Giuliano Fanelli

Reliability and effectiveness of Ellenberg’s indices in checking flora and vegetation changes induced by climatic variations

Two methods are proposed to assess the significance of time-spanned local variations of Ellenberg’s indicator values in floristic and phytosociological data sets respectively. Both methods are based on frequencies and averages of the indicator values within and among data sets. Main goal of proposed methods is to determine the threshold above which the observed variations are to be considered significant. In order to relate the observed floristic variations to recent climatic changes, attention was focused on the Ellenberg’s indices dealing with the main climatic variables: heliophany, temperature and precipitation. Study-cases from Zannone Island (Pontine Archipelago, Mediterranean region), Inferno Valley (Rome, Mediterranean region) and Braulio Valley (Stelvio National Park, Alpine region) are reported. For Mediterranean data- sets, integration and adjustments to the Ellenberg’s indicator values have been adopted.

The Vegetation of the Buna River Protected Landscape (Albania)

Abstract The vegetation of Buna River Protected Landscape is described. The area comprises both the alluvial plain of the lower course of the Buna river that marks the boundary between Montenegro and Albania, and a carbonatic range. The vegetation is characterized by a high β-diversity (27 alliances and 46 associations), especially in wetlands and dry grasslands. In the area it is possible to distinguish 1 dunal and 4 hygro-sequences in the alluvial plain and 3 xeroseries in the carbonatic range. Associations Clematido viticellae-Punicetum granati and Periploco graecae-Alnetum glutinosae are described as new. Izvleček V članku je opisana vegetacija v zavarovanega območja ob reki Buna. Območje obsega aluvialno ravnino ob spodnjem teku reke Buna, ki predstavlja mejo med Črno goro in Albanijo in karbonatnim hribovjem. Za vegetacijo je značilna visoka β diverziteta (27 zvez in 46 asociacij), še posebej pa mokrišča in suha travišča. V območju smo izločili 1 sekvenco na sipinah, 4 higro sekvence na aluvialni ravnici in 3 ksero serije na karbonatnem masivu. Asociaciji Clematido viticellae-Punicetum granati in Periploco graecae-Alnetum glutinosae sta novo opisani.

Can the flora-based humus functionality index (RxN) predict humus forms in Mediterranean plant communities? A case study in Castelporziano State Natural Reserve

Abstract Humus is the fraction of the topsoil strongly influenced by organic matter, corresponding to the sequence of organic and the related underlying organo-mineral horizons. It is functional both for carbon storage and for the plant recruitment process (including seed storage, germination, roots development and seedling survival). In the years 2011–2012, 32 plots were established in Castelporziano State Natural Reserve as part of a pilot study on the relationships between soil and plants. Following standard methods, vegetation, humus forms and several soil parameters were surveyed/measured simultaneously in all the plots. The main aim of the study was to explore for the first time the application of the humus functionality index (RxN), derived from the Ellenberg flora-based eco-indication model, in a Mediterranean forest. In the Reserve three main humus forms were detected: Mull, Moder and Amphi. The distribution frequency of Ellenberg soil ecological indicator values such as R-soil reaction and N-soil nutrients, and to a lesser extent F-soil moisture, varied among plots with different humus forms. The index RxN was most powerful in emphasizing significant differences among the humus forms. Moreover, species were also differently distributed among the three humus forms: Ranunculus lanuginosus, Stellaria media and Tanacetum parthenium were exclusive to the Mull, while Moder and Amphi forms had a set of preferential species, respectively: Erica arborea, Carex flacca, Cyclamen repandum, Arbutus unedo; and Leontodon tuberosus and Festuca heterophylla. Overall the study confirms the relationship among humus forms, soil parameters (such as organic carbon % and total nitrogen % in the OH horizon), and Ellenberg indicators.

COENOLOGICAL SHIFT FOLLOWING FERTILIZATION IN MEDITERRANEAN GRASSLAND

In Rome both meadows of CentraI-European affinity and Mediterranean dry grasslands are presento We studied a site (Parco Regionale Urbano de] Pineto in Rome) with very diverse vegetation, where species belonging to both coenologica] groups oceur. Wc fertilized a grassland with a combination of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). After fertilization diagDostie species of Helianthemetea guttati (Thcrophytes) dccrease while species of MolinioArrhenatheretea (Hemicriptophytes) increase. In a climate as that of Rome, transition between Mediterranean (with summer drought) and Central European (without summer drought), nutrients availability modulates the distribution of vegetation Classes with respectively Mediterranean or Central-Europe affinities.