A phytosociological study on the gypsicolous bryophyte communities of Sicily was carried out. The surveyed communities are: Tortuletum revolventis, Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis, Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis of the order Barbuletalia unguiculatae, and Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae of the order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis. The associations were examined from a synecological, synhierarchical and chorological point of view. A life form and life strategy analysis of all communities reflect the response of plant functional types towards the environmental demands. Only one life strategy dominates the communities; acrocarpous, turf-forming colonists clearly prevail on gypsum outcrops, subject to drought stress. They provide the main functional type within pioneering communities and communities of first successional stages. The keystone characters outlined ensure a successful dispersal, establishment and habitat maintenance of the species and associations.

bryophytes, gypsum, life forms, life strategies, phytosociology, Sicilian territory

Gypsum crops out in almost all Italian regions, with the main location on the northern border of the Apennine chain of the Emilia Romagna region and in Sicily; the last one comprises the largest gypsum outcrops with a total area of more than 1,000 km² followed by Emilia Romagna with a surface more than 100 km² (Forti and Sauro 1996). Most Italian gypsum outcrops belong to the Gessoso-Solfifera Formation (GSF) formed during the “Messinian salinity crisis” (MSC), caused by reduced water inflow from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea with the consequent salt precipitation and decrease in Mediterranean level due to evaporation. Sicily, due to its geographical location in the centre of the Mediterranean, is the region where the Gessoso-Solfifera Formation crops out more extensively with the highest development in the provinces of Caltanissetta, Enna and Agrigento.

In gypsum substrates there is an incipient impoverishment of the soils, especially in arid and semi-arid areas where the high evaporation leads to a capillary rise of the gypsum towards the surface layers, inducing recrystallization of the gypsum and the formation of crusts (Escudero et al. 2015). The gypsum crusts are inhospitable substrates to higher plants; only cyanobacteria, lichens and, with difficulty, few bryophytes can survive (Escudero et al. 2015). Gypsum has low water retention to which a high osmotic pressure of the soil solution is added which strongly reduces root absorption in higher plants (Herrero and Porta 2000), not in bryophytes which are, instead, without absorbent roots. For all these characteristics related to the type of substrate and for the environmental dryness, the plant component is poor, selected, and specialized.

Gypsum outcrops are peculiar habitats of naturalistic interest and, despite the inhospitality of the substrate, host a valuable plant diversity with many specialized and rare species, as well as some interesting communities according to the peculiar characteristics of substrate and climatic conditions.

As regards the bryoflora, the knowledge in Italy is quite good, even if not exhaustive; the contributions regard the gypsum outcrops of six sites of the Nature 2000 Network of the Emilia Romagna Region (Aleffi et al. 2014) and the main gypsum areas of Sicily (Puglisi et al. 2019); in the last paper the functional group of gypsophily was also attributed to all surveyed species.

As concerns the bryophyte vegetation, the knowledge is limited to some gypsum areas of central Sicily (Privitera 1989); other sporadic data can be found in Lo Giudice and Bonanno (2010). Therefore, this limited knowledge, together with the interest generated by the peculiarity of the habitat, has led us to undertake an extensive investigation on the bryophyte communities colonizing the gypsum outcrops.

Based on the phytosociological relevés, the investigated bryophyte vegetation is represented by xerophytic, basiphytic communities, found mostly on selenite outcrops in small depressions or concavities of rocks with accumulated soil. These communities are largely dominated by acrocarpous, small-sized mosses with a turf biotype and xero-pottioid life syndrome; conversely, the pleurocarpous mosses and liverworts are very rare. In more xeric areas, only some lichens, particularly resistant to the harshness of the chalky substrate, can be found.

From a phytosociological point of view, these pioneer bryophyte communities are referred to the class Psoretea decipientis. The surveyed communities are discussed below.

TORTULETUM REVOLVENTIS Marstaller 1980 (Tab. 1)

It is the most widespread and typical association characterizing the gypsum outcrops of Sicily. Its presence was highlighted in many localities with a thermomediterranean and mesomediterranean dry rarely subhumid bioclimates, such as Serre di Ciminna, Castelluccio, S. Ninfa, Sutera outskirts, Milena hills, Raddusa outskirts, and in some gypsum outcrops of Enna. The association can be defined as xerophytic, basiphytic, photophytic and strictly gypsophytic. It was found in small depressions where a thin layer of soil accumulates, as well as in the cracks between the gypsum crystals in the ambit of the association. The cover ranges from 30% to 100%; the surfaces are 20-50 dm². The association is floristically characterized by Tortula revolvens (Schimp.)G. Roth, occurring with high cover values only in few relevès, in the sites of Enna and Catania, in more mesic (less edaphic drought) conditions. This species is associated with some characteristics of the alliance Grimaldion fragrantis and a lot of species of the order Barbuletalia unguiculatae and class Psoretea decipientis with the most represented Didymodon vinealis and Barbula unguiculata. In the sites of Serre di Ciminna and S. Ninfa, in more edaphic drought conditions, it is possible to find some transgressive species of the order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis, and a lichen component represented by Lathagrium cristatum (L.) Otálora, P.M. Jørg. & Wedin and Gyalolechia subbracteata (Nyl.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup. Moreover, the relevés from Enna and Raddusa outskirts, characterized by the occurrence of Encalypta vulgaris Hedw., could represent a more mesophytic variant of the association.

Tortuletum revolventis, described for the chalky substrates of Thuringia (central Germany) (Marstaller 1980, 2008), is already known for some of the gypsum areas of central Sicily (Privitera 1989).

TRICHOSTOMO CRISPULI-TORTULETUM REVOLVENTIS Puglisi, Spampinato & Privitera 2022 (Tab. 2)

The community was found on selenite gypsum in north-western and central Sicily at Castelluccio, Sutera outskirts, Milena hills. It is a gypsycolous, terricolous, photo-sciophytic, meso-xerophilous, covering small surfaces such as concavities of rocks with a conspicuous layer of soil, making it the least pioneer among the structured communities with Tortula revolvens. Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis was found in the thermomediterranean dry bioclimatic belt, in more protected and less xeric conditions than Tortuletum revolventis. The surface cover ranges from 5 to 20 dm² and the sites are mostly flat or scarcely inclined; the cover varies between 55% and 95%.

The community is characterized by Trichostomum crispulum Bruch, having major cover values, and Tortula revolvens, constantly present. To these species a lot of characteristics of higher units (Grimaldion fragrantis, Barbuletalia unguiculatae, Psoretea decipientis) are associated too. This community differs from Tortuletum revolventis in colonizing more protected and less exposed sites, and for its less pioneering character. Tortula revolvens (incl. var. obtusata) is also indicated as a characteristic of Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae Ros & Guerra 1987 and Trichostomopso-Tortuletum obtusatae Frey, Herrnstadt & Kürschner 1990 of the order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis but differs from both for the less xeric character and the different floristic set. The community shows some affinity with the association Trichostomo crispuli–Aloinetum aloides from which it differs for the overall floristic composition and for the gypsophytic character.

CROSSIDIO SQUAMIFERI-ALOINETUM ALOIDIS Guerra & Varo 1981 (Tab. 3)

This association was found in the thermomediterranean and mesomediterranean bioclimatic belts at Sutera outskirts, Milena hills and Raddusa outskirts; in these sites, it colonized gypsum rocky fissures with accumulated soil. The association behaves as chasmochomophytic, basiphyticous, xerophytic, photo-sciophytic. This association is not strictly linked to gypsum substrates, being found also on marl, marly-gypsum and clayey soil, limestone rocky fissures (Privitera and Puglisi 1999; Lo Giudice and Bonanno 2010), behaving as not strictly gypsophytic. The surfaces are quite small (4–6 dm²) and the cover varies between 30% and 65%. Floristically, it is characterized by Crossidium squamiferum (Viv.)Jur. var. squamiferum, a Circum-Tethyan species, and Aloina aloides (Koch ex Schultz) Kindb., accompanied by a set of characteristics of the alliance Grimaldion fragrantis, order Barbuletalia unguiculatae and class Psoretea decipientis. Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis is known in Italy only in Sicily and southern Calabria (Privitera and Puglisi 1999; Lo Giudice and Bonanno 2010).

CROSSIDIO CRASSINERVIS-TORTULETUM OBTUSATAE Ros & Guerra 1987 (Tab. 4)

This community grows on very dry, very exposed, soil with a thin layer of gypsum at Rocca di Entella in northern Sicily in the thermomediterranean dry bioclimatic belt. From an ecological point of view, it can be considered as a terricolous, thermophytic, markedly xerophytic, photophytic community. It finds its optimum in arid territories of the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian region (García-Zamora et al. 2000). The cover is not high, ranging from 30% to 65 %; the surfaces are 10 to 30 dm². Characteristic species of the association are Tortula revolvens and Crossidium crassinervium, both species with main distribution areas in the Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Arabian territories. As concerns Tortula revolvens, in the description of the association (Ros and Guerra 1987), the characteristic species is Tortula revolvens var. obtusata Reimers, considered now a synonym of Tortula revolvens (Schimp.) G. Roth. To these species a set of characteristics of the alliance Aloino bifrontis-Crossidion crassinervis and order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis are associated, such as Dicranella howei Renauld & Cardot, Fossombronia caespitiformis (Raddi) De Not. ex Rabenh. subsp. caespitiformis, Didymodon tophaceus (Brid.)Lisa subsp. sicculus (M.J.Cano, Ros, García-Zam. & J.Guerra) Jan Kučera, Microbryum davallianum (Sm.) R.H.Zander var. davallianum, Tortula brevissima Schiffn. and Tortula atrovirens (Sm.)Lindb. Among the other species, a group of lichens are found too, such as Lathagrium cristatum, Squamarina lentigera (Weber)Poelt and Gyalolechia subbracteata. From a phytosociological point of view, Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae is included in the above-mentioned syntaxa, which group markedly xerophytic, photophytic communities with Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Arabian distribution The association is signalled from Spain (Ros and Guerra 1987; Guerra et al. 1993; Moya et al. 1994; García-Zamora et al. 2000) and Israel (Frey et al. 1990), where it was found on gypsum and marl-gypsum substrates. Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae is reported for the first time for the bryophyte vegetation of Italy.

This study has emphasized the occurrence of four communities colonizing gypsum outcrops belonging to the class Psoretea decipientis and to the orders Barbuletalia unguiculatae and Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis. The former order finds its optimum in the Mediterranean area up to Central European, the latter includes communities of arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian regions.

Tortuletum revolventis, Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis and Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis are included in the alliance Grimaldion fragrantis. In particular, Tortuletum revolventis is the most widespread community on the gypsum outcrops of Sicily, occurring in many sites in north-western, western and central Sicily. This pioneer association is known for the gypsum steppes of Thuringia (central Germany). Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis was found in north-western and central Sicily, showing more sciophytic, more mesic and more terricolous exigencies than Tortuletum revolventis. Both communities are exclusively found on gypsum substrate. Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis is a chasmophytic community, not strictly related to gypsum outcrops, having been found also on marl and clayey substrates.

Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae, the only association referred to the order Tortulo brevissimae-Aloinetalia bifrontis, is the most xerophytic community among those found on the Sicilian gypsum outcrops; it is found only on gypsum crusts in conditions of high brightness and very high edaphic dryness, occupying favourable topographical positions for its survival. It represents a new record for the bryophyte vegetation of Italy.

The surveyed communities are rare and interesting from a naturalistic point of view. The peculiarity of the chalky substrate and the climatic conditions impose a strong selection on the species so that only these small and particular communities, characterized by species with peculiar xero-morphic adaptations, can survive. The almost exclusive occurrence of the life syndrome colonist with moderate rep hat the life syndromes and adaptive traits indicate the response of functional types towards environmental demands (e.g., Kürschner 2004, Kürschner and Frey 2013, Puglisi et al. 2016a, Puglisi et al 2016b).

Many gypsum outcrops are included in protected areas, which are an important factor to guarantee the persistence of species and communities with legal protection. Despite this, it is assumed a reduction or even a high extinction probability of biodiversity, due to the effects of global warming with foreseen desertification phenomena in mid-latitude areas. Therefore, further conservation measures need to be implemented and the present study can give a contribution to the conservation and management of gypsum habitats, considered to be of high naturalistic value. For this purpose, it is important that the gypsum habitats of Sicily can be recognized as Habitats of European Community interest and referred to the Habitat 1520*, including the gypsophytic bryophyte associations Tortuletum revolventis, Trichostomo crispuli-Tortuletum revolventis and Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae.

PSORETEA DECIPIENTIS Mattick ex Follmann 1974

BARBULETALIA UNGUICULATAE von Hübschmann 1960

Grimaldion fragrantis Šmarda & Hadàc 1944

Tortuletum revolventis Marstaller 1980

Community with Trichostomum crispulum and Tortula revolvens

Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis Guerra & Varo 1981

TORTULO BREVISSIMAE-ALOINETALIA BIFRONTIS (Ros & Guerra 1987) ex Puglisi 2010

Aloino bifrontis-Crossidion crassinervis Ros & Guerra 1987 ex Marstaller 2006

Crossidio crassinervis-Tortuletum obtusatae Ros & Guerra 1987

This research was financially supported by the research programme (PIA.CE.RI. 2020-2022 Line 2, cod. 22722132149) funded by the University of Catania.