A new Asphodelus ramosus-dominated association from the Murge Plateau (SE Italy)

The plant communities dominated by Asphodelus ramosus are quite common in the Mediterranean Basin, especially in the most degraded vegetation stages caused by grazing and fires. The aim of this paper is to provide a phytosociological description of the Asphodelus ramosus-dominated plant community of the Murge Plateau, in southeastern Italy, through 28 phytosociological relevés. Cluster analysis (flexible Beta method) and ordination (non-metric multidimentional scaling) were used to compare this plant community with other dry grassland associations in the same area and with other Asphodelus ramosus-dominated plant communities from Italy and western Balkans. The results allowed the description of a new association for the Murge Plateau: the Gelasio columnae-Asphodeletum ramosi. The new association has been tentatively classified in the alliance Hippocrepido glaucae-Stipion austroitalicae (Scorzoneretalia villosae order), because of the presence of several species typical of this alliance, although it is intermediate between this alliance and the more thermophilous vegetation of the Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae class

Hazmofitska asocijacija Portenschlagiello ramosissimae-Campanuletum portenschlagianae u Hrvatskoj

Based on field investigations and using the Braun-Blanquet approach, the paper describes the chasmophytic association Portenschlagiello ramosissimae-Campanuletum portenschlagianae, from Croatian Mediterranean cliffs.Na temelju terenskih istraživanja i uz pomoć Braun-Blanquet fitocenološke metode, u radu je opisana hazmofitska asocijacija Portenschlagiello ramosissimae-Campanuletum portenschlagianae rasprostranjena uz obalu južne Hrvatske (Dalmacija)

The new association Pimpinello lithophilae-Centaureetum lovricii (Crithmo-Staticetea) from the island of Vis (southern Croatia)

This paper presents the new association Pimpinello lithophilae-Centaureetum lovricii, described for the halotolerant vegetation of the order Helichrysetalia italici (Crithmo-Staticetea) on the island of Vis (southern Croatia). The new association replaces the Pimpinello lithophilae-Centaureetum issaeae, originally published invalidly because its name was formed from the invalid taxon name ‘Centaurea issaea Lovrić’

Dry grasslands of Hippocrepido glaucae-Stipion austroitalicae in the Pollino Massif (Calabria, Italy)

Rocky pastures dominated by Stipa austroitalica in the south-east of Italy were classified within an endemic alliance, Hippocrepido glaucae-Stipion austroitalicae, originally assigned to a Balkan order (Scorzoneretalia villosae). Actually, the distribution area of S. austroitalica extends further westwards and large patches are found on the south-east side of the Pollino Massif. This study aims to describe and characterise the plant communities dominated by S. austroitalica in this area and analyse their floristic and chorological relationships with other associations of Hippocrepido-Stipion. Moreover, their syntaxonomy is discussed in the context of the Italian and south European dry grasslands biogeography. The grasslands were studied on the basis of 19 phytosociological relevés. A larger data set, including 185 relevés with S. austroitalica, was used to visualise the relationships among the associations through nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling ordination. The results allowed the description of a new association, Bupleuro gussonei-Stipetum austroitalicae, classifi ed within Hippocrepido-Stipion. As a consequence, the alliance synrange was extended up to the Pollino Massif. The Hip pocrepido-Stipion, together with Cytiso spinescentis-Bromion erecti, was arranged in Euphorbietalia myrsinitidis, an endemic order of the Italian peninsula. The proposed scheme upgrades the syntaxonomy and nomenclature of the dry grasslands vegetation of central and southern Italy

Dynamic Analysis of the Lubrication in a Wet Clutch of a Hydromechanical Variable Transmission

The paper investigates the oil flow through a multi plate clutch for a hydro-mechanical variable transmission under actual operating conditions. The analysis focuses on the numerical approach for the accurate prediction of the transient behavior of the lubrication in the gear region: the trade-off between prediction capabilities of the numerical model and computational effort is addressed. The numerical simulation includes the full 3D geometry of the clutch and the VOF multi-phase approach is used to calculate the oil distribution in the clutch region under different relative rotating velocities. Furthermore, the lubrication of the friction disks is calculated for different clutch actuation conditions, i.e. not-engaged and engaged positions. The influence of different geometrical features of the clutch lubricating circuit on the oil distribution is also determined. The results show the areas where poor lubrication occurs and extend the experiments where measurements are difficult to carry out. The simulation highlights the regions where high thermal stresses are observed during tests

Nomenclature and syntaxonomic notes on some high-rank syntaxa of the European grassland vegetation

We present descriptions of a new order (Ranunculo cortusifolii-Geranietalia reuteri) and of a new alliance (Stachyo lusitanicae-Cheirolophion sempervirentis) for the herbaceous fringe communities of Macaronesia and of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, respectively. A new alliance, the Polygalo mediterraneae-Bromion erecti (mesophilous post-cultural grasslands), was introduced for the Peninsular Italy. We further validate and typify the Armerietalia rumelicae (perennial grasslands supported by nutrient-poor soils on siliceous bedrocks at elevations characterized by the submediterranean climate of south-central Balkan Peninsula), the Securigero-Dasypyrion villosae (lawn and fallow-land tall-grass annual vegetation of Italy), and the Cirsio vallis-demoni-Nardion (acidophilus grasslands on siliceous substrates of the Southern Italy). Nomenclatural issues (validity, legitimacy, synonymy, formal corrections) have been discussed and clarified for the following names: Brachypodio-Brometalia, Bromo pannonici-Festucion csikhegyensis, Corynephoro-Plantaginion radicatae, Heleochloion, Hieracio-Plantaginion radicatae, Nardetea strictae, Nardetalia strictae, Nardo-Callunetea, Nardo-Galion saxatilis, Oligo-Bromion, Paspalo-Heleochloetalia, Plantagini-Corynephorion and Scorzoneret alia villosae

Rocky coastal vegetation of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in the south-east of Italy

In the south-east of Italy, rocky coasts are almost entirely concentrated in the Apulia region. Several phytosociological papers have already dealt with the rocky coastal vegetation of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in some parts of the Apulian coast. However, there is still no overall revision carried out by using modern statistical treatments of phytosociological data. This paper aims to revise the syntaxonomy and nomenclature of the class Crithmo-Staticetea in the south-east of Italy. The revision is based on a data set of 225 relevés consisting of new and original phytosociological relevés (66) and others already published. The data matrix was classified with the use of flexible beta clustering. Indicator species analysis was employed to identify the indicator species of the main clusters of relevés. Results were interpreted from a syntaxonomic point of view. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination was performed in order to visualize the floristic relationships among associations. Rocky coastal vegetation of the Crithmo-Staticetea class in the south-east of Italy is represented by two orders, Crithmo maritimi-Staticetalia and Helichrysetalia italici. The first one includes two alliances, Crithmo-Staticion and Limonion anfracti-cancellati, with four associations and one, respectively. However, since they rely on very few character species, the floristic and syntaxonomic relationships between these two alliances need to be deepened by further investigations, involving a larger data set and investigation area. The second order, Helichrysetalia italici, includes two associations, well differentiated by their ecology, structure and floristic composition. For this reason, they were classified within two different alliances, Anthyllidion barbae-jovis and Helichrysion litorei. The Helichrysion litorei is here validated

Chasmophytic vegetation of the class Asplenietea trichomanis in south-eastern Italy

The southeast of Italy is characterized by the presence of some highly phytogeographically relevant taxa with a Balkan-Aegean distribution. Three of these taxa, Campanula versicolor, Carum multiflorum and Scrophularia lucida, characterize the chasmophytic vegetation in central-southern Apulia (Serre Salentine and Bassa Murgia). Chasmophytic vegetation has already been referred to the Onosmetalia frutescentis order and to its only alliance Campanulion versicoloris, which are syntaxa with mainly a south-western Balkan distribution. This paper reports a phytosociological study of chasmophytic vegetation throughout the entire distributional range of these three species in south-eastern Italy and describes two new associations: Piptathero holciformis-Campanuletum versicoloris and Iberido carnosae-Athamantetum siculi.We analyse their floristic relationships with other communities described for southern Italy, the Adriatic area and the southern Balkans. As distinct from reports in the literature, the results show that south-eastern Italian rupicolous communities, now grouped under the new alliance Caro multiflori-Aurinion megalocarpae, have higher floristic similarity with the order Asplenietalia glandulosi, where they have been placed. In other words, the presence of different species gravitating in the East discriminates the chasmophytic vegetation of south-eastern Italy within a central Mediterranean order, rather than justifying its assignment to Onosmetalia frutescentis, whose distributional area is limited to the Balkan Peninsula

Proposals (33–34) to conserve the name Poo-Astragalion and to conserve the name Poo-Astragaletum sesamei with a conserved type, and requests (5–7) for a binding decision on the name-giving taxa in the same names and the inversion of the name Poo-Astragaletum sesamei

The alliance name Poo-Astragalion has been widely used by Iberian phytosociologists for nearly fifty years to indicate a type of sheep pastures thriving on base-rich substrates. This alliance is currently classified in the order Poetalia bulbosae and class Poetea bulbosae. However, the revision of its original diagnosis highlights that this alliance name must be considered as an alternative name to the largely disused name Medicagini-Brachypodion distachyi. In order to stabilize the nomenclature, we propose the conservation of the traditionally used name Poo-Astragalion. On the other hand, the type association of the alliance (Poo-Astragaletum sesamei) turns out to be a superfluous name for another association neglected in the syntaxonomical literature, the Astragalo scorpioidis-Medicaginetum truncatulae. Hence, with the same objective of stabilizing the nomenclature, we propose the designation of a conserved neotype for the Poo-Astragaletum sesamei and the conservation of this name against the earlier heterotypic synonym in case of union of both associations. At the same time, we propose to complete the two names Poo-Astragalion and Poo-Astragaletum sesamei by selecting Poa bulbosa and Astragalus sesameus as the name-giving taxa, and to invert the name Poo-Astragaletum in accordance with its neotype (Astragalo sesamei-Poetum bulbosae). (33) Poo-Astragalion Rivas Goday et Ladero 1970: 165–169, nom. cons. propos. Typus: Poo-Astragaletum sesamei Rivas-Goday et Ladero 1970: 166–170 (holotypus). (≡) Medicagini-Brachypodion distachyi Rivas-Goday et Rivas-Martínez in Rivas Goday et Ladero 1970: 165–166 (alternative name) [original form: "Medicago-Brachypodion"] (34) Poo-Astragaletum sesamei Rivas-Goday et Ladero 1970: 166–170, nom. cons. et typus cons. propos. [original forms: "Poo-Astragaletum", "Poeto-Astragaletum sesamei"] Typus cons. propos.: neotypus hoc loco (see below). (=) Astragalo scorpioidis-Medicaginetum truncatulae Rivas Goday et Borja 1959 nom. corr. [original form: Astragalo scorpioidis-Medicaginetum tribuloidis nom. inept. (Rivas Goday and Borja 1959: 475, table 2)] Taxonomic reference: Euro+Med (2023). Syntaxonomic reference: Mucina et al. (2016). Abbreviations: EVC = EuroVegChecklist (Mucina et al. 2016); ICPN = 4th edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2021)

Energy recovery of the biomass from livestock farms in Italy: the case of Modena Province

The energy recovery from manure of different Italian livestock farms is analysed by means of numerical simulation using an in-house developed code. In particular, the animal farming in the province of Modena is taken into account and biomass is exploited in an integrated system including different waste to energy technologies. In the considered system, the manure of a number of types of animals is fed into an anaerobic digester, while the digested sludge is separated into the solid and liquid fractions. The former is employed as a fuel in a downdraft gasifier, while the latter is purified by means of both forward and inverse osmosis. Finally, the obtained bio-gas and syngas are used in a cogeneration system based on a spark ignition internal combustion engine to produce electric and thermal power. The potential power production of the considered territory is estimated and compared with the energy requirements of the animal farms. Different strategies for the distributed exploitation of the manure versus a centralized solution are investigated and the relating plant size and production of electric energy and thermal energy are evaluated