Problematika zajednica razreda Quercetea ilicis i njihovih degradacijskih oblika u Italiji

This review of research activities reports on the planning and the first results of a series of studies on the Quercus ilex communities in Italy. Particularly examined is the situation of the »Tre Venezie« country which is at the border of the area of Quercus ilex and its vegetation.Italija se nalazi u centru areala česmine i veliki dio teritorija predstavlja klimaks vegetacije česminovih šuma. I unatoč tome fitocenološke spoznaje o tim zajednicama nisu još dovoljne da bi omogućile sastavljanje pregledne tablice koja bi vrijedila za cjelokupno područje Italije. Zbog toga je osnovana skupina istraživača koja se bavi ne samo zajednicama razreda Quercetea ilicis već i oblicima njihove degradacije (Cisto-Lavanduletea i Ononido-Rosemarinetea). Mediteranska vazdazelena vegetacija proučavana je dakle u mnogim područjima Italije izabranim po kriteriju da predstavljaju sve ili većinu biljnogeografskih područja i staništa u kojima se mogu naći te zajednice. Najtipičnije mediteranske sastojine snimljene su na Siciliji, u Pugli i na Sardiniji. Zajednice česmine, na visinskoj granici, u Lukaniji i Kalabriji, u granicama geografske širine u Liguriji i Julijskoj krajini i konačno česminove šume ili ostaci česminovih šuma izvan mediteranskog pojasa u Venetu i Trentinu, proučavane su kao element za usporedbu. U ovom radu predstavljena je problematika koja se odnosi na Pugliu i na tri Venecije koje su predmet proučavanja geobotaničke sekcije Biološkog odjela u Padovi. U Pugli je uočena kompleksna sintaksonomska problematika vezana za šume česmine (Quercus ilex), hrasta oštrika (Q. coccifera), makedonskog hrasta (Q. trojana) i njihovih dinamičkih serija, uvjetovanih posebnim prilikama okoliša, za sadašnju sintaksonomiju razr. Quercetea ilicis koja nije najprikladnija i za taksonomske probleme koji se odnose na bitne komponente tih zajednica. U sjeveroistočnom sektoru (Veneto, Trentino) istraživane su zajednice česmine i s nazočnošću česmine izvan sredozemnog područja. U najvećem broju slučajeva radi se o populacijama česmine na kamenjarskim površinama (niži dijelovi doline rijeke Adige) ili o šumama česmine u kojima je često jedina vrsta razreda Quercetea ilicis upravo sama česmina (jezero Garda, Donada), dok je preostala florna pratnja tipična za submediteranske šume listače,. U drugim su slučajevima (Euganejski brežuljci) elementi vazdazelene makije brojniji ali razbacani, tj. ne tvore sastojine. Bolja je situacija u primorskim česminovim šumama (Rosolina mare, Porto Caleri, Bosco Nordio) u kojima je još prepoznatljiva sveza Quercion ilicis, premda je i ona fragmentarno razvijena. Staništa česminovih šuma u Julijskoj krajini, za koje se smatra da su povezana s istarskim, zasad su izostavljena zbog dogovora s kolegama sa Zagrebačkog sveučilišta o zajedničkom istraživanju

Monitoraggio dell'accumulo di idrocarburi policiclici aromatici (IPA) in specie spontanee

ItLa flora del Salento rappresenta una grande risorsa per le applicazioni biotecnologiche. Presso l’Orto Botanico del DiSTeBA sono state propagate e moltiplicate tre specie spontanee molto comuni come il cardo mariano Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, il grespino Sonchus oleraceus L.e la cicoria selvatica Cichorium intybus L., al fine di verificare tecniche colturali che garantiscano un’adeguata produzione da destinare al settore alimentare, all’industria farmaceutica ed agli interventi di recupero ambientale. Nel presente lavoro si riportano i risultati relativi alla propagazione delle tre specie ed al monitoraggio dell’assorbimento che tali specie hanno evidenziato nei confronti degli Idrocarburi Policiclici Aromatici. Gli esiti delle attività hanno confermato una loro possibile applicazione nelle tecnologie riguardanti la fitodepurazione.EnThe Salentine flora represents a very rich source for biotechnological application. At the Botanic Garden of DiSTeBA, were propagated three wild species very common: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, Sonchus oleraceus L. and Cichorium intybus L. We tried to evaluate the possibility of a “domestication” of these wild plants, to obtain an adequate production for the food industry, pharmaceutical industry and the environmental restoration measures. In this paper we report the results for the propagation of the three species and monitoring the absorption capacity that these species have shown towards Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. The results confirmed their possible application in technologies and to perform an action of phytoremediation in respect of such pollutants ubiquitous and highly damaging

Centaurea pumilio l. (asteraceae), una nuova specie per la flora italiana

EnThe authors point out the first finding in Southern Apulia (Torre S. Giovanni, Ugento) of Centaurea pumilio L., a species up to now known for the eastern districts of the Mediterranean region. Details on floral morfology and population viability are given.ItGli autori descrivono il primo ritrovamento in Italia, nella Puglia meridionale (Torre S. Giovanni, Ugento) di Centaurea pumilio L., specie tipica della regione orientale mediterranea. Vengono descritti anche i campioni esaminati e la consistenza della popolazione rilevata

La conservazione della vegetazione nella riserva di Torre Guaceto

ItNel presente contributo vengono descritte le proposte di interventi finalizzati alla conservazione e la gestione della componente vegetazionale della Riserva dello Stato di Torre Guaceto (Provincia di Brindisi, Regione Puglia). Gli interventi proposti incidono su 3 principali tipi di habitat: le vegetazioni arboree ed arbustive, la zona umida ed il litorale sabbioso. Per ognuno di essi viene analizzato lo stato di conservazione dell’habitat, vengono individuati e descritti i fattori di disturbo, riconducibili quasi sempre ad una causa antropica, i tipi di interventi proposti ed i risultati attesi. Viene inoltre presentata la carta degli habitat d’interesse conservazionistico realizzata sulla base della carta della vegetazione di Torre Guaceto alla scala 1:10000. Gli habitat sono definiti sulla base dei tipi individuati e descritti dalla Direttiva Habitat 43/92/CEE e sulla base della legislazione regionale.EnThis issue deals with suggested operations for the purpose of the conservation and the management of the vegetational component of the Torre Guaceto National Reserve (Brindisi Province, Apulia Region). These operations affect three main habitat types: wood and scrub, wetland and sandy coast. The conservation status is analysed; the disturbances (mainly of them concerning human activity), the proposed operations and the expected outcomes are described for each of these habitat types. Moreover, a map of habitats of some conservation interest is presented; it is based on the Torre Guaceto vegetational map on a scale of 1:10000. Each habitat is defined according to both the 43/92/EEC Habitat Directive and the regional law

An exploration of evaluation approaches for community based interventions for people living with HIV (PLHIV) with results applied to the ‘HOPE’ programme in Ghana

Background: The increase in the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV), especially in sub-Saharan Africa, is a major public health concern. To date, most attention has been paid to prevention strategies and clinical trials of therapy. In comparison, there have been very few studies of care and support programmes. The ‘HOPE’ programme is a major community-based care and support programme in Ghana. ‘HOPE’ provides nutritional support, skills training for employment, health education and psychological support for PLHIV and for those orphaned through AIDS. Therefore, it was seen by policy makers in the country as desirable that it should be evaluated. A PhD scholarship was funded and the researcher presenting this thesis was appointed. Broad Aims The overall aim was to carry out an evaluation of the ‘HOPE’ programme in Ghana in order to make wider recommendations for evaluation of community-based interventions (CBIs) in Ghana and Africa generally. The timing was less than ideal as many of the major decisions about the intervention had already been made and baseline data had been collected. Therefore, the preliminary aim was to explore a range of possible evaluation methods so that the most suitable approach could be selected. Thereafter, a range of more specific aims, objectives and research questions was identified. Methods: A ‘mixed methods’ approach was adopted. The first component was a desk-based analysis of the literature on the various evaluation approaches that might, at least in theory, be applied to an HIV/AIDS intervention like ‘HOPE’. From this, a decision was made to evaluate ‘HOPE’ in terms of structure, process and outcome. The second component operationalised this decision by reviewing HOPE’s working documents and conducting two pieces of field work: a quantitative and a qualitative study. The quantitative study was a structured questionnaire administered to 200 PLHIV on the ‘HOPE’ programme. The qualitative study consisted of 14 interviews with stakeholders directly involved in the programme implementation and 8 focus group discussions with the programme beneficiaries. Results: The desk-based analysis achieved three main outcomes. First, it set out in a systematic manner the different approaches to evaluation that could in theory have been applied to ‘HOPE’. It identified strengths and weaknesses and the perspectives behind each approach. Second, it set out and then summarised a detailed description of the ‘HOPE’ programme and the national context in which it operated. Third, it set the above within the context of global literature on HIV, community-based interventions and nutritional support programmes. The analysis of the quantitative data showed that beneficiaries were being provided with soy-fortified wheat and vegetable fortified oil at the time of the evaluation. On average, beneficiaries gained weight (Mean difference in weight was 2kg with 95% CI (1.1, 2.9), p-value < 0.001) and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) (Mean difference in BMI was 0.8units with 95% CI (0.4, 1.2), P-value < 0.001). Over a third of the beneficiaries (37.5%) was currently unemployed and only one in five of the beneficiaries had been trained in a skill that might have been useful to find employment: this, despite skills training for all being a programme goal. Multivariate analysis showed that the support group to which the beneficiary belonged was the most important determinant of a positive outcome. Qualitative components demonstrated perceived successes and challenges. Beneficiaries indicated that the anti-retroviral drugs were making them hungry and the food helped to alleviate that effect. They further indicated that the food was nutritious and contributed to their weight gain. Support groups have been sustained and membership increased. Some indicated that food should be more varied and some mentioned selling food to earn money to pay for their medications. Most of the beneficiaries indicated they were unemployed having lost their jobs as a result of stigmatisation. Only a few benefited from skills training leading to employment because of inadequate budgeting. Some who had been trained could not use their newly acquired skills because of lack of capital to start a business. To compound these weaknesses, most reported that they preferred petty trading to the skills offered. The monthly education and the training workshops generated hope, and improved knowledge of HIV/AIDS, promoted drug adherence and helped to reduce stigmatisation. The training of the PLHIV as peer educators is an effective method for HIV education and counselling since PLHIV listen to their peers more than health workers. Respondees predicted dissolution of the support groups when the programme ends. This is because they were not adequately involved in the decision making. Beneficiaries identified participation and cooperation as key prerequisites for sustainability but they also identified important weaknesses in ‘HOPE’ with respect to these criteria. Discussion: Despite the challenges presented by the timing and context of this study, it has been possible to carry out an evaluation that provides important learning. A mixed methods approach was appropriate and is likely to be useful in many similar evaluations. Beneficial outcomes were identified but these cannot be attributed, without qualification, to the intervention. Nonetheless, the findings indicated that participants were highly satisfied with the food support and monthly education. They were dissatisfied with the numbers trained in new skills and in other aspects of the skills training components. Also, the sustainability of the food component when the funding stops was a concern. However, the educational component could be sustained because peer educators could continue at very low cost. Most importantly, community involvement, using locally available resources, inter-sectoral collaboration and harnessing the motivation of local people were seen as key but underutilised ingredients. So, the results of the evaluation are encouraging but not conclusive. Nonetheless, care for people living with HIV is such an important problem that the desirability of conducting a cluster randomised controlled trial among a large number of support groups to assess the programme effectiveness on health, nutrition and economic status should be seriously considered despite the practical and ethical challenges implicit in such a recommendation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Le Fate dei Fiori

Evento a carattere divulgativo svoltosi presso l’Accademia di Belle Arti di Lecce nel maggio 2008. Tale iniziativa ha voluto puntare sui bambini della scuola primaria, per un percorso di conoscenza e rispetto della biodiversità vegetale del Mediterraneo e di tutela delle sue peculiarità floristiche. L’evento è consistito in una mostra botanico-iconografica con finalità didattiche, ispirata alle Fate dei Fiori di Cicely Mary Barker e concretizzatasi nella realizzazione di 63 pannelli illustrativi sulla flora spontanea pugliese. Alla mostra sono stati inoltre associati un evento ludico-teatrale, ambientato nel Parco Naturale Regionale Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio, sito di elevata valenza naturalistica per la varietà di specie autoctone in esso presenti