Corresponding author: Simona Casavecchia ( s.casavecchia@staff.univpm.it ) Academic editor: Simonetta Bagella
© 2021 Simona Casavecchia, Marina Allegrezza, Claudia Angiolini, Edoardo Biondi, Federica Bonini, Eva Del Vico, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Bruno Foggi, Daniela Gigante, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Cesare Lasen, Simona Maccherini, Mauro Mariotti, Simone Pesaresi, Gianfranco Pirone, Livio Poldini, Federico Selvi, Roberto Venanzoni, Daniele Viciani, Marisa Vidali, Giampiero Ciaschetti.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Casavecchia S, Allegrezza M, Angiolini C, Biondi E, Bonini F, Del Vico E, Fanfarillo E, Foggi B, Gigante D, Gianguzzi L, Lasen C, Maccherini S, Mariotti M, Pesaresi S, Pirone G, Poldini L, Selvi F, Venanzoni R, Viciani D, Vidali M, Ciaschetti G (2021) Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Central Italy. Plant Sociology 58(2): 99-118. https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2021582/08
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The main purpose of the 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive is to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, understood as habitat types and species of the flora and fauna of the European Union. To achieve this goal, natural and semi-natural biodiversity as a whole must be recognized and included in its annexes. As for the conservation of biotopes, named habitat types, Italy is unfortunately lacking as it the Annex I does not include important ecosystems that are typical of its territory, rare for biogeographical reasons or threatened. Therefore, the opportunity to identify a first list of significant habitats for central Italy is discussed here. For each of the new proposed types (new habitats or new subtypes) a sheet has been prepared to highlight their salient characteristics. The new proposals concern seven habitat types and one subtype: sedge and reeds formations (Freshwater large sedge and reed beds), willow shrublands (Shrubby willow formations of river banks and fens), Apennine garrigues (Apennine hilly and montane garrigues), a new subtype of Annex I Habitat 6130 (Communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants of Italian ultramafic substrates), ancient olive groves ("Centuries-old olive groves" with evergreen Quercus spp. and arborescent matorral), secondary meadows (Italian submontane and montane pastured meadows dominated by Cynosurus cristatus), badlands (Pioneer halophilous and sub-halophilous communities of “calanchi” and “biancane” badlands) and hop-hornbeam woods (Italian-Balkan hop-hornbeam woods).
badlands, calaminarian grasslands, freshwater vegetation, garrigues, meadows, neglected habitats, olive groves, shrubby willow formations, ultramafic plant communities, woods
The 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive (
Due to problems related to the incomplete knowledge of the biodiversity heritage at the time of accession to the Directive, and to a probable initial underestimation of the European conservation plan by the Italian State, Annexes I, II, IV, and V are unfortunately far from including the entire heritage of Italian species and habitats worthy of being protected. The same happens for other European countries (
The Habitats Directive, as mentioned in Article 19, provides for the possibility of amendments of the Annexes which are considered necessary “for adapting Annexes I, II, III, V and VI to technical and scientific progress”. Even if, as some believe, this may not be the right time to request amendments since the priority should be the full implementation of the existing Directive (
While for the Alpine sector the gaps are less serious as the neighboring States have included in Annex I many habitats occurring in the Italian Alps as well, for central Italy and the Apennines in particular the lack of habitats of community interest appears particularly serious, as many endemic and rare vegetation types are not mentioned, and therefore they are devoid of any form of protection. The issue is even more alarming if we consider the crucial ecological role they play also for the conservation of wild fauna and flora. The situation does not appear different if plant communities and ecosystems of a secondary origin are taken into consideration harmoniously integrated into natural contexts. Although resulting from the transformations made by human in the territory over the centuries, these traditional anthropic ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and represent an important element of the human historical and cultural heritage (
In the light of this awareness, and thanks to the enormous contribution of naturalists in the application of the Directive itself, a significantly deeper level of knowledge has been reached in the last 3 decades, and the scientific community is now better able to reach an exhaustive synthesis on the heritage of species, habitats, or more generally ecosystems of conservation interest. Therefore, proposals have been formulated for the inclusion of new habitats for Italy, pending the granting of the possibility of integrating Annex I by the European Commission, as required by Art. 19 of the Directive itself. At the moment of the preparation of the Italian Interpretation manual of Habitats Directive (
Similarly, in other articles in this volume, new habitats or new subtypes are proposed for Sicily and Sardinia (
The habitats are presented following a standard shared format designed to briefly illustrate their salient qualitative characteristics, deferring to future dedicated monographs a more detailed and complete analysis of each habitat, providing exhaustive descriptions of geographic variants and subtypes (when present) and phytosociological tables as well.
The new proposed habitats can fall into one of the following cases:
New subtype or new variant of a habitat already occurring in the Annex I, in order to include aspects not foreseen in the general description of the habitat for Italy;
description of a new habitat not yet present in the Annex I: in this case the macrocategory and the related subcategory are indicated;
reporting of a habitat already included in the Annex I but not yet recognized for Italy.
In the habitat sheet, the following information is provided:
Name of the habitat type/subtype/variant;
Macrotype: macrocategory and subcategories;
Type of the proposal: new habitat, new subtype/variant, first recognition for Italy of a habitat of the Annex I, and name/s of the proposer/s;
Reason for the proposal: scientific justification on the need for the inclusion of the new habitat into Annex I;
Diagnostic sentence: synthetic phrase that indicates the salient characteristics of the habitat;
Syntaxonomic reference: framed to the level of alliance(s), followed by the higher ranks [order(s) and class(es)] referring to the Italian Vegetation Prodrome (
Reference list of diagnostic species: a list of species (generally not more than 10) which better characterise the habitat. The species marked with an asterisk are listed in Annex II. In many cases, the list of diagnostic species should be supplemented with “regional” or endemic species, at this stage not included due to the synthetic scope of the present contribution. The plant species nomenclature and taxonomy follow Bartolucci et al (2018) and the updates of The Portal to the Flora of Italy (available at http:/dryades.units.it/floritaly accesed November 2021)
Dynamic relationships and contacts : successional context of the habitat and spatial relations with other vegetation types.
The sheets of the habitats whose role is considered relevant for the biodiversity of central Italy are presented below, ordered according to the numbering of the reference:
[15xx] “Pioneer halophilous and sub-halophilous communities of “calanchi” and “biancane” Badlands”;
[31xx] “Freshwater large sedge and reed beds”;
[32xx] “Shrubby willow formations of river banks and fens”;
[40xx] “Apennine hilly and montane garrigues”;
[6130] “Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae” subtype “Communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants of Italian ultramafic substrates”;
[63xx] “Centuries-old olive groves” with evergreen Quercus spp. and arborescent matorral”;
[65xx] “Italian submontane and montane pastured meadows dominated by Cynosurus cristatus”;
[91xx] “Italian-Balkan hop-hornbeam woods”.
Macrotype : 1 “Coastal and halophytic habitats”; 15 “Salt and gypsum inland steppes” (also 8 “Rocky habitats”; 83 “Other rocky habitats” could be considered if the geomorphological aspect is prevalent).
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (C. Angiolini, F. Fanfarillo, L. Gianguzzi, S. Maccherini, S. Pesaresi, D. Viciani)
Reason for the proposal
: The plant communities here proposed as deserving conservation efforts represent a very peculiar habitat type, hosting a number of native, specialized, stress-tolerant species, developing in clayey badlands (calanchi and biancane) along the Apennine chain (
Diagnostic sentence : Pioneer vegetation of badlands (calanchi and biancane) originated from Plio-Pleistocene marine clays along the Apennine chain of the Italian Peninsula and in Sicily. The different ecological conditions within the badlands originate micro-geosygmeta hosting highly specialized plant communities, rich in halophilous and/or sub-halophilous species.
Subtypes
Subtype A. Badlands of central and northern Italy with: pioneer perennial vegetation of the alliance Podospermo laciniati-Elytrigion athericae
Subtype B. Badlands Calanchi of southern Italy with: pioneer perennial vegetation of the classes Lygeo-Stipetea Rivas-Martínez 1978 and/or Pegano harmalae-Salsoletea vermiculatae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolòs 1958; annual halophilous and/or sub-halophilous communities in valley floors of calanchi (class Saginetea maritimae Westhoff, Van Leeuwen & Adriani 1962).
Syntaxonomic reference
: Subtype A: perennial communities can be mainly attributed to the alliance Podospermo laciniati-Elytrigion athericae
Reference list of diagnostic species : Subtype A, perennial species: Artemisia caerulescens subsp. caerulescens and subsp. cretacea, Thinopyrum acutum, Plantago maritima, Scorzonera cana, Scorzonera laciniata; therophytes: Parapholis incurva, P. strigosa, P. pycnantha P. cylindrica, Hordeum marinum, H. geniculatum. Subtype B, perennial species: Lygeum spartum, Limonium calcarae, Limonium optimae, Limonium opulentum, Malva agrigentina, Allium agrigentinum, Herniaria fontanesii subsp. empedocleana, Tripolium sorrentinoi (= Aster sorrentinii), Suaeda kocheri, Reaumuria vermiculata, Scorzonera cana, Cardopatium corymbosum, Atriplex halimus, Salsola oppositifolia, Caroxylon vermiculatum, Capparis sicula, Lotus creticus, Polygonum tenorei; therophytes: Parapholis incurva, P. strigosa, P. pycnantha P. cylindrica, Sphenopus divaricatus, Scabiosa parviflora, Anthemis muricata, Hordeum marinum, Aizoanthemopsis hispanicum, Moricandia arvensis.
Dynamic relationships and contacts : Both in central and southern Italy, in transition areas with tension cracks and landsliding of calanchi, the habitat is in catenal contact with annual communities of the class Tuberarietea guttatae (Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952) Rivas Goday & Rivas-Martínez 1963 nom. mut. propos. Rivas-Martínez, Diaz, Fernández-González, Izco, Loidi, Lousa & Penas 2002, which are examples of the Habitat 6220* “Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea”.
In more stable areas, such as the original slopes of calanchi, there are catenal conctats with: Bromoides erecta grasslands of the order Brometalia erecti Br.-Bl. 1936 (Habitat 6210 (*) “Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (*important orchid sites)” in central and northern Italy; xerophilous grasslands of the order Hyparrhenietalia hirtae Rivas-Martínez 1978 in southern Italy.
In central and northern Italy, in deposition areas with impluvium lines located at the bottom of valleys, there may be contacts with mesophilous grasslands dominated by Arundo plinii or Lolium arundinaceum, as well as with hygro-subalophilous shrublands with Tamarix spp. and riparian woods classified in the alliances Salicion albae Soó 1930 and Populion albae Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1948, (Habitat 92A0 “Salix alba and Populus alba galleries”). Futher contacts are those with shrub communities of the class Rhamno-Prunetea spinosae Rivas Goday & Borja ex Tüxen 1962, developing in sites where the erosion stopped.
In the badlands of southern Italy, the coenoses of this habitat have catenal relationships with vegetation types belonging to the series of deciduous forests of the Oleo-Querceto virgilianae sigmetum. In the driest areas of Sicily, there are occasional links with shrublands of the alliance Oleo-Ceratonion (chalky outcrops) or with halo-nitrophilous vegetation types (Miocene clays) of the class Pegano-Salsoletea, and in particular with communities dominated by Salsola oppositifolia and/or Suaeda fruticosa (
Macrotype : 3 "Freshwater habitats"; 31 "Standing water"
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (G. Ciaschetti, G. Pirone, R. Venanzoni)
Reason for the proposal
: Humid and wet environments are quite rarefied nowadays in Italy like in other countries of Mediterranean basin, mainly because of their continuous reclaim and alteration (Dudgeon et al. 2005). They are very sensitive to eutrophication and pollution by the phytosanitary products used in the agricultural practices and, when deteriorated, they can be subject to invasion by allochthonous species with serious threats to biodiversity conservation (
Diagnostic sentence : Marsh and swamp, mono-or paucispecific, azonal vegetation of large sedges (CORINE Biotopes: 53.2) and/or graminoid helophytes (CORINE Biotopes: 53.1), in Temperate and Mediterranean bioclimates, on partially or totally flooded mineral and organic soils, of lakes, rivers shores, humid depressions and peat bogs, with stagnant or weakly flowing freshwater. The aspects dominated by rare large sedges are considered as prioritary. Alophilous and sub-alophilous aspects are not included
Syntaxonomic reference
: Magnocaricion elatae Koch 1926, Caricion gracilis Neuhäusl 1959, and Carici pseudocyperi-Rumicion hydrolapathi Passarge 1964 (Magnocaricetalia elatae Pignatti 1953); Phragmition communis Koch 1926 (Phragmitetalia australis Koch 1926). Both the orders are in the Phragmito australis-Magnocaricetea elatae Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 class. The Sardinian association Hyperico hircini-Caricetum microcarpae Bacchetta & Mossa 2004 needs further studies (
Reference list of diagnostic species : Carex elata subsp. elata, C. acuta, C. vesicaria, C. vulpina, C buxbaumii, *C. panormitana, Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus spp., Butomus umbellatus, Limniris pseudacorus, Typha spp.
Dynamic relationships and contacts : the habitat can be found as substitution stage within hygrophilous series leading to woody formations of Salix alba, S. cinerea, Populus nigra, P. alba, P. canescens (Habitat 92A0), Fraxinus angustifolia (Habitat 91F0), Alnus glutinosa or Ulmus minor (Habitat 91E0*). Some phytocoenoses in sites with prolonged submersion and relatively deep waters (2–3 m), or linked to the floating aspects, can represent examples of stable vegetation (permaseries).
Topographic contacts are possible with : submerged Chara vegetation (Habitat 3140) or hydrophitic communities of the Lemnetea and Potametea classes (Habitat 3150) in eu-trophic and meso-trophic lakes; vegetation of the Bidention tripartiti alliance (Habitat 3270) along the river banks with accumulation of plant residues; flooded grasslands (Habitat 3280, 3290, 6510) or humid meadows of the Molinion coeruleae alliance (Habitat 6410) in dryer places; peat bogs both high and low, both acidic and calcareous [Habitats 7110*, 7120, 7130(*), 7140, 7150, 7210*, 7230 and 7240* Habitats]; rush vegetation of the Agrostio-Scirpoidion holoschoeni (= Molinio-Holoschoenion p.p.) alliance (Habitat 6420); woody communities of the Hyperico hircini-Alnenion glutinosae Dierschke 1975 (Habitat 91E0*) and Rubo ulmifolii-Nerion oleandri O. Bolòs 1985 (Habitat 92D0) syntaxa.
Macrotype : 3 "Freshwater habitats"; 32 "Running water"
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (E. Biondi, L. Zivkovic)
Reason for the proposal
: Riparian vegetation is among those most threatened and at risk of disappearing due to the reckless management of rivers. (Chapin III et al. 2000;
The shrub formations of willows are therefore seriously threatened and in the process of rarefaction; therefore, it is necessary to foresee their conservation considering their important ecological role in maintaining the correct fluvial dynamics and as a place of refuge for wildlife, especially avifauna and endemic plant species (
Given the absence in Annex I of a habitat in which to include the shrubby willows of the Mediterranean and Continental Macroregions, there is a need to establish a new habitat. Indeed, Habitat 3240 "Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix eleagnos" refers to a very different type of habitat that is located in the mountain stretches of the watercourse and characterized by species such as Salix eleagnos, Salix purpurea subsp. gracilis, Salix daphnoides, Salix nigricans and Hippophae rhamnoides with mainly alpine and perialpine distribution, absent or extremely rare in the Apennines and in central and southern Italy.
Diagnostic sentence : Pioneer formations of shrubby willows that colonize the river banks and the marshy areas of the alluvial plains. Other woody essences (especially Populus alba, P. nigra and Salix alba) are sporadically associated with shrubby willows and assume a clearly subordinate role. They are frequent both in the temperate macrobioclimate (in the sub-Mediterranean variant) mesotemperate bioclimatic belt and in the Mediterranean macrobioclimate, mainly in the mesomediterranean and supramediterranean bioclimatic belts.
Syntaxonomic reference
: Salicion apennino-purpureae Allegrezza & Biondi in
Populion albae Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1948, Osmundo regalis-Alnion glutinosae (Br.-Bl., P. Silva & Rozeira 1956) Dierschke & Rivas-Martínez in Rivas-Martínez 1975, Populetalia albae Br.-Bl. ex Tchou 1948, Salici purpureae-Populetea nigrae Rivas-Martínez & Cantó ex Rivas-Martínez, Báscones, T.E. Díaz, Fernández-González & Loidi 2001; Salicion cinereae Müller & Görs 1958, Salicetalia auritae Doing ex Westhoff in Westhoff & Den Held 1969, Alnetea glutinosae Br.-Bl. & Tüxen ex Westhoff, Dijk & Passchier 1946.
Reference list of diagnostic species : Salix purpurea (subsp. purpurea, subsp. lambertiana and subsp. eburnea), S. triandra subsp. triandra, S. apennina, S. brutia, S. amplexicaulis, S.pedicellata, S. ionica, S. cinerea.
Dynamic relationships and contacts
: Pioneer formations of shrubby willows represent the potential vegetation of river beds subject to periodic flooding that prevent the establishment of a more mature hygrophilous forest (
The dynamic relationships with the previous herbaceous stages and with eventual evolutions towards woods are determined above all by the characteristics of hydrological regimes and topography. In general, there are serial connections with the vegetation of the perennial shores (Habitat 3250 "Mediterranean rivers with permanent flow with Glaucium flavum") and annual (Habitat 3270 "Rivers with muddy banks with vegetation of Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p."). The catenal connections occur with the riparian forests of Habitats 92A0 "Salix alba and Populus alba galleries" and 91E0* "Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)" and with the herbaceous vegetation of the banks of the watercourses of the Habitats 3280 ("Constantly flowing Mediterranean rivers with Paspalo-Agrostidion species and hanging curtains of Salix and Populus alba") and 3290 ("Intermittently flowing Mediterranean rivers of the Paspalo-Agrostidion”).
Macrotype : 4 “Temperate heath and scrub"
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (M. Allegrezza, C. Angiolini, G. Ciaschetti, D. Gigante, G. Pirone).
Reason for the proposal
: The plant communities here proposed as deserving conservation efforts represent a very peculiar habitat type, hosting a number of stress-tolerant plant species, developed both in primarily inhospitable environments and in naturally degraded biotopes (
Diagnostic sentence : Apenninic garrigues and dwarf-garrigues of the inland areas of the Italian peninsula, with rare occurrences also at the foot of the western Alps, characteristic of the areas mostly interested by the Submediterranean Variant of the Temperate Bioclimate, both calcicolous and silicicolous, developed on limestone, sandstone, marl, conglomerate, debris, generally subject to severe erosion. The tipically Mediterranean garigues are not included here, since they can be referred to other, already existing, Annex I Habitat types (e.g., those of the group 54 'Phrygana').
Syntaxonomic reference : Artemisio albae-Saturejion montanae Allegrezza, Biondi, Formica & Ballelli 1997 and Cerastio tomentosi-Globularion meridionalis Ciaschetti Pirone, Giancola, Frattaroli & Stanisci 2016 [Artemisio albae-Saturejetalia montanae (Allegrezza, Biondi, Formica & Ballelli 1997) Biondi & Allegrezza in Biondi, Allegrezza, Casavecchia, Galdenzi, Gasparri, Pesaresi, Vagge & Blasi 2014]; Cytiso spinescentis-Saturejion montanae Pirone & Tammaro 1997 [Cisto cretici-Ericetalia manipuliflorae Horvatic 1958]; Astragalion monspessulani (Biondi, Allegrezza & Zuccarello 2005) Pirone, Frattaroli & Ciaschetti 2018 [Astragaletalia monspessulani Pirone, Frattaroli & Ciaschetti 2018]; Cisto cretici-Micromerietea julianae Oberdorfer ex Horvatić 1958.
Reference list of diagnostic species : Satureja montana subsp. montana, Euphorbia spinosa subsp. spinosa, Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum, Salvia officinalis subsp. officinalis, Cistus creticus s.l., C. salviifolius, Astragalus monspessulanum subsp. monspessulanus, Helianthemum apenninum subsp. apenninum, H. oelandicum s.l., Cephalaria leucantha, Globularia meridionalis, Anthyllis montana s.l., Ziziphora granatensis s.l., Lomelosia crenata s.l.
Dynamic relationships and contacts
: These garrigues and dwarf-garigues develop on eroded soils, often with patches of outcropping bedrock, both in primary (e.g., steep rocky slopes, rocky ridges, gullies, and eroded ravines) and secondary sites (regressive aspects as a consequence of fire, overgrazing, etc.), on various substrates, from limestone and travertines to marl–marly limestone to siliceous sandstone, occasionally also on loose substrate. Due to their thermophilic ecology, considering the temperate macroclimatic context, they tend to settle preferentially on hot South-facing slopes, or in sunny and arid locations (
Macrotype : 6 “Natural and semi-natural grassland formations” 61 “Natural grasslands”
Type of proposal : new subtype proposed “Communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants of Italian ultramafic substrates” (M. Mariotti, B. Foggi, F. Selvi, D. Viciani)
Reason for the proposal
: The communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants typical of Italian ultramafic soils have been generally referred to Habitat 6130 based on broad ecological similarity, rather than on syntaxonomical evidence. In fact, the floristic differences with Violetalia calaminariae vegetation are remarkable (
The vegetation of the ultramafic soils, rich in endemic taxa, is widespread mainly in Liguria and Toscana, but there are also examples on the outcrops of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardia, Piemonte and Val d’Aosta (
Diagnostic sentence : herbaceous or herbaceous-suffrutescent formations with sparse cover (30-50%), natural or semi-natural, on shallow soils often with rocky or gravelly outcrops, rich in heavy metals (e.g., nickel, zinc, chromium, copper), mostly of ultramafic nature, locally in mining districts. The flora is highly specialized, with taxa adapted to heavy metals and often Ni-hyperaccumulators of family Brassicaceae. Variants are recognized based on geographical distribution, floristic composition and nature of the substrate.
Syntaxonomic reference s: the large heterogeneity of the floristic-ecological types found on ultramafic substrates is reflected in the syntaxonomic attributions below.
Alyssion bertolonii Pignatti in E. Pignatti & Pignatti 1977, Rosmarinetalia officinalis Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934, Rosmarinetea officinalis Rivas-Martínez, T.E. Diáz, F.Prieto, Loidi & Penas 2002 (first and part of the third variant, see discussion); Ptilostemo casabonae-Euphorbion cupanii Angiolini, Bacchetta, Brullo, Casti, Giusso Del Galdo et Guarino 2005, Scrophulario-Helichrysetalia italici Brullo 1984, Thlaspietea rotundifolii Br.-Bl. 1948 (second variant); Cistion ladaniferi Br.-Bl. In Br.-Bl., Molinier & Wagner 1940, Lavanduletalia stoechadis Br.-Bl. In Br.-Bl., Molinier & Wagner 1940 em. Rivas-Martínez 1968, Cisto ladaniferi-Lavanduletea stoechadis Br.-Bl. In Br.-Bl., Molinier & Wagner 1940 (part of the third variant); Bromion erecti Koch 1926, Brometalia erecti Koch 1926, Festuco valesiacae-Brometea erecti Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Br.-Bl. 1949 (fourth variant); Oxytropido-Kobresion myosuroidis Br.-Bl. (1948) 1949 nom. mut. propos. Rivas-Martínez, Diaz, Fernández-González, Izco, Loidi, Lousa & Penas 2002, Oxytropido-Kobresietalia myosuroidis Oberdorfer 1957 nom. mut. propos. Rivas-Martínez, Diaz, Fernández-González, Izco, Loidi, Lousa & Penas 2002, Carici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardii Ohba 1974 (fifth variant).
Reference list of diagnostic species : Alyssoides utriculata, Armeria arenaria subsp. apennina, A. denticulata, Cherleria laricifolia subsp. ophiolitica, Euphorbia spinosa, F. robustifolia, Sesleria pichiana, Biscutella pichiana subsp. pichiana and subsp. ilvensis, B. prinzerae, Carex fimbriata, Viola tricolor var. raiblensis, Limonium merxmulleri, Linum muelleri.
Dynamic relationships and contacts
: Strong insolation and high selectivity of the substrate determine slow rock weathering and pedogenetic processes, resulting in durable vegetation stages of pioneer type usually connected by spatial contacts. Vegetation dynamics is very slow. In Mediterranean-climate areas the trend is, in principle, towards thermophilous (Cyclamino repandi-Quercetum ilicis) or mesophilous (Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum ilicis) holm oak forest types, while in cooler climates, the dynamics is towards semi-deciduous or deciduous oak forests, dominated by Quercus pubescens, Q. cerris, Q. petraea or Fagus sylvatica (Roso sempervirentis-Quercetum pubescentis and other associations). In the more western and coastal parts, the dynamic transition takes place through the formation of juniper scrubs with Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus associated with various sclerophylls (Carici humilis-Juniperetum oxycedri Chiarucci, Foggi & Selvi 1999, see
Macrotype : 6 “Natural and semi-natural grassland formations” 63 “Sclerophillous grazed forests (dehesas)”
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (E. Biondi, S. Casavecchia)
Reason for the proposal
: the centuries-old olive groves of the Mediterranean territories represent a peculiar aspect of the rural landscape of southern Europe, the Near East and North Africa, well integrated into landscape contexts characterized by a good level of naturalness (
Diagnostic sentence : a characteristic and historic landscape of the Mediterranean region with groves of centuries-old olive trees that extend through areas of Thermo and Meso-Mediterranean bioclimate and areas of the Sub-Mediterranean variant of the Temperate bioclimate. The habitat is characterized by evergreen oaks in the arborescent Matorral, and especially in southern-eastern Italy, by some fruit trees and shrubs as well as perennial grasslands with chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes and geophytes, used for the grazing of sheep and goats. This is a very important habitat for terrestrial fauna and birds as well.
Syntaxonomic reference : Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae Br.-Bl. ex Guinochet & Drouineau 1944, Pistacio lentisci-Rhamnetalia alaterni Rivas-Martínez 1975, Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952.
Reference list of diagnostic species : Olea europaea, O. europaea var. sylvestris, Ceratonia siliqua, Quercus ilex, Q. virgiliana, Q. trojana, Prunus dulcis, Punica granatum.
Dynamic relationships and contacts
: abandoned olive groves tend to rapidly transform into thick shrublands dominated by Pistacia lentiscus, Rhamnus alaternus, Phillyrea media, P. angustifolia, Olea europaea var. sylvestris and with Myrtus communis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Euphorbia dendroides, E. characias, Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus, and J. phoenicea subsp. turbinata (
Macrotype
: 6 "Natural and semi-natural grassland formations"; 65 "Mesophile grasslands" (
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (G. Ciaschetti, E. Del Vico, D. Gigante)
Reason for the proposal
: this habitat refers to semi-natural submontane and montane pastures and meadows usually grazed, and occasionally also mowed. Just like other Annex I Habitats (e.g., 6210) these communitites are depending on the persistence of a traditional land use (mowing, grazing), deeply related to the montane management systems: the increasing land abandonment and the consequent land use changes are causing their reduction and collapse (
The plant communities belonging to the alliance Cynosurion cristati have not been considered a habitat of European concern sensu 43/92/EEC Directive, as they are a broadly ranged and hosting prevalently species with a wide distribution. Indeed, there is no Annex I Habitat corresponding to montane and submontane hay meadows and/or pastured meadows. They have been sometimes referred to 6510, however it is a stretch, since the latter refers to low altitude hay meadows. However, in Italy, in the Alpine and Apenninic context, these semi-natural pastures and pastured meadows host a particularly rich flora and a high number of endemic plants. Additionally, in the Mediterranean mountain ranges and in dry regions (such as Sardinia), they play a relic role hosting several boreal-temperate species confined to humid places (
Diagnostic sentence : Mesophilous species-rich perennial grasslands dominated by hemicryptophytes, generally mowed once a year and/or extensively grazed by domestic livestock. These communities develop on flat areas or gentle slopes, including the karstic plains, on mature, nutrient-rich soils with a good water availability, mainly distributed in the Supratemperate and Mesotemperate (and, occasionally, Sub-Mesomediterranean) Bioclimatic Belts. These grasslands, characterized by a continuous and dense herb cover, are mostly dominated by Cynosurus cristatus. They are rich in biomass, hosting many other grass (often excellent as fodder, such as Lolium perenne) and leguminous species. They are typically characterized by the occurrence of plants related both to grazing and trampling as well, such as spiny and nitrophilous species.
Syntaxonomic reference : Cynosurion cristati Tüxen 1947, with the suballiaces: Cerastio arvensis-Cynosurenion cristati Blasi, Tilia, Rosati, Del Vico, Copiz, Ciaschetti & Burrascano 2012, Trifolio resupinati-Cynosurenion cristati Blasi, Tilia, Rosati, Del Vico, Copiz, Ciaschetti & Burrascano 2012, Danthonio decumbentis-Caricenion insularis Farris, Secchi, Rosati & Filigheddu 2013; Trifolio repentis-Phleetalia pratensis Passarge 1969, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tüxen 1937; for Sicily: Plantaginion cupanii Brullo & Grillo 1978, Cirsietalia vallis-demonis Brullo & Grillo 1978, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tüxen 1937.
Reference list of diagnostic species : Cynosurus cristatus, Lolium perenne, L. pratense, L. apenninum, L. arundinaceus, Festuca rubra, Phleum pratense, P. nodosum, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Poa pratensis, P. trivialis, Trifolium repens, T. pratense subsp. pratense, Bellis perennis.
Dynamic relationships and contacts
: The semi-natural meadows are, by definition, secondary cenoses whose maintenance is directly depending on the continuity of an extensive management, including yearly mowing, grazing and in some cases a sporadic light manure fertilization. The abandonment of these traditional practices leads to a rapid invasion by scrub stages, and to the re-colonization of the tree- dominated potential vegetation. The habitat is dynamically linked to shrubs of the order Prunetalia spinosae Tx. 1952 (especially Berberidion vulgaris Br.-Bl 1950) in the Supratemperate Belt, and to the order Pyro spinosae-Rubetalia ulmifolii Biondi, Blasi & Casavecchia in Biondi, Allegrezza, Casavecchia, Galdenzi, Gasparri, Pesaresi, Vagge & Blasi 2014 (Pruno spinosae-Rubion ulmifolii O. Bolòs 1954) in the Mesotemperate and Sub-Mesomediterranean bioclimates. The potential vegetation is generally represented by thermophilic beech woods [Aremonio agrimonioidis-Fagion sylvaticae (Horvat 1938) Borhidi in Török, Podani & Borhidi 1989, Geranio versicoloris-Fagion sylvaticae Gentile 1970, Luzulo luzuloidis-Fagion sylvaticae Lohmeyer & Tüxen in Tüxen 1954), edapho-mesophilic hornbeam woods [Erythronio dentis-canis-Carpinion betuli (Horvat 1958) Marinček in Wallnöfer, Mucina & Grass 1993], subacidophilic Turkey oak woods [Crataego laevigatae-Quercion cerridis Arrigoni 1997, Physospermo-Quercion petreae A.O. Horvat 1976 [= Erythronio dentis-canis-Quercion petraeae Ubaldi (1988) 1990]. In spatial (catenal) contact with these communities, it is possible to find dry grasslands dominated by Bromopsis erecta (Bromion erecti Koch 1926, Phleo ambigui-Bromion erecti Biondi, Ballelli, Allegrezza & Zuccarello ex Biondi & Galdenzi 2012, belonging to Habitat 6210), hygrophilous grasslands belonging to the orders Trifolio-Hordeetalia Horvatić 1963 or Potentillo anserinae-Polygonetalia avicularis Tüxen 1947, acidophitic grasslands dominated by Nardus stricta of the Annex I Habitat 6230* (
Macrotype : 9 “Forests”; 91 “Forests of temperate Europe”
Type of proposal : New Habitat Proposed (M. Allegrezza, L. Poldini, C. Lasen, M. Vidali)
Reason for the proposal
: these are very extensive vegetation (more than 700,000 hectares in Italy) spread from Italy to the Balkan Peninsula. A high number of syntaxa and syntaxonomic review (e.g.,
Diagnostic sentence : Italo-balkan meso-xerophile mixed woods clearly dominated by Ostrya carpinifolia. They are distributed from southern slopes of the Alps (with gravitation in the South-eastern Alps) to Apennines on preferably calcareous substrates, from the mesotemperate to the lower supratemperate thermotype, with ramifications in the mesomediterranean thermotype.
Subtypes and variants :
Subtype A. Ostrya carpinifolia woods in the south-eastern Alpine sector. Reference alliances Fraxino orni-Ostryion carpinifoliae (xerophilous woods rich in Erico-Pinetalia on more primitive soils) and Buglossoido purpurocaeruleae-Ostryion carpinifoliae (edaphomesoxerophilous and edaphomesophilous woods on more evolved soils). In the Fraxino orni-Ostryion carpinifoliae alliance, two geographical and ecological variants are distinguished: (i) subcontinental hop-hornbeam woods of the valleys of the Middle and South Tyrol (Saponario ocymoides-Quercenion pubescentis); (ii) suboceanic hop-hornbeam woods of the south-eastern Alps (Seslerio caeruleae-Ostryenion carpinifoliae).
Subtype B. Ostrya carpinifolia woods of the karst-Balkan-Apennine sector of the Carpinion orientalis alliance, divided into five main geographical and ecological variants: (i) hop-hornbeam woods of the Ligurian-Piedmontese sector (Campanulo medii-Ostryenion carpinifoliae); (ii) zonal hop-hornbeam woods of the Trieste-Slovenian Karst (Seslerio autumnalis-Ostryenion carpinifoliae); (iii) extrazonal hop-hornbeam woods rich in Carpinus orientalis of the Trieste-Slovenian Karst (Ostryo-Carpinenion orientalis); (iv) mesophilic hop-hornbeam woods of the Apennines (Laburno anagyroidis-Ostryenion carpinifoliae); (v) thermophilic hop-hornbeam woods of the Apennines and pre-Apennine ridges (Lauro nobilis-Quercenion pubescentis).
Subtype C. Ostrya carpinifolia woods in the Tyrrhenian sector of the southern Apennines. Reference alliance Carpinion orientalis (sub-alliance Festuco exaltatae-Ostryenion carpinifoliae).
Syntaxonomic reference
: Fraxino orni-Ostryion carpinifoliae Tomažič 1940 (Saponario ocymoides Quercenion pubescentis Poldini, Sburlino et Vidali 2017, Seslerio caeruleae-Ostryenion
Reference list of diagnostic species : Ostrya carpinifolia (dominant), Fraxinus ornus, Quercus pubescens s.l., Carpinus orientalis, Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum, A. monspessulanum, Emerus major s.l. (incl. subsp. emeroides e subsp. major), Cotinus coggygria, Aristolochia pallida (incl. A. lutea Desf.), Sesleria autumnalis, Sesleria caerulea.
Dynamic relationships and contacts : the forest cenoses of the new habitat typically represent the more mature term of the climatophilic series in the mesotemperate thermotype, but often also vegetations from edafoxerophilous to lithophilous, intrazonal, especially in the area of beech forests. Locally, on scree and sub-vertical walls, cenosis with a tall-shrubby structure are formed as durable formations.
In the Alpine sector, dynamic contacts are made mainly with the shrub communities of the Berberidion and Fraxino orni-Berberidenion, with the grasslands of the orders Scorzoneretalia villosae [(Habitat 62A0 "Eastern sub-mediterranean dry grasslands (Scorzoneretalia villosae)"], Seslerietalia caeruleae (Habitat 6170 "Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands") and Festucetalia valesiacae [(Habitat 6210(*) " Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (*important orchid sites)"] in the most continental part (Alto Adige, Val Venosta). In the Apennines, hop-hornbeam woods are dynamically connected with the shrub communities of the Cytision sessilifolii alliance while the thermophilic Apennine and pre-Apennine ones with those of the Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii alliance. The grasslands in dynamic contact with these cenoses belong to Phleo ambigui-Bromion erecti alliance for the typically calcicolous aspects and Bromion erecti alliance on terrigenous substrates, both referable to Habitat 6210(*).
Although it is believed that it is more convenient and simple to propose implementations, such as adding subtypes or variants to existing habitats, we are convinced that in some cases, excessive forcing would be caused that lead to the distortion of the meaning of the habitat and its ambiguous interpretation. As an example, we can mention the attribution of Italian oak forests to Habitat 91H0* (Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens) before the inclusion in Annex I of the Habitat 91AA* following the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union. The description of "endemic" habitats for Italy, in addition to giving value to Italian phytocenotic and ecosystem biodiversity, also represents a "political" fact as, in our opinion, it gives greater importance to the biodiversity conservation policies.
Some of the proposed new habitats/new subtypes have a geographic jurisdiction that goes beyond the "borders" of central Italy, being in fact widespread throughout the national territory such as the Italo-Balkan hop-hornbeam woods or the habitat of freshwater large sedges and reeds beds. For these habitats, their diffusion at a national level is highlighted in the sheet, although the aspects relating to the conditions in which they occur in central Italy have been more in-depth discussed. As already mentioned, in the next future other articles about single habitats will be provided.
In general, it can be highlighted that the relative majority of the proposed habitats fall into macro-categories 3 (Fresh water habitats) and 6 (Natural and semi-natural grassland formations), together making up 60% of the new proposals.
This result is perfectly in line with the biodiversity conservation emergencies reported globally in relation to wet ecosystems which, due to global warming and the unsustainable exploitation of water resources, currently represent the ecosystems most threatened with disappearance (
Alongside these general considerations, with regard to individual habitats, some comments can be added.
[31xx] Freshwater large sedge and reed beds: three subtypes can be identified concerning this habitat. The first subtype is related to the vegetation dominated by large sedges, that are developed on the edge of lakes, humid depressions and peat bogs, on more or less submerged soils that remain soaked in water for the entire year. Many sedge species are involved, some of them very rare in Italy as Carex buxbaumii, C. disticha, C. vulpina and C. acuta (
The second subtype is related to the vegetation dominated by graminoid helophytes developed in stations permanently submerged by stagnant or slowly flowing waters, often subject to seasonal fluctuations. Other species, besides those listed in the sheet, are Schoenoplectus lacustris, Schoenoplectiella mucronata, Typha domingensis, T. latifolia, T. laxmannii, T. shuttleworthii.
The third subtype is about sedges, graminoids and tall-herb communities of banks that grow on-stabilized organic substrates (floating mass of vegetation built by the communities themselves) that are partly or completely floating.
[32xx] Shrubby willow formations of river banks and fens: for this new habitat, two subtypes are currently known. The first subtype deals with shrubby willow grooving on flat, hilly and Mediterranean-mountain areas: pioneer shrubby willows communities (Salix purpurea subsp. purpurea, subsp. lambertiana and subsp. eburnea, S. triandra, S. brutia, S. amplexicaulis, S. pedicellata, S. ionica) that colonize the gravelly-pebbly river deposits, subject to periodic flooding, especially in autumn and winter. They represent the first stage of colonization of the river banks by wood species. The second subtype consists of shrublands of swampy areas characterized by gray willow (Salicion cinereae): shrub formations dominated by Salix cinerea that colonize the swampy areas of the alluvial plains and the edges of lakes and ponds that remain swamped even during the summer period.
[40xx] Apennine hilly and montane garrigues: the floristic composition of this habitat is very rich; indeed, alongside the species cited as the most significant at a diagnostic level, other important rare species occur, such as Alyssoides utriculata, Lotus hirsutus, Artemisia alba, sometimes in very restricted areas such as the case of Ephedra major and Cytisus decumbens. Furthermore, endemic and subendemic species such as Santolina etrusca, Onosma pseudoarenaria subsp. lucana, Achillea rupestris subsp. calcarea, Calendula suffruticosa subsp. fulgida, Plocama calabrica, Genista pulchella subsp. aquilana, Centaurea ceratophylla subsp. ceratophylla, and Centaurea scannensis are frequent.
[6130] Communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants of Italian ultramafic substrates: for this new subtype of Habitat 6130, five variants can be identified. The first one refers to low suffrutescent-herbaceous communities of Liguria, Toscana, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte, referable to the associations Armerio denticulatae-Alyssetum bertolonii and Biscutello prinzerae-Alyssetum bertolonii. The second variant occurs on active extraction sites and old abandoned mining sites and quarries of Val d’Aosta, Piemonte, Liguria, Lombardia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Toscana and Sardegna. It deals with aspects located in mining sites (secondary sites), mostly abandoned, with more or less mobile artificial deposits with medium-thin sediments, colonized to various degrees by metallicolous, herbaceous or suffrutescent species (or ecotypes), distinguished mainly based on the chemical characteristics of the deposits. The third variant refers to formations of central-eastern Liguria, Toscana and Emilia-Romagna, dominated by hemisphaerical cushions of Euphorbia spinosa; these are referable to the associations Euphorbio spinosae-Genistetum desoleanae (Liguria), Armerio-Alyssetum bertolonii subass. euphorbietosum spinosae (western Toscana) and Euphorbio spinosae-Cistetum monspeliensis (Elba Island). The fourth variant is formed by Serpentine steppes represented by sub-steppes of central-eastern Toscana (Val Tiberina), Liguria and Piemonte (Val di Susa, Valli di Lanzo, etc.), dominated by perennial grasses referable, at least in part, to the association Festuco robustifoliae-Caricetum humilis and by substeppes dominated by perennial grasses partially referable to the association Cerastio suffruticosi-Seslerietum pichianae. Finally, the fifth variant refers to Alpine heavy metal communities dealing with high-altitude pioneer grasslands of Val d’Aosta (M. Avic) referable to the association Caricetum fimbriatae.
As regards as the floristic composition of these formation, a rich contingent of specie occurs alongside those already cited: Bromopsis erecta, Cardamine plumieri, Carex fimbriata, Carex humilis, Centaurea aplolepa (subsp. aplolepa, carueliana, lunensis), Danthonia alpina, Festuca cinerea, F. inops, Leucanthemum pachyphyllum, Noccaea coerulescens, Odontharrhena argentea, O. bertolonii, Plantago subulata, Sabulina verna, Scorzonera austriaca, Sesamoides interrupta, Stachys recta, Stipa bromoides, S. etrusca, S. tirsa, Thymus striatus subsp. acicularis, in addition to numerous endemic taxa with a restricted range, Cerastium utriense, Santolina ligustica, Viola bertolonii, Echium anchusoides and other metallicolous ecotypes, such as, Alpagrostis alpina, Festuca luedii, F. stricta, Agrostis tenuis, Avenella flexuosa, Silene vulgaris, S. paradoxa.
Finally, it is important to underline that the communities strictly found on ultramafic cliffs and screes deposits (chasmophytic, comophytic and glareicolous) should be referred to other types of Habitats (8220 [62.21 and/or 62.28] and 8130 respectively). Further problems arise from the comparison with the Habitats 4090, 6110 and 8230 with which they share some diagnostic species and some ecological and site characteristics.
[63xx] “Centuries-old olive groves” with evergreen Quercus subsp. and arborescent matorral: one of the most important diagnostic species is Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris (Mill.) Leht (Olea europaea subsp. oleaster (Mill.) Rouy ex Hegi) spontaneous taxon of the Mediterranean shrubland, mainly occurring in the coastal areas of southern Italy and Sardinia (Pignatti 2018); the wild variety is no longer considered to have any taxonomic value (Bartolucci et al. 2018) but, despite this, considering its phytosociological significance (a characteristic entity of the alliance Oleo-Ceratonion) and its importance in the recolonization processes of the maquis, it was considered appropriate to put it among the diagnostic species. Concerning the species of flora that participate in the composition of the habitat, it is worth mentioning: Pinus halepensis, Quercus calliprinos, Ficus carica, Sorbus domestica, Rhamnus alaternus, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Phillyrea media, P. angustifolia, Euphorbia dendroides, E. characias, E. wulfenii, Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus, J. phoenicea subsp. turbinata, Anagyris foetida, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, Rubus ulmifolius, Spartium junceum, Calicotome infesta and endemic and subendemics orchids of genus Ophrys (O. celiensis, O. apulica, O. tarentina, O. garganica, O. candica, O. tardans, etc.).
[65xx] Italian submontane and montane pastured meadows dominated by Cynosurus cristatus: the habitat holds a huge geographical variability, reverberating in the floristic composition that allows the detection of five subtypes. The first one is related to the Alps, with coenoses more similar to those of Central Europe and charachterized by a strong presence of Eurasian, boreal and orophile species. A second subtype groups the C-N-Apennine communities, that can be interpreted as transition aspects between the Alpic and southern coenoses, with characteristic ingressions of species coming from more or less xerophilic Bromopsis erecta dominated prairies. The third subtype is spread in C-S-Apennine in a transitional oceanic climate, so with more mediterranean influence both by a biogeographical and climatic point of view, leading to the presence of thermophilous and annual species. Sardinian communities represent a fourth subtype linked to upper mesotemperate to lower supratemperate humid bioclimates, characterized by the richness of sardinian endemic species, some of which are worthy of particular attention. The last subtype concerns with the coenoses of Sicily, more thermophilous, with a strong presence of species endemic to Sicily or Aspromonte.
[91xx] Italian-Balkan hop-hornbeam woods: the diagnostic sentence reported in the sheet refers to the main distribution of the habitat in Italy whose maximum expression with the clearly dominant Ostrya carpinifolia is achieved from the south-eastern Alps to the Apennine ridge. In this first phase, the localized distribution of the habitat in Sardinia (
In conclusion, some reflections are needed.
First of all, it should be emphasized again that the list of habitats presented here and briefly discussed can be integrated with other new habitats or subtypes. Furthermore, it is necessary to better define the distribution range of these habitats through detailed analyses and necessary insights through the involvement of the entire scientific community that has been dealing with the conservation of biodiversity and problems related to the Natura 2000 network for decades.
Although the list presented here is certainly not exhaustive and the new types of habitats must certainly be better defined, we want to underline once again the need to include all the biodiversity of Italian natural and semi-natural biotopes in the application of the Directive, also considering their very important role as biological corridors that are necessary for the conservation not only of the floristic-vegetational component but also of micro- and macro-fauna.