Flora i staništa otočića Vendicari (Isola di Vendicari) na jugoistočnoj Siciliji

The vascular flora of Isola di Vendicari, a small islet (surface 4.45 hectares) located along the Ionian coast of south east Sicily, has been investigated. The surveyed taxa at specific and infraspecific level amount to 80, of which 21 are new records from this islet. The life form spectrum of the current flora brings out the dominance of therophytes as well as a significant occurrence of hemicryptophytes. The plant communities colonizing the surface of the islet have been investigated from floristic, phytosociological and ecological points of view. The vegetation is represented mainly by psammophilous and halophilous aspects. As regards the conservation area policy, the islet falls within the Nature Reserve of Vendicari, which is also a SCI of the Natura 2000 network, showing its remarkable importance for the biodiversity conservation.Istraživana je vaskularna flora malog otočića Isola di Vendicari (površina 4,45 ha) koji se nalazi uz jonske obale jugoistočne Sicilije. Utvrđeno je 80 vrsta i nižih svojti, od toga je 21 nova za otočić. U spektru životnih oblika prevladavaju terofiti, uz značajan udio hemikriptofita. Biljne zajednice na otočiću analizirane su s florističkog, fitocenološkog i ekološkog gledišta. Vegetacija je uglavnom psamofitska halofitska. S aspekta zaštite, otočić je dio Rezervata prirode Vendicari, nalazi se unutar područja Natura 2000 ekološke mreže, što ukazuje na važnost potrebe očuvanja bioraznolikosti

Contributo alla conoscenza dei boschi a Quercus ilex della Sicilia

In quest° lavoro vengono esaminati i boschi a Quercus ilex presenti in Sicilia.Oltre alle associazioni in precedenza già osservate per questo territorio, viene segnalata per la prima volta la presenza dell'Ostrio-Quercetum ilicis e inoltre sono descritte alcune nuove subassociazioni relative al Querco-Teucrietum siculi e all'Aceri obtusati-Ostryetum carpintfoliae. Ciascuna associazione viene esaminata sotto il profilo syntassonomico, ecologico e sindinamico.In this paper the Quercus ilex woods occurring in Sicily were examined. Apart from the associations previosly observed in this territory, the presence of Ostryo-Quercetum ilicis is reported for the first time; besides some new subassociations of the Querco-Teucrietum siculi and of the Aceri obtusati-Ostryetum curpinifoliae are described. Syntaxonomic, ecological and syndynamic considerations are given for every association

Plant communities supported by the geological setting: the case history of the Isole dei Ciclopi (east Sicily)

This paper provides an update inventory of the vascular flora and a framework of the plant communities of the Isole dei Ciclopi (Acicastello, Catania) taking into account their geological setting. A total of 111 phytosociological releves were performed in the period 2015-2016. The plant communities has been analyzed using WPGMA and Euclidean distance classification. The study area preserves interesting plant-communities, mainly represented by shrubs vegetation ( Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae and Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii ), rocky coast communities ( Crithmo-Staticion) , cliff vegetation ( Anthyllidion barbae-jovis ), halo-nitrophilous vegetation ( Pegano-Salsoletea ), spring-flowering meadows ( Frankenion pulverulentae ) and nitrophilous communities ( Allion triquetri and Echio-Galactition tomentosae ). The vegetation analysis allow the identification of twelve vegetation types and also the reconstruction of three vegetation series. The collected data have been organized in a GIS and the following thematic maps have been produced: vegetation map, habitats map (according to the 92/43/EEC Directive). According to directive 92/43/EU, only three habitat types were delimited through the phytosociological assessment of the plant communities. The flora of the investigated area consists of 102 taxa. The majority of the taxa represented in the life form spectrum are therophytes and hemicryptophytes. From a chorological point of view, the Mediterranean element outweighs the rest, followed by the most diverse group of widespread taxa. Furthermore a detailed geological investigation was carried out and a geological sketch map was performed. The comparison between the vegetation and geological maps shows a good correlation, mostly regarding the distribution of the plant communities onto the different types of substrata

The islets of the Ionian coast of Sicily : flora and vegetation records highlight changes of human land use over the past 100 years

Historical flora and/or vegetation surveys highlight how the small islands of the Ionian coast of Sicily (Bella, Ciclopi islands, Vendicari, Capo Passero), currently protected as Nature Reserves and/or part of the Natura 2000 network have undergone major landscape changes following alterations in anthropogenic pressure. Landscape changes have been more prominent for the islands located in the northern part of the Ionian coast, with the consequence of increasing populations of invasive alien species. In contrast, landscape changes have decreased in the southernmost islands as indicated by the recovery of natural wood vegetation.peer-reviewe

Analysis of Juniperus phoenicea from throughout its range in the Mediterranean using DNA sequence data from nrDNA and petN-psbM: the case for the recognition of J. turbinata Guss

DNA sequences were analyzed from 19 populations of J. phoenicea from throughout its range. The sequence data (nrDNA, petN-psbM) revealed that J. phoenicea is clearly divided into two taxa. These taxa have been recognized as var. (subsp.) phoenicea and var. (subsp.) turbinata by Adams (2011) and Farjon (2005). However, the magnitude of the differences in the DNA regions, along with the differences in pollen shedding times, morphology and prodelphinidin content support the recognition of J. turbinata Guss. No differentiation was found between the typical Mediterranean and Canary Island populations, offering no support for the recognition of J. phoenicea subsp. canariensis (Guyot) RivasMartinez. Juniperus turbinata appears to be widespread from Madeira - Canary Islands to the Sinai with few DNA differences among most populations. However, some populations (Grazalema, Madeira, Sinai, central Italy) had moderate amounts of divergence (3-4 mutations) and warrant additional study

Phytosociological research on temporary ponds in Apulia (southern Italy)

The ephemeral hygrophilous vegetation occurring in the temporary ponds of Apulia (southern Italy) weres studied following the phytosociological approach. On the base of 153 phytosociological relevés carried out during the period 2015-2018, 19 associations were identified, of which 16 described for the first time. All the associations belong to the Isoeto-Nanojuncetea class. The surveyed associations can be arranged in two orders, such as Isoetetalia, including those with a winter-spring cycle and Nanocyperetalia, regarding those with a summertime cycle. The identified association has been examined in detail, and for each one, we provided a phytosociological table. The communities belonging to the Isoetetalia are 17 and arranged in four alliances (Isoetion, Preslion cervinae, Cicendio filiformis-Solenopsion laurentiae, Agrostion salmanticae); instead, those ones of Nanocyperetalia are two both included in the Verbenion supinae. In order to highlight the relationships among the associations, all the relevés used for this investigation are processed. Overall, this analysis confirms the autonomy of the associations, grouping them according to the syntaxonomic arrangement proposed by the authors. Taxonomic investigations on the flora occurring in these habitats allowed the detection of two new subspecies of Solenopsis laurentia, both with a different autoecology

Validation of associations for the temporary ponds of the class Isoeto-Nanojuncetea in Puglia (southern Italy)

This paper presents the validation of 16 new associations, described in a previous contribution, for the temporary ponds of the class Isoeto-Nanojuncetea in Apulia (southern Italy)

Taxonomic and ecological remarks on Solenopsis bivonae species complex (Campanulaceae)

The populations usually attributed to Solenopsis bivonae (Tineo) M.B.Crespo, Serra & A.Juan are investigated from a taxonomical and morphological viewpoint. Within this species complex, four new subspecies occurring in Sicily and Calabria are recognized, such as subsp. bivonae, subsp. madoniarum, subsp. peloritana and subsp. brutia. In addition, a new species from Cyprus described as S. meikleana and S. bacchettae from Sardinia must be included in this group. The synonymy, typification, description, seed testa morphology, chorology, ecology, illustrations, conservation status, and examined specimens for each taxon are provided. Besides, the analytical keys, distribution maps, and phytosociological arrangement regarding these taxa are given too

Lista bibliografica

Questa lista bibliografica contiene il secondo aggiornamento della bibliografia della Lisy e deriva dall’assemblaggio da parte della redazione (M. Serdoz ed E. Panfili) dei contributi parziali stilati dai gruppi regionali

New Alien Plant Taxa for Italy and Europe: An Update

Abstract: Despite the wide amount of scientific contributions published on alien plant species, their diffusion dynamics, and their interactions with native taxa, it is increasingly difficult to slow down their spreading and their negative impact on habitats. Last recent years, in fact, a sharp rise in the number of new alien plant taxa introduced in Italy and Europe has been recorded. The aim of this work is to investigate most of the Italian territory in order to verify whether this alarming trend is still underway. Specimen collections and/or observations of alien plants have been performed in as many as 12 Italian regions. All the collected specimens are stored in public or private herbaria. Taxa have been identified according to the literature from the countries of origin of the investigated taxa, while the nomenclature followed the current international references. Updates on 106 taxa are reported. In particular, among 117 new records, 89 are first records, 27 are changes to status and there is 1 extinction. Seven new taxa for Italian alien flora are reported, two of which are new to Europe. The administrative regions with the highest number of records are Calabria (48), Sardegna (17) and Sicilia (15). Five of the surveyed taxa, for the first time, have been considered invasive aliens to Italian territory. The unfrequent amount of original results provided by this work, over the simple importance of data itself, proves how floristic investigation, still today, represents one of the most effective tools in broadening the current knowledge about alien taxa and their dynamics