Simone Pesaresi

Bioclimate of Italy: application of the worldwide bioclimatic classification system

The worldwide bioclimatic classification system (WBCS) of Rivas-Martínez was applied to the Italian territory and surrounding areas between latitudes 35°47′–46°60′ N and longitudes 5°92′–21°39′ E. The ‘WorldClim’ precipitation and temperature dataset was used as the source data. Application of the WBCS in a geographic information system allowed the production of macrobioclimates, bioclimates, ombrotypes, continentality, compensated thermicity index and ombro-evaporal index maps at a scale of 1:5,500,000, and a map of thermotypes at a scale of 1:2,250,000. Moreover, the isobioclimates of Italy are identified and quantified in terms of areas. These maps are available here as raster datasets (1 km spatial resolution) and are useful for: (i) rapid bioclimatic diagnosis of the Italian territories; and (ii) vegetation–environment relationship modeling at the national scale.

Phytosociological synrelevés and plant landscape mapping: From theory to practice

Abstract A mapping methodology is presented here that allows the practical implementation of synphytosociological and geosynphytosociological surveys. The proposed methodology consists in carrying out synrelevés from vegetation maps produced through the use of geographic information system (GIS). Such mapping has the great advantage of allowing the overlaying of the study area map with many thematic maps that are particularly useful in the definition of the areas of potential vegetation. In the present case, the use of solar radiation maps is proposed, as these are more representative than aspect maps (exposure) of the actual conditions of the mapped areas. Indeed, the main ecological factors that delimit the ecological niche of plant communities, the vegetation series and the geosigmeta are defined qualitatively and quantitatively. The methodology is here applied to an area of the Italian Adriatic coast that has a great diversity of environmental conditions. The conclusions confirm that the proposed methodology allows predictive models of the plant landscape units (geosigmeta) to be obtained with great precision; they can be mapped and quantified in concrete terms insofar as they are defined through multidimensional correlations.

New and validated syntaxa for the checklist of Italian vegetation

We drew up a checklist of the Italian vegetation (http://www.prodromo-vegetazione-italia.org/), up to the syntaxonomical rank of alliance. During the compilation of this checklist, we observed that some syntaxa were invalidly published. For this reason, in this article we validated some syntaxa names and, at the same time, described new syntaxa of different hierarchical levels. Therefore, 10 new orders, 1 new suborder, 18 new alliances, 3 new suballiances and 5 new associations are described here. These new syntaxa belong to the following classes: Adiantetea capilli-veneris, Parietarietea judaicae, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Artemisietea vulgaris, Stellarietea mediae, Galio aparines–Urticetea dioicae, Mulgedio alpini–Aconitetea variegati, Trifolio medii–Geranietea sanguinei, Festuco-Seslerietea, Salicetea herbaceae, Festuco valesiacae–Brometea erecti, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Cisto cretici–Micromerietea julianae, Rhamno catharticae–Prunetea spinosae, Salici purpureae–Populetea nigrae, Salicetea purpureae, Quercetea ilicis and Querco roboris–Fagetea sylvaticae.

Interpretation and management of the forest habitats of the Italian peninsula.

Abstract This article aims to present the Italian forest biodiversity based on the habitats of Annex I of the Habitats Directive. This puts on evidence for the area five categories corresponding to the codes 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. After a brief presentation of the physical and biogeographical factors that characterize the Italian peninsular area, we review the different types of forest habitats acknowledged by the Directive for this peninsula, highlighting their syntaxonomic position which is summarized in a complete syntaxonomic scheme. Regarding the habitat 91AA* « Eastern white oak woods », species related to the white oak group previously considered in synonymy (Quercus pubescens s.l.) have been recognized. This led to the correction of the association Roso sempervirentis- Quercetum pubescentis Biondi 1986 into Roso sempervirentis—Quercetum virgi- lianae and the description of three new associations.

Natura 2000 and the Pan-European Ecological Network: a new methodology for data integration

The aim of this study is to define a methodological framework that allows the Natura 2000 network to be integrated with the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN). The proposed methodology is based on phytosociological analyses, as these analyses led to the definition of the habitats of Directive 92/43/EEC and determined the choice of the Natura 2000 sites. At the landscape level, the methodology is integrated with geosynphytosociological analyses and with analyses that are currently in use in landscape ecology as these were used in the spatial schematization of the PEEN. The aim is thus to spatialize the elements of the network, to extend its meaning not only to biological features but also to landscape planning and management. The central nodes of the network (core areas and buffer zones) are defined on the basis of areas where there is a higher density of the habitats of the Directive. These areas were identified using the kernel method which estimates the density distribution across the territory obtaining a cumulative density surface in all of the points in space. The ecological corridors are identified according to the distribution of the plant communities and of the spread elements of the agricultural landscape. The polygons obtained merging different vegetation patches that are spatially continuous were classified according to their sizes and indirectly to their degree of internal spatial connection. As a case study, this methodology is applied in the province of Ancona (central Italy).

Nitrophilous and ruderal species as indicators of climate change. Case study from the Italian Adriatic coast

Abstract The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the value of some nitrophilous plants as bioindicators related to global warming. As a case study, the space–time dynamics of the populations of some nitrophilous and ruderal species have been investigated along the southern-central Adriatic side of the Italian Peninsula. These have been examined according to the range of their distribution areas, to their ecological needs, and to the availability of past data, which have then been related to the data on global warming across the same territories. The choice for this investigation was for nitrophilous species with a Mediterranean distribution – of the Stenomediterranean type – and for some recent entries into the local flora as alien species. The spread of these species occurs in areas with intense human activity, where they have exploited the conditions of the warmer niche, such that their presence and their spatial spread observed over time are clearly linked to global warming. For all of the species in question, rapid increases in the population numbers have been observed, along with a northward shift of their distribution areas. These changes correspond to the increase in average annual temperature as revealed by the thermometric measurements.

Validation of some syntaxa of Italian vegetation

In this study, we validated some syntaxa, the published names of which were regarded as invalid on the basis of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. The validations concern syntaxa of different hierarchical levels, belonging to different phytosociological classes. Most validations regard syntaxa that are invalid with respect to art. 5 of the Code. Indeed, the nomenclatural types were not indicated in the correct form (typus, holotypus, lectotypus, and neotypus).

Bioclimates of Italy

ABSTRACT The Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System according to Rivas-Martínez (WBCS) is a bioclimatic classification that is widely used in vegetation science, geobotany, and landscape ecology. To date, only one complete WBCS map has been produced for Italy at the national scale. Here, we define two major updates to the WBCS map of Italy: improvements to the surface spatial accuracy for the climate, especially for precipitation; and detailed mapping of the Submediterraneity Index and its levels, which mainly characterize the ecotone area between the Mediterranean and the Temperate macrobioclimates. Finally, all WBCS units (i.e. macrobioclimates, bioclimatic variants, bioclimates, continentality types, bioclimatic belts) and the Submediterraneity Index are mapped on a scale of 1:2,500,000. These maps and the bioclimatic indices and monthly climatic surfaces are available here as raster data-sets (resolution, 900 m) and are useful for accurate bioclimatic diagnosis for the entire Italian territory. They will also support vegetation–environment relationship analysis, ecological modeling, and applied studies of climate change at the national scale.

New syntaxonomic contribution to the Vegetation Prodrome of Italy

In the course of the project “Syntaxonomic checklist of the Italian classes, orders and alliances (Vegetation Prodrome of Italy)”, promoted in 2012 by the Italian “Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection” in collaboration with the “Italian Society of Botany”, it arises that some syntaxa are not validly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature rules. For this reason, these syntaxa names are validated in this paper. Furthermore, other new syntaxa of different hierarchical levels are here described for the first time. Therefore, one new order, two new suborders, six new alliances, two new suballiances and three new associations are here described. These new syntaxa belong to the following classes: Juncetea maritimi, Stellarietea mediae, Trifolio medii–Geranietea sanguinei, Alnetea glutinosae and Salici purpureae–Populetea nigrae. Finally, the syntaxonomic arrangement of Alnion incanae is here discussed.

Vegetation, plant landscape and habitat analyses of a fluvial ecosystem in central Italy

Abstract We propose a model for the analysis and cartographic representation of the vegetation, plant landscape and habitats of a fluvial ecosystem. We present here the results of a study aimed at drafting the management plan of a natural reserve along a river on the Adriatic side of the Italian peninsula. The study involves the identification of phytocoenoses and vegetation seres for the definition of the plant landscape units. The results of these analyses are shown through a phytosociological map of the vegetation and a geosynphytosociological map of the plant landscape (scales 1:5000). The map of the habitats of community interest (according to the 92/43/EEC directive), at a scale of 1:5000, shows how most of the phytocoenoses sampled within the river bed belong to habitats of community interest (92/43/EEC directive: 91E0*, 3150, 3260, 3270, 3280 and 6430).