Influence of bedrock-alluvial transition on plant species distribution along a Mediterranean river corridor

<div><p></p><p>The variation of riparian plant species composition along a river according to lithological features, forming more or less discrete plant assemblages, was tested using multivariate and univariate analyses. Moreover, Sørensen's index was applied to examine similarity between geological and floristic groups, and the Wilson–Shmida index to investigate species turnover. The analyses were based on field data recorded along a Mediterranean river (Rio Santa Lucia, Sardinia, Italy), where the morphology is influenced by the bedrock-alluvial transition. The results obtained from the various analytical techniques were in close agreement, and underlined that the lithological types exerted an important influence on the distribution and richness (peak in the medium and the upper river part) of riparian plants, but also in their life forms (woody species and hemicryptophytes). The distribution patterns of species along the river suggested that primary drivers in the organization of the riparian plant communities were lithological types, geomorphology and altitude. Moreover, the bedrock-alluvial transition marked the highest species turnover, linked also to a different degree of human disturbance. The results of the present study indicate that the bedrock/alluvial influence is an integral component of the patch structure, which strongly influences riparian plant distribution patterns in a Mediterranean environment.</p> </div

A second update to the checklist of the vascular flora native to Italy

Critical species inventories provide primary biodiversity data crucial for biogeographical, ecological, and conservation studies. After six years, a second update to the inventory of the vascular flora native to Italy is presented. It provides details on the occurrence at regional level and, for the first time, floristic data for San Marino. The checklist includes 8,241 species and subspecies, distributed in 1,111 genera and 153 families; 23 taxa are lycophytes, 108 ferns and fern allies, 30 gymnosperms, and 8,080 angiosperms. The species/subspecies endemic to Italy are 1,702, grouped in 71 families and 312 genera. The taxa currently occurring in Italy are 7,591, while 545 taxa have not been confirmed in recent times, 94 are doubtfully occurring in the country, 11 are data deficient, and 236 are reported by mistake and to be excluded at national level. Out of the 545 not confirmed taxa, 28 are considered extinct or possibly extinct.</p