Bryological flora of the regional historic Park of Monte Sole (Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

This article presents the results of a study on the bryological flora of the historic Park of Monte Sole, in the Bologna Apennines (Emilia-Romagna region). A total of 129 taxa were identified, including 9 new findings for the region. The study makes use of the regional cartographic grid, a methodology already used in the description of the vascular flora of the region, applied here for the first time to the bryological flora. If used in future studies, this method will allow a standardization of our knowledge on the distribution of the bryological flora in the region

The bryophyte flora of six gypsum outcrops in the Northern Apennines (Nature 2000 Network, Emilia Romagna Region, Italy).

A study of the bryophyte flora of the gypsum outcrops in six sites of the Nature 2000 Network of the Emilia-Romagna Region was conducted in order to contribute to the conservation of the biodiversity of these sites. Subsequently, the main ecological and chorological aspects of the areas were analyzed, and with this information a series of target species was identified as indicators of the conditions of naturality or of progressive anthropization and deterioration of the areas

Contribution to the knowledge of the bryoflora ofrunning waters of Central Italy.

The present study focused on the bryoflora of watercourses of the Tiber River basin watercourses (Central Italy). A total of 20 bryophyte species, which included 14 mosses and 6 liverworts, were collected at 32 river stations. Most species were recorded at stations of the watercourses’ upper sections, which have rocky substrate and where there is cool and well oxygenated running water, with low trophic load. Only few species, such as Leptodictyum riparium, Cinclidotus fontinaloides and Riccia fluitans, were also found at stations of the middle and lower sections, which are characterized by slow-flowing, turbid, warm and eutrophic waters. Some species are widely distributed, among which Fontinalis antipyretica ssp. antipyretica and Platyhypnidium riparioides, while others are very rare, such as Cinclidotus aquaticus, Dialytrichia mucronata and R. fluitans. Some of the collected species are new regional records (Hygroamblystegium fluviatile, D. mucronata), regional confirmations of rare taxa in Italy (C. aquaticus) or confirmations of old regional reports (Hygroamblystegium tenax, C. fontinaloides, Aneura pinguis)

An updated checklist of the bryophytes of Italy, including the Republic of San Marino and Vatican City State

The present contribution offers an updated inventory of recorded bryophyte species for Italy, providing the regional distribution for each one. The checklist is based on literature data, revision of bryological collections from several Italian and foreign institutional or private herbaria and recent observations and reports. Five categories based on Natural Breaks have been identified to highlight the floristic diversity between the administrative regions. The checklist includes 1273 taxa (1220 species, 17 subspecies and 36 varieties). Among these, hornworts and liverworts are represented by 301 species, 5 subspecies and 4 varieties, grouped into 99 genera and 55 families, while mosses total 919 species, 12 subspecies and 32 varieties, grouped into 259 genera and 77 families. Such data is presented by a table distinguishing their presence before and after 1968, as well as indicating dubious species based on information relating to bibliographic data. Critical notes on distribution and taxonomy are included and, for ease of reference, synonyms are given for each species. In the last three years, the bryoflora of Italy has increased by 29 taxa. The analysis of the data showed that the regions with the highest peaks of the Alpine chain are the ones with the greatest biodiversity. Among the Apennine regions, Tuscany is the most floristically rich. Sardinia and Sicily have medium levels of biodiversity, favoured by their geomorphological diversity and insularity. For some regions, the low bryophyte richness is linked to the lack of research. Furthermore, the trend of scientific publications on bryophytes over the last 200 years is highlighted

Conocephalum salebrosum Szweykowski, Buczkowska & Odrzykoski (Conocephalaceae, Marchantiophyta), new to Italy.

A new liverwort species, Conocephalum salebrosum Szweykowski, Buczkowska & Odrzykoski, has been identified for the Bryophyte flora of Italy. The species was gathered in the Marmore Waterfalls, Umbria Region, Italy

Updates on the bryophyte flora of the lowland Woods and temporary ponds west of Lake Trasimeno (Central Italy).

A study of the bryophytes of the lowlands west of Lake Trasimeno, a very peculiar territory for its geological, biogeographical and bioclimatic traits, was carried out. The data here reported were collected in a mosaic of woods and Mediterranean temporary ponds, the latter indicated as priority natural habitats under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC with the code 3170*. Research led to the identification of 44 taxa of bryophytes (13 liverworts and 31 mosses), among which 5 liverwort and 8 moss species are new records for the Umbria region, while one is confirmed. Particularly interesting is the presence of 13 liverwort taxa considered, according to the European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes (ECCB), under threat at different levels in Europe. The study offers new outcomes on neglected aspects of the flora of central Italy and represents a considerable improvement of the floristic, biogeographical and ecological understanding of its bryophytic component

Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini: suoli e muschi indigeni per valutare le ricadute di elementi in tracce.

Il monitoraggio dell’inquinamento atmosferico è comunemente effettuato impiegando apparecchiature a volte complesse e sofisticate: le centraline elettroniche di rilevamento. Tali strumenti forniscono, in tempo reale e con risultati precisi, l’andamento della concentrazione degli inquinanti. Si tratta di un rilevamento di tipo puntiforme e richiede alti costi di gestione; è necessario cercare nuovi strumenti, che siano in grado di considerare la dispersione, il trasporto e le ricadute degli elementi su vaste aree. Solo i bioindicatori forniscono indicazioni sugli effetti biologici di una determinata situazione di inquinamento, tenendo in considerazione in modo “naturale“ il sinergismo tra le varie sostanze tossiche. Il biomonitoraggio offre, inoltre, garanzie di buona attendibilità, essendo possibile impiegare organismi diversi per vari inquinanti e fornisce informazioni retroattive, poiché i sintomi possono essere riscontrati anche ad una certa distanza dall’episodio di inquinamento. Le piante superiori offrono notevoli possibilità come indicatori, in quanto, avendo scambi gassosi con l’ambiente molto superiori a quelli dell’Uomo e degli animali ed una minor complessità dei sistemi di difesa se si escludono la detossificazione e la riparazione, presentano una sensibilità maggiore nei confronti di molte sostanze inquinanti. La maggior parte delle piante vascolari previene l’assorbimento e la traslocazione degli inquinanti presenti nel suolo, immobilizzandoli nella membrana plasmatica delle radici o nelle ife delle micorrizie. Grazie a questa capacità di “esclusione”, moltissime specie di piante superiori riescono a prevenire eventuali effetti tossici degli inquinanti presenti nel suolo ed a mantenere piuttosto costante la composizione elementare dei loro tessuti. Molti contaminanti atmosferici sono associati al “particolato” e, negli ecosistemi terrestri, le foglie degli alberi e le piante erbacee costituiscono la componente biotica più esposta alla sedimentazione, all’impatto e alla intercettazione degli aerosol. L’intercettazione dipende dalla disposizione e morfologia delle foglie e da ”effetti di superficie” impossibili da riprodurre nelle apparecchiature di campionamento del particellato atmosferico. L’analisi delle piante vascolari è un valido approccio per valutare il trasferimento dei contaminanti ai consumatori primari e ai livelli più elevati delle catene trofiche terrestri. La maggior parte degli alberi tollera concentrazioni piuttosto elevate di inquinanti atmosferici fitotossici; alcune specie sono state introdotte in quasi tutti i continenti e, grazie alla propagazione vegetativa, sono caratterizzate da notevole uniformità genetica. Tra le applicazioni delle piante vascolari, si può ricordare l’uso delle piante del tabacco per biomonitorare l’ozono, l’uso delle Leguminose (erba medica, trifoglio) e di alcune cultivar di bulbose da fiore (tulipano e gladiolo) per valutare, rispettivamente, inquinamento da biossido di zolfo (SO2) e fluoruri. L’utilizzo dei muschi come bioaccumulatori offre notevoli vantaggi nel monitoraggio di elementi in tracce, in quanto essi ricevono prevalentemente le sostanze per il loro sostentamento direttamente dall’ambiente aeriforme che li circonda, riuscendo a vivere in ambienti ad elevata contaminazione. Inoltre, i risultati ottenuti con questa tecnica sono stati confermati da quelli acquisiti con le centraline di monitoraggio convenzionale. Occorre tuttavia precisare che affinchè i dati acquisiti mediante i bioindicatori siano accettati a pieno titolo occorre che tutte le procedure, dal campionamento all'elaborazione dei risultati, seguano in modo scrupoloso norme con un protocollo uniformato. Nel caso specifico, per le informazioni che si volevano trarre, è stata privilegiata la tecnica che vede l’utilizzo dei muschi indigeni (memoria passata) per valutare le deposizioni atmosferiche di origine antropica. Il suolo influisce in minima parte in quanto i muschi sono privi di vere radici e di un tessuto di conduzione per l’acqua; il substrato deve in ogni caso venire raccolto per valutare l’effetto suolo. Il presente studio intende valutare l’accumulo di elementi in tracce derivanti da attività antropiche e/o crostali mediante campioni di suolo e muschio indigeno. Il muschio utilizzato appartiene alla specie Hypnum cupressiforme, che è stata preferita in quanto ubiquitaria su quasi tutto il territorio europeo

Bryophyte diversity hotspot: the Marmore Waterfalls Regional Park (Umbria, central Italy)

A study of the bryophyte of Marmore Waterfall Natural Park a very peculiar territory for its geological, biogeographical and bioclimatic traits, was carried out. The reported data were collected in the valley area of ‘Parco Fluviale del Nera’ Regional Park, where the waters are flowing and the humidity of the rocks is oozing. Research led to the identification of 101 taxa of bryophytes (21 liverworts and 80 mosses), among which two liverwort and 10 moss species are new records for the Umbria region, while four are confirmed. The study offers new outcomes on neglected aspects of the flora of central Italy and represents a considerable improvement of the floristic, biogeographical and ecological understanding of its bryophytic component. Additionally, the area turn out to be significant from the conservation point of view both nationally and internationally considering that it harbours high diversity of bryophytes species among which many rare, threatened and interesting species occur. Eighteen species of conservation interest in Italy are recorded during the latest investigation (all in category NT – near threatened). Additionally two species that are considered data deficient in Italy are present in the researched area (Conocephalum salebrosum and Fissidens curvatus). Also, there is a small populations of a species vulnerable (Marchantia paleacea), endangered (Bryum calophyllum) and data deficient (Fissidens curvatus and Barbula bolleana) in European scale

Bryological flora of the regional historic Park of Monte Sole (Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

This article presents the results of a study on the bryological flora of the historic Park of Monte Sole, in the Bologna Apennines (Emilia-Romagna region). A total of 129 taxa were identified, including 9 new findings for the region. The study makes use of the regional cartographic grid, a methodology already used in the description of the vascular flora of the region, applied here for the first time to the bryological flora. If used in future studies, this method will allow a standardization of our knowledge on the distribution of the bryological flora in the region