Cartography and diachronic analysis of the vegetation of S'Ena Arrubia Lagoon (Centre-Western Sardinia)

The vegetation map of S'Ena Arrubia Lagoon in centre-western Sardinia (1: 2,500 scale) is presented and some diachronic remarks are made by referring to historical data available. The main object of this cartography, after a research on the biotope vegetation, is to allow the biomonitoring of an extremely important site for the biodiversity conservation (Protected Area: S.I.C., Z.P.S., I.B.A.), which is to use for an ecologically aware management

The Vegetation of S'Ena Arrubia lagoon (centre-western Sardinia)

This study describes the vegetation of S'Ena Arrubia lagoon, in the Gulf of Oristano, in the centre-western coast of Sardinia. This lagoon is classified as: Special Protection Zone (S.P.Z.) according to EEC Directive 79/409, community importance site according to EEC Directive 92/43, I.B.A. (Important Birds Area) site and fixed oasis of fauna protection and natural reserve. Throughout the years it was subject to several alterations. The most important ones were carried out in the Seventies and allowed the marine water upwelling and the fast removal of freshwater coming from the watershed. Before the fulfilment of these interventions, lagoon waters had a low salinity, as demonstrated by previous vegetation studies that showed the presence of freshwater communities and, only to a smaller extent, of halo-tolerant and halophile ones. This phytosociologic study led to the identification of several associations that are showed in the groups of merely halophile vegetation, in the freshwater and subhalophile lagoon vegetation and in the merely anthropogen vegetation typologies. The location of the considered typologies is represented with distributive patterns, which synthesise the current state of vegetation referring to the salinity. Two new associations, the Inulo crithmoidis-Paspaletum vaginati and the Astero tripolii-Bolboschoenetum maritimi, are here described. The first is dominated by the presence of Paspalum vaginatum Swartz, recorded for the second time in Italy and for the first time in Sardinia. It is recorded near the inlet, where it forms mosaics together with Salicornietum emerci association and it is also present, as bolboschoenetosum maritimi subassociation, in more inland and less salty zones. The latter new association includes the subhalophile reedswamps that are present in the areas floodcd by salty waters for a long time, where it replaces the Scirpetum compacto-littoralis, a less halophile association present in several siles of the Mediterranean and also in Sardinia. In addition, it is necessary to point out the recovery of Salicornietum venetae association, characterised by the presence of Salicornia veneta Pign. et Lausi, which was believed endemic in the North Adriatic lagoons. Finally, the significance of environmental changes fulfilled in the basin, which are the reason for some vegetation modifications and are detected by comparison between current associations and those at the beginning of the Seventies, is pointed out

O nekim biljnim zajednicama s vrstom Euphorbia dendroides L. u Grčkoj

The article is a study of vegetation in some maquises of Euphorbia dendroides and Olea sylvestris the authors have found in continental Greece at Monastiraki (the Corinth Canal) and on the island of Crete (at Kissomos and Sauda). Such vegetation belongs to the association Oleo-Euphorbie- tum dendroidis Trinajstic (1973) 1984 described for some places along the coast of Yugoslavia. Among the relevés shown, the ones coming from Monastiraki are the most corresponding to the association, while the others taken on the Island Crete belong to a really nitrophilous variant of the same association.Prikazana je vegetacija nekih sastojina s vrstama Euphorbia den- droides i Olea sylvestris, koje su autori pronašli u kontinentalnoj Grčkoj kraj Monastirakija (Korintski kanal) i na otoku Kreti (u Kissomosu i Saudi). Ta je vegetacija označena kao asocijacija Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis Trinajstić (1973) 1984 opisana ranije iz nekih područja jugoslavenske obale. Među prikazanim sastojinama najviše odgovaraju asocijaciji one iz okolice Monastirakija, dok ostale, snimljene na otoku Kreti, pripadaju nitrofilnoj varijanti te asocijacije. Iznesena su napokon neka razmatranja o rasprostranjenosti te zajednice u Sredozemlju. Autori smatraju da je as. Oleo-Euphorbietum dendroidis prisutna samo na Balkanskom poluotoku gdje se javlja u obliku dviju geografskih rasa, od kojih je jedna rasprostranjena pretežno uz Jadran s mezofilnim karakteristikama, i druga uz Egejsko more termofilnoga karaktera. Sastojine s vrstom Ephorbia dendroides, dominantnom u središnjem i zapadnom Mediteranu, pripadale bi, međutim, drugim zajednicama koje će moći biti opisane kasnije nakon podrobnijih istraživanja

Halophilous vegetation of Olbia pond system (NE-Sardinia)

Authors report some results about a phytosociological study concerning the wetlands to the south of Olbia (Gallura, north-eastern Sardinia). Vegetation analysis allowed to detect 21 associations, among them two are new and denominated Halimionio portulacoidis-Limoniastretum monopetali ass. nova and Ephedro fragilis-Pistacietum lentisci ass. nova. Among them, the association Halimiono portulacoidis-Limoniastretum monopetali shows a particular phytogeographical interest, because it sets the Limoniastrum monopetalum vegetation in the only Sardinian station of this shrubby Plumbaginacea. From a syntaxonomic point of view, described syntaxa are included in 9 vegetation classes. Plant landscape of the area was reconstructed by the study of chain contacts among different communities, placed in space according to humidity and salinity gradients, determined by substratum texture and micromorphology. On the basis of phytocoenotic diversity stressed by this research, this study area is believed to be deserving of protection aiming at conserving and managing its populations and plant communities

Bioclimates of Italy

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

Il Paesaggio vegetale della Nurra (Sardegna nord-occidentale)

The description of vegetation typologies that characterise the plant landscape in Nurra - according to phytosociological and sinphytosociological interpretations - is presented. Plant associations found out are here presented from areas closer to the sea towards the inner ones, grouped according to environmental and structural characteristics. The following new associations are described. Crithmo maritimi-Limonietum nymphaei, Evaco pygmaeae-Bellietum bellidioidis, Senecioni leucanthemifolii-Nanantheetum perpusillae, Spergulario salinae-Hordeetum marini, Limonietum laeti-glomerati, Brassico insularis-Seselictum praecocis, Anthyllido vulnerariae-Kundmannietum siculae, Loto cytisoidis-Dactyletum hispanicae, Dactylo hispanicae-Camphorosmetum monspeliacae, Scillo obtusifoliae-Bellidetum sylvestris, Scillo autumnalis-Bellidetum sylvestris, Hypecoo procumbentis-Silenetum nummicae, Bupleuro fontanesii-Scorpiuretum muricati, Rosmarino officinalis-Thymelaeetum tartonrairae, Dorycnio pentaphylli-Cistetum eriocephali, Pyro amygdaliformis-Quercetum ilicis, Euphorbio characiae-Juniperetum turbinatae, Pistacio lentisci-Calicotometum villosae, Crataego monogynae-Pistacietum lentisci. Furthermore, phytosociological and syntaxonomical study of the subnitrophilous hemicryptophyte communities allowed their attribution to the Artemisietea vulgaris c1ass. Within this class the new Brachypodio ramosi-Dactyletalia hispanicae order is described, together with two new alliances, Reichardio maritimae-Dactylion hispanicae and Leontodo tuberosi-Bellidion sylvestris. The order includes the perennial, hemicryptophyte and geophyte, subnitrophilous vegetation of the secondary formations, finding their optimum in the sub-humid and humid mesomediterranean macroclimate, and can also penetrate into the thermomediterranean one for edaphic compensation. Moreover, this study suggests to include in the new Brachypodio ramosi-Dactyletalia hispanicae order, the Bromo-Oryzopsion and the Thero-Brachypodion ramosi alliances. The study of associations and their dynamic relationships also allowed to reconstruct the vegetation series which integration produces the main plant landscape units present in Nurra. The coastal Tyrrhenian, basophilous, calcicole, thermomediterranean and edaphon-xerophilous series of Juniperus turbinata (Chamaeropo humilis-Junipereto turbinatae sigmetum) was reconstructed on Mesozoic limestone. Different plant associations of comophytic and chasmophytic communities integrating the coastallimestone landscape are connected to this pattern by chain relationships. Between the landscape units of the Mesozoic limestone sector and the Paleozoic metamorphic one, the coastal Tyrrhenian, neutroacidophilous, of sandstone, thermomediterranean and edaphon-xerophilous series of Juniperus turbinata with Arbutus unedo (Chamaeropo humilis-Junipereto turbinatae arbutetosum unedonis sigmetum), representing an edaphic variant of the previous one, linked to the violet quartzose sandstone on which a more clayey soil is generated, was reconstructed. The geosigmetum of Mesozoic limestone is completed by the Tyrrhenian, neutroacidophilous, calcicole, thermomediterranean c1imatophilous series of Quercus ilex (Pistacio-Querceto i1icis sigmetum). It is present on the inner hills and, of its series-head, only a few examples of Quercus ilex grove remain, which assume a particular characterisation for the presence of Chamaerops humilis. The Sardinian coastal, neutroacidophilous, of Paleozoic schist, thermomediterranean, climatophilous and edaphon-xerophilous series of Juniperetus turbinata (Euphorbio characiae-Junipereto turbinatae sigmetum) was reconstructed in the metamorphic area. The prevalently chain contact with the subhalophile garigue and the microgeosigmeta of the therophytic and chamaephytic halophile communities occurs in the coastal girdle close to the c1iff. The landscape unit of the coastal metamorphic section is completed by the Tyrrhenian, neutroacidophilous, mesomediterranean, of schist, climatophilous series of Quercus ilex (Erico arboreae-Querceto ilicis sigmetum). In the alluvial plain of Nurra, on strong clayey substrata with a mixed calcicole-silicic matrix, always in thermomediterranean climate but under a marked edaphic compensation, the Sardinian, neutroacidophilous, of plain, edaphon-mesophilous series of Quercus ilex and Quercus suber (Pyro amygdaliformis-Querceto i1icis sigmetum) is found. The geosigmetum of the alluvial plain is completed by the edaphon-hydric series of the alluvial soils in the north-western Sardinia (Allio triquetri-Ulmeto minoris sigmetum). Finally, some indications about land management are given in order to maintain the high biodiversity that currently is still present

La Vegetazione arbustiva di un settore costiero dell'adriatico centrale italiano

The shrubby vegetation in a coastal sector of italian central adriatic sea. The results of the phytosociological analysis concerning the shrubby vegetation of a sector of the italian adriatic coast, of around 20 Kms, situated in the Rrgional natural park of Conero, are presented. It deals with mountainous coasts of two main lithomorphological typologies: marly-arenaceous and calcareous formations. On the first formation, in correspondence to marly rocks, the new Lonicero etruscae-Cornetum sanguineae association, belonging to the edapho-hygrophilous meso and submediterranean pre-apennine series of the elm (Symphyto bulbosi-Ulmeto minoris sigmetum), develops. On the contrary, on sand stones, constituted by superimposed levels and intercalated to marlstones, develops a xerophilous vegetation which stops at the maquis stadium, referred to the new Coronillo emeroidis-Rhamnetum alaterni association in the new loniceretosum etrusca e sub-association. On the calcareous cliffs of the warmest slopes, a maquis vegetation develops, referred to the same association but in the most thermophilous subassociation viburnetosum tini, colonising partially consolidated screes, which represents an element of the mesomediterranean italian-tyrrhenian and amphiadriatic calcicolous series of the holm-oak (Fraxino orni -Querceto ilicis sigmetum). Finally, on the steep slopes of the compact limestones of the warmest sectors of the South-East side of M. Conero (Valley ofthe Vellare), the new ampelodesmetosum mauritanici sub-association ofthe Coronillo emeroidis-Euphorbietum dendroidis association is described. It differentiates from the latter for the presence of more temperate elements and for the loss of some thermomediterranean species

Vegetazione e paesaggio vegetale dell'arcipelago di La Maddalena (Sardegna nord-orientale)

We present here a phytosociological study of the vegetation and plant landscape of the La Maddalena archipelago, which is situated in the Bocche di Bonifacio, between north-eastern Sardinia and southern Corsica. The lithological substratum of the archipelago is mainly made up of granite from plutonic intrusions, of the Superior Permian Carboniferous period. The area is part of the Mediterranean macrobioclimate, pluviseasonal-oceanic bioclimate, upper thermomediterranean thermotype, low dry ombrotype. On the basis of published data, the flora of the archipelago includes 986 taxa, of which 51 are endemic. The dominant life form is of therophytes, which represent around 50% in all. The plant communities identified through the phytosociological analyses are presented in groups according to their ecological and structural characteristics. Moreover, these communities are presented in an overall syntaxonomic scheme. Twenty new associations are described: Agrostio stoloniferae- Cyperetum badii, Alismo lanceolatae-Gratioletum officinalis, Allio commutati-Lavateretum arborae, Anthoxanto aristati-Agrostietum salmanticae, Apio crassipi-Isoetetum tigulianae, Arenario balearicae-Menthetum requienii, Baldellio ranunculoidis-Eleocharitetum palustris, Bellio bellidioidis- Arenarietum balearicae, Callitrico stagnalis-Glycerietum spicatae, Catapodio marini-Silenetum beguinotii, Exaculo pusilli-Lythretum portulae, Isoeto istrici-Montietum amporitanae, Junco acuti-Oenanthetum crocatae, Myrto communis-Salicetum atrocinereae, Polypogono subspathacei- Parapholidetum filiformis, Romuleo requienii-Bellidetum bellidiodis, Romuleo requienii-Colchicetum corsicae, Rubo ulmifolii-Myrtetum communis, Salicornio patulae-Crypsidetum aculeatae, Sileno nummicae-Malcomietum ramosissimae. The interpretation of the dynamic relationships between the plant communities has allowed seven vegetation series to be recognised: two climatophilous (Prasio majoris-Querco ilicis Σ phillyreetosum angustifoliae and Galio scabri-Querco suberis Σ quercetosum suberis), two edaphoxerophilous (Erico arboreae-Junipero turbinatae Σ and Oleo sylvestris-Junipero turbinatae Σ), one edaphohygrophilous (Oleo sylvestris-Junipero turbinatae Σ), one riparian (Populo albi Σ) and one marshy (Myrto communis-Salicio atrocinereae Σ). The landscape units (geosigmeta) have been identified through the integration of the vegetation series with the environmental factors. Since the territory has geological and bioclimatic characteristics that are fairly uniform, the resulting vegetal landscape can be included mainly in the Holm oak series geosigmetum (Prasio majoris-Querco ilicis Σ phyllireetosum angustifoliae), and to a minimal extent in the Cork oak series geosigmetum (Galio scabri-Querco suberis Σ quercetosum suberis). However, this uniformity is only apparent, since by passing to a greater level of detail, the analyses have allowed a high degree of phytocoenotic biodiversity to be revealed, linked to the micromorphological, microedaphic and microclimatic variations (microgeosigmeta). Among these very particular microenvironments there are, for example, those that can be found inside the tafonies, in the rock fissures, in the temporary ponds, in the fragile sand ecosystems and in the therophytic grasslands, where there are communities characterised by endemic species and with an ecology often defined by intermediate conditions of microecotonal character. The problems concerning the management of the plant landscape are stressed in the conclusions from the point of view of a management model that guarantees the conservation of the natural resources in a way that is compatible with the socio-economic development of the territory and its potential for exploitation