Roberta Tacchi

An information system on Italian liverworts, hornworts and mosses

The checklist of hornworts, liverworts and mosses of Italy is available online as a federated database, which can be queried by combining taxonomic and distributional information. Several digital identification keys have been included in the system, which will be part of the forthcoming Italian Biodiversity Network.

Ecological aspects of the bryoflora of some ravines of the Umbro‐Marchegian Apennines

Abstract The goal of this study was to broaden current floristic understanding of five ravines, with different altitudes and characteristics, present along the Umbro‐Marchegian Apennine chain, and to examine how the distribution of the bryoflora is conditioned by geomorphological and microclimatic aspects, as well as man’s intervention. The flora list derives almost exclusively from unpublished data of explorations conducted in 2006 and 2007. Initial analysis of this list indicates that the bryoflora is more characterized by the presence of the river at the base of the ravine than by the size of the ravine itself, for there is a considerable number of species of aquatic and stillicidous environments, rather than species related to climatic factors. In addition, the imperviousness of the ravines limits the presence of tourists, which generally determines the entrance of cosmopolite species of high ecological importance, reducing the quality of a given ecosystem. In addition, the presence of Conocephalum salebrosum is signalled for the first time in Italy.

Cephaloziella integerrima (Cephaloziellaceae, Marchantiophyta), New for Italy

Abstract A new liverwort species, Cephaloziella integerrima (Lindb.) Warnst., has been identified for the bryophyte flora of Italy. The species was gathered in the snow-beds of the high Gavia Valley (Stelvio National Park, Lombardy). This work describes the distribution and ecology of this rare species.

Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. var. tenerum (Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.) H.A. Crum and S. girgensohnii Russow, new to central and southern Italy

Summary Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. var. tenerum (Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.) H.A. Crum and S. girgensohnii Russow are reported for the first time in Latium. The two species were found in the Monterano Nature Reserve (Rome). 30 bryophytes (13 hepatics and 17 mosses) were gathered in this area: 8 taxa are new to Latium. The Monterano Nature Reserve is the southernmost site known for Sphagnum capillifolium and S. girgensohnii in Italy.

Biogeographical Characterization of the Bryological Flora of the “Montagna di Torricchio” Nature Reserve (Central Italy)

The present work examines the bryological flora of the “Montagna di Torricchio” Nature Reserve in order to increase knowledge about the biodiversity of the entire area. Specimen collection was conducted over the years 1975–2003 by various authors. The survey revealed 181 bryophyte taxa of which 19 were liverworts and 162 were mosses. In addition, further analysis assessed which families occur in the same proposed categories, and to what degree, in order to obtain more information on their distribution and ecology. The distribution of species frequency by chorological category - cosmopolitan, circumpolar and Eurasiatic - shows that the families richest in species are the most represented in the Torricchio Reserve. The general rate of the percentages of the chorological elements in the reserve’s bryological flora confirms that the temperate element dominates, closely followed by the boreal and oceanic-Mediterranean elements. The factor that promotes the occurrence of the other elements, resulting in a generally higher level of diversity, is the presence of niches with special microclimatic conditions that differ from the surrounding context.

Flora briologica e aspetti biogeografici dell'Isola di Zannone (Arcipelago Pontino, Lazio) e dell'Isola di San Pietro (Isole Chéradi, Puglia).

Riassunto Il presente lavoro si inserisce nel quadro di una serie di ricerche volte ad analizzare il ruolo che assumono alcune variabili fisiografiche ed ecologiche sulla biodiversità della flora briologica delle piccole isole che circondano la Penisola Italiana, la Sardegna e la Sicilia. La flora briologica delle isole di Zannone e San Pietro comprende 60 taxa (8 epatiche e 52 muschi) di cui 10 risultano nuovi per la regione Puglia e 3 per la regione Lazio. A partire da considerazioni di carattere floristico e biogeografico vengono inoltre formulate alcune ipotesi sul grado di migrazione delle briofite in condizioni di isolamento.