Krunica Hruska

Assessment of urban allergophytes using an allergen index

Utilizing data on the biological andphenological characteristics of allergophytesin various urban ecosystems of central Italyand taking into consideration some allergologiccharacteristics of their pollens, an allergenindex (A.I.) is proposed. On the basis of thisindex, plants are grouped into stronglyallergenic (A.I. = 7–10), moderately allergenic(A.I. = 4–6), and slightly allergenic or ofuncertain effect (A.I. ≤ 3). The index can beused to conduct a rapid survey of a citysphytoallergenic potential. Follow-up assessmentof allergophyte distribution through selectivefloristic cartography and identification of themaximum pollen production period can facilitatepreventative treatment and lessen thesymptomatology of pollinosis in the humanpopulation.

Notes on the evolution and organization of the urban ecosystem

The continual spread of human settlements over the world’s surface has transformed the natural environment on a global scale. Human’s intervention has changed primary ecosystems (protoecosystems or euecosystems) into anthropoecosystems. The spread of urban ecosystems, cultivated surfaces (agroecosystems), and various areas differentiated by their level of anthropization has facilitated the progressive reduction of euecosystems. The evolution of urban areas over the course of history with transformations of cities and surrounding territory, has created very complex mosaics. A proper study of the city, drawing together historical, cultural, social, and other factors, as well as abiotic ones (urban climate, soil, water, air), requires appropriate, uniform terminology for expressing the complex relationships existing among these factors. We therefore propose that the city (or metropolis) be considered as a set of ecosystems, a “synecosystem”. The entire urban area should be termed a “synbiotope”. It is divided into numerous partial biotopes (macro-, meso- and microbiotopes), the result of modifications wrought through the historical and cultural vicissitudes of the human population. Urban biotopes host not only humans, but also a characteristic vegetable and animal component, the “biosyncoenosis”, formed of numerous plant and animal communities, selected on the basis of the environmental conditions of the individual biotopes, which differ from each other in structure, dynamics, age, and position in the urban space. This terminology should facilitate study of the biotic component and its connection to the urban territory, as well as interpretation of results obtained in the different disciplines in terms of the human population’s quality of life.

Considerazioni ecologiche, fitosociologiche e morfologiche sul genere Anthriscus Pers

Abstract Ecological, plant geographical and morphological considerations on the genus Anthriscus Pers. - Analysis of the ecological, plant geographical and morphological characteristics of the genus Anthriscus has shown that his diffusion on broad geographical areas stays in connection with the transition of the single entities from the natural habitats to those semi-natural and synantropic. This passage is accompanied by a lowering of the inferior altitudinal limit of the distribution of the single species. In this genus has been observed a reduction series regarding the duration of the life cycle (from perennial herbs to biennal and annuals) and the size of the vegetative and reproductive apparatus.

Influence of urbanization on riparian and algal species composition in two rivers of central Italy

Abstract The riparian flora and algal (diatom) communities in the urban stretches of the Tronto River and its tributary, the Castellano, were studied where they flow through the city of Ascoli Piceno (central Italy) in order to correlate their composition to human disturbance. The research revealed notable dynamic exchanges between the city and its rivers and revealed a vegetation mosaic of heterogeneous origin, rich in ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as nitrophilous and cultivated entities. urbanization tends to select plants with broad ecological range and wide distribution, thus causing the cosmopolitization of the riparian flora; the area studied hosts an abundance of cosmopolite species. A developed shrub layer here fosters the presence of a rich avifauna. Diatoms and hydrophytic—helophytic plants indicate excellent to good water quality in the Castellano River and only passable water quality in the Tronto. These results suggest that examination of both riparian and diatom species composition provides more precision in assessing the quality of river habitats subjected to human-induced alterations, especially in moderately extended and highly disturbed stretches, thus facilitating ecologically correct restoration projects.

Considerazioni sull'evoluzione del genere Chaerophyllum L. Umbelliferae

Abstract Considerations on the evolution of the genus Chaerophyllum L. Umbelliferae. - A study on the anatomical, morphological and ecological characteristics of the European species of the genus Chaerophyllum L. has been carried out. It showed the presence of decreasing series in the vegetative and reproductive apparatus and in the life cycle of most species during their diffusion from natural to semi-natural and anthropogenous habitats. These changes are often accompanied by the lowering of the inferior altitudinal limit of their distribution.