Catalogo de la flora exotica de la isla de Cerdeña (Italia)

This paper provides a checklist of exotic flora on the island of Sardinia (Italy) with a total of 482 taxa which represent 18% of the flora of the island; 29 taxa are new to the island and 9 of them for Italy. Most of these taxa (289, which represent 62% of the total) are neophytes and 173 (38%) are archeophytes, while new events are all related to neophytes. Among all neophytes, 44% are naturalized, 39% casual and 17% invasive. The archeophytes include a 55% of naturalized taxa, 44% casual and 1% invasive. The category of invasive accounts 11% of the total alien flora. The analysis of the checklist confirms phanerophytes as the most represented biological form (40%), with the American origin prevalent among all species (30%). Further analysis have been conducted in order to verify the impact on different ecosystems and the most vulnerable habitats to the phenomena of neocolonization are agricultural (32%) and sinanthropic (28%), followed by wetlands (11%) and coastal (10%)

Alien Plant Diversity in Mediterranean Wetlands: A Comparative Study within Valencian, Balearic and Sardinian Floras

Although wetlands provide an important range of environmental, social and economic services, they are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic erturbations, amongst which invasion by alien plants is particularly alarming. This paper focuses on the alien flora of wetlands from three territories belonging to the western Mediterranean area: one continental (Valencian Community) and two insular (Balearic Islands and Sardinia), providing a complete checklist for the three territories and a general comparison. In total, 380 alien taxa from 89 families have been reported, being the Valencian Community the area richer in taxa (312), followed by the Balearic Islands (151) and Sardinia (134). The invasive component includes 77 taxa, of which nine are common to the three territories - and have been recognised as the most invasive ones in Mediterranean islands -and six are considered invasive worldwide (Ailanthus altissima, Arundo donax, Cortaderia selloana, Oxalis pes-caprae, Ricinus communis and Eichhornia crassipes). Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) revealed that the three territories do not show statistically relevant differences in relation to the alien species present in wetlands and their characteristics. The information on the characteristics of plants in similar habitats of the same biogeographic region provides a portrait of the current dimensions of the phenomenon in Western Mediterranean wetlands and is especially useful from the management perspective: its predictive value can be applied in establishing a prioritization of control measures of those most invasive species and will help screening new introductions with invasive potential. Keywords: continent; environmental impact; invasions; islands

The Checklist of the Sardinian Alien Flora: an Update

[EN] Alien plants colonization, due to the fast spreading of highly invasive taxa, is more and more a serious source of concerns for habitat and species conservation. Apart direct in situ intervention, it is of major importance to acquire the best and up to date knowledge about alien taxa that currently threaten the integrity of wild and valuable environments. In this light, here is presented the update to the checklist of alien vascular flora of the island of Sardinia (Italy) on the basis of the new findings, nomenclatural adjustments, and revision of diffusion status of alien taxa. The checklist at present, consists of 541 taxa (84 doubtful) which represent 17% of the whole flora of the island; 22 taxa are new to the island and 7 of them for Italy. Neophytes represent the majority of the whole alien flora (301, 66% of the total) and, in confront to archaeophytes, gather nearly all invasive taxa (54 vs 4). The new findings are all neophytes. Phanerophytes (42%) are the most representative biological form and Americas represents the region that mostly contributes to the Sardinian alien flora (33%). Further analysis highlights that, in terms of number of taxa, highly anthropically impacted environments such as synanthropic (36%) and agricultural (23%) are the eligible habitats for most of the alien species in Sardinia while coastal areas and wetlands, beyond hosting a lower number of taxa, are characterized by the relative highest number of invasives.This study has received a RAS research grant cofinanced by POR Sardegna FSE 2007-2013 L.R.7/2007 "Promozione della ricerca scientifica e dell'innovazione tecnologica in Sardegna". Authors want to thank Provincia di Cagliari for financing the research activity.Podda, L.; Lazzeri, V.; Mascia, F.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.; Bacchetta, G. (2012). The Checklist of the Sardinian Alien Flora: an Update. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca. 40(2):14-21. doi:10.15835/nbha4028225S142140

Chemical-physical agents and biodeteriogens in the alteration of limestones used in coastal historical fortifications

The alteration of rocks is usually due to the chemical-physical processes that are initially established on the outer surface of the stone and gradually proceed towards the inner matrix. The chemical alteration generated by the interaction with atmospheric agents (weathering) involves the transformation of the mineral phases constituting the rock that are less stable in the current climatic conditions. That often leads to the formation of new secondary phases more stable with respect to the alteration. However, among these phases are often present some very soluble and hygroscopic phases (i.e., soluble salts, clay minerals) that cause inner degradation of the rock, due to their physical-mechanical actions (inner crystallization pressure, hydration dilation). In the case of carbonate rocks (limestone, sandstone with carbonate cement, etc.), the dissolution is the more frequent process, especially when the monuments were located within the cities, due to the acid meteoric precipitations (with H2CO3, H2SO4) that lead to the sulfation of carbonate matrix with formation of gypsum, very harmful to the stone. When the rock (e.g., clay-arenaceous limestones) naturally contains hygroscopic phases inside the matrix (i.e., marine salts, phyllosilicates) and they are also porous (> 20%), the physical degradation is accelerated, with decohesion of the mineralogical matrix (between the crystalline granules) and consequent disintegration of the stone. In the rock-atmosphere interaction often occurs the presence of biodeteriogens (plants, fungi, lichens, micro- organisms, etc.), which negatively participate and in various ways in the processes of rock alteration. The research aims to define the chemical-physical alteration factors on the limestones exposed to different bioclimatic and biogeographic contexts (Mediterranean and Atlantic), taking two study-case monuments located in the Italian and in the Portuguese coasts. In the study presented in this paper the preliminary results of the case-study of Cagliari fortifications have been discussed. In the study the different vascular plants present on stone surface and crevices and their different role in the degradation of limestone rocks have been also studied

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora 6

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions of taxa in the genera Acalypha, Acer, Canna, Cardamine, Cedrus, Chlorophytum, Citrus, Cyperus, Epilobium, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, Gamochaeta, Hesperocyparis, Heteranthera, Lemna, Ligustrum, Lycium, Nassella, Nothoscordum, Oenothera, Osteospermum, Paspalum, Pontederia, Romulea, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Sesbania, Setaria, Sicyos, Styphnolobium, Symphyotrichum, and Tradescantia. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as supplementary material

Comparison of the vascular exotic flora in continental islands: Sardinia (Italy) and Balearic Islands (Spain)

[EN] This paper provides a comparison of the vascular exotic flora of Sardinia and that of the Balearic Islands, both territories belonging to the Western Mediterranean biogeographic subregion. The study has recorded 531 exotic taxa in Sardinia (18.8% of the total flora) while 360(19%) in the Balearic Islands; 10 are new to Sardinia (3 of which for Italy) and 29 to the Balearic Islands. The alien flora of Sardinia is included in 99 families; Fabaceae is the richest (49 taxa), followed by Poaceae (33) and Asteraceae (31) while in the Balearic Islands in 90 families, with a predominance of Fabaceae (32), Asteraceae (31) and Poaceae (27). The comparison of the biological spectra reveals that in Sardinia phanerophytes are the most represented in Sardinia and therophytes in the Balearic Islands. A detailed analysis shows that most of the exotic taxa (246) are shared by both territories with a clear dominance of neophytes rather than archaeophytes. A study of the geographical origin shows supremacy of the American element over the Mediterranean. The majority of introduced exotic taxa are a result of intentional human introductions (76% SA, 77% BL), mainly for ornamental use (43% SA, 45% BL). The most occupied habitats are the semi-natural, agricultural and synanthropic for both territories, but attending to invasive plants, coastal habitats in Sardinia and wetlands in the Balearic Islands are the most sensitive. A part of the work deals with the causes of fragility and low resilience of the different habitats.[ES] Se presenta un estudio comparativo de la flora vascular exótica de Cerdeña y de las Baleares, dos sistemas insulares pertenecientes a la subregión biogeográfica Mediterránea Occidental. En Cerdeña se han contabilizado 531 táxones exóticos (18,8% del total de su flora), mientras que en las Baleares 360 (19%), siendo 10 citas nuevas para Cerdeña (3 de las cuales para Italia) y 29 para Baleares. La flora exótica de Cerdeña está incluida en 99 familias, y Fabaceae es la más rica (49 táxones), seguida por Poaceae (33) y Asteraceae (31), frente a 90 familias para las Baleares, con predominio de Fabaceae (32), Asteraceae (31) y Poaceae (27). Se han encontrado diferencias respecto a los tipos biológicos, con un predominio de los fanerófitos en Cerdeña y de los terófitos en las Baleares. Un análisis detallado muestra que buena parte de estos táxones (246) son compartidos por ambos territorios, así como una dominancia de los neófitos frente a los arqueófitos. Respecto al origen geográfico, ambos territorios presentan una preeminencia del elemento americano sobre el mediterráneo. En referencia a las vías de introducción, la mayor parte de los táxones ha sido introducida por parte del hombre de forma intencionada (76% SA, 77% BL) en particular para uso ornamental (43% SA, 45% BL). Los hábitats más afectados son los seminaturales, agrícolas y sinantrópicos en ambos territorios, aunque atendiendo a la flora invasora, son los litorales los más sensibles en Cerdeña y los humedales en Baleares. Una parte del trabajo aborda las causas de la fragilidad y baja resiliencia de los diferentes hábitats.Podda, L.; Fraga Arguimbau, P.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.; Mascia, F.; Bacchetta, G. (2010). Comparación de la flora exótica vascular en sistemas de islas continentales: Cerdeña (Italia) y Baleares (España). Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid. 67(2):157-176. doi:10.3989/ajbm.2251S157176672Mack, R. N., Simberloff, D., Mark Lonsdale, W., Evans, H., Clout, M., & Bazzaz, F. A. (2000). BIOTIC INVASIONS: CAUSES, EPIDEMIOLOGY, GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES, AND CONTROL. Ecological Applications, 10(3), 689-710. doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2000)010[0689:bicegc]2.0.co;2Madon*, O., & Médail, F. (1997). Plant Ecology, 129(2), 189-199. doi:10.1023/a:1009759730000Mansion, G., Rosenbaum, G., Schoenenberger, N., Bacchetta, G., Rosselló, J. A., & Conti, E. (2008). Phylogenetic Analysis Informed by Geological History Supports Multiple, Sequential Invasions of the Mediterranean Basin by the Angiosperm Family Araceae. Systematic Biology, 57(2), 269-285. doi:10.1080/10635150802044029MILBAU, A., & STOUT, J. C. (2008). Factors Associated with Alien Plants Transitioning from Casual, to Naturalized, to Invasive. Conservation Biology, 22(2), 308-317. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00877.xO’Dowd, D. J., Green, P. T., & Lake, P. S. (2003). Invasional «meltdown» on an oceanic island. Ecology Letters, 6(9), 812-817. doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00512.xOlesen, J. M., Eskildsen, L. I., & Venkatasamy, S. (2002). Invasion of pollination networks on oceanic islands: importance of invader complexes and endemic super generalists. Diversity Distributions, 8(3), 181-192. doi:10.1046/j.1472-4642.2002.00148.xPauchard, A., Cavieres, L. A., & Bustamante, R. O. (2004). Comparing alien plant invasions among regions with similar climates: where to from here? Diversity and Distributions, 10(5-6), 371-375. doi:10.1111/j.1366-9516.2004.00116.xPyšek, P., Richardson, D. M., Rejmánek, M., Webster, G. L., Williamson, M., & Kirschner, J. (2004). Alien plants in checklists and floras: towards better communication between taxonomists and ecologists. TAXON, 53(1), 131-143. doi:10.2307/4135498Randall, J. M., Morse, L. E., Benton, N., Hiebert, R., Lu, S., & Killeffer, T. (2008). The Invasive Species Assessment Protocol: A Tool for Creating Regional and National Lists of Invasive Nonnative Plants that Negatively Impact Biodiversity. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 1(1), 36-49. doi:10.1614/ipsm-07-020.1REASER, J. K., MEYERSON, L. A., CRONK, Q., DE POORTER, M., ELDREGE, L. G., GREEN, E., … VAIUTU, L. (2007). Ecological and socioeconomic impacts of invasive alien species in island ecosystems. Environmental Conservation, 34(2), 98-111. doi:10.1017/s0376892907003815REICHARD, S. H., & WHITE, P. (2001). Horticulture as a Pathway of Invasive Plant Introductions in the United States. BioScience, 51(2), 103. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0103:haapoi]2.0.co;2Richardson, D. M., & Pyšek, P. (2006). Plant invasions: merging the concepts of species invasiveness and community invasibility. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 30(3), 409-431. doi:10.1191/0309133306pp490prRichardson, D. M., Pysek, P., Rejmanek, M., Barbour, M. G., Panetta, F. D., & West, C. J. (2000). Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concepts and definitions. Diversity Distributions, 6(2), 93-107. doi:10.1046/j.1472-4642.2000.00083.xRosenbaum, G., Lister, G. S., & Duboz, C. (2002). Reconstruction of the tectonic evolution of the western Mediterranean since the Oligocene. Journal of the Virtual Explorer, 08. doi:10.3809/jvirtex.2002.00053Sanz-Elorza, M., Mateo, R. G., & Bernardo, F. G. (2008). The historical role of agriculture and gardening in the introduction of alien plants in the western Mediterranean. Plant Ecology, 202(2), 247-256. doi:10.1007/s11258-008-9474-2Schippers, P., van Groenendael, J. M., Vleeshouwers, L. M., & Hunt, R. (2001). Herbaceous plant strategies in disturbed habitats. Oikos, 95(2), 198-210. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.950202.xSchnitzler, A., Hale, B. W., & Alsum, E. M. (2007). Examining native and exotic species diversity in European riparian forests. Biological Conservation, 138(1-2), 146-156. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2007.04.010Speranza, F., Villa, I. M., Sagnotti, L., Florindo, F., Cosentino, D., Cipollari, P., & Mattei, M. (2002). Age of the Corsica–Sardinia rotation and Liguro–Provençal Basin spreading: new paleomagnetic and Ar/Ar evidence. Tectonophysics, 347(4), 231-251. doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(02)00031-8Suehs, C. 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Checklist of gypsophilous vascular flora in Italy

Our understanding of the richness and uniqueness of the flora growing on gypsum substrates in Italy has grown significantly since the 19th century and, even today, new plant species are still being discovered. However, the plants and plant communities, growing on gypsum substrates in Italy, are still a relatively unknown subject. The main aim of this paper was to elaborate a checklist of the Italian gypsophilous flora, to increase knowledge about this peculiar flora and for which conservation efforts need to be addressed. Through a structured group communication process of experts (application of the Delphi technique), a remarkable number of experienced Italian botanists have joined together to select focal plant species linked to gypsum substrates. From the results obtained, 31 plant species behave as absolute or preferent taxa (gypsophytes and gypsoclines) and form the ‘core’ Italian gypsophilous flora. The most abundant life forms were chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes, belonging to Poaceae and Brassicaceae; as for chorotypes, the most represented are Mediterranean and narrow endemics. By improving on previously available information about the flora with a clear preference for gypsum in Italy, this undertaking represents an important contribution to the knowledge of a habitat which is today considered a priority for conservation

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 8

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Ajuga, Chamaemelum, Clematis, Convolvulus, Cytisus, Deschampsia, Eleocharis, Epipactis, Euphorbia, Groenlandia, Hedera, Hieracium, Hydrocharis, Jacobaea, Juncus, Klasea, Lagurus, Leersia, Linum, Nerium, Onopordum, Persicaria, Phlomis, Polypogon, Potamogeton, Securigera, Sedum, Soleirolia, Stachys, Umbilicus, Valerianella, and Vinca. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. materia