L. Rosati

Ecosystem classification and mapping: a proposal for Italian landscapes

. This paper deals with the development of a hierarchical land classification for describing and mapping landscapes at different scales. After a brief overview of the theoretical background, an integrative framework is proposed which incorporates different hierarchical levels from plant sociology as diagnostic attributes. The feasibility of this proposal has been tested in different sample landscapes in central Italy. This system has a potential for applications to Italian landscapes from national to local scales, because it is based on solid theory and on information which is generally available in Italy.

Plant species diversity in Mediterranean old-growth forests: A case study from central Italy

Abstract To investigate the differences in understorey composition and diversity between old-growth and managed forests, we analyzed an old-growth and a managed beech stand in the same area displaying similar abiotic features. We considered variations in understorey species composition and richness. The sampled understorey species were characterized in terms of functional traits, Ellenbergs indicator values and taxonomic distinctness; next, we calculated four different pairwise plot-to-plot dissimilarity matrices based on species composition, functional traits, Ellenbergs indices and taxonomic distances. We applied a permutational multivariate extension of ANOVA to test whether the forest stands significantly differ in the considered features. Indicator values of all plant species in managed and old-growth stands were evaluated. The old-growth forest had a higher species richness; permutational analysis of variance showed significant differences between the two stands in plant species composition, functional traits, Ellenberg indices and taxonomic distances. Indicator species analysis highlighted 14 indicator species for the unmanaged stand, while only 3 indicators were found for the managed one. The results suggest that forest management determines ecological differences that strongly affect plant species composition. The knowledge of natural stands dynamics could allow development of new approaches and practices in forest management focusing on biodiversity conservation.

Effects of fragmentation on vascular plant diversity in a Mediterranean forest archipelago

Abstract We analysed the effects of patch size and isolation on vascular plants in Quercus cerris forest surrounding Rome (Italy). We randomly sampled 96 plots within 18 forest patches with homogeneous environmental variables; the patches ranged from 1.4 ha to 424.5 ha and were divided into four size classes. We performed the analyses at the patch level using linear regression. At the size class level, the analysis of species richness response to fragmentation (area effect) was performed with ANOVA, while the effect on community composition was analysed by means of PERMANOVA. We also investigated which species could be used as indicator species for each size class. Lastly, to evaluate the advantages of conserving several small patches as opposed to few large ones, we used a cumulative area approach ranking forest fragments. The correlation between species richness and patch area was positive, with a significant difference between the “large” and “small” size classes, while analysis on community composition showed that “large” versus “medium” and “large” versus “small” were significantly different. Nemoral species were recognised as indicators in the “large” class, and shrub and edge species in the “small” class. Our results indicate that 10 ha may be a suitable forest size threshold for planning and conservation.

Cynosurion cristati grasslands in the central Apennines (Tyrrhenian sector): A phytosociological survey in the Lepini and Prenestini mountains

Abstract Cynosurion cristati grasslands are semi‐natural habitats that have developed on mesotrophic soils with a good water supply and are found from the basal up to the mountain vegetation belts. Differences between the various communities of these grasslands in the European continent have not been fully investigated; in Italy, there is a lack of knowledge of the mesophilous pastures in the central and southern Apennines. In order to shed light on the Cynosurion hay meadows and grasslands in the central Apennines, we considered phytosociological data from the Lepini and Prenestini mountains (central Italy, Tyrrhenian sector): 58 original relevés and a synoptic table containing similar associations throughout the Italian peninsula were analysed using multivariate methods (hierarchical classifications and principal coordinates analysis). Two new associations were distinguished: Hordeum bulbosum meadows, grazed after being mown (Trifolio molinerii–Hordeetum bulbosi), and heavily grazed, unmown pastures with several thorny species (Centaureo calcitrapae–Lolietum perennis). Both these associations have been assigned to Cynosurion cristati, though they differ from the European coenoses owing to the presence of Festuco‐Brometea and Helianthemetea guttati species. Further investigations are warranted to clarify the overall syntaxonomical position of the Italian coenoses in relation to the ecological and phytogeographic variations of Cynosurion, which are considered to be related to traditional land use in mountain agricultural systems. Hay meadows, which are important elements of landscape and biodiversity conservation, particularly feel the negative effects of land abandonment and land use change.

Primi risultati per una nuova regionalizzazione fitogeografia del territorio italiano

Biogeographia vol. XXVIII - 2007 (Pubb/icato il 30 dicembre 2007) Biogeografia de/I’Appennino eentra/e e sertentrionale: trenfanni dopo Primi risultati per una nuova regionalizzazione fitogeografica del territorio italiano CARLO BLASI, GOFFREDO FILIBECK*, SABINA BURRASCANO, RICCARDO COPIZ**, ROMEO DI PIETRO°, STEFAN IA ERCOLE, EDDA LATTANZI, LEONARDO ROSATI, AGNESE TILIA Dzpartimento di Bio/agizz Vegerzzle, Uniuersitiz di Roma qLa Szzpienzzz’: pizzzzzzle Aldo Mom 5, 00185 Roma (Italy); e-mzzil: czzrlo.b/zzsi@zmiromzz1.it *Dipzzrtimmt0 DEC 05, Universitfz de/[zz Tzzscizz, largo Universifiz, 01100 Viterbo {ftzz/y) **Dzpzzrtzmem‘0 S T A T, U7zzz/ersiziz de[ M olise, contrzzdzz Fonte Lzzppone, 86190 P656‘/:76’, Isemizz (ltzzly) °Dzpzzrtimem‘0 I TAC/‘1, Uiziuersitfz di Roma “La Szzpienzzz”, z/itz Flzzmirzitz 7 8, 00196 Roma (ftzzey) Key words: biogeographical regions, local fioras, potential natural vegetation, phytogeography, regionalization SUMMARY Biogeographical regionalization should not be confused with ecological cartography or landscape classification, as biogeographical classification should be based only on species distribution. Therefore, the optimal data set for a phytogeographical (fioristic) Classification of Italy would be a floristic atlas including all the vascular plants species of the country: grid cells should be treated as OGUS (Operational Geographic Unit) and elaborated through multivariate presence/ absence analysis. However, such an atlas has never been realized in our country. Aim of the paper is to present a quantitative phytogeographical classification of Italy based on available data, i.e. the new chet:l(—list of the Italian vascular Hora, the large amount ofpublished local Horas and information about the distribution of Potential Natural Vegetation (vegetation series). As the check-list shows the plant list of each of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, these can be treated as OGUS For a first, coarse—grain framework classification of the country. A more detailed and fine—grainecl analysis of Italy’s phytogeographical units can be made analyzing a wide set oflocal floras, chosen — among the many available — on the basis of their study area surface and ecological heterogeneity. We also present a detailed analysis regarding the chorological attributes of species exclusive of the Thyrrenic regions compared to the Adriatic ones. The complex of the analysis confirm the presence of a gradient north—south and a clear separation est—west along the Peninsula. Results confirm that the adopted method is a valuable approach and propose a new boundary for the Centre— European Region in Southern Italy. q INTRODUZIONE La distribuzione degli organismi dipende da fattori ecologici, cioe dalle catat- tetistiche dell’arnbiente e dalle interazioni fra organismi e comunita, e da fat-