Flora and plant communities across a complex network of heavily modified water bodies: geographical patterns, land use and hydrochemical drivers in a temperate overexploited plain

The decline of freshwater flora due to alteration, reclamation and trophic perturbation of lowland wetlands is among the most relevant issues in biological conservation. The contribution of heavily modified water bodies (HMWBs) in preserving plant diversity is notable, but the underlying ecological mechanisms are not completely explored. To contribute to this debate and expand the knowledge on the role of HMWBs in maintaining wetland biodiversity in overexploited agroecosystems, a canal network of about 1150 km (SE Po valley, N-Italy) was analysed to study the geographical patterns of riparian flora and plant communities, and their land use and hydrochemical drivers. A systematic sampling procedure was adopted by randomly selecting 96 transects (10 ­m 2 ) along 79 drainage canals. Additionally, 22 transects were sampled for water quality evaluation. Flora was characterised based on species richness and presence of threatened, alien and invasive species. We also studied the contribution of land use and water quality in explaining plant richness and composition. Slope and aspect of canals do not significantly affect plant species composition, whereas the «proximity to protected areas» seems to have a negative influence. Both threatened and alien plants richness decrease approaching protected areas. Among land use types, only agro-zootechnical settlements influence plant species composition, favoring nitrophilous species, as demonstrated by water parameters (the spatial patterns of nitrophilous species mirrored the progressive worsening of canal waters). This work confirms the key role of HMWBs in sustaining plant species diversity in oversimplified landscapes, highlighting complex regulation mechanisms that need further investigations

Vascular flora of the isthmus of Feniglia (southern Tuscany, Italy)

We studied the vascular flora of the isthmus of Feniglia, a Nature Reserve in southern Tuscany stretching between the Italian Peninsula and Mt. Argentario. Since the nineteenth century, the area has undergone significant environmental modifications due to intensive grazing and deforestation. Later, rehabilitation interventions were carried out, including reforestation and planting of dune species, making it an interesting protected area to study for its botanical aspects. Therefore, we aim to compile the floristic inventory of this distinctive Mediterranean area by integrating old and new data. The checklist comprises 502 specific and subspecific taxa of vascular plants. The life-form spectrum shows a predominance of therophytes, followed by hemicryptophytes. The chorological spectrum highlights the dominance of Mediterranean species, followed by Euromediterranean and Eurasian species. The presence of 15 species of regional importance, 3 species of the Italian red list and 3 Italian endemics (Ornithogalum exscapum Ten., Limonium multiforme Pignatti, Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill.) is noteworthy. Despite the environmental changes undergone in this area, our study reports the presence of remarkable species, including rare ones such as Atriplex littoralis L., Ruppia spiralis L. ex Dumort., and species at their distribution margin in the Italian Peninsula, such as Staphisagria macrosperma Spach, Juncus sorrentinoi Parl. and Maresia nana (DC.) Batt. Additionally the presence of 26 alien species, of which 15 are invasive, 9 naturalized and 2 casual, indicates a relatively low presence of alien species. Notwithstanding the significant environmental changes that the Feniglia isthmus has experienced in the last century and the high tourist pressure during the summer, the presence of the protected area suggested the effectiveness and benefits of such a form of protection for plant diversity

Role of irrigation canal morphology in driving riparian flora in over-exploited catchments

Freshwater plants loss is one of the preeminent issues concerning biodiversity conservation, due to the alteration of inland waters by water regulation and agricultural intensification. At the same time, data suggest a relevant contribution of artificial, lowland aquatic ecosystems in supporting plant diversity. However, the underlying ecological mechanisms remain to be fully understood. To add knowledge to this subject, a wide canal network in the Bologna area (~ 1400 km2 , northern Italy) was investigated to analyse the riparian flora in relation to canal morphology. A systematic sampling procedure was adopted by randomly selecting 96 transects (1 m × 10 m) along 79 different canals, classified as small, medium, and large in terms of water depth. Flora was characterised based on the Ellenberg’s humidity and nitrophily indices, life forms, chorotypes, and alien species. The distribution of the number of species and floristic categories between transects and the role of canal depth were explored using linear mixed models and nMDS. 251 plant species were recorded; they were characterised by a broad ecology in terms of soil moisture (71% of the list) and nutrient availability (59%). Wetland and alien species—including invasive ones—were a marginal presence (< 5%, < 6%, respectively)—and canal depth showed a significant effect on com- positional dissimilarity between canals, with larger canals characterised by lower diversity rates. This work reinforces the pivotal contribution of heavily modified water bodies in supporting plant richness in oversimplified landscapes, confirming the role of canal depth in driving local flora

Survey of neonatal respiratory care and surfactant administration in very preterm infants in the Italian neonatal network

Introduction: Variation of respiratory care is described between centers around the world.The Italian Neonatal Network (INN), as a national group of the Vermont-Oxford Network (VON) allows to perform a wide analysis of respiratory care in very low birth weight infants. Methods:We analyzed the dataset of infants enrolled in the INN in 2009 and 2010 and, for surfactant administration only, from 2006 to 2010 from 83 participating centers. All definitions are those of the (VON). A questionnaire analysis was also performed with a questionnaire on centers practices. Results: We report data for 8297 infants. Data on ventilator practices and outcomes are outlined. Variation for both practices and outcome is found. Trend in surfactant administration is also analyzed. Conclusions. The great variation across hospitals in all the surveyed techniques points to the possibility of implementing potentially better practices with the aim of reducing unwanted variation. These data also show the power of large neonatal networks in identifying areas for potential improvement. \ua9 Mattioli 1885

Survey of neonatal respiratory care and surfactant administration in very preterm infants in the Italian neonatal network

Introduction: Variation of respiratory care is described between centers around the world.The Italian Neonatal Network (INN), as a national group of the Vermont-Oxford Network (VON) allows to perform a wide analysis of respiratory care in very low birth weight infants. Methods:We analyzed the dataset of infants enrolled in the INN in 2009 and 2010 and, for surfactant administration only, from 2006 to 2010 from 83 participating centers. All definitions are those of the (VON). A questionnaire analysis was also performed with a questionnaire on centers practices. Results: We report data for 8297 infants. Data on ventilator practices and outcomes are outlined. Variation for both practices and outcome is found. Trend in surfactant administration is also analyzed. Conclusions. The great variation across hospitals in all the surveyed techniques points to the possibility of implementing potentially better practices with the aim of reducing unwanted variation. These data also show the power of large neonatal networks in identifying areas for potential improvement. © Mattioli 1885

Association of maternal hypertension and chorioamnionitis with preterm outcomes

OBJECTIVES: We compared the relative effect of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and chorioamnionitis on adverse neonatal outcomes in very preterm neonates, and studied whether gestational age (GA) modulates these effects. METHODS: A cohort of neonates 23 to 30 weeks' GA, born in 2008 to 2011 in 82 hospitals adhering to the Italian Neonatal Network, was analyzed. Infants born from mothers who had hypertensive disorders (N = 2096) were compared with those born after chorioamnionitis (N = 1510). Statistical analysis employed logistic models, adjusting for GA, hospital, and potential confounders. RESULTS: Overall mortality was higher after hypertension than after chorioamnionitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.80), but this relationship changed across GA weeks; the OR for hypertension was highest at low GA, whereas from 28 weeks' GA onward, mortality was higher for chorioamnionitis. For other outcomes, the relative risks were constant across GA; infants born after hypertension had an increased risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.68-2.88) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02-2.15), whereas there was a lower risk for early-onset sepsis (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.19-0.34), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48-0.88), periventricular leukomalacia (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.48-1.01), and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis or gastrointestinal perforation (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31-0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality and other adverse outcomes in very preterm infants depend on antecedents of preterm birth. Hypertension and chorioamnionitis are associated with different patterns of outcomes; for mortality, the effect changes across GA weeks. Copyright \uc2\ua9 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics