Vascular flora of calcareous outcrops in North-Western Sardinia (Italy)

Calcareous outcrops in North-Western Sardinia cover a large area (about 380 Km2) known as "Sassarese". In this study the vascular flora of this area is investigated. The actual flora is checked and, when possible, older references, synonyms and critical notes are given. The floristic list includes 840 entities. Among them, 18 have been cultivated (cultae), 11 are considered erroneously reported and so they are excluded from this area (excludendae) and 81 are in various ways considered not confirmed and to enquiry (inquirendae). The current floristic contingent is therefore reduced to 730 entities, divided into 98 families and 385 genera, many of them here documented for the first time in this area. Among them the more relevant are the Sardinian-Corsican endemic Silene nodulosa Viv. and the Sardinian endemic Hieracium gallurense Arrigoni, previously reported only for granite substrata in North-Eastern Sardinia. The biological spectrum shows a clear dominance of therophytes (41%). The chorological spectrum highlights the dominance of the Tethydic element, in which the dominance of more strictly Mediterranean element emerges. Four entities have in this area their locus classicus: Centaurea corensis Valsecchi et Filigheddu, Limonium racemosum (Lojac.) Diana and Scrophularia morisii Valsecchi, exclusive of the region object of this study, and Ophrys sphegodes Mill. subsp. praecox Corrias. Some entities, though not endemic, have a limited or fragmentary distribution in Sardinia, e.g. Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris (Sm.) Nyman, Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Reichenb. f. and Erica multiflora L., whereas Viola arborescens L.. Borago pygmaea (DC.) Chater et Greuter and Carex panormitana Guss. are included in the Red Book of Italian Plants. Although the area is strongly urbanised and subjected since long time ago to agricultural and pastoral uses, its flora is still rather diversified. The presence of species depending on the existence of hedges, dry-stone walls and other smaller structures belonging to traditional agricultural activities still present, is also substantial, even though their dilapidated state is often high. Finally the presence of floristic elemento of great interest together with small residuals of spontaneous vegetation are of very high value. Indeed, several natural elements from traditionally agricultural activities are present within an area of intense anthropic impact. The indiscriminate building development of the valleys, the reckless exploitation of the water sources and the diffusion of dumps, threaten increasingly some habitats of the region. The improvement of the natural resources could be done through an adeguate ecological net starting from a basic knowledge of the floristic biodiversity, that is the main aim of this work

Integrating phytosociological and agronomic analysis to support the sustainable management of Mediterranean grasslands

The paper analyses the integration of different methodologies for assessing the grazing value of grasslands, aimed at supporting decisions for their sustainable management, that is, the long term preservation of their productive potential. The attribution of an agronomic value (specific index) to each species can be used for a preliminary evaluation of their productive potential. It can be also considered a first step in the exploitation of data already available from studies made on grasslands using a range of approaches, among them phytosociological tables. A data base file containing a collection of Specific indices for 1796 taxa, based on evaluations made by different authors, who applied the Grazing Value method in a range of environments in the Mediterranean area, has been made available on the web site http://www.agr.unian.it/(download area, ricerca)

Indagini floristiche e fenologiche sulle coste settentrionali della Sardegna: la spiaggia del Liscia

Results of floristic and phenological research carried out between 1983 and 1985 on the beach around the mouth of the river Liscia (North-eastern Sardinia) are reported. 304 species, belonging to 208 genera and 63 families, including a considerable number of species of phytogeographic interest,were found. Data about the anthesic rhythm of each species have been collected; considerations about the synphenology of the community and of the different types of biological forms are discussed. Relationships of synphenological rhythms, biological spectrum and climate are considered

La Vegetazione psammofila della Sardegna settentrionale: litorale del Liscia

In this paper the authors examine the psammophyte vegetation of a part of the northern littoral in Sardinia, characterized by a peculiar morphology of the bar beach. The vegetational seriation is analyzed, and new psammophyte associations are described and typified: Ephedro-Helichrysetum microphylli; Ephedro-Helichrysetum microphylli armerietosum pungenti; Scrophulario-Helichrysetum microphylli; Armerio-Scrophularietum ramosissimae; Sileno-Jasionetum montanae. Gli autori esaminano la vegetazione psammofila di un litorale della Sardegna settentrionale caratterizzato da una particolare morfologia del cordone dunale. E' stata analizzata la seriazione delle fasce di vegetazione e sono state individuate e tipificate nuove associazioni psammofile: Ephedro-Helichrysetum microphylli; Ephedro-Helichrysetum microphylli armerietosum pungentis; Scrophulario-Helichrysetum microphylli; Armerio-Scrophularietum ramosissimae; Sileno-Jasionetum montanae

Small scale plant distribution in Mediterranean temporary ponds: implications for conservation

The research was undertaken with the aims to improve the knowledge of small scale distribution of plant communities in Mediterranean temporary habitats and to evaluate their diversity and conservation relevance in order to provide a sound basis for the prioritization of conservation efforts according to the Habitats Directive

Issues related to the classification of Mediterranean temporary wet habitats according with the European Union Habitats Directive

From a biological and biogeographic point of view, Mediterranean temporary wet habitats are recognised to be amongst the most interesting habitats in the Mediterranean bioclimatic region. They are considered to be habitats of Community Interest and are included in the “standing water group”. Due to an overlap in the plant species and syntaxa indicated as characteristic, the assignment of the plant communities to the habitats 3120, 3130 and 3170* is far from straightforward. We propose that the Isoetion communities be assigned to habitat 3170*, the Preslion cervinae, Cicendio-Solenopsion and Agrostion pourretii communities to habitat 3120, and the Cyperetalia fusci and Littorelletea uniflorae communities to habitat 3130

Valore pastorale delle associazioni vegetali: un esempio di applicazione nell'Appennino umbromarchigiano (Italia)

Vengono presentati i risultati di una ricerca finalizzata alla caratterizzazione delle praterie di un settore dell'Appennino umbro-marchigiano realizzata mediante il confronto e l'integrazione di informazioni ottenute applicando il metodo fitosociologico e quello fitopastorale. In particolare è stata presa in esame l'associazione Brizo mediae-Brometum erecti, nell'ambito della quale sono state individuate quattro varianti, corrispondenti ad altrettante facies pastorali, che si differenziano in base alla composizione floristica e alle esigenze ecologiche. II valore pastorale dell'associazione, valutato sia in base ai rilievi fitosociologici che a quelli puntiformi, è compreso tra 23'e 44. I valori minimi si riferiscono ai pascoli mesoxerofili di cresta, quelli massimi ai prati-pascoli mesofili del piano alto-collinare, in posizione ridossata, su terreni profondi. II buon livello di corrispondenza riscontrato tra il metodo dei rilievi puntiformi e quello fitosociologico, per l'identificazione delle facies pastorali e l'assegnazione del valore pastorale, sembrerebbe indicare la possibilità di integrare i dati fitosociologici già disponibili per le praterie con l'analisi fitopastorale al fine di renderli utilizzabili per scopi applicativi anche con la realizzazione di carte tematiche attraverso Sistemi Informativi Geografici. This paper reports the resulls of an integrated phytosociological and phytopastoral analysis carried out in the grasslands of Umbria and Marche Appennines. The communities under study belong to the association Brizo mediae-Brometum erecti. On the basis of the floristic composition and ecologie requirements, four variants corresponding to as many pastoral facies were identified. Grazing value was assessed both from phytosociological relevès and point quadrats. The mesoxeric pastures of the top of the mountains showed the lowest grazing value (23); the mesophilous cut grasslands of the high-hiIIy bell, on deep soils and protected from the wind, showed the highest (44). The good level of correspondence between the two phytosociological and point quadrat methods in assessing the grazing value and pastoral facies, suggests a potential for the integration of the avaiIable phytosociological data concerning grasslands' with the phytopastoral analysis, e.g. to develop thematic maps through Geographical Information Systems that could be useful for the management of rangelands

Il Giardino Fenologico di Oristano (Sardegna centro-occidentale) come modello per l'area del Mediterraneo

The paper reports the results of a 5-year study aimed at identifying tree and shrub species suitable to set up a phenological garden in a Mediterranean area and at defining and characterisingthe pheno-phases to be observed. The survey was carried out in the experimental Phenological grden of Oristano (central-west Sardinia) and allowed the identification of 10 suitable species out of 15 and the definition of 41 pheno-phases

Analisi del paesaggio vegetale delle aree olivetate della Sardegna nord-occidentale

The olive grove traditional production maintenance is linked to biodiversity and the knowledge of plant landscape and vegetation dynamics is at the bottom of this process. In this context the hierarchical analysis of the landscape of the olive grove area of North Western Sardinia and the geobotanical analysis of vegetation, according to the phytosociological method, were carried out. Two landscape units with the same geopedologic, bioclimatic and vegetational characteristics were identified: the low mesomediterranean unit of the calcareous-marley substrata and the dry thermomediterranean unit of the alluvial plains. Inside these units five main vegetation series were recognized and described: Asparago acutifolii-Oleo sylvestris, Prasio majoris-Querco ilicis, Pyro amygdaliformis- Querco ilicis, Lonicero implexae-Querco virgilianae and Allio triquetri-Ulmo minoris sigmeta. These dynamic models represent an effective management tool. Furthermore a high conservation value of these systems was detected: accordig to the “Habitats” Directive (92/43/EEC) five habitats of community interest were identified in the studied area: 5220, 5330, 92A0, 9320, 9340. These results, which have pointed out the high conservation value of the olive groves of the studied area, should be taken into account in the management projects as well as socio-economical data

La Flora degli affioramenti calcarei miocenici della Sardegna settentrionale

Nel presente lavoro vengono riportati dati preliminari su uno studio pluriennale della flora di tutta l'area interessata alla successione carbonatica miocenica, che si estende approssimativamente da Sorso-Sennori-S. Lorenzo fino a Uri-Ittiri-Florinas su di una superficie di circa 390 Km2. Tale successione consiste di sedimenti miocenici marini di composizione calcareo-marnoso-arenacea, poggianti sia sulle vulcaniti olicomioceniche che su sedimenti lacustri tufitico-selciferi