SPECIES DIVERSITY OF BRYOPHYTES AND FERNS OF LAMPENFLORA IN GROTTA GIGANTE (NE ITALY)

Lampenflora consists of phototrophic organisms which grow near artificial light. In caves with artificial lighting, a vegetation of aerophytic cyanobacteria and algae, bryophytes and ferns can be found around lamps; these communities represent an alteration of the underground environment and may cause damages both to speleothems and cave fauna. The development of lampenflora is a typical problem for show cave management.A floristic research of bryophytes and ferns (land plants) of lampenflora was carried out in 2012 in Grotta Gigante, a very well-known show cave of the Trieste Karst (NE Italy), in order to compile a species inventory. 26 sites near artificial lights of different kinds were sampled in the dark zone of the show cave. 16 moss species and 2 ferns were found; no liverworts were observed. The most common species are the mosses Eucladium verticillatum, Fissidens bryoides, Oxyrrhynchium schleicheri, Rhynchostegiella tenella and the fern Asplenium trichomanes; 7 moss species were found only in one to two sites. Some moss species belong to the flora of natural cave entrances of the Italian Karst, while other are typical of disturbed, open habitats. Various moss species and A. trichomanes are colonizing areas around LEDs and fluorescent lamps installed in 2009 along the cave’s pathways for safety lighting.Species richness of bryophytes and ferns of lampenflora in Grotta Gigante is the highest compared to other recently investigated show caves in the neighbouring Slovenia. Lampenflora of Grotta Gigante conforms to that found in other Slovenian show caves starting from the ’40. The main ecological factors affecting lampenflora identified in this work are: light intensity, water availability, type of substrate, morphological features of surfaces, presence of clay. Aspects of species ecology and distribution in the cave are discussed

Areale potenziale dei boschi a Carpinus betulus nell\u2019alta valle del B\ufbt (Italia NE) e descrizione della nuova associazione Phyteumato zahlbruckneri-Carpinetum betuli

In questo lavoro viene presentata un\u2019analisi della distribuzione dei boschi a Carpinus betulus nell\u2019alta Valle del B\ufbt (UD), al fine di sviluppare un modello della distribuzione potenziale di una tipologia vegetazionale in un\u2019area complessa dal punto di vista geomorfologico tramite un\u2019applicazione GIS. Lo studio effettuato ha preso in considerazione i carpineti, consorzi forestali di elevato valore naturalistico-paesaggistico minacciati dalla storica azione dell\u2019uomo sul territorio. Il modello della distribuzione potenziale \ue8 stato creato mediante l\u2019incrocio di dati geomorfologici e climatici in ambiente GIS. Il confronto tra la distribuzione reale, la distribuzione potenziale e i diversi tematismi ha evidenziato come l\u2019area di diffusione dei carpineti sia molto ridotta rispetto all\u2019area potenzialmente adatta a questi boschi e ha permesso di individuare i principali fattori naturali ed antropici che possono influenzare la distribuzione attuale dei carpineti nell\u2019area di studio. Lo studio ha inoltre portato alla descrizione di una nuova associazione a Carpinus betulus che rientra nel gruppo dei carpineti a carattere meridionale gi\ue0 descritti per le Alpi nella zona del Friuli Venezia Giulia e Slovenia e completa il quadro cenologico della specie a livello regionale. Phyteumato zahlbruckneri-Carpinetum betuli \ue8 una cenosi a carattere subacidofilo subcontinentale diffusa nella regione forestale mesalpica della Carnia centrale nella fascia submontana e montana inferiore su suoli moderatamente acidi impostati su substrati silicatici alterabili paleozoici, in un\u2019area con buone precipitazioni atmosferiche (1600-1800 mm annui), temperature medie annue di 8-11\ub0C ed estati miti e piuttosto piovose, interessate dall\u2019influenza mitigatrice delle correnti provenienti dal mare; la cenosi rientra nell\u2019Habitat Natura 2000 91L0 - Querco-carpineti illirici (Erythronio-Carpinion). Viene presentata tutta la serie dinamica di cui il nuovo carpineto rappresenta la fase finale

First record of naturalization of <i>Erechtites hieraciifolius</i> (L.) Raf. ex DC. (Asteraceae) in Italy

The plant species Erechtites hieraciifolius (Asteraceae) is here reported for the first time in Italy as a naturalized neophyte in the Classical Karst. The species was observed in 2023 in post-fire forest areas burnt by wildfires in the summer 2022. The features of findings suggest for a naturalization of the species with putative invasive character. This novel occurrence highlights the need for additional research to better understand its colonization and expansion, suggesting the need of early eradication actions

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

New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #26 to #36

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 1510*, 2130*, 2250*, 3180*, 3260, 5230*, 6410, 7140, 7220*, 9320 are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 14 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 20 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria

Red Listing plants under full national responsibility: Extinction risk and threats in the vascular flora endemic to Italy

Taxa endemic to a country are key elements for setting national conservation priorities and for driving conservation strategies, since their persistence is entirely dependent on national policy. We applied the IUCN Red List categories to all Italian endemic vascular plants (1340 taxa) to assess their current risk of extinction and to highlight their major threats. Our results revealed that six taxa are already extinct and that 22.4% (300 taxa) are threatened with extinction, while 18.4% (247; especially belonging to apomictic groups) have been categorized as Data Deficient. Italian endemic vascular plants are primarily threatened by natural habitat modification due to agriculture, residential and tourism development. Taxa occurring in coastal areas and lowlands, where anthropogenic impacts and habitat destruction are concentrated, display the greatest population decline and extinction. The national network of protected areas could be considered effective in protecting endemic-rich areas (ERAs) and endemic taxa, but ineffective in protecting narrow endemic-rich areas (NERAs), accordingly changes to the existing network may increase the effectiveness of protection. For the first time in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot, we present a comprehensive extinction assessment for endemic plants under the full responsibility of a single country. This would provide an important step towards the prioritization and conservation of threatened endemic flora at Italian, European, and Mediterranean level. A successful conservation strategy of the Italian endemic vascular flora should implement the protected area system, solve some taxonomical criticism in poorly known genera, and should rely on monitoring threatened species, and on developing species-specific action plans

SPECIES DIVERSITY OF BRYOPHYTES AND FERNS OF LAMPENFLORA IN GROTTA GIGANTE (NE ITALY)

Lampenflora consists of phototrophic organisms which grow near artificial light. In caves with artificial lighting, a vegetation of aerophytic cyanobacteria and algae, bryophytes and ferns can be found around lamps; these communities represent an alteration of the underground environment and may cause damages both to speleothems and cave fauna. The development of lampenflora is a typical problem for show cave management.A floristic research of bryophytes and ferns (land plants) of lampenflora was carried out in 2012 in Grotta Gigante, a very well-known show cave of the Trieste Karst (NE Italy), in order to compile a species inventory. 26 sites near artificial lights of different kinds were sampled in the dark zone of the show cave. 16 moss species and 2 ferns were found; no liverworts were observed. The most common species are the mosses Eucladium verticillatum, Fissidens bryoides, Oxyrrhynchium schleicheri, Rhynchostegiella tenella and the fern Asplenium trichomanes; 7 moss species were found only in one to two sites. Some moss species belong to the flora of natural cave entrances of the Italian Karst, while other are typical of disturbed, open habitats. Various moss species and A. trichomanes are colonizing areas around LEDs and fluorescent lamps installed in 2009 along the cave’s pathways for safety lighting.Species richness of bryophytes and ferns of lampenflora in Grotta Gigante is the highest compared to other recently investigated show caves in the neighbouring Slovenia. Lampenflora of Grotta Gigante conforms to that found in other Slovenian show caves starting from the ’40. The main ecological factors affecting lampenflora identified in this work are: light intensity, water availability, type of substrate, morphological features of surfaces, presence of clay. Aspects of species ecology and distribution in the cave are discussed

Monitoring of airborne metal pollution by moss bags: a methodological study

The use of moss transplants for monitoring heavy metals deposition is briefly reviewed. The methodological study concerns the effects of different types of pre-treatment on data variability. Epiphytic samples of Hypnum cupressiforme were collected from an unpolluted area, treated in different ways, and the resulting bags were exposed in two sites in the province of Trieste (NE ltaly) with widely different pollution: a natural woodland far from urban and industrial centers, and a site near an iron smelting industry in the industrial area of Trieste. The content of eight heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb) was measured in 80 moss samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results, which represent a contribution to the standardization of the moss bags technique, concern: a) variability of metal conteni in mosses from natural areas: this is influenced by soil contamination; it is advisable to collect epiphytic samples, avoiding those growing near the base of the trunks; b) effects of different washing treatments on metal contents: compared to distilled water, washing with an acid solution is particularly efficient in removing metal ions associateci with the cell wall, but produces more variable data; c) uptake capacity of exposed moss bags: this is not influenced by the type of washing, and even short periods of exposure were sufficient to reveal differences in metal depositions between the two sites

Dianthus superbus L. ssp. superbus (Caryophyllaceae). In: Martini F. (ed.), Aggiornamenti alla flora del Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italia Nord-orientale). Nuova Serie. I (1-40)

Nell\u2019ambito del nuovo progetto per la cartografia al quadrante della flora vascolare del Friuli Venezia Giulia, si rendono noti nuovi ritrovamenti di Dianthus superbus ssp. superbus, entit\ue0 rara per la flora regionale