DOI: 10.3897/pls2024612/05

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Gianmaria Bonari, Vanessa Brunco, Gabriella Buffa, Francesco Candini, Silvia Cannucci, Maria Carmela Caria, Giampiero Ciaschetti, Leopoldo De Simone, Adriano Di Pietro, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Massimiliano Ferrarato, Tiberio Fiaschi, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Michele Lonati, Leonardo Lorenzato, Giacomo Marengo, Andrea Mainetti, Francesco Mascia, Giacomo Mei, Ginevra Nota, Duilio Iamonico, Glauco Patera, Enrico Vito Perrino, Simone Marino Preo, Riccardo Rocca, Adriano Stinca, Giovanni Terranova, Angelo Troia, Roberto Venanzoni, Claudia Angiolini

Abstract: New Italian data on the distribution of some of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 16 records are presented including 9 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites, and 27 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Latium, Marche, Lombardy, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Veneto.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2024612/04

Authors: Johann Gabriel Gedeon, Anton Issa Khalilieh

Abstract: Palestine has rich floristic diversity due to its location, diverse biogeographical zones, and various topographical features. The Royal Irises (Iris section Oncocyclus), are a monophyletic group of herbaceous geophytes, consisting of 33 species, endemic to the Middle East. Within the West Bank of Palestine, three Royal Irises are documented. However, their distribution, population size, and status are not studied comprehensively. This study focused on evaluating the occurrence, distribution range, population size, status, number of flowers, inflorescence coloration variety, and habitats of the vulnerable and endemic Iris haynei, the endangered and sub-endemic Iris lortetii, and the vulnerable and sub-endemic Iris atrofusca. I. lortetii was found in 10 sites within Nablus district, with more than 12625 clones and 25088 flowers flowers recorded. I. haynei were documented in 4 sites within Jenin district, three are new to science, where 10729 clones and 9562 flowers were recorded. I. atrofusca was reported in 13 localities in Tubas and Ramallah districts, where 1853 clones and 8460 flowers were recorded, whereas six locatities are new to science. 12, 12, and 7 unique variations in coloration of inflorescences were observed for I. lortetii, I. atrofusca, and I. haynei, respectively. The results indicate that the population size and the distribution range of the three Royal Irises are larger than previously reported, whereas the documented inflorescences’ coloration variations are unique and considerable. This study sheds light on hotspot occurrence sites of endangered and vulnerable species in Palestine, which can assist in laying adequate conservation actions and management plans in the future.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2024612/03

Authors: Simonetta Bagella, Maria Carmela Caria, Gianmaria Bonari, Marco Malavasi, Raimondo Melis, Giovanna Piga, Giovanni Rivieccio

Abstract: We present the dataset “SArdinian GRAsslands” (SAGRA), a collection of georeferenced vegetation surveys sourced from different areas of Sardinia (Italy). SAGRA addresses a geographic gap in current databases, as plots from Sardinian grasslands are underrepresented. We collected vegetation data from different projects and organized it within a framework that allows for scalability to larger scales or integration into existing databases. The surveys include three categories of information: general, vegetation and management, and environmental. Overall, SAGRA comprises 1277 vegetation surveys, some of which were performed in different years in the same plots. This dataset encompasses 685 plots and 434 species, primarily therophytes.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2024611/03

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Marina Allegrezza, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Gianmaria Bonari, Silvia Cannucci, Maria Carmela Caria, Giampiero Ciaschetti, Leopoldo De Simone, Romeo Di Pietro, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Tiberio Fiaschi, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Francesco Mascia, Duilio Iamonico, Giacomo Mei, Francesco Minutillo, Giuseppe Misano, Antonio Morabito, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Glauco Patera, Enrico Vito Perrino, Marco Senfett, Giovanni Spampinato, Adriano Stinca, Gianmarco Tavilla, Giulio Tesei, Valeria Tomaselli, Roberto Venanzoni, Giuseppe Bazan

Abstract: New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 9 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 34 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Calabria, Latium, Lombardy, Marche, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2024611/02

Authors: Alice Misuri, Michele Mugnai, Michele Giunti, Lorella Dell’Olmo, Lorenzo Lazzaro

Abstract: Island ecosystems face significant threats from biological invasions due to their unique biomes. In over a quarter of these ecosystems, the number of alien plants surpasses the total count of native ones, leading to notable impacts. This concern is particularly pronounced in the Mediterranean Basin, a globally important hotspot for plant diversity. In line with this, our study aimed to investigate the current distribution of six main alien plant species (Chasmanthe floribunda, Nicotiana glauca, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia stricta, Senecio angulatus, and Zantedeschia aethiopica) on Capraia Island in the Tuscan Archipelago, Italy. We identified invaded vegetation types and N2000 habitats (sensu 92/43/EEC “Habitats” Directive), created a detailed map of the current distribution of these six target species, and analyzed the relationship between their distribution and environmental factors. The six target species were found to be more widespread in areas of the island with higher levels of anthropogenic disturbance, with only O. stricta also spreading into natural habitats. Overall, the invasion covers an area of 71 hectares (3.6% of the island’s surface), of which over 70 hectares are invaded by O. stricta. The habitats most impacted by alien plant invasion include 5330 “Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub”, 5320 “Low formations of Euphorbia close to cliffs”, 1240 “Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp.”, and 6220* “Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea”, all primarily invaded by O. stricta. Environmental factors most correlated with alien plant distribution include the distance from infrastructure, altitude, and slope aspect.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2023602/08

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Salvatore Cambria, Silvia Cannucci, Giulia Capotorti, Maria Carmela Caria, Virginia Chiara Cuccaro, Leopoldo de Simone, Giuliano Fanelli, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Tiberio Fiaschi, Matilde Gennai, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Duilio Iamonico, Dario La Montagna, Francesco Mascia, Giacomo Mei, Antonio Morabito, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Gianluca Orrù, Ines Orrù, Glauco Patera, Gaetano Pazienza, Enrico Vito Perrino, Riccardo Rocca, Silvia Serra, Giovanni Spampinato, Adriano Stinca, Gianmarco Tavilla, Francesco Todaro, Valeria Tomaselli, Claudia Angiolini

Abstract: New Italian data on the distribution of 17 Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 11 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 30 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Apulia, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2023602/03

Authors: Mauro Raposo, Sara del Río, Francisco Vázquez-Pardo, José Carlos Costa, Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carlos Pinto-Gomes

Abstract: This study identifies and analyzes the plant communities that allow the definition of the geographic limits between Temperate and Mediterranean macrobioclimates, for the center of Portuguese mainland. The altitude of Serra da Estrela, Açor and Lousã, combined with the increase in atmospheric humidity, allows the presence of vegetation typical of a Temperate macrobioclimate. Thus, based on the phytosociological methodology, floristic relevés were carried out in order to identify the series of vegetation existing in these territories. Through these relevés carried out, four new plant associations were identified: Cytisetum grandifloro-striati ass. nova, Scrophulario grandiflorae-Sambucetum nigrae ass. nova, Pruno lusitanicae-Coryletum avellanae ass. nova that lives in the submediterranean bioclimatic variant, mesotemperate humid to hyper-humid. A new association namely Genisto falcatae-Quercetum broteroanae ass. nova with two subassociations were also identified. Based on the vegetation distribution, new biogeographic limits are proposed. Thus, it was intended to identify the southern limits of the European Atlantic Province (Atlantic Orolusitania Subrovince) based on the vegetation cover, namely the distinction between the Estrela Sierran District and a new Biogeographical District, the Alvo-Gardunhense.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2023602/04

Authors: Andrea Bertacchi

Abstract: The plant landscape of Monte Pisano is characterized by a predominant forest component, with Pinus pinaster and Castanea sativa, of clear anthropic imprint. Another important component is constituted by dynamically advanced scrubs and woods of evergreen sclerophylls of natural origin, although often differently altered by the anthropic action and/or by fires, and dominated by Quercus ilex. Quercus suber is often found within holm oak woods, and – with lower frequency – inside the pine forests. Cork oak, in some cases, becomes dominant going to constitute the northernmost cork forests in Tuscany. The frequency of fires in Monte Pisano in the last decades seems to have led to an increase in Q. suber surface due to its known resilience to wildfires. The aim of this research is: a) to define the distribution of Q. suber in the area also in relation to repeated fire events in the past; b) to provide an updated characterization of these stands using a phytosociological approach; c) to identify stands and groups of trees that can be used as "seed forests" for post-fire forest restoration purpose, in relation to their marginal population characteristic. The study suggests a relationship between the spread of cork oak and the historical pattern of fires. This wide spread should be protected by forms of forest management unfortunately absent in this territory.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2022591/05

Authors: Gianmarco Tavilla, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Federica Bonini, Salvatore Cambria, Maria Carmela Caria, Assunta Esposito, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Valentina Ferri, Tiberio Fiaschi, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo, Vincenzo Ilardi, Giacomo Mei, Pietro Minissale, Giovanni Rivieccio, Saverio Sciandrello, Adriano Stinca, Giuseppe Bazan

Abstract: In this contribution, Italian new data concerning the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3150, 3170*, 3260, 4090, 91L0, 91M0, 9340 are reported. In detail, 20 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 30 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Umbria.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2021582/07

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Michele Aleffi, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Federica Bonini, Maria Carmela Caria, Simona Casavecchia, Miris Castello, Davide Dagnino, Maria Carla de Francesco, Emanuele Farris, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Tiberio Fiaschi, Luigi Forte, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Flavia Landucci, Fabio Maneli, Francesca Mantino, Mauro Mariotti, Gianfranco Pirone, Livio Poldini, Silvia Poponessi, Safiya Praleskouskaya, Angela Stanisci, Valeria Tomaselli, Francesco Pio Tozzi, Claudia Turcato, Roberto Venanzoni, Daniela Gigante

Abstract: New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 1510*, 2130*, 2250*, 3180*, 3260, 5230*, 6410, 7140, 7220*, 9320 are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 14 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 20 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2021581/09

Authors: Giuseppe Bazan, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Simonetta Bagella, Gianmaria Bonari, Federica Bonini, Giacomo Calvia, Maria Carmela Caria, Giovanni Rivieccio, Lorenzo Gianguzzi

Abstract: New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3170*, 6110*, 91E0*, 9320, 9330 are reported in this contribution. Specifically, one new occurrence in Natura 2000 sites is presented and six new cells are added in the European Environment Agency 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2020581/08

Authors: Gianmaria Bonari, Edy Fantinato, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Marina Allegrezza, Silvia Assini, Marco Caccianiga, Valter Di Cecco, Annarita Frattaroli, Daniela Gigante, Giovanni Rivieccio, Giulio Tesei, Barbara Valle, Daniele Viciani, Giulia Albani Rocchetti, Claudia Angiolini, Emilio Badalamenti, Davide Barberis, Matteo Barcella, Giuseppe Bazan, Andrea Bertacchi, Rossano Bolpagni, Federica Bonini, Alessandro Bricca, Gabriella Buffa, Mariasole Calbi, Silvia Cannucci, Luigi Cao Pinna, Maria Carmela Caria, Emanuela Carli, Silvia Cascone, Mauro Casti, Bruno Enrico Leone Cerabolini, Riccardo Copiz, Maurizio Cutini, Leopoldo De Simone, Andrea De Toma, Michele Dalle Fratte, Luciano Di Martino, Romeo Di Pietro, Leonardo Filesi, Bruno Foggi, Paola Fortini, Roberto Gennaio, Gabriele Gheza, Michele Lonati, Andrea Mainetti, Marco Malavasi, Corrado Marcenò, Carla Micheli, Chiara Minuzzo, Michele Mugnai, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Francesca Napoleone, Ginevra Nota, Giovanna Piga, Marco Pittarello, Ilaria Pozzi, Safiya Praleskouskaya, Francesco Rota, Giacomo Santini, Simona Sarmati, Alberto Selvaggi, Giovanni Spampinato, Adriano Stinca, Francesco Pio Tozzi, Roberto Venanzoni, Mariacristina Villani, Katia Zanatta, Magda Zanzottera, Simonetta Bagella

Abstract: Habitat monitoring in Europe is regulated by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive, which suggests the use of typical species to habitat conservation status. Yet, the Directive uses the term “typical” species but does not provide a definition, either for its use in reporting or for its use in impact assessments. To address the issue, an online workshop was organized by the Italian Society for Vegetation Science (SISV) to shed light on the diversity of perspectives regarding the different concepts of typical species, and to discuss the possible implications for habitat monitoring. To this aim, we inquired 73 people with a very different degree of expertise in the field of vegetation science by means of a tailored survey composed of six questions. We analysed the data using Pearson’s Chi-squared test to verify that the answers diverged from a random distribution and checked the effect of the degree of experience of the surveyees on the results. We found that most of the surveyees agreed on the use of the phytosociological method for habitat monitoring and of the diagnostic and characteristic species to evaluate the structural and functional conservation status of habitats. With this contribution, we shed light on the meaning of “typical” species in the context of habitat monitoring.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2020572/05

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Federica Bonini, Maria Carmela Caria, Davide Dagnino, Mauro Mariotti, Claudia Turcato, Lorenzo Gianguzzi

Abstract: New data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3120, 3260, 6310, 9180* and 92A0 are reported in this contribution. In detail, 3 new occurrences in Natura 2000 Sites are presented and 5 new cells in the EEA 10 km x 10 km Reference grid are added. The new data refer to Italy and in particular to the Administrative Regions of Liguria, Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria. This issue of the section “Habitat records” includes an Errata corrige referring to the last released issue.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2020571/09

Authors: Daniela Gigante, Gianni Bacchetta, Simonetta Bagella, Daniele Viciani

Abstract: The current issue is the first one of the new version of Plant Sociology, the international peer-reviewed journal of the "Società Italiana di Scienza della Vegetazione" (SISV). The technical management of the journal has been entrusted to the editorial platform Pensoft, the Editorial Board has been largely reshaped, now including also a dedicated Social media team. Plant Sociology is focused on all aspects of vegetation from phytocoenosis to landscape level, through time and space, at different geographic and ecological scales; the journal contributes to spread around the issues related to management and conservation of plant communities and plant diversity. All the articles are freely available in Open Access (OA) with affordable article processing charge (APC). In the present Editorial, we briefly discuss the importance of opening the access to knowledge and data about vegetation. We believe that disseminating plant science might be a precious tool for understanding ecological processes, modelling future trends and supporting decision makers. The introduced technological improvement will hopefully allow a larger visibility and circulation for the papers published on Plant Sociology.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2020571/07

Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Maria Carmela Caria, Bruno Enrico Leone Cerabolini, Alice Dalla Vecchia, Giovanni Rivieccio, Rossano Bolpagni

Abstract: New data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats 3160, 7210* and 9320 are reported in this contribution. In detail, 24 new occurrences in Natura 2000 Sites are presented and 42 new cells in the EEA 10 km x 10 km Reference grid are added. The new data refer to Italy and in particular to the Administrative Regions Lombardy, Sardinia, and Sicily.

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DOI: 10.3897/pls2020571/02

Authors: Walter De Simone, Michele Di Musciano, Valter Di Cecco, Giorgia Ferella, Anna Rita Frattaroli

Abstract: Wildfires are currently one of the most important environmental problems, as they cause disturbance in ecosystems generating environmental, economic and social costs. The Sentinel-2 from Copernicus Program (Sentinel satellites) offers a great tool for post-fire monitoring. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of Sentinel-2 in a peculiar mountainous landscape by measuring and identifying the burned areas and monitor the short-term response of the vegetation in different ‘burn severity’ classes. A Sentinel-2 dataset was created, and pre-processing operations were performed. Relativized Burn Ratio (RBR) was calculated to identify ‘burn scar’ and discriminate the ‘burn severity’ classes. A two-year monitoring was carried out with areas identified based on different severity classes, using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to investigate the short-term vegetation dynamics of the burned habitats; habitats refer to Annex I of the European Directive 92/43/EEC. The study area is located in ‘Campo Imperatore’ within the Gran Sasso – Monti della Laga National Park (central Italy). The first important result was the identification and quantification of the area affected by fire. The RBR allowed us to identify even the less damaged habitats with high accuracy. The survey highlighted the importance of these Open-source tools for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of fires and the short-term assessment of vegetation recovery dynamics. The information gathered by this type of monitoring can be used by decision-makers both for emergency management and for possible environmental restoration of the burned areas.

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