Il paesaggio culturale dell’acqua nell’alto corso del Fiume Coscile (N-Calabria, Italia meridionale): origine, struttura e biodiversità delle fitocenosi.

Abstract The cultural landscape of wetland in Coscile River Valley (N-Calabria, southern Italy): origin, structure and phytocoenosis biodiversity. The aim of this work is to present and analyse structural, functional and ecological complexity in the cultural wetland landscape of ancient “gualcherie” interested by abandonment of handcraft activities. The phytosociological methodology has allowed to describe and characterise the phytocoenosis biodiversity and the Habitat of European Directive (Dir 43/92 Cee) in aquatic environmet and wetland. Key words: cultural wetland landscape, gualcherie, Coscile river, Habitat Directive, phytocoenosis, Calabria, southern Italy. Riassunto Il contributo propone un’analisi della struttura, funzione e complessità ecologica del paesaggio delle gualcherie abbandonate dell’alta valle del Fiume Coscile. La metodologia fitosociologica ha consentito di individuare e caratterizzare la diversità fitocenotica e gli habitat della Direttiva Europea (Dir 43/92 Cee) presenti nell’ambiente acquatico e nelle zone umide. Parole chiave: paesaggio culturale delle acque, gualcherie, fiume Coscile, Direttiva Habitat, fitocenosi Calabria, Italia meridionale

The vegetation of the Maddalena Mountains (Southern Italy)

Using the data contained in the Lucanian Vegetation Database, the focus of our paper is the vegetation classification of the Maddalena mountains, a calcareous range not previously surveyed, placed between the Basilicata and Southern Campania regions. By using multivariate and phytosociological analyses we detected the presence of seven types of broad leaved forests: four of these (Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae, Aro lucani-Aceretum lobelii, Physospermo verticillati-Quercetum cerridis, Seslerio autumnalis-Aceretum obtusati) are formerly associated with the Southern Apennines, meanwhile three are herein described as new associations (Aceri neapolitani-Quercetum virgilianae, Roso spinosissimae-Quercetum dalechampii, Geranio versicoloris-Populetum tremulae). Shrublands are referred to Cytision sessilifolii and Pruno-Rubion (Rhamno-Prunetea) and a new association is described (Roso squarrosae-Rubetum ulmifolii). Dry grasslands (Anthemido creticae-Stipetum austroitalicae) belonging to Festuco-Brometea (Phleo-Bromion) and garrigues (Onosmo lucanae-Lomelosietum crenatae) of Cisto-Micromerietea (Cisto-Ericion) are also described as new syntaxa

TRENDS IN POPULATION SIZE OF OPHRYS ARGOLICA SUBSP. BISCUTELLA IN THE APPENNINO LUCANO-VAL D’AGRI-LAGONEGRESE NATIONAL PARK (ITALY)

n this study we focused on population monitoring of Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella, an orchid endemic to the south of the Italian Peninsula belonging to the section Araniferae. The study concerned its main detected population located within the Appennino Lucano-Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese National Park (Basilicata Region, South Italy). Ten permanent plots of 10 × 10 m were annually surveyed from 2010 to 2015 using total counts of flowering plants. The following characters were measured: height of inflorescences, number of flowers, lost plants, fruiting plants and fruit set. Percentage cover of trees, shrubs, herbs and bare rocks were visually estimated in 1 × 1 m subplots and an accurate vegetation map of each plot was drawn. In regards to plant height and reproductive variables, no significant differences between the plots were detected. Similarly, with respect to population variables, no significant correlations with vegetation and environmental features (i.e. slope, aspect) emerged. On the contrary, a strong negative trend in the population size was observed (from 237 individuals in 2010 to 61 in 2015) and the number of plants per plot decreased from 23.7 individuals to 6.1 individuals. Reproductive variables (i.e. number of flowers, fruit set) showed a similar decreasing pattern. As for the lost of individuals we detected a higher incidence in 2011 (average number of lost plants per plot was 16.6) with 75% of lost spikes and fruit set amounting to zero. Although grazing management can heavily influence demographic parameters of Ophrys populations, there was no evidence of any kind of land cover or land use change. No appreciable differences were observed in vegetation cover, grazing type or grazing load. Moreover, no significant disturbance events occurred in this area. Finally, the inspection of meteorological data recorded during the monitoring interval lead to argue that the strong demographic decline of the Ophrys argolica subsp. biscutella population in the Appennino Lucano-Val d'Agri-Lagonegrese National Park must be mainly related to the late frost event that occurred in the spring of 2011

Habitat Fragmentation and Lichen Diversity in Peri-Urban Woodlands: A Case Study in the Municipality of Potenza (Southern Italy)

The fragmentation of the natural habitat is a process that is exponentially increasing worldwide and represents one of the biggest threats to biological diversity. Habitat destruction and fragmentation have a major impact on landscapes and may also affect ecosystems, populations, and species. The ongoing anthropogenic process can result in habitat loss for some species, habitat creation for others, reduced patch size, and increased distance between patches, which may lead to local extinction. We analyzed the effects of patch size and isolation on lichens in Quercus pubescens woods surrounding the city of Potenza (south Italy). We randomly sampled 11 forest patches with homogeneous environmental variables using circular plots with a 10 m radius; the patches ranged from 0.3 to 30 ha. For each plot, we collected data about presence and abundance of epiphytic lichens. We performed the analyses at the patch level using linear regression and multivariate analysis, searching for effects on species richness, life forms, and community compositions. Multivariate analyses were used to study the effect of fragmentation on the structure of lichen vegetation. We investigated the main predictor of lichen species richness in habitat fragmentations and concluded that patch area per se is an important (positive) driver of lichen species richness in Mediterranean peri-urban forests

Wild geophytes of ornamental interest in the native flora of southern Italy

The growing focus on the protection and the conservation of biodiversity has attracted attention to problem of the potential invasiveness of alien species that escaped cultivation spread in various types of habitats and might replace native species. This would lead to a loss of biodiversity and have negative economic and environmental repercussions. The Mediterranean flora is particularly rich in genera and species that are characteristic of different habitats, soil and climatic conditions, and can offer exciting opportunities for innovation in the floricultural industry. In this paper we test the qualitative and quantitative data of wild geophytic species with a focus on the peninsular regions of Southern Italy. Information regarding the attributes of each species was obtained from a number of published sources, including flora and plant checklists. This selection of geophytes belonging to the spontaneous flora of Southern Italy presents a potential floricultural interest in Italy, since these plants could be used as street furniture and for gardens and turfing

Loss detection of aquatic habitats in Italian volcanic lakes using historical data

Italian volcanic lakes represent an important hotspot of aquatic plant diversity. By comparing original data collected in 2009/10 with historical data, we detected species extinction and loss of habitats 3140 and 3150 (Habitats Directive 92/43/ EEC). The speed of change detected claim for frequent monitoring and rapid management interventions

Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment

The present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was determined by fecal micro-histological analysis. A total of 143 plant species were identified in the site and 109 of them were found in the feces of the Capreolus capreolus italicus. All over the year, most of the taxa were ingested in low percentages (5%) and the most utilized plant species were Quercus suber, Prunus spinosa, Rubia peregrina, and Crateaegus monogyna. Fagaceae and Rosaceae plant families represented the bulk of the diet and were positively selected. In addition, a positive selection on Fabaceae and Oleaceae families was found in wet season but not in dry one. In both periods the Italian roe deer showed a positive selection for deciduous woody plants and evergreen woody plants, instead avoided wild forbs and wild graminoids. Our results confirmed that this subspecies behaved as a generalist highly selective feeder

Landscape planning and biodiversity conservation of river habitats require vegetation analysis and mapping: the case of Cilento National Park (Italy)

Riparian and freshwater ecosystems are strongly endangered throughout Europe as they suffer the ongoing human pressure, habitat destruction, pollution and eutrophication. Monitoring species and habitats is essential to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of restoration actions. In this context we present the main results of a two-year (2010-2011) research project funded by the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, focused on riparian habitat and vegetation mapping. Vegetation Mapping was performed within a 300 m width buffer along the main water bodies of the National Park; it was based on 2005 digital aero- images and GIS assisted; field surveys were stratified on water bodies, environmental unit and vegetation physiognomy and recorded using GPS with 2-5 m precision. We collected 273 relevès and detected 748 taxa of vascular plants (approx.1/3 of the overall regional flora) with several new findings for Cilento and Campania Region. A not negligible amount of these are alien species showing an invasive behavior in riparian habitats. 27 Natura 2000 habitats were identified accounting to 45% of the mapped area. The project results could contribute to assess the reference conditions of Southern Italian Peninsula water bodies to answer to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60 CE). Furthermore they represent a first step of monitoring actions of species and riparian plant communities of the National Park that are essentials to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of management and restoration policies, as explicitly requested by art. 11 of Habitats Directive

Diet of the Italian hare ( Lepus corsicanus ) in a semi-natural landscape of southern Italy

The food habits of the endangered Italian hare have not received adequate attention from researchers. In this study, the diet composition of this species and its seasonal variation were assessed by analysing faecal pellets in a semi-natural landscape in the south of Italy. The results showed that hares feed on 62 species of plants during the year, with a conspicuous presence of herbaceous ones (e.g., Trifolium pratense , Brachypodium sylvaticum , Festuca arundinacea ) as these occurred at high frequencies in most of the faecal samples. In spring, diet composition was characterised by a high percentage of Graminaceae ( > 37%). In the other seasons, hares also included fruits (e.g., Prunus spinosa , Pyrus piraster , Malus sylvestris ), which, in autumn, accounted for > 27%. There were significant differences among seasons (p < 0.001) in terms of Margalef ’ s richness, Shannon diversity, and Buzas and Gibson ’ s evenness. The smallest values of richness and diversity were observed in spring. Dietary overlap was low between spring and the other seasons; conversely, there was substantial overlap ( > 70%) in the diets during the other seasons with a more pronounced similarity between summer and autumn (S ø rensen, C s = 0.80; Morisita-Horn, C MH = 0.73)

Landscape planning and biodiversity conservation of river habitats require vegetation analysis and mapping: the case of Cilento National Park (Italy)

Riparian and freshwater ecosystems are strongly endangered throughout Europe as they suffer the ongoing human pressure, habitat destruction, pollution and eutrophication. Monitoring species and habitats is essential to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of restoration actions. In this context we present the main results of a two-year (2010-2011) research project funded by the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, focused on riparian habitat and vegetation mapping. Vegetation Mapping was performed within a 300 m width buffer along the main water bodies of the National Park; it was based on 2005 digital aero- images and GIS assisted; field surveys were stratified on water bodies, environmental unit and vegetation physiognomy and recorded using GPS with 2-5 m precision. We collected 273 relevès and detected 748 taxa of vascular plants (approx.1/3 of the overall regional flora) with several new findings for Cilento and Campania Region. A not negligible amount of these are alien species showing an invasive behavior in riparian habitats. 27 Natura 2000 habitats were identified accounting to 45% of the mapped area. The project results could contribute to assess the reference conditions of Southern Italian Peninsula water bodies to answer to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60 CE). Furthermore they represent a first step of monitoring actions of species and riparian plant communities of the National Park that are essentials to address conservation efforts and to evaluate the results of management and restoration policies, as explicitly requested by art. 11 of Habitats Directive