SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF PLANT AGRI-BIODIVERSITY IN POLLINO NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

Spatial analysis of the in situ conserved plant landraces in Pollino National Park was carried out from 2009 to 2011. The sampling design, based on a standard landscape grid, captured the whole range of plant genetic resources monitored at a pluri-taxon level. Both old fruit trees, wines (I phase; see www.biodiversitapollino.it) and annual herbaceous plants (II phase) were monitored. Overall 119 georeferenced sampling units, each with a visible radius of 200-250 m represented the rural landscape of 21 municipalities in Basilicata and 3 in Calabria. Overall 41 different woody species comprising 519 traditional biotypes and 54 herbaceous species with 137 traditional cultivars were scored. Cultivar/species ratio is 10: 1 for woody plants and 3: 1 for herbaceous species. Diversity at the sub-specific level, averaged across the whole landscape was: Margalef = 80.51; Menhinick = 9.51; Shannon = 5.55; Simpson = 0.99; Briliouin = 5.36. Landscape units with highest genetic diversity (species and landrace richness) were highlighted within a heterogeneous mosaic of cultivar richness distribution according to ecology and rural settlments. Linear regression (R2= 0.78;r= 0.43) between herbaceous cultivars richness vs old fruit trees richness confirmed that agribiodiversity is spatially conserved in landscape production units based on multi species rather than mono species (e.g. specialized) agro-ecosystems. In addition, the Colombian introductions (bean, potato, maize, pumpkin, tomato, and chili) increased species richness (R2 = 0.80; r= 0.56) – without any displacement effect – within the landscape units already performing as a realized niche for the pre-colombian species (apple, pear, wheat, legumes, etc.) The core area of Mercure catchment basin – a realized niche for both pre and post Colombian species – connected with few units, each a-priori sized 4 x 4 Km, depicts the Pollino National Park agri-biodiversity genetic reserve