travišči se v Evropi spreminja po obsegu in po intenzivnosti. Spremembe predstavljajo resno grožnjo enim vrstno najbolj bogatih habitatov v Evropi, zato je potrebno ocenjevati spremembe v vrstni sestavi z znanstveno metodo. Opisujemo novo metodologijo, ki stremi h (i) kvantifikaciji časovnih sprememb v vrstni sestavi pol naravnih travišč ter (ii) opredelitvi dejavnikov okolja in gospodarjenja, ki vodijo v spremembe. Naš pristop temelji na diakronični analizi historičnih fitocenoloških podatkov v povezavi z natančnimi vegetacijskimi kartami. Za opis in preverjanje metodologije smo leta 2013 ponovno obiskali 24 starejših ploskev travišč z vrsto Bromus erectus, mi smo jih prvič vzorčili leta 1982. Za izbiro novih vzorčnih mest smo kombinirali topografske in tipološke informacije, ki so na voljo za starejše ploskve, s prostorskimi informacijami na povezani karti. Stopnjo sprememb vrstne sestave smo izračunali z ordinacijskimi metodami; uporabili smo multivariatne razdalje v regresijski analizi za opredelitev okoljskih dejavnikov odgovornih za vzorec sprememb vrstne sestave. Z našim primerom smo pokazali, da se je vrstna sestava v zadnjih 30 letih značilno spremenila, na vzorec sprememb pa sta bistveno vplivala topografija in krajinska sestava.

Centrolepidi‐Hydrocotyletea alatae, a new class of ephemeral communities in Western Australia*

Abstract. In Western Australia - a relatively arid portion of the continent - wet environments are only occasionally vegetated, but well-developed communities occur in winter-wet habitats in sandplain depressions, along water courses and on rock (mostly granite) outcrops. These communities are composed of small-sized annuals, mostly belonging to the Centrole-pidaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaginaceae, and Stylidiaceae. Multivariate analysis was carried out on 46 phyto-sociological releves; four associations are recognized with a distinct floristic composition and ecology. Species occurring in this vegetation are mostly therophytes (66%) and many are endemics; a new vegetation class Centrolepidi-Hydrocotyletea alatae, endemic for Australia, is proposed and described.

Phytosociological investigations in the Ding Hu Shan forest (Guangdong — South China)

The forest vegetation of the Ding Hu Shan Natural Reserve in South China has been investigated on the basis of a phytosociological study. Two associations can be distinguished, corresponding to the secondary forest and the natural vegetation. The natural forest shows a complicate structure of the tree layers and extremely high species diversity.RiassuntoLa vegetazione forestale della Riserva Naturale di Ding Hu Shan nella Cina Meridionale è stata studiata con il metodo fitosociologico. Possono venire distinte due associazioni, che corrispondono alla foresta secondaria ed alla vegetazione naturale. Quest’ultima è una foresta con complicata struttura tristratificata e diversità specifica estremamente elevata.

The Laurisilva as a cultural heritage: proposal for the protection of the relict of laurel forest near Ponte Renaro

The name Laurisilva was introduced by Humboldt to indicate mixed broadleaved evergreen forests, with a consistent presence of Lauraceae, widespread in the subtropical-humid zone of South America; similar vegetation was successively described for SE-Asia, China, Japan, SW-Pacific Islands and S. Africa; besides, remnants of laurophyllous forests occur in the Canary Islands and Madeira. In the Mediterranean basin only one species of Lauraceae occurs: the endemic Laurus nobilis. The discontinuous distribution of L. nobilis can be interpreted as the relict of an ancient continuous presence from the Iberian Peninsula to Caucasus, fragmented during the salinity crisis of Messinian and the cold phases of Pleistocene. Very few occurrences of L. nobilis in the natural vegetation are recorded along the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy and in Sicily. In the Castelporziano area near Rome L. nobilis is relatively frequent in mixed (evergreen-deciduous) stands: the Lauro-Carpinetum betuli a plant community with peculiar ecological requirements, well distinct from the surrounding oak forests (Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. ilex). The area of Valle Renaro, where the laurel forest occupies large areas of natural appearance is proposed as a wildlife sanctuary, to preserve a valuable record of this rare relic vegetation. The structure of the forest and the particular microclimatic and edaphic conditions are discussed. The population of L. nobilis in Valle Renaro is witnessing the palaeogeographic vicissitudes of an area that along a millenary history became, as well, an important cultural heritage.

Plant Life of the Dolomites

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit the Dolomites as part of a study of facilitation by alpine cushion plants. I remember beautiful scenery, wonderful plant life, and a particularly tasty limoncello sorbet while watching Italy get knocked out of the 2010 World Cup (limoncello 1, Italian World Cup dreams 0). So I was delighted to get the chance to review this book and learn more about this wonderful alpine region. This is a weighty new publication from Springer, and I approached it with some trepidation. However, I should not have worried. One thing the authors never miss is an opportunity to give some good advice. The introduction begins with a section titled ‘‘How to Approach This Book,’’ and the authors state that ‘‘The topic of this book is the plant cover of the Dolomites, and its goal is to make the reader capable of understanding how it is composed, how it was formed, and what its future evolution may be’’ (p ix). It is clear from the outset that this book aims to be more than simply a phytosociological description of the vegetation of the Dolomites. The introduction contains an interesting history of vegetation recording and analysis, including a description of the authors’ own work in the Dolomites and ‘‘Three Itineraries for Getting to Know the Flora of the Dolomites.’’ There is also a description of the data provided in the later chapters, many of which focus on details of the vegetation associations. Chapter 1 then provides a general outline of the environment of the Dolomites. After this introductory overview come the detailed descriptions of the vegetation associations, organized into broad habitat types ranging from the valley bottoms (‘‘Stable Meadows and Vegetation of Fields and Human Settlements’’) to the high mountain tops (‘‘Rupestrian Habitats’’). These habitat groupings are themselves brigaded into sections, from ‘‘The Human Habitat’’ to ‘‘Alpine Vegetation on Dolomite and Limestone.’’ Each habitat chapter begins with a general introduction, including highly detailed descriptions with excellent illustrations, of the ecological and environmental conditions associated with that habitat. As well as providing clear descriptions of the processes regulating the development of vegetation in each habitat type, they discuss, where relevant, the cultural significance and human role in the development and management of these habitats. Then come the detailed descriptions of particular associations, including details of their geology, structure, floristic composition, and distribution. Each vegetation description, and indeed each chapter, is illustrated with excellent photographs and distribution maps, and overall the book is a beautiful object (which is nice to see from Springer, whose finished products are consistently expensive but can vary greatly in production quality). The authors’ enthusiasm for their subject—as well as the depth and breadth of their knowledge—is clear throughout. For example, the book contains many boxes that cover in detail a range of topics, from ‘‘What Is Phytosociology’’ in the introduction to ‘‘The Problem of the Baranci’’ in Chapter 5 on the alpine taiga. For those who don’t know what the Baranci is—quite removed from the problems associated with it—there is a brief but helpful glossary at the end of the book. However, and as set out in the introduction, this book is trying to go further than simply providing descriptions of the habitats and plant communities of the Dolomites. Roughly one third of the book is given over to two sections focusing on the analysis of vegetation data: ‘‘Synthesis, Data Interpretation and Statistical Calculations’’ and ‘‘Conclusions.’’ The synthesis chapters assess the roles played by different types of factors in structuring the vegetation, including physical, chemical, and biotic drivers. The conclusions chapters try to pull this information together to summarize the key processes regulating different aspects of biodiversity in the vegetation of the Dolomites and then attempt to assess how this detailed understanding might help to conserve these environments. I struggled most in these chapters. Overall, I felt at times as though the book would have benefited from the benevolent attention of an editor, because some of the language can be convoluted and slightly impenetrable. I do not write this lightly: I appreciate the immediate advantage given to those who can call English our first language. However, although the authors’ language in many places is, in an absolute sense, accurate, occasionally it is not easy to follow, and I had to read some sentences several times to unpick the basic meaning. In addition, I was sometimes floundered in the book’s latter sections to understand what the conclusions were. For example, I was particularly interested in what Chapter 20, titled ‘‘A New Paradigm: The Approach to Complexity,’’ had to offer. I like a good paradigm. Apparently, ‘‘As the conclusion to this work, an ambitious attempt is presented to interpret the plant life of the Dolomites as a complex system: a synthesizing outline of the vegetation defined by means of ecological information, a new concept of biodiversity, the structuring of the territory, all of which provide the cognitive elements for a new strategy for nature conservation’’ (p 693). This was no small ambition. The analytical approach ‘‘also makes it possible to confront the problems of the sustainable management of resources in a new way’’ (ibid). However, having read MountainMedia Mountain Research and Development (MRD) An international, peer-reviewed open access journal published by the International Mountain Society (IMS) www.mrd-journal.org

La vegetazione nelle aree archeologiche di Roma e della Campagna Romana

Abstract In this paper, we provide an overview of the distribution and invasive status of non‐native species in the Italian flora across its administrative regions, biogeographic regions and main land use types, and a synthesis of current knowledge on the threats they pose within the country. The information on non‐native plant species collected during the project “A survey of the non‐native Italian flora” was used to compile comprehensive regional and national databases. The number of non‐native species within a given administrative region increases in proportion to its size, resident population density and latitude, reaching the highest values in the intensively cultivated, heavily industrialized and urbanized Po Plain in northern Italy. The number of casual species is positively correlated with the number of yearly visitors in each region and negatively correlated with the proportion of mountainous terrain within the region. If compared with the Continental and Mediterranean biogeographic regions, the Alpine region yields the lowest number of non‐native species and lowest proportion of casual species. The number and density of introduced species is highest in artificial land use types, particularly in urban areas. A negative impact is reported to be exerted by 203 species, most of which are agricultural weeds.

Southwestern Australian vegetation classes

The portion of W. Australia with mediterranean type climate is a mainly tabular landscape with few mountains of low elevation: a description of its vegetation on phytosociological basis is still lacking. The results of the research carried out by the Authors and of previous investigations are here synthesized. The vegetation can be included in several classes, which are all endemic in the Australian continent; 6 classes are described as new ones. This is a preliminary enumeration, still incomplete; nevertheless it appears evident that this vegetation is more uniform than vegetation of the Mediterranean basin; the nearly complete absence of deciduous woody species and scarcity of herbs are pointed out.RiassuntoLa porzione dell’ Australia Occidentale ehe pré senta un clima di tipo mediterraneo costituisce un paesaggio a tavolato con pochi rilievi montuosi poco elevati: una descrizione della vegetazione di quest’ area basata su rilievi fitosociologici non è finora disponible. I risultati dé lie ricerche condotte dagli Autori e di altre ricerche precedenti vengono sintetizzati nel presente lavoro. La vegetazione puó venire inclusa in parecchie classi, tutte endemiche sul continente australiano: 6 classi vengono descritte come nuove. Questa enumerazione ha carattere preliminare, ed è tuttora incompleta, tuttavia tin d’ora appare evidente che questa vegetazione è piùUniterme di quella del bacino mediterraneo: in particolare si attira l’ attenzione sull’ assenza quasi completa di specie legnose a foglia caduca e la scarsità di specie erbacee autoctone.

Exploration of the Flora and Ecological Factors in the Dolomites

During an excursion in a mountain area, the first perception consists of the aspect of single plant individuals, and the continuous repetition of similar herbs, shrubs and trees allows to identify the different species occurring along the trail: the flora. A further in depth observation reveals that many plants grow together in particular habitats: the abstract concept of plant association. Along a period of fast 200 years, the Dolomites where studied, first the flora and successively plant communities.