Insular endemism in the Mediterranean vascular flora: the case of the Aeolian Islands (Sicily, Italy)

The present paper briefly provides the state of the art of the knowledge on vascular plant endemism in the oceanic (“thalassogenous”) Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily). Preliminary analysis of distribution areas and review of recent literature on biosystematics of endemic species revealed that: (a) Aeolian strictly endemic taxa are just 6, i.e. about the 0.7 % of the local vascular flora; among them, just 4 can be considered (with doubt) derived from in situ evolution. (b) The other 18 endemics are taxa occurring in wider areas, so they cannot be generally considered “locally evolved” but relicts. This preliminary analysis confirms that not only continental (“chersogenous”) but all Mediterranean islands are primarily conservative rather than evolutionary active systems

Segnalazioni floristiche e vegetazionali per le zone umide costiere del territorio di Petrosino (Sicilia occidentale)

Si riportano popolazioni inedite di alcune specie di angiosperme rare per il territorio siciliano, localizzate nelle aree umide costiere del territorio di Petrosino (provincia di Trapani), attualmente tutelate come sito della rete europea “Natura 2000” (codice ITA010006), e come zona “Ramsar”: si tratta nel dettaglio di Apium graveolens, Briza minor, Carex extensa, Cladium mariscus, Euphorbia hirsuta, Ipomoea sagittata, Ruppia drepanensis, Sonchus maritimus. Per ogni specie viene brevemente illustrata l’importanza dei nuovi reperti nel contesto regionale. Viene inoltre segnalata la presenza di un habitat prioritario non censito nel piano di gestione del sito Natura 2000, ossia “7210*: Paludi calcaree con Cladium mariscus e specie del Caricion davallianae”, nei margi Milo, e di nuove stazioni dell’habitat prioritario “1150*: Lagune costiere” (già segnalato per margi Milo e per Capo Feto) nei margi Nespolilla.Floristic and vegetation records for the coastal wetlands in the territory of Petrosino (Western Sicily). - New populations of some regionally rare angiosperm species, found in the coastal wetlands of the territory of Petrosino (Province of Trapani) currently protected as a site of the European network “Natura 2000” (code ITA010006) and as a “Ramsar” area, are reported: in detail, the species are Apium graveolens, Briza minor, Carex extensa, Cladium mariscus, Euphorbia hirsuta, Ipomoea sagittata, Ruppia drepanensis, Sonchus maritimus. For each species, the importance of the new findings in the regional context is briefly illustrated. A priority habitat not mentioned in the Natura 2000 site management plan, i.e. “7210*: Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae”, in the Milo marshes, and new stations of the priority habitat “1150*: Coastal lagoons” (already reported for Milo marshes and Capo Feto) in the Nespolilla marshes, are also reported

"Operazione Ghiandaia" per contribuire a mantenere la biodiversità

The proposed action is based on that regularly carried out by the Jay, Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758), a corvid that also feeds on acorns that it collects from oak trees to transport them to safe hiding places. The dispersion carried out by the Jay ensures the expansion of the oaks into suitable areas adjacent to the existing oaks, and their maintenance within the area in which the oaks are present. If man could therefore collect acorns and bury them in suitable sites, he would help the Jay in his work of multiplication of oaks and therefore of propagation of woods, "real" woods and not reforestations, with their heritage of complexity and biodiversity

Monitoring of alien aquatic plants in the inland waters of Sicily (Italy)

Updated and reliable data on the presence and distribution of alien aquatic plant species in Sicily are lacking, and there is a need to fill this gap for a proper and efficient management of freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity. This paper reviews the available knowledge about alien aquatic vascular plants in the inland waters of Sicily (Italy). The aim is to provide an updated checklist, as a first step in the study of the impact of those plants on the native species and ecosystems of this Mediterranean island. The paper focuses on the strictly aquatic species (hydrophytes), excluding emergent macrophytes. Four species were listed, all of them free-floating and with American origin. Most of them occur within protected areas, and their introduction in the island appears to be anthropogenic. A set of functional traits of the alien species, such as relative growth rate, leaf mass per area, nitrogen and carbon content, were screened. These traits are useful for assessing the species invasive potential compared to native ones

Floristic survey of the former royal hunting reserve of Renda, near Palermo (Sicily, Italy)

A mountainous area in western Sicily, where relic wood vegetation is still preserved notwithstanding past and present human pressure, is here analysed in order to prepare a checklist of its vascular flora. Field investigations allowed to compile a floristic inventory including 601 infrageneric taxa belonging to 304 genera and 80 families. Some remarks on the biological and chorological spectra are presented, and some measures to protect flora and vegetation are suggested, too

Typification of the name Senecio pygmaeus (Asteraceae), with some additional taxonomic and phytogeographic remarks

A thorough research on the scientific activity of Guglielmo Gasparrini, Giovanni Gussone and Augustin Pyramus De Candolle allowed the authors to address a research in several European herbaria looking for the type of the name Senecio pygmaeus DC. The original specimen sent by Gussone and mentioned in the protologue by Candolle is still kept at G-DC and is designated as the lectotype, whilst three other herbarium sheets, preserved at NAP-GUSS, PAL and PAV herbaria respectively, in all probability belong to the same gathering, and are considered as isolectotypes. The authors provide an updated description of this taxon in order to better point out its diagnostic characters. However, further biosystematic and phytogeographic surveys are needed to ascertain the taxonomic value and the distribution range of S.pygmaeus. Indeed, it might represent just a dwarfed, salt-tolerant ecotype of S.leucanthemifolius Poir. or S.vulgarisL., hence be more widespread than previously reported, counting numerous scattered populations along the rocky shores of central and eastern Mediterranean countries