60 research outputs found
An early evaluation of translocation actions for endangered plant species on Mediterranean islands
In situ conservation is widely considered a primary conservation strategy. Plant translocation, specifically, represents an important tool for reducing the extinction risk of threatened species. However, thus far, few documented translocations have been carried out in the Mediterranean islands. The Care-Mediflora project, carried out on six Mediterranean islands, tackles both short- and long-term needs for the insular endangered plants through in situ and ex situ conservation actions. The project approach is based on using ex situ activities as a tool to improve in situ conservation of threatened plant species. Fifty island plants (representing 45 taxa)were selected for translocations using common criteria. During the translocations, several approaches were used, which differed in site selection method, origin of genetic material, type of propagative material, planting method, and more. Although only preliminary data are available, some general lessons can be learned from the experience of the Care-Mediflora project. Among the factors restricting the implementation of translocations, limited financial resources appear to be the most important. Specific preliminary management actions, sometimes to be reiterated after translocation, increase the overall cost, but often are necessary for translocation success. Translocation using juvenile/reproductive plants produces better results over the short term, although seeds may provide good results over the long run (to be assessed in the future). Regardless, plant translocation success can only be detected over long periods; therefore, proper evaluation of plant translocations requires a long-term monitoring protocol. Care-Mediflora project represents the first attempt to combine the existing approaches in a common plant conservation strategy specifically focusing on the Mediterranean islands
Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 3
In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of Crepis lacera Ten subsp. titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and Anthyllis hermanniae L. subsp. sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commicarpus plumbagineus (Cav.) Standl. (Spain and Europe) and Ambrosia maritima L. (Italy)
First overview on the 4th Annex I Habitats Report in Italy: methods, criticality, results and future prospects
Like all the other EU/28 countries, in 2019 Italy developed the 4th Italian Report
ex-Art. 17 on the conservation status of the Habitats of Annex I to the 92/43/EEC
Directive. Institutional referent of the process, on behalf of the Ministry for
Environment, Land and Sea Protection (MATTM), was the Italian Institute for
Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) with the scientific support of the
Italian Botanical Society (SBI). A huge working group composed of thematic and
territorial experts was formed with the task to collect, analyse, validate the data
resulting from Annex I Habitat monitoring in Italy for the period 2013-2018, whose
collection is in charge to the regional administrations. Data on 124 types of terrestrial
and inland water Habitats present in Italy have been processed in order to assess their
overall conservation status in the Biogeographic Regions of occurrence. The carried out
activity led to the compilation of 278 assessment sheets. The work included a critical
analysis of the data and a broad scientific confrontation aimed at finding
methodologically robust solutions to fill the gaps. The work was structured so as to
guarantee the traceability of the information and to allow the collection of "gray"
literature and scientific articles, phytosociological surveys and unpublished material of
the specialists, composing a substantial pool of data useful for starting a long-term
process to support the next reporting cycles. Cartographic outcomes, associated
databases and additional data used for the assessments will be available online on the
ISPRA Portal as soon as the validation process by the European Commission will be
completed. A freely accessible online archive of phytosociological surveys
representative of the various Annex I Habitats in Italy is being set up within the national
"VegItaly" database, managed by the Italian Society of Vegetation Science, by way of a
dedicated archive named "HAB_IT". Such a long-term vision, oriented to the storage
and enhancement of knowledge, represents an important innovative aspect and a
significant progress towards the construction of an effective monitoring system for the
conservation of Annex I Habitats in Italy
Post-glacial determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands
[Aim] Alpine habitats support unique biodiversity confined to high-elevation areas in the current interglacial. Plant diversity in these habitats may respond to area, environment, connectivity and isolation, yet these factors have been rarely evaluated in concert. Here we investigate major determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands, and the responses of their constituent species groups.[Location] European mountains below 50° N.[Time period] Between 1928 and 2019.[Major taxa studied] Vascular plants.[Methods] We compiled species pools from alpine grasslands in 23 regions, including 794 alpine species and 2,094 non-alpines. We used speciesâarea relationships to test the influence of the extent of alpine areas on regional richness, and mixed-effects models to compare the effects of 12 spatial and environmental predictors. Variation in species composition was addressed by generalized dissimilarity models and by a coefficient of dispersal direction to assess historical links among regions.[Results] Pool sizes were partially explained by current alpine areas, but the other predictors largely contributed to regional differences. The number of alpine species was influenced by area, calcareous bedrock, topographic heterogeneity and regional isolation, while non-alpines responded better to connectivity and climate. Regional dissimilarity of alpine species was explained by isolation and precipitation, but non-alpines only responded to isolation. Past dispersal routes were correlated with latitude, with alpine species showing stronger connections among regions.[Main conclusions] Besides area effects, edaphic, topographic and spatio-temporal determinants are important to understand the organization of regional species pools in alpine habitats. The number of alpine species is especially linked to refugia and isolation, but their composition is explained by past dispersal and post-glacial environmental filtering, while non-alpines are generally influenced by regional floras. New research on the dynamics of alpine biodiversity should contextualize the determinants of regional species pools and the responses of species with different ecological profiles.The authors thank Daniela Gaspar for support in GIS analyses. B.J.-A. thanks the Marie Curie ClarĂn-COFUND program of the Principality of Asturias-EU (ACB17-26), the regional grant IDI/2018/000151, and the Spanish Research Agency grant AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033. J.V.R.-D. was supported by the ACA17-02FP7 Marie Curie COFUND-ClarĂn grant. G.P.M. was funded by US National Science Foundation award 1853665. C.M. was funded by grant no. 19-28491 of the Czech Science Foundation.Peer reviewe
Il supporto della SISV alla realizzazione di un manuale nazionale per il monitoraggio degli habitat della Direttiva 92/43/EEC in Italia.
A partire dall'entrata in vigore della Direttiva 92/43/EEC, la sorveglianza dello stato di conservazione degli habitat elencati nell'Allegato I ed il relativo monitoraggio periodico a intervalli di sei anni sono diventati un obbligo per tutti i paesi membri dell'UE, in base a quanto previsto negli Articoli 11 e 17. Nel 2011 Ăš stato pubblicato un documento che fornisce le linee guida di riferimento europee per il monitoraggio di habitat e specie (Evans & Arvela 2011). Su questa base metodologica, la SocietĂ Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione (SISV), avvalendosi di un ampio gruppo di soci esperti, ha avviato un dibattito interno su principi, criteri, parametri e strumenti per il monitoraggio degli habitat di Allegato I e dei tipi di vegetazione in essi rappresentati. Il progetto Ăš stato promosso dal Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare e coordinato dall'Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, e si trova al momento in una fase prossima alla conclusione. A partire dalla documentazione giĂ prodotta a livello nazionale per gli habitat italiani (Biondi et al., 2009, 2012, 2014; Genovesi et al., 2014), diversi aspetti critici sono stati esaminati attraverso una discussione scientifica ampiamente condivisa. In particolare, sono stati affrontati: gli aspetti legati alla scelta di strumenti adeguati per valutare i parametri area, struttura e funzione, prospettive future; il concetto di "specie tipica"; i metodi di campionamento habitat-specifici appropriati. Il protocollo sviluppato si pone come uno strumento pratico ed efficace, scientificamente valido e in linea con gli standard metodologici internazionali. Il suo utilizzo permetterĂ una raccolta armonizzata di dati su scala nazionale, rendendo possibile una valutazione comparata dello stato di conservazione di ciascun habitat
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