Biodeteriogens at a southern Italian heritage site: Analysis and management of vascular flora on the walls of Villa Rufolo

Colonisation of vascular plants on ancient historical buildings is known to cause severe damage. The aim of the present work was to analyse the deteriogenic vascular flora of Villa Rufolo in Ravello, one of the most famous heritage sites in southern Italy. The deteriogenic flora were analysed in terms of diversity, structure, chorology, origin and potential damage to the building. The hazard index (HI) was applied to evaluate the impact of the biodeteriogens in question. The total flora included 61 taxa with the prevalence of therophytes (42.6%) and widely distributed species (42.6%), mostly derived from natural or semi-natural environments in the surrounding area (95.1%). The plant colonisation pattern showed the presence of some very harmful but not very abundant vascular plants (6.6%), including Ficus carica, Hedera helix subsp. helix, Capparis orientalis and Parthenocissus tricuspidata. Analysing the potential deteriogenic impact of each species (DI), a new index proposed by the authors, it emerged that the most dangerous were Centranthus ruber subsp. ruber and Parietaria judaica. Methods for the eradication of the most damaging species are discussed and proposed

Integrazioni alla flora vascolare dell’Isola di Capri (Campania, sud Italia)

In the present work new data of vascular plant species (Atriplex prostrata Boucher ex DC., Bidens subalternans DC., Cyrtomium falcatum (L.f.) C.Presl, Lantana camara L. subsp. glandulosissima (Hayek) R.W.Sanders, Oloptum thomasii (Duby) Banfi & Galasso) and confirms (Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase, Neotinea maculata (Desf.) Stearn, Salvia clandestina L., Schoenus nigricans L., Viola riviniana Rchb.) are reported for Island of Capri

Climatic and anthropogenic factors affect Ailanthus altissima invasion in a Mediterranean region

Ailanthus altissima is an aggressive invasive tree worldwide, but the ecological factors that lead to the spread of this species in Mediterranean ecosystems are still unclear. Here we aim to identify such factors, focusing on the interaction of human activity with climatic conditions. We determined the occurrence and abundance of Ailanthus in 240 sites and studied their relationship with 20 variables representing climatic, geographic, and topographic factors, as well as land use, in the region of Campania (southern Italy). Overall, we found that temperature and rainfall in Campania are suitable for Ailanthus, with the only major constraint being the temperature at an altitude exceeding 900 m a.s.l. We found that Ailanthus is unable to spread where the mean annual temperature is lower than 11.1 °C. By contrast, precipitation variables showed poor correlation with Ailanthus distribution, suggesting that rainfall in the selected study sites is suitable to sustain the growth of this tree. About land use variables, roads were the primary landscape feature along which this species spread and invaded new areas. Roads probably combine high propagule pressure and favorable growing conditions in terms of available resources i.e., light, water, and mineral nutrients, that allow Ailanthus to establish and spread along roadside edges in different ecosystems. In conclusion, we found that climate and human-associated variables are correlated with the current occurrence of Ailanthus, with the temperature being more influential at high elevation sites and road distance playing a prominent role in low elevation areas

An integrative study on asphondylia spp. (diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causing flower galls on lamiaceae, with description, phenology, and associated fungi of two new species

An integrative study on some species of Asphondylia was carried out. Two species of gall midges from Italy, Asphondylia rivelloi sp. nov. and Asphondylia micromeriae sp. nov. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causing flower galls respectively on Clinopodium vulgare and Micromeria graeca (Lamiaceae), are described and illustrated. The characteristics of each developmental stage and induced galls are described, which allowed the discrimination of these new species in the complex of Asphondylia developing on Lamiaceae plants. Molecular data based on sequencing both nuclear (ITS2 and 28S-D2) and mitochondrial (COI) genes are also provided in support of this discrimination. Phylogeny based on nuclear markers is consistent with the new species, whereas COI phylogeny suggests introgression occurring between the two species. However, these species can also be easily identified using a morphological approach. Phenology of host plants and gall midges are described, and some peculiar characteristics allow the complete and confident discrimination and revision of the treated species. Gall-associated fungi were identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea, Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium spp

Integrazioni alla flora vascolare dell’Italia centrale.

Additions to the vascular flora of the Central Italy. In this work new floristic records for 46 units are reported for some regions of Central Italy. Particularly 25 are new or confirmed to Abruzzo, 1 is new to Marche and 1 to Molise. In addition new distribution data for 18 units rare or interesting in Abruzzo and 1 in Molise regions have been recorded. The survey was carried out from 2010 to 2015 through field research, revision of herbarium specimens and literature studies. Some recorded species are particularly interesting from a phytogeo¬graphical or conservational point of view as they are very rare in Cen¬tral Italy. The results also show a high presence of new alien species

Contributo alla flora del Parco Nazionale della Majella

Viene presentato un ulteriore contributo alla ricca flora del Parco Nazionale della Majella. In particolare, 15 nuove entità vengono segnalate per la prima volta ed una viene confermata nell’area protetta. Per altre entità, rare sul territorio regionale, vengono segnalate nuove stazioni all’interno del Parco. Il contributo conferma come la ricerca sul campo sia di fondamentale importanza per approfondire le conoscenze sul patrimonio naturale, anche nel caso di territori abbastanza ben conosciuti come quello del Parco Nazionale della Majella.A further contribution to the rich flora of the Majella National Park is presented. In particular, 15 entities are reported for the first time and one is confirmed in the protected area. New localities are also indicated, inside the Park, for some plant species that are very rare in the Abruzzo region. It is confirmed that field research is of crucial importance in expanding our knowledge of the natural heritage, even in a fairly well known territory as that of the Majella National Park

Relevant but neglected habitat types by the Directive 92/43 EEC in southern Italy

The 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive is the main European Union legal tool concerning nature conservation. The habitat types listed in Annex I to the Directive are phytosociology-based. It is widely acknowledged that phytosociological analysis is a crucial approach for habitats characterization and for monitoring their conservation status. Based on bibliographic investigations and new field survey campaigns, a list of habitat types neglected by the Habitats Directive is here presented and described for southern Italy. In this paper, 8 new habitat types and 13 subtypes are proposed. For each of these proposed new habitat types, a wide range of information, including ecology, chorology, species composition, syntaxonomy, threats, and conservation status, is here provided. To supply more detailed phytogeographical and coenological information about the proposed new habitat types, distribution maps based on 10 x 10 km reference grids and phytosociological tables including unpublished releves were carried out

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 4

In this contribution, new data concerning the Italian distribution of alien vascular flora are presented. It includes new records and exclusions for Italy or for Italian administrative regions of taxa in the genera Cedrus, Cenchrus, Citrus, Cyrtomium, Diospyros, Elaeagnus, Erigeron, Iris, Oenothera, Pavonia, Phytolacca, Styphnolobium, and Verbena. Furthermore, a new combination in the genus Amaranthus is proposed

Contribution to the floristic knowledge of the Maddalena Mountains (Basilicata and Campania, southern Italy)

The inventory of the taxa collected during the annual field trip of the working group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution of the Italian Botanical Society is reported. It was held in 2013 along the Maddalena Mountains, a mountain ridge of the southern Apennines located between the Basilicata and Campania administrative regions (southern Italy), considered as being poorly characterized in terms of vascular flora. A total of 701 units belonging to 74 plant families were recorded including two varieties and four hybrids.Thirty-five taxa resulted endemic to Italy and only 11 alien species were detected, while 36 taxa are new or confirmed for the regional floras of Basilicata and/or Campania. In particular, 12 taxa are new for Basilicata, while four are confirmed. Regarding Campania, 14 taxa resulted new for the regional flora and five were confirmed

New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: From #37 to #44

In this contribution, Italian new data concerning the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3150, 3170*, 3260, 4090, 91L0, 91M0, 9340 are reported. In detail, 20 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 30 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Umbria