Mário Lousã

Annual dune plant communities in the Southwest coast of Europe

Abstract This study presents an updated sintaxonomic review of the annual communities from coastal dunes in the Southwest coast of Europe, specifically in the Iberian Peninsula, including both types: directly influenced by the sea salt spray and not affected by this influence. The floristic segregation of the different plant associations was obtained by statistical agglomerative processes (UPGMA, Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) plus principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and discussed based on the interpretation of phytosociological tables. Three new communities in central western Portugal were found and are described: Pseudorlayo minusculae-Polycarpietum alsinifoli, Cerastio diffusae-Vulpietum fontqueranae and Omphalodo kunzinskyanae-Evacietum ramosissimae.

A global view on the riparian forests with Salix neotricha and Populus alba in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain)

Abstract Forests dominated by Salix neotricha, and Populus alba found along the mesoeutrophic rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, were studied. We discuss the floristic circumscription, chorology, and community segregation based on the available relevés of all Iberian riparian communities included in Populenion albae. Eleven formerly described communities were analyzed and due to original floristic combination, habitat features, and biogeographic scope, a new willow and poplar forest type is proposed within a well-defined biogeographical unit (Sadensean-Dividing Portuguese Subprovince): Clematido campaniflorae-Salicetum neotrichae. This syntaxon is found under a semi-hyperoceanic thermomediterranean to lower mesomediterranean, subhumid to humid bioclimate. Cluster analysis including all Iberian communities of Populenion albae shows a clear floristic segregation within the suballiance and confirms the originality of the new association. Furthermore, chemical characteristics of the water along some of the Portuguese watercourses with Populenion albae were studied and compared to the oligotrophic rivers occupied by Osmundo-Alnion communities. This study suggests that floristic separation between the communities of Populenion and Osmundo-Alnion is accompanied by a differentiation of the water trophic level.

Plant communities of the lagoons of the Portuguese Coastal Superdistrict — a multivariate approach

The Portuguese Coastal Superdistrict (Western Portugal) is a transitional biogeographical unit between the Mediterranean and Eurosiberian Regions. Due to the multiple influences which impact on the region, a wealth of taxa are found there making large areas suited for biodiversity conservation. In this study, the flora and vegetation of the lagoons and the marshes of this Superdistrict are characterized, and the exotic weed taxa causing problems in natural communities are emphasised.

Corrección nomenclatural de los sintaxones basados en Hyparrhenia hirta del sector Divisorio portugués

La asociacion Carici depressae-Hyparrhenietum hirtae y la alianza Hyparrhenion hirtae , descritas de los sustratos calcareos del sector Divisorio Portugues, deben ser corregidas nomenclaturalmente debido a que el unico taxon de Hyparrhenia presente en dicho territorio es H. sinaica . Asimismo se designan los tipos nomenclaturales de ambos nombres.