Contributo alla conoscenza della brioflora del Sulcis (Sardegna sud-occidentale)

A first contribution to the knowledge of the bryological flora of Sulcis is presented. The total number of species amounts to 216 entities belonging to classes of Musci(186), Hepaticae (29) and Anthocerotae (1); finding of 30 new species to Sulcis is reported. A chorological analysis is also done

A Comparative Bryo-Ecological Study of Habitat 3170*: Sites of Particular Phytogeographic Interest in the Mediterranean Area

In accordance with the 92/43/EEC “Habitats” Directive, Mediterranean temporary ponds are identified as a priority natural habitat within the European context. They are a very interesting and unique habitat type, as ecological conditions can vary greatly in a short period of time. Due to their small size, many Mediterranean hydrophytic bryophytes typical of this habitat are often overlooked or misinterpreted. Their distribution, habitats, ecology, and strategies are generally poorly understood. Several of them are currently considered rare or endangered in the Mediterranean. As these ponds are particularly sensitive to human activities and natural changes, such bryophytes and associated vegetation communities may be at risk. This study is focused on their floristic variability in different environmental conditions in two sites of particular phytogeographic interest in the Mediterranean area. In the Sardinian Pauli of Giara, 56 taxa (50 Bryophyta and 6 Marchantiophyta) were found, and in the Umbria Piana di Ferretto, 54 taxa (34 Bryophyta and 20 Marchantiophyta) were documented. The taxa from the two areas were analysed and compared. Life strategies, life macroforms, light and moisture preferences, chorological elements, and moisture belts were considered. The data are presented here together with information on the phytogeography and ecology of the species recorded. The findings indicate that a bespoke monitoring strategy and dedicated conservation measures are essential for the effective protection of bryophytes, ensuring the achievement of meaningful and sustainable conservation outcomes

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

Monitoring of Air Pollution by Moss Bags around an Oil Refinery: A Critical Evaluation over 16 Years

The present study analyzes the results of a biomonitoring campaign, carried out by means of Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. moss bags around an oil refinery, located in the southwestern part of Sardinia island (Italy). This work focuses mainly on the effects of rainfall and distance from the source of contamination on the content of 14 trace elements measured over 16 years. In addition, to point out any increasing or decreasing trends, as well as any peak in presence of airborne pollutants in the area, annual elements' concentration values are plotted and discussed. Coefficients of variation were also calculated on accumulation values in order to evaluate stability of measurements across the years and to evaluate if similar exposure conditions, i.e., humidity and distance from contamination source, resulted in more uniform accumulation values. In conclusion, (i) the vicinity of the source of contamination as well as rainfall influenced element content in the biomonitor in the case study differently, depending on the considered element and on the exposure condition, (ii) H. cupressiforme moss bags provided relatively stable measurements during the 16-year time frame (observed variations in elements content can be attributed to environmental inputs in the area), (iii) similar conditions of exposure determined less variable accumulation values

Where we Come from and where to Go: Six Decades of Botanical Studies in the Mediterranean Wetlands, with Sardinia (Italy)as a Case Study.

Plants are key elements of wetlands due to their evolutionary strategies for coping with life in a water-saturated environment, providing the basis for supporting nearly all wetland biota and habitat structure for other taxonomic groups. Sardinia, the second largest island of the Mediterranean Basin, hosts a great variety of wetlands, of which 16 are included in eight Ramsar sites. The 119 hydro- and hygrophilous vascular plant taxa from Sardinia represent the 42.6% and 37.9% of the number estimated for Italy and Europe, respectively. Moreover, around 30% of Sardinia’s bryological flora, which is made up of 498 taxa, is present in temporary ponds. An overview at regional scale considering algae is not available, to our knowledge, even though several specific studies have contributed to their knowledge. In order to find the most investigated research themes and wetland types, identify knowledge gaps and suggest recommendations for further research, we present a first attempt to outline the work that has been hitherto done on plants in lentic habitats in Sardinia. Three plant groups (algae, bryophytes and vascular plants), and five research themes (conservation, ecology, inventory, palaeobotany and taxonomy) were considered. After a literature review, we retained 202 papers published from 1960 to 2019. We found that studies on vascular plants, as plant group, were disproportion- ately more numerous, and inventories and ecology were the most investigated research themes. Although efforts have recently been made to fill these long-lasting gaps, there is a need for updating the existing information through innovative methods and integrative approaches

Epipactis tremolsii seed diversity in two close but extremely different populations: Just a case of intraspecific variability?

Analysis of the seed morphology is a widely used approach in ecological and taxonomic studies. In this context, intraspecific variability with respect to seed morphology (size, weight, and density) was assessed in two close Epipactis tremolsii Pau. populations sharing the same ecological conditions, except for the soil pollution distinguishing one of them. Larger and heavier seeds were found in plants growing on the heavy metal polluted site, while no differences in seed density were detected between seeds produced by plants growing on the contaminated and the control site. Moreover, seed coats and embryos varying together in their dimensions were described in the control population, while coats varying in their size independently from embryos were described in plants growing on the polluted site. Seeds from the two studied populations significantly differed in several parameters suggesting that intraspecific seed variability occurred in the case study

An eco-physiological and biotechnological approach to conservation of the world-wide rare and endangered aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont.

The rare aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont., inhabitant of temporary shallow ponds around the Mediterranean basin, is considered threatened throughout its distribution range. In addition, little is known of its biology and ecology or of its role in such an important ecosystem where envi- ronmental conditions vary yearly in unpredictable ways. In these variable habitats, due to the seasonal fluc- tuation of water levels, there is no guarantee of yearly spore input into the spore bank. Spore germination rate and the effects of different culture media in an axenic culture establishment, as well as propagation proce- dures of R. helicophylla, were tested. New insights into the ecology and biology of R. helicophylla are given. Spore dormancy is documented, and the protocols for the in vitro culture establishment, propagation and ac- climatization of this liverwort are developed. Dry storage at 20 ± 2 °C for about three months broke the dor- mancy of spores, which subsequently germinated in a high percentage (over 90%). A two phase (solid and liquid) culture media system was developed for the purpose of achieving fully developed gametophytes. The liquid phase contained electrolytes simulating brackish water

An eco-physiological and biotechnological approach to conservation of the world-wide rare and endangered aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont.

The rare aquatic liverwort Riella helicophylla (Bory et Mont.) Mont., inhabitant of temporary shallow ponds around the Mediterranean basin, is considered threatened throughout its distribution range. In addition, little is known of its biology and ecology or of its role in such an important ecosystem where environmental conditions vary yearly in unpredictable ways. In these variable habitats, due to the seasonal fluctuation of water levels, there is no guarantee of yearly spore input into the spore bank. Spore germination rate and the effects of different culture media in an axenic culture establishment, as well as propagation procedures of R. helicophylla, were tested. New insights into the ecology and biology of R. helicophylla are given. Spore dormancy is documented, and the protocols for the in vitro culture establishment, propagation and acclimatization of this liverwort are developed. Dry storage at 20 ± 2 °C for about three months broke the dormancy of spores, which subsequently germinated in a high percentage (over 90%). A two phase (solid and liquid) culture media system was developed for the purpose of achieving fully developed gametophytes. The liquid phase contained electrolytes simulating brackish water

Heavy metal tolerance strategies in metallicolous and non-metallicolous populations of mosses: Insights of γ+β-tocopherol regulatory role

As bryophytes present the capacity to colonize a wide range of habitats, including extreme environments (e.g., mine areas), we first checked the global response of bryophytes to heavy metals (HM) by a systematic review. This analysis found i) the lack of studies in a polluted environment and ii) resulted in a global trend of photochemical efficiency decrease when bryophytes faced heavy metals. Secondly, we characterized the photoprotective responses of four metallicolous populations of mosses (Lewinskya rupestris, Polytrichum commune, Ptychostomum compactum and Rhynchostegium confertum) naturally growing in an abandoned mine area by an experimental field approach. As a result, we found markedly species-specific tolerance patterns: i) less tolerant species, presenting high pollutants content accompanied by marked dissipative and antioxidative strategies. This strategy was depicted by the species R. confertum that result to be a good sentinel species due to the high pollutant content and high physiological sensitivity.; ii) intermediate tolerant species presenting a medium content of pollutants and less marked photoprotective mechanisms, and iii) most tolerant species minimizing pollutants content and consequently presenting no changes in their physiological performance. This evidence support that species’ bryological attributes have a key role in determining species’ tolerance towards environmental heavy metals, and should be taken into consideration in future studies. The findings of this study also pointed out that the higher levels of γ + β-tocopherol in metallicolous populations could play a regulatory role in metal stress tolerance in mosses and it could be a suitable functional responsive trait for environmental response prediction to heavy metals in polluted environments

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Diversity in the Orchid Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge from Sardinia (Italy)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are produced by plants to address a variety of physiological and ecological tasks (among others, stress resistance, and pollinator attraction). Genetics is a key factor in determining plants’ VOCs content and emission, nevertheless, environment strongly influences VOCs profiles in plants. Orchids are a widespread group of plants that colonize diverse environments and rely on complex and refined pollination mechanisms to reproduce. Orchids VOCs are rarely studied and discussed in relation to growing conditions. In the present study, we compare the volatile profiles of inflorescences of Himantoglossum robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge sampled in six ecologically diverse populations on Sardinia Island (Italy). The essential oils obtained by steam distillation were characterized by GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis. A total of 79 compounds were detected, belonging to the chemical classes of saturated hydrocarbons, esters, alcohols, ketones, unsaturated hydrocarbons, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated terpenes, terpenes, acids, and aldehydes. Multivariate statistics separated H. robertianum populations based on their chemical profiles. Differences were positively linked to the distance separating populations and reflected climatological features of the sampling sites. Interestingly, our results differed from those available in the literature, pointing out the high variability of VOCs profiles in this food‐deceptive orchid