Evidence from multivariate morphometric study of the quercus pubescens complex in southeast Italy

The name Quercus pubescens s.l. encompasses a complex of deciduous oak taxa with mainly southeastEuropean distribution and a large ecological niche. As the easternmost region of Italy, Apulia is rather isolated from a geographical and physiographical viewpoint and counts the highest number of oak species (10). In the taxonomic and phytosociological literature, the occurrence of several species belonging to the Quercus pubescens collective group is reported for this region. In order to verify if different sets of morphological characters are associated with different taxa, 24 populations of Quercus pubescens s.l. located in different ecological-geographical areas of Apulia were sampled. A total of 367 trees, 4254 leaves and 1120 fruits were collected and morphologically analysed. Overall, 25 morphological characters of oak leaves and fruits were statistically treated using both univariate and multivariate analysis. Nested ANOVA showed that leaves collected from a single tree exhibited a degree of morphological variability higher than that observed when comparing leaves coming from different trees of the same population and from different trees of different populations as well. Almost all the morphological characters analysed exhibited a continuous trend of variation so that none of them can be used as a character to discriminate between populations. Only leaf and fruit “size” and fruit petiole length emerged as slightly discriminating characters. Our results suggest that it is unlikely that more than one species belonging to the Quercus pubescens complex occurs in the Apulia region. Comparison between the Apulian populations and a genetically pure Q. pubescens population coming from a different area (the Molise region) strengthened the assumption as to the existence of a single species that can provisionally be classified under the name of Q. pubescens s.

Distance learning in Higher Education during the first pandemic lockdown : The point of view of students with special educational needs

The study investigates the perspective on distance learning (DL) of a sample of students with disability. Participants (N= 198; 62% females) completed an online questionnaire. The results highlight that students perceive both advantages and barriers, which vary as a function of the type of disability. This seems to suggest that DL potentials should be evaluated in relation to the specific vulnerabilities and educational needs associated with each type of disability, which might be accomplished by adopting the Universal Design for Learning framework. Also, it may be that the impact of DL depends on the discipline as well as on the teachers’ digital competences, which can make a great difference in the quality of the online lesson and in the overall didactic experience of students with SEN.Peer reviewe

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 1

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii Lona, Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and the assessment at regional level (Italy) of Viola jordanii Hanry

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 5

In this contribution, the conservation status of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment of Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC.) M.Bieb., Ionopsidium albiflorum Durieu, Trifolium latinum Sebast., and Vicia incisa M.Bieb. at a Regional level (Italy)

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 1

In this contribution, new data concerning the Italian distribution of native vascular flora are presented. It includes new records, exclusions, and confirmations pertaining to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Arundo, Bromopsis, Cistus, Crocus, Festuca, Galeopsis, Genista, Lamium, Leucanthemum, Nerium, Orobanche, Peucedanum, Pilosella, Polycnemum, Stipa and Viola

A new association of Satureja montana L. subsp. montana dominated garrigues in Puglia (SE Italy)

In this paper a survey on the garrigue vegetation dominated by Satureja montana subsp. montana occurring in the Alta Murgia National Park is presented. These communities were compared with those of the Ionian Arc ravines. Syntaxonomic, structural, chorological and ecological analyses were performed in order to achieve a proper classification of this vegetation. A new association is here described, the Rhamno saxatilis-Saturejetum montanae, with two new subassociations, typicum and fumanetosum procumbentis. It is a garrigue vegetation dominated by Satureja montana subsp. montana occurring in the Murgian area, in sites characterized by rocky and stony soils and by a Mediterranean Pluviseasonal oceanic weak semicontinental phytoclimate, with thermotype upper meso-Mediterranean and ombrotype lower subhumid, and is here framed in the Cytiso spinescentis-Saturejion montanae alliance (order Cisto cretici-Ericetalia manipuliflorae, class Cisto cretici-Micromerietea julianae). The results contribute to add a further piece to the knowledge of the natural plant landscape of the territory of the Alta Murgia National Park

<i>Ophioglossum lusitanicum</i> L.: New Records of Plant Community and 92/43/EEC Habitat in Italy

In this paper, integrating field surveys and literature data, an analysis of Ophioglossum lusitanicum plant communities and related 92/43/EEC habitats are reported for Italy. Two new syntaxa, Euphorbio exiguae-Ophioglossetum lusitanici ass. nova hoc loco and trifolietosum scabri subass. nova hoc loco of the Rumici bucephalophori-Ophioglossetum lusitanici were described in the Apulia and Campania regions.Both types of vegetation identified in Apulia, Campania, and Sicily regions represent two different aspects of the same priority habitat: “pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea” (habitat code 6220*). A phytosociological and ecological dataset of the literature and new field surveys highlighting the soil type as parameters affecting the vegetation cover of this small fernlike plant, with the Trachynion distachyae Rivas–Martínez, 1978 alliance on calcareous soils and Helianthemion guttati Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al., 1940 alliance on volcanic soils. Many species of other types of annual meadows have been identified within Ophioglossum communities due to the very small patches of land, where they have been found, and ecological conditions that facilitate this phenomenon of the transgression of other therophytes species

A statistical approach to analyze possible correlations between space weather events and recorded failures on the Italian transmission grid

The reliability and protection of power grids are considered a priority within the national security systems since it is an essential element of a more comprehensive and interdependent network of highly critical physical and Information technology (IT) infrastructures. In the preparation of a safety plan for power grids, it is worth noting that they could be potentially affected by several natural events with potential global impact. Among the others, the events related to the Sun and the Space Weather (SW) must be considered since they can result in both physical (geomagnetic disturbances) and virtual (effects due to the collapse of the telecommunications system and Global Navigation Satellite Systems – GNSS – satellite systems). Natural events related to the Sun could interfere with or harm, in a different way, the various components of the power grid or result in early aging. In this study dealing with the Italian case, a method has been proposed to assess how the effects of SW events can be put in relation to the faults of the power grid

Recenti sperimentazioni per il controllo di Xylella

Gli istituti di ricerca pugliesi riportano i risultati ottenuti dall’impiego di attivatori delle difese della pianta e dell’N-acetilcisteina per il contenimento dei sintomi del complesso del disseccamento rapido dell’olivo